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Letter from the Grid One Meeting on
2/12/2026
Dear McKraken,
This letter serves as a summary for the union meeting held on Thursday February 12, 2026. The contents of the meeting contained topics such as online website familiarization, and union benefits.
On the evening of the 12th we had our union meeting at the firefighter club in Providence R.I., members were greeted with refreshments and union branded AFL-CIO hoodies. The meeting started with a video highlighting many general questions about what a union is and what unions offer compared to other jobs. I had a slideshow with the history of the union and the reason we chose to unionize.
Following the video I opened the floor to questions and spent the next 20 minutes answering with the occasional off topic conversation. The rest of the meeting was spent showing the members how to navigate through the union website and the asplundh website. I highlighted this time with everyone to have full transparency with their union rights and opportunities provided.
Sincerely,
Wilber Huyke
Union Vice President
AFL-CIO
UWUA Local 609 and NPL East Update 2/20/26
Last week, the UWUA and Local 609 participated in an Article XX hearing related to the Operating Engineers Local 478’s effort to decertify Local 609 and raid our membership. Under the AFL-CIO Constitution, unions are not allowed to work to decertify other unions within the AFL-CIO. As you know, Local 478 has engaged in a campaign to decertify Local 609 from NPL East. We assert that Local 478’s actions violate the AFL-CIO Constitution, and they must be stopped and the decertification petition withdrawn.
At the hearing, the UWUA presented substantial, unrebutted evidence that Local 478 was interfering with Local 609‘s relationship with NPL in violation of Article XX. The operating engineers did not even attempt to rebut the evidence we presented. Instead, they are relying on a so-called “exception“ to the prohibition on raiding other unions, claiming that all of the work is construction work. As you know, Local 609 members at NPL provide do maintenance work for public utilities – – not new construction. We believe we will prevail in front of the umpire. We expect that decision to come out within the next few weeks.
The operating engineers did present some evidence at the hearing that is important for Local 609 members to know. The operating engineers presented many of their contracts, but they only pertain to equipment operators and crane operators. None of the contracts have wage rates for flaggers, utility workers, laborers, truck drivers or foreman. That creates a real concern about whether Local 478 would even be able to represent the vast majority of the Local 609 members that work at NPL. Moreover, Local 478 jurisdiction is limited to representing operating engineers in Connecticut. Local 478 cannot represent anyone in Massachusetts. That means that the Local 609 members working in Massachusetts could be left without a union.
The UWUA also presented an article from Local 478’s newsletter recruiting people for gas operator positions at NPL if they get a contract with the Company. In other words, Local 478 is recruiting people to do our work at NPL East if Local 478 is successful in decertifying Local 609. That means you may be looking for new job someplace else if Local 609 is decertified.
Whether Local 609 prevails in the Article XX or not, your livelihoods are in jeopardy because of the actions of Local 478 and the misrepresentations they have told you. We will continue to tell you the truth about the importance of staying with UWUA Local 609 and protecting your jobs at NPL East.
Sincerely,
UWUA Local 609