Medellín Utility EPM Reaches 3-Year Labor Pact With Unions, Installs Solar Panels On Plaza Mayor

Álvaro Guillermo Rendón López, the new General Manager of Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM) has announced  that the Colombian utility has reached a 3 year labor agreement, signed January 24, between the company and its Sintraemsdes labor union.

The pact was reached in the first negotiating round, something the utility claims has not been done in the past 15 years. Sintraemsdes represents over 3,200 employees, and presented its negotiating positions last November 8^th, and formal negotiations began November 19^th.

To view contract details click here (in Spanish).

The agreement includes quality-of-life measures, salary increases and a benefit package in line with management. Rendón applauded the agreement, and in a statement issued a call for the parties to continue working together with a vocation of service to “contribute to the harmony of life for a better world.”

EPM Installs Solar Panels On Plaza Mayor

EPM and its neighbor, the Plaza Mayor municipal convention center also announced the installation of solar power on Plaza Mayor’s north building as part of a sustainability initiative. The installation has 504 panels, each with 310 watts peak power output, and should replace 18% of the center’s power consumption.

The second stage is expected to be installed in the first quarter of this year and will cover Plaza Mayor’s “Yellow Pavilion.” This stage will consist of 600 panels with 400 watts of power each, replacing up to 22% of the venue’s consumption.