Calpine geothermal workers hold union vote

<p>Workers at Calpine's geothermal energy complex at The Geysers will vote today and Thursday on whether they'll be represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.</p><p>The union certification vote is being supervised by the National Labor Relations Board.</p><p>About 230 workers are included in the proposed collective bargaining unit, including steam field and power plant operators, maintenance workers, technical employees and administrative assistants, according to the union.</p><p>The secret ballot election will take place at two Calpine facilities at The Geysers. Texas-based Calpine is the largest U.S. geothermal energy producer, with 15 Geysers plants generating about 725 megawatts of electric power.</p><p>IBEW Local 1245 submitted a petition Dec. 1 to the labor board asking for the election. Such petitions must show support from at least 30 percent of the proposed bargaining unit.</p><p>Votes will be counted Thursday night at Calpine's visitor center in Middletown, said Timothy Peck, assistant to the labor board's regional director in San Francisco.</p>