Content area
Full Text
The union representing thousands of Consolidated Edison Co. of New York Inc. employees has some harsh words for the utility, arguing that both its physical and human infrastructures need repair.
In a recent assessment of Con Edison's response to Hurricane Sandy, the Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 said lack of a sufficient workforce contributed to a "weakened condition" of the utility's distribution system prior to the storm and led to problems during Con Edison's restoration effort.
"There is simply too much work and too many issues for too few utility workers," said the union, which represents roughly 8,000 field and operations employees.
The union and utility were involved in a contract dispute in 2012 that resulted in Con Edison locking out union employees for nearly a month in July 2012. According to the union, that lockout also weakened Con Edison's...