For the first time, the Brotherhood of Utility Workers (BUW) approached National Grid gas negotiations with a unified bargaining strategy — one that brought together the strength of three local unions while preserving the unique needs of each. The result was the strongest set of gas agreements the Brotherhood has achieved and a model that could shape future negotiations.
The new four-year agreements cover approximately 250 members in BUW Locals 318, 369, and 350, who perform field work throughout Massachusetts, including gas leak response, pipeline installation, meter work, and other essential operations. Members overwhelmingly ratified the contracts, which provide the same strong economic package secured earlier this year in the Brotherhood’s National Grid electric agreement, including 4% annual wage increases and the same benefit improvements.
While the economics were negotiated together, the Brotherhood deliberately retained three separate collective bargaining agreements. That allowed each local to preserve provisions addressing operational differences unique to its service territory while pursuing shared gains at the bargaining table. As Local 318 President and Gas Bargaining Committee Chair Shane Sabino explained, “We still have three separate contracts, but by negotiating together, we were able to secure consistent improvements across all three locals that we likely could not have achieved on our own.”
Sabino credited UWUA Senior National Representative Dan Hurley with developing and orchestrating the new approach.
“In the past, Local 318 negotiated separately, and Locals 369 and 350 did the same,” Sabino said. “Dan came up with the idea of bringing us together. By combining the bargaining committee’s knowledge and experience with Dan’s expertise — and by bringing the strength and solidarity of our combined membership to the bargaining table — we were able to negotiate stronger agreements while still addressing each local’s unique needs.” After more than two decades with the union, Sabino called the new agreements the best he has seen.
Beyond strong economics, members identified job security and the retention of bargaining unit work as their highest priorities throughout negotiations. Those priorities remained front and center as the committee worked to conclude bargaining ahead of anticipated regulatory developments affecting the gas industry.
The success of the negotiations demonstrates the value of solidarity — not only at the bargaining table but among Brotherhood locals themselves. By speaking with one voice on shared issues while respecting the operational differences of each local, the Brotherhood secured stronger agreements than the locals had historically achieved bargaining individually. It is an approach that delivered meaningful gains for members today and may provide a blueprint for future negotiations.