Employees of Missouri American Water ratified a new labor contract Wednesday night.

The existing three-year contract expired at midnight Wednesday.

Twenty-three workers are affected by the new labor agreement, which is for a three-year period. They are represented by Laborers’ International Union Local No. 579.

“The committee fought hard,” said Scott Howell, business manager for the union. “I believe we got all there was to get.”

The union began negotiating with Missouri American about July 1, he said.

The employees work in the commercial and distribution division, and their work includes repairing water lines and reading meters, Mr. Howell said.

Workers at the water treatment facility are represented by a separate union and are not affected by the contract, said Christie Barnhart, spokeswoman for Missouri American.

The union did not release details of the vote on the contract. It is believed that workers rejected an earlier contract proposal.

Missouri American is owned by American Water Works Co. The parent company was recently sold by RWE and launched as a publicly traded company.

Missouri American has a case pending before the Missouri Public Service Commission to raise water rates. In St. Joseph, the company has requested to raise rates about 8 percent, which would cost the average user $2.50 more per month.

Business editor Susan Mires can be reached at susanm@npgco.com.