BRIEF: Douglas PUD union has new contract

June 13--EAST WENATCHEE -- Douglas County PUD commissioners Monday approved a new 3-year contract for the utility's union employees that includes pay raises and changes to healthcare benefits.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 77 represents 109 of the PUD's total 194 employees, utility spokeswoman Meaghan Vibbert said Thursday in an email.

Effective last April 1, unionmembers will receive a 3-percent pay increase the first year, and increases of between 2 percent and 3.5 percent, based on inflation, for each of the remaining two years.

Wages run from $14.80 to $55.27 per hour, Vibbert said.

Some changes were also made to the employees' healthcare benefits to reduce the "Cadillac tax" imposed by the Affordable Care Act on comprehensive coverage plans.

Changes include establishing stand-alone vision and dental plans.

The PUD belongs to an insurance trust that includes six other utilities. The healthcare changes are expected to save trustmembers about $860,000 annually, Vibbert said.

Reach Christine Pratt at 509-665-1173 or pratt@wenatcheeworld.com. Follow her on Twitter at @CPrattWW.

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