RICHLAND, Wash. – A tentative contract agreement has been reached following discussions between the Hanford Guard Union (HGU) and Hanford Mission Integration Solutions (HMIS).
Members of the HGU have been locked out and unable to work since Nov. 27 after the patrol workers’ contract ended with no new one created. Since then, workers have been seen picketing across Richland.
HMIS provided NonStop Local with a statement on Thursday, which says:
“Meetings between HMIS and the Hanford Guards Union, as well as the federal mediator, have continued this week. We are pleased to share that we have a tentative agreement on a new contract and that HGU will be voting on the agreement tomorrow.”
HGU last voted on a proposal on Jan. 3 which did not pass. HGU Local 21 President Chris Hall said before the vote that that proposal felt less like an agreement and more forced.
Hall also issued a statement after the Jan. 3 failed vote:
“HGU intends to continue meeting with HMIS to negotiate all the way until we have an agreement. It is not an ethical or lawful practice to force an impasse or impose unilateral decisions that affect the body for the duration of this contract and possibly their careers. We hope that HMIS sees this as an opportunity to move forward and not create such an abrasive relationship for our daily work as well as our future negotiation.”
Whether the new agreement will pass will come down to a union vote on Fri., Jan. 10.
