US affiliate Utility Workers of America (UWUA) is taking on National Grid USA over the company’s intent to use contractors at two of its New England subsidiaries—Massachusetts Electric Co. and Narragansett Electric of Rhode Island. UWUA Local 330’s contract prohibits outsourcing, and the union says National Grid’s plan is to contract collection, metering and service-ending operations to a company called Contract Callers Inc.

UWUA says this will not only have a detrimental effect on permanent employees, but will provide hardships to the elderly and low-income citizens of communities the utilities service. The American union has submitted the matter to arbitration, as well as filed unfair labour practice charges with the US government on the breach.