New York State Energy and Gas company, NYSEG, has announced that it is considering closing the customer service center in Kirkwood as early as May 1st, if a mutually-agreed upon contract cannot be reached. Employees, represented by the IBEW, met earlier this week to discuss the proposed agreement and have scheduled a vote for March 17. If an agreement is not reached, all of the approximately 200 workers at the service center could be laid off and the center closed down. The collective bargaining agreement, in its current state, would, among other things, lower wages for all employees for the months of May and June, as well as offer an early retirement program.
See "NSYEG slashing salaries for Kirkwood service center jobs", My-Ly Nguyen, The Ithaca Journal, March 2, 2010