The Hawaii Teamsters & Allied Workers Local 996 and The Gas Company jointly announced today that Teamster members employed with The Gas Company have voted by a 90 percent majority to approve a new five-year contract that includes total wage increases of almost 18 percent over the term of the contract and company-sponsored health and welfare benefits. The new contract covers more than 200 Teamster members at The Gas Company on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, Molokai, Lanai and the Big Island.

In addition to the wage increases, the contract includes company-sponsored health and welfare benefits for the life of the contract. The previous contract required the workers to pay a "co-pay" or portion of monthly premiums when a specified cap was exceeded. The company also will continue to make contributions into current employees' pension plans for three years, at which time employees may elect to participate in the company's 401(k) plan.