The president and vice president of United Steelworkers Local 12775, which represents 1,300 NIPSCO employees in northern Indiana, asked the Porter County Board of Commissioners Tuesday to demand an investigation into staffing levels at the utility.
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The appearance at the commissioners’ meeting was one in a series of visits with area municipalities; union officials went before the Portage City Council later Tuesday as well.
“The concern is simple,” said Local 12775 President Ryan Baker of the Aug. 11 derecho and what he and Vice President Pierce Kelly explained was a shortage of workers to respond to the aftermath, “when staffing’s too low, emergency service, storm restoration and everyday service all suffer.
“The storm did not create the problem. It exposed it,” he added, stating that NIPSCO has decreased its staffing levels by 20%. Kelly gave the example that six years ago NIPSCO employed 230 linemen and now there are approximately 180, a 22% decrease, and gas servicemen are down from the 180 the company budgeted for just a few years ago to 143.
“I can tell you, in my opinion, it delayed restoration for the hundreds of gas leaks, let alone the electric side,” Kelly said of recovery response. The men said support staff and engineers are also being reduced on the company side.
Kelly also said the company has suspended its practice of guaranteeing an interview to any graduate of Ivy Tech’s energy generation program. “There’s just not enough butts in the seats to do the work,” he said.
A NIPSCO spokesperson has said the storm was “an unprecedented weather event” that “caused extraordinary damage.” More than 4,000 NIPSCO employees, contractors, mutual assistance crews and emergency responders worked to restore power.
“We’re actively reviewing our response to identify actions that can strengthen our preparedness going forward and are engaging a third-party firm to evaluate our response,” the statement said. “NIPSCO will continue investing in our electric system and making changes where needed to better serve customers during future storms.”
The two union officials told the board they have been reaching out to Indiana politicians at all levels, including the Utilities, Energy, and Telecommunications Committee (formerly the Utilities and Energy Committee), after Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, asked for clarification on what groups they’ve been lobbying.
“I find the irony of these committees and some of the people that are running these committees, and I should point out it’s an election year this year as well. They’re all asking for this investigation now,” he said. “Some of these people are the same people sitting with tens of thousands of dollars of contributions in their financial reports. The voters need to pay attention to that and so do your union members.
“If I were sitting in the chairs you’re sitting in, I would find that insulting,” Biggs added. “There’s been plenty of time to deal with them (NIPSCO).” As well as to question their business plan, he said. “Why does it take a catastrophe or an election to get everybody’s attention?”
Baker and Kelly said while contractors have a place, NIPSCO is relying on them too heavily, and that they are no substitute for a highly skilled staff. Biggs agreed and then gave the analogy of the fallout for customers. “It’s like calling an ambulance, and then the ambulance calls an ambulance,” he said.
Commission Vice President Barb Regnitz, R-Center, said NIPSCO had been granted a nearly 22% increase to make upgrades and “they will have repaid that investment in wind and solar many, many times over,” yet the rate increase will stand permanently. “We don’t feel they have been a good partner to us as county commissioners either,” she added.
“Boards like this one are made to feel guilty if we don’t support data centers,” Biggs concluded the discussion. “They’re not getting any support here.”
Who will get support is the union. The commissioners voted unanimously to read a resolution at the next meeting supporting their efforts.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.