UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 28, 1995
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WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
District of Columbia and Virginia 1-1483 53-0162882
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(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) File Number) Identification No.)
1100 H Street, N. W., Washington, D. C. 20080
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (703) 750-4440
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NONE
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(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)
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Item 5. Other Events
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As Previously Reported
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On May 31, 1995, the three year labor agreement between the Company and the
approximately 1,050 member bargaining unit of the International Union of Gas
Workers (IUGW) expired. The Company granted the IUGW three extensions of
discussion deadlines during which IUGW-eligible employees continued working
without a contract while wages and benefits remained unchanged.
On May 25, 1995, the union membership voted to give its leadership authority to
strike. On June 9, 1995, after a federal mediator had been brought in on May
30, 1995 to assist the parties in negotiation, the union voted to reject the
Company's contract offer. Although the union leadership did not call a strike,
they expressed a willingness to call a strike when appropriate. Faced with
this potential for a strike and the Company's responsibility to provide
uninterrupted natural gas service to its customers, the Company exercised its
rights under the Federal labor laws by locking out IUGW-eligible employees,
effective 12 o'clock a.m. on June 10, 1995. The Company is continuing to
provide service to its customers through the efforts of its management
workforce and outside contractors. Members of another union represented at the
Company are performing their normal job duties.
Both the Company and the IUGW filed charges against each other before the
National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) claiming unfair labor practices
including, among other things, bad faith bargaining. The Company denied the
charges by the IUGW and vigorously defended itself against them. If the NLRB
were to determine that the Company had not bargained in good faith, the Company
could be liable for back wages which would have been earned had the union
employees been at work during the period of the lockout.
Update As of October 5, 1995
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On August 28, 1995, an acting Regional Director of the NLRB ruled in favor of
the Company regarding the Company's conduct during negotiations with the IUGW.
The NLRB issued nine separate rulings, one for each charge filed by the union,
including a ruling that the Company had been engaged in good faith bargaining
with the union since last April and that the lockout of the union was legal.
The NLRB did sustain some of the minor technical charges brought by the IUGW,
none of which involved back wages. The Company has entered into an informal
settlement of these matters with the NLRB without admitting fault. The IUGW has
appealed the August 28, 1995 decision of the acting Regional Director. If the
August 28, 1995 decision is ultimately upheld, as the Company believes it will
be, there will be no back wages granted to IUGW-eligible employees during the
period of the lockout.
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<PAGE>
Since the lockout began on June 10, 1995, the membership of the IUGW has voted
three times to reject contract offers of the Company. In letters dated
September 6, 1995 and September 21, 1995 from the Company's negotiating team to
the IUGW, the Company reiterated that the Company's contract offer of August
28, 1995 was the Company's final contract offer.
On September 25, 1995, the Company mailed to the IUGW and released an
announcement of its beliefs that negotiations between the Company and the IUGW
had come to an impasse and that the Company was therefore installing the terms
of its August 28, 1995 contract offer. This is allowed by Federal labor law
when parties can not agree on a contract after a legitimate attempt to do so.
The bargaining unit was invited to return to work beginning at 6:00 a.m. on
Wednesday, September 27, 1995. A significant majority of IUGW-eligible
employees did return to work on September 27, 1995.
Because there is no signed contract currently in effect, the no strike/no
lockout provisions of the collective bargaining agreement are no longer in
effect and no assurance can be given that work stoppages may not occur. The
Company will continue to negotiate with the union in an effort to reach an
accord. In the event a work stoppage occurs during the heating season of
1995/1996, the Company is prepared to maintain operations.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1935, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
WASHINGTON GAS LIGHT COMPANY
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(Registrant)
Date October 5, 1995 By /s/ Frederic M. Kline
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Frederic M. Kline
Controller
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