CITIZEN POWER ALLIANCE

Rochester Gas and Electric faces a negotiating deadline with its 300-member union, Local 36 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

The parties’ contract expires today and serves as deadline to end their collective bargaining talks.

But no agreement has been reached, and workers are flooding union headquarters with calls. The local advised workers to go to work and accept all assignments through a phone message.

Rick Irish, president of Local 36, declined to comment.

RG&E also declined to comment, instead releasing a written statement to the Democrat and Chronicle.

“Through the negotiation process, we expect the parties to reach a mutually acceptable collective bargaining agreement,” RG&E spokesman Bob Bergin said.

“Throughout this process, RG&E will continue to deliver safe and reliable electric and gas service to our customers,” he said.

Jim Bertolone, president of the AFL-CIO’s Rochester and Genesee Valley Labor Federation, said he has not heard from Local 36 since discussing the talks with
them almost two weeks ago.

The union was RG&E’s first, formed in April 2003 by about 300 electrical and gas workers.

RG&E is owned by Energy East Corp. of Maine.