March 2nd, 2011
Philip G. Satre
Chairman of the Board
NV Energy, Inc.
Dear Mr. Philip G. Satre, As lifelong workers for NV Energy, we dedicated ourselves to providing Nevada with safe and reliable power – regardless of whether it was dead of night or dead of winter.
We were the first-responders when hazardous weather threatened our community. It was a commitment we were honored to keep – even when decades of bone-chilling conditions caused painful injuries, chronic conditions and forced many of us into retirement.
But, after a lifetime of service, NV Energy is breaking its promise to us – over 600 of your retirees – by slashing our hard-earned health care when we need it most.
We did our part for NV Energy. We have even given up raises in exchange for promises of greater security when we retired. Now NV Energy is breaking those promises by telling us that slashing our health care is necessary – even after reporting over $225 million in profits last year alone, collecting $134 million in federal bailout money and paying CEO Michael Yackira over $5.3 million in compensation. And now, we are being forced to pay up to 35% of our health care premiums – all on a fixed income.
As you know, NV Energy continues to refuse to reconsider its unilateral decision to slash our medical benefits and has refused to meet with our representatives for over eighteen months now. Right now, Wisconsin’s working men and women are making headlines throughout the country as they fight to protect their right to collective bargaining. It is with their struggle in mind that we ask you, on behalf of your 600 retirees, to respect our right to collective bargaining by meeting with us to hear our grievances and to reinstate our health care.
We are proud to have dedicated our professional life and to have sacrificed our well being for our community and NV Energy. But, as we have helped the company enjoy healthy profits, pay stockholders a dividend and provide executive with generous compensation – we ask that you honor your commitment to retirees by reinstating the health care we both need and deserve. We hope you will do the right thing.
Sincerely,
NV Energy Retirees
