The 3,700 workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 50, including those at the Clover Power Plant and South Boston office, ended negotiations with Dominion Virginia Power and walked off the job Friday.
The union represents workers in jobs such as linemen, mechanics, control room operators, electricians, and meter readers.
"Today was not a good day for the customers and employees of energy giant Dominion Virginia Power," said IBEW spokesman Brad Stevens.
"The company has shut down negotiations and has failed to respond to our counterproposal that we gave them Tuesday," Stevens said last Thursday.
But a company spokesman said the company never broke off negotiations.
"The union didn't like our offer and called the strike," Dominion spokesman Rick Zuercher said yesterday.
"We are willing to talk with them at any time.
"The fact of the matter is we want these guys working, they do a great job and are good employees," Zuercher said.
"The employees on strike are valued, we will be available to talk with them at any time," he added.
This is the first labor action at Dominion Power since 1964.
Stevens said that prior to ending negotiations, the company pulled critical points from other contract offers.
"Prior to (ending negotiations), they eliminated their Success Sharing program, took away the retroactive pay provisions from their July 26 offer and still left retirees with a diminished package," Stevens added.
After calling the strike, Stevens expressed his regret at not being able to reach an agreement.
"We truly regret that it has come to this because of our long-standing committment to the communities that we serve," he said.
Company: Offer Was Fair
But company representatives said that the final offer rejected by the employees was fair.
"We are extremely disappointed that the union leadership rejected this proposal, said Edgar M. Roach Jr., president and CEO of Dominion Virginia Power.
"We worked long and hard to address issues that the union told us were important, while achieving a balance among its members," Roach added.
"You can't believe everything the company says, that's why we're out here today," local union member Donnie McKinney said Friday.
Clover Power Plant employs 143 people, 97 of whom are members of the IBEW and subject to the contract negotiations.
Union: 100 Percent Behind Strike
According to local union members, the employees are 100 percent behind the decision to strike.
"I think the best quote that I can give you is this is nothing but another example of corporate greed," McKinney said.
"We are hoping this will be a short strike, but we will stay here as long as we have to stay," Dean Throckmorton added.
Both the company and the union had been at the table since early July following an overwhelming rejection of what the company called its "last, best and final offer" on May 17.
"We had a 90 percent turnout and a 90 percent rejection," said IBEW spokesperson Karen Waybright following the vote.
A rejection vote authorized the union to call a strike at any time following an initial 72 hours notice to the company.
Irene Cimino, spokesperson for Dominion Virginia Power, said any potential strike would have little impact on electric service to residents of Halifax County.
"No power from the Clover Power Station affects Halifax County," Cimino said.
She noted that power produced at the Clover facility is transferred to the Dominion energy grid, where it is transferred to where it is needed.
"We want to assure our customers that we remain committed to generating and delivering the safe and reliable electricity they expect from us," said Thomas Farrell II, CEO of Dominion Energy.
Farrell noted the company has contingency plans in place and ready to implement if necessary.
"You let us have a good lightening storm and you'll see how much this strike affects service to Halifax County," McKinney countered.
"We are the guys that get the power back up and running," he added.
But Zuercher said the company has proven itself since the strike began.
"We've done a very good job of restoring power where we had outages," he said.
The Dominion spokesman said the company has experienced approximately 100,000 outages since the strike began, mostly in northern Virginia.
"We have crews in place and have more crews expected today," he said. "Now in some cases, people may not get the power back on as quickly as they would otherwise, but they will get the power back on."
May 17 Offer Was Significant
Dominion Virginia Power spokesman Jim Norvelle said the company made a significant offer on May 17.
"A week later, the union leadership notified us that it would recommend employees reject the offer and seek the authorization to call a strike," Norvelle said.
Jack Wells, business manager and negotiator for IBEW Local 50, said the vote came after the company's attempt to reduce retirement and pension funds, as well as medical benefits.
"Under the new contract, there has been a dramatic change in the retirement formula and medical benefits," Wells said.
Another change the workers are protesting is the change in the medical benefits package.
"Primarily the prescription card," Wells said.
"Under the proposed contract, the out-of-pocket expenses would be $300 for the employee and $600 for families," he noted.
"We knew our membership would stand behind their hard work," he said.
"It's absolutely unacceptable to demean the hardworking folks of Dominion," he added.
Both Wells and Norvelle said that neither side wanted to strike.
"We don't want to strike," Wells said. "We want a good contract."
The present contract expired on March 31.
The company and the IBEW Local 50 began negotiating in January to draft a contract to succeed a three-year agreement that was ratified in 1995 and extended twice, each time for two years.
Norvelle said negotiations had been "professional, amicable and fruitful in most areas."
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a production capability of more that three trillion BTUs of energy per day.
Dominion also serves 3.9 million franchise natural gas and electric customers in five states.
Last year, the company's operating revenue was $10.5 billion, with the CEO and President receiving $1 million and a bonus of $1.25 million.

Scott Morris went to work today.
The 30-year-old former director of economic development for Rome, Ga. begins his new job today as director of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority.
He said yesterday that he expected to spend the first few weeks getting the feel of the needs of the community.
"I plan to spend the first eight to ten weeks giving myself an education on Halifax County," Morris said yesterday.
"My goal in the next few weeks is to sit down with everyone and do a lot of listening," he added. "But listen while focusing on the fact that we need to develop a plan to move Halifax County forward."
He will work on developing a long-term plan for the county.
"My intentions are to work for the long-term good for the community.
"It's a community visioning process that tasks everyone from the educators to manufacturers to the general public to work together," Morris said.
"When people come to this town we need to have a plan in place that everyone is working toward," he said.
"You can't have four groups working toward four different goals.
"This community is large enough and small enough that there is no reason everyone can't work together," he observed.
The IDA Director said he intends to spend as much time working toward the big picture as the immediate needs of the community.
"I think one of my biggest challenges will be to continue to build on the knowledge base of the community," he said.
"We need to know where we are to know where we need to go," he added.
Morris wants the community to "take a step back" and come together with one vision for Halifax County.
"I think we need to do some asset-based mapping, looking at who we are and where we're going.
"We need to identify our strengths and see where we rank in relation to other communities," he said.
This will give the community a clear picture as to how to bring in the kind of businesses we need, according to Morris.
He is also interested in working with the schools to educate the future workforce.
"We need to identify our goals and work together to reach them with our educational system," he added.
Morris likes the county's expansive land base.
"One of the best things this community has to offer is land," he said.
"Down the road that will be the biggest of all assets, you can put in water and sewer, you can build businesses, but you can't grow land," he added.
Morris will renew his $80,000 contract yearly, according to a member of the IDA Board.
The selection of Morris was the result of a nationwide search involving the IDA Board and a special search committee.
Prior to serving as director of economic development in Georgia, Morris served as director of membership and finance at the Greater Rome Chamber of Commerce.
During his tenure in Rome, Morris was involved in attracting Pirelli Tire's North American headquarters to the area, as well as attracting Suzuki's first U.S. manufacturing plant to Georgia.
He also has experience in the private sector with Mohawk Industries.
Morris received his B.B.A. and Finance degree from the University of Georgia, where he attended the Terry College of Business, and is a 2001 graduate of the University of Georgia's Institute for Organization Management.
"This is a serious job and I think we have a serious opportunity before us to work with the citizens of Halifax County to better their lives," he added.
Morris said he was looking for a change and new career challenges.
"I'm happy to be here," he said yesterday.
"I left a good situation, and moved to what I hope is a better one," he added.
"I wouldn't have come here if I didn't think I could be successful."

A small group of livestock producers from Halifax, Mecklenburg and Charlotte counties believe there's a better way of raising and selling cattle than just loading up a few head and accepting the highest offer in the daily cash market.
They sat gathered around a speakerphone in Halifax last week and listened as their first lot­48 steers­were sold in the Feeder Cattle Tel-O-Auction Field Sales conducted by the Virginia Cattlemen's Association with the cooperation of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Online cattle auctions are nothing new, but the system of selling and buying livestock sight unseen, requires producers to both think and work outside the box.
It is a paradox of sorts that the traditional systems of selling tobacco and cattle at auction, the area's two major agricultural cash products, are in the throws of change and the same time.
And some of the same doubts that tobacco growers had when changing from the warehouse auction system to direct contract purchasing, the five participating livestock producers experienced as the on-line sale unfolded.
"I was apprehensive, I'll admit," said Greg Wade, who's been raising cattle "all my life" on his family farm located off Route 40 in the Stovall community.
Wade sold 11 of the total 48 head that averaged $81 per hundred. That price beat the numbers on the Lynchburg Livestock Market, where cattle averaged $71 to $77 per hundred on the same day.
Discounting costs, producers figure they earned approximately $36 more per head than had they sold the animals through the traditional market system.
But the value of their learning experience is difficult to measure.
Rather than 48 head, the ideal sale lot is twice that number, enough to fill a pot belly livestock trailer.
Obviously, buyers want a full load of cattle when making a haul.
A total of 10 producers were expected to sell cattle in last week's on line auction. For various reasons, including dry weather that forced several to sell their calves early, only five animal owners could meet the requirements.
Along with Wade were Baxter Wilson of Oak Level, Ned Strange and Ned Strange Jr., whose farms are located at Alton and Vernon Hill and Henry Morris of Mecklenburg County.
Producers must also be watching other numbers like average weight. Halifax animals had a weight spread of 530 to 690 lbs.
Buyers prefer a lesser spread of approximately 100 lbs.
Having animals of like qualities will require that calves be born, or as producers say, "hit the ground" at the same time.
Once calves reach the weight range and are ready for market, each are graded, tagged and certified as having had the required vaccinations.
The program has four levels of certification indicated by the color of the tag that is attached to the ear of each animal.
For example, a gold tag tells the buyer that an animal has been vaccinated against seven strains of clostridial, IBR, BVD, P13, BRSV, and Pasteurella; castrated, dehorned and healed. Heifers are guaranteed open.
A purple tag is used to identify cattle that meet both the prescribed health program and are sired by bulls that meet minimum growth EPD specifications.
The health care program, weight estimate and genetics are all described in catalogs provided to buyers in locations throughout the country.
The local alliance of producers hopes to raise calves with similar genetics, something that some area livestock producers such as Mike McDowell are already involved in.
McDowell has offered his expertise and experience to the local alliance of producers.
More organization and technical assistance has come from Lawson Roberts, VDACS Livestock Marketing Specialist and Linda F. Wallace, director of the Halifax County Agricultural Development Office.
The driving force behind this method of raising and marketing beef is the market itself.
Consumers want assurances that the meat they are serving their families is of the highest quality and best taste.
And they're putting their money where their mouth is.
Richmond-based Ukrop's supermarkets only sells their own brand of beef that meets certain quality specifications.
Since livestock producers in communities like Halifax, Mecklenburg and Charlotte can't compete with the numbers of large producers in other parts of the country, these types of grower alliances tend to even the playing the field.
The average head size in Halifax County is estimated to be less than 30.
"We're not trying to reinvent the wheel," said Wallace, who believes livestock producer alliances will become the marketing preference in the near future.
Up until now, the only local market for selling cattle has been in Lynchburg, Oxford, N.C. or to two local outlets, one of which has closed due to the death of the owner.
"Producers are positioning themselves to become respectable beef suppliers. This (alliance) is the first small step," Wallace added.
Wallace also believes livestock producers will help preserve agriculture land in Halifax County.

Attorneys for the Halifax County Board of Supervisors are seeking dismissal of a lawsuit filed in behalf of Tony L. and Deborah R. Puryear that cites alleged violations of the Uniform Statewide Building Code in the house they had built and moved into a year ago.
The motion for dismissal, filed by Danville attorney Martha W. Medley, maintains that the plantiffs' claims are (1) barred by the doctrine of Sovereign Immunity; (2) that they failed to comply with procedural requirements of Virginia Code Section 15.2-1243 through 15.2-1248 and; (3) failed to exhaust their administrative remedies.
The Puryears entered into a contract with Halifax County builder E.C. Lewis Jr., to construct a 2,152 sq.ft. single family home on Hwy. 697 in the Brandon Acres subdivision at Turbeville.
A building permit was issued to Lewis estimating the total cost of the project at $121,000. A certificate of occupancy was issued on August 15, 2001, by Halifax County Building Inspector Emmett C. Lewis Sr., father of the builder.
The couple, through their attorney Kim S. White, allege that they were unaware during the construction of the dwelling that the county permitted building officials or technical assistants, "who are closely related," to the builder to issue permits, conduct inspections and issue a certificate of occupancy.
Records show that Emmett Lewis Sr. signed off on all but one of the six inspections conducted from the time work began on the house until it was completed and certified for occupancy. Brian Satterfield inspected rough structure, wiring and plumbing.
The Puryears claim that the county and its building inspectors "allowed the builder to commit numerous violations of the USBC and failed to require corrections of them."
"Even accepting the allegations contained in the plantiffs' Motion for Judgement as true, the Motion for Judgement fails to state a claim against Halifax County upon which the requested relief can be granted," counsel for the Board of Supervisors submitted in a demurrer filed in Circuit Court on Friday.
Attorneys for the County of Halifax submit that the suit is "without foundation and should be dismissed" and that the county be awarded such other relief as the Court deems just.

By Doug Ford

All the momentum the Halifax County Dixie Debs All-Stars carried from their state title run continued into the World Series Saturday in Ozark, Alabama with an opening round 8-0 shutout of Mississippi.
The top five of the Debs batting order combined for 10 hits and eight runs scored, and the Debs used four pitchers to hold Mississippi to two hits.
Halifax County's running game was in full gear Saturday, as the Debs burned Mississippi pitching for 12 stolen bases.
The Debs played Louisiana Sunday night at 6 p.m. in the second round of the World Series.
Anna Lewis and Felicia Sprattley got the Debs off to a good start Saturday with back-to-back singles in the first inning.
A double steal put them on second and third before a sacrifice fly by Lindsay Stolzenthaler plated the first run of the contest.
After a scoreless second inning, the Debs struck for three runs in the third inning.
Emily Stolzenthaler led off with a bunt single, stole second and then third, before an RBI single by Lewis drove her in.
Lewis stole second before Sprattley's second hit of the game drove her in for a 3-0 lead.
Sprattley advanced to third and stole home for the third run of the inning, and Dominique Fountain doubled and stole third as Halifax County threatened to score again.
Fountain was caught in a rundown off third base to end the threat.
A two-out rally produced two more runs in the fourth inning. Emily Stolzenthaler hit a single, stole second, and came home on an RBI double by Lewis.
An error made by the shortstop on a ball hit by Sprattley plated Lewis for a 6-0 lead.
Another two-out rally in the sixth inning closed out the scoring, with Lewis getting aboard on an error.
Lewis stole second before Sprattley's third hit of the day advanced her to third, and she stole home for the fifth run of the game.
Sprattley stole third, before a single by Lindsay Stolzenthaler, and consecutive walks to Fountain and Reagan Cannon plated Sprattley with the final run of the game.
Lewis went three-for-four, with two RBIs and scored four runs, and Sprattley went 3-4, with two RBIs and two runs scored to lead the Debs.
Emily Stolzenthaler went 2-5, with two runs scored, while Lindsay Stolzenthaler and Dominique Fountain each went 1-3, with Stolzenthaler collecting an RBI.
Carla Boelte pitched a no-hitter through the first three innings, striking out four of the nine batters she faced, while walking none.
Kristi Myer came on for the fourth and fifth innings, allowing one hit, while striking out three batters. Myer walked only one batter.
Lindsay Stolzenthaler and Sprattley each pitched an inning to keep the shutout, as Halifax County pitching allowed no base runners until the fifth inning, with only two of them advancing beyond second base.

For more World Series coverage, check out our print edition.

George Edwin Bass

George Edwin Bass, 67, of Halifax County, died August 2, 2002, at Bretthaven Nursing Home in Keysville. Mr. Bass was born April 22, 1935, and was the son of the late William Moseley Bass and the late Adele Woodburn Bass.
Survivors include one son, Dennis Bass of Weehawhen, N.J.; three brothers, William Mosley Bass Jr. of South Boston, Jacob Bass of Niceville, Fl., and Walter Bass of Halifax County; two sisters, Anne Bass Burke of Chatham and Jewelle Bass Rosser of Graham, N.C.
A private memorial service will be held today, August 5, and the family will receive friends at the home of Walter Bass, 7040 Philpott Road, this evening from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be sent to the First Cross Roads Baptist Church, 1122 Melon Road, South Boston, Va. 24592, or a to a charity of choice.

Lillie Lloyd Martin

Mrs. Lillie Lloyd Martin of 116 Rosehill Drive, South Boston, died August 2, 2002, at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was born in Halifax County on January 1, 1922 and was 80 years old.
Mrs. Martin was the daughter of Mr. Charlie Lloyd and Mattie Moore Lloyd and was married to John J. Martin. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Millstone.
Survivors include one son, Charlie (Buck) Martin of Rustburg; five daughters, Doris M. Conner and Virginia M. Holt, both of Nathalie, Myrtle M. Williams and Jean M. Anderson, both of South Boston, and Betty M. Hailey of Halifax; one brother, Jesse Lloyd of Brookneal; two sisters, Thelma Martin of Randolph and Louise Covington of South Boston; one grand God child, Kristen Howell; and 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Martin was predeceased in death by two brothers, Dewey and James Lloyd, and two sisters, Evelyn and Gracie Martin.
Services for Mrs. Martin were held Sunday at First Baptist Church of Millstone with the Revs. Bob Watts and Dr. Bill Leonard presiding.
Burial took place in the church cemetery.

Lizzie Dell Tuck Roark Martin

Lizzie Dell Tuck Roark Martin, 87, of 1101 Sam's Trail, Nathalie, died July 31 at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mrs. Martin was born in Halifax County on April 1, 1915, the daughter of Thomas Edward Tuck and Jennie Bell Crews Tuck. She was first married to Claude C. Roark then to Roy W. Martin, and was a member of First Baptist Church of Millstone.
Survivors of Mrs. Martin include one son, Claude C. Roark Jr. of Kimberly, AL; two daughters, Agnes R. Gregory of Halifax and Kaye R. Boelte of Long Island; three stepdaughters, Peggy M. Fisher of Nathalie, Nell M. Kinnier of Amherst and Beth M. Wooding of Halifax; seven grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Services were held August 3 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Millstone with the Rev. Bob Watts officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Liberty Volunteer Fire Department.

Lonnie Johnson Newton Jr.

Mr. Lonnie Johnson Newton Jr. of 1157 Cody Road, Nathalie, died August 2, 2002, at his home. He was born in Granville County, N.C., on November 5, 1918, and was 83 years old at death.
He was the son of Mr. Lonnie Johnson Nerwton Sr. and Mrs. Allene Watkins Newton and was married to Ruby Conner Newton.
Mr. Newton was a member of First Baptist Church of Republican Grove and was retired from the Baptist Sunday School Board, Nashville, Tenn.
Survivors include his wife and two sons and daughters-in-law, Lonnie J. and Allene H. Newton III of Hendersonville, Tenn., and Lawson and Lisa E. Newton of Advance, N.C.; one sister, Elizabeth N. Taylor of Oxford, N.C.; three brothers, Nelson Newton of Dunn, N.C., James Newton of Rose Hill, N.C. and John Newton of Wilmington,N.C.; and four grandchildren, Carrington Carter Newton of Louisville, Ky., Benjamin Thomas Newton of Boone, N.C., Elizabeth Morgan of Hendersonville, N.C. and Ashley Nicole Wiles of Wilmington, N.C.
He was predeceased in death by a brother, Taylor Newton.
Services for Mr. Newton were held Sunday at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the Revs. Shelton Miles and Dr. Melvin Bradshaw presiding.
Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Leo Yancey

Mr. Leo Yancey of Oxford, N.C., died August 2, 2002, at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 81.
Born in Granville County, N.C., he was the son of the late Mr. Nelson Yancey and Esmon Pointer Yancey and was a member of the New Johnathon Creek Baptist Church.
Mr. Yancey is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Madaline Y. Wilkerson of Oxford, N.C. and Mrs. Mary Easterling of Cluster Springs; one son, Hurel Bumpars of Columbia, S.C.; three sisters, Mrs. Annie Y. Hilliard and Mrs. Daisy Y. Hilliard, both of Buffalo Junction, and Mrs. Classie Hilliard of Arlington; one brother, Willie Yancey of Newark, N.J.; 18 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 1:00 p.m. at the New Jonathon Creek Baptist Church with interment to follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mrs. Madaline Wilkderson in Oxford, N.C.