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The 17 employees in Lockport`s Water Department have joined a labor union, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150.
The action followed the city`s decision in the fall to require city workers for the first time to pay 10 percent of their health insurance premiums.
Ald. Randy Martin, chairman of the City Council`s Personnel and Negotiations Committee, said the city would negotiate with the union, but added that the city`s primary concern would be to keep residential property taxes as low as possible.
Lockport police officers also belong to a union. The action by the water workers is believed to be the first such move by city workers who are not responsible for emergency services.
