Brewster, N.Y. – (7/11/12) – On July 1, 2012 Con Edison locked out 8,500 employees after contract talks broke down with Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America.
Yesterday, Senator Greg Ball (R, C-Patterson), met with the men and women protesting the “Lock-Out” and said, “While I’m glad to hear that Con Ed management is, ‘prepared to keep the system running for as long as necessary’ an element of basic fairness dictates that management properly negotiate with labor in good faith and avoid the unacceptable position of putting 8500 local families on the unemployment line, at taxpayer expense, while hurting consumers and residents in the process with greatly diminished services.”
The four-year agreement expired at midnight Saturday. Con Edison has reassigned about 5,000 employees to cover, with concerns of out of state temporary workers filing the gaps.
After meeting with labor representatives yesterday, Senator Ball said, “There are 3.2 million Con Edison customers and 350,000 reside in Westchester County. There is never a good time for Consolidated Edison workers to be on picket lines and that is especially so when it is as hot as Hades! Utility workers are the backbone keeping us in the 21st century, with all the creature comforts, and it is critical that management provides the framework for an immediate and lasting agreement. The sooner these hard working men and women are allowed to return to work, and both sides meet with open hearts at the bargaining table, the better for Westchester and beyond.”
For more information or to speak with Senator Ball, please contact Joe Bachmeier at 845-531-9796.
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