Two factions vie for backing from some PE workers. (competition between International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Independen Group Association compete for support at Philadelphia Electric Co.)

At age 110, Philadelphia Electric Co. is having labor pains as two groups compete for support from the company's non-management employees.

For the last two years, The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has had an organizing drive at PE and filed its petition for an election earlier this month.

That rankles leaders of the Independent Group Association, an informal representative of PE workers for 50 years, with an elected president and annual meetings with management that set wage rates and resolve other workplace concerns. Strictly speaking, it is not a union, said William J. Kelly, IGA's president.

The IBEW's petition was filed just as IGA's …