About 40 members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 125 walked out on strike Aug. 24 at Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative (OTEC), a member-owned electrical utility that serves nearly 60,000 residents in Baker, Grant, Harney, and Union counties in Eastern Oregon. Local 125 said the strike was in protest of employer violations of federal labor law, including the firing of 24-year La Grande lineman Tom Higgins.
Difficulty getting a fair contract was also a factor. The union’s previous five-year agreement with OTEC expired on April 1.
The dispute has been percolating for months. Local 125 members picketed at OTEC’s June and July regular board meetings at the cooperative’s headquarters in Baker City.
The co-op is governed by a board elected by electricity customers. Leading up to its Aug. 6 annual meeting, Local 125 supported two candidates who ran against incumbent board members, Fred Hellbusch and Dave Crawford. Both won election.
UPDATE 9/2/26: The two sides reached agreement to end the strike, and Local 125 members will return to work Sept. 3.
