Transit Workers Power Up to Support Con Ed Workers
A TWU Local 100 contingent joined hundreds of chanting Utility Workers Union Local 1-2 members who have been locked out of their electrical service and repair jobs at Con Edison. The 8,500 workers were negotiating for a new contract this past Saturday night when management pulled the plug on the talks and told the union members not to report to work, and that managers would be handling repairs and system maintenance in the interim. The talks broke down because Con Ed management wants health care givebacks, pay freezes, and to convert defined benefit pensions to 401 (k) accounts. The Union wants decent raises – and points to Con Ed CEO Kevin Burke’s $11 million salary and the company’s profitability (the company reported a profit of $280 million last quarter, according to Dow Jones) – as the main reason why its demands should be met. On Tuesday morning TWU Local 100 Director of Organizing Charles Jenkins told Con Ed workers that transit workers have committed ourselves to the fight to help them win a decent contract.
You can sign the NYS AFL-CIO’s pledge and leave a statement of support for Con Ed workers here: http://nysaflcio.org/conedlockout/