There are crowds gathered and cheering, trumpets blowing, is there a parade in town? No, Consolidated Edison locked out its unionized workers early Sunday after contract negotiations collapsed. On Broadway and in Times Square a digital billboard can consume up to 30 times the energy that an average American home uses, so this news is not good. It also means the management has 5000 running the 8,500 workforce and the work force has taken to the streets in one of the largest displays of solidarity.
The talks broke down over pay, pensions and health care. The company asked representatives from Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Of America for a two-week extension of the contract to continue negotiations. Management reportedly wanted assurances the rank and file would not strike without notice.
Union Spokesman John Melia said management and labor had been negotiating for about 10 days. Melia accused management of employing union-busting tactics. This system is hanging on by a thread and New Yorkers have no idea.
If you have non-emergency services, if you walk-in to pay your bill, if you are moving and want to be turned on, or have a major construction project, you can forget it.
It is the 3.2 million customers whose bills keep going up that again are the ones who are paying.
Posted by Suzanna Bowling
on July 3, 2012. Filed under FAMILY,Family,Headliners,NEWS.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
You must be logged in to post a comment Login