8,500 Con Ed Workers Locked Out After Union, Managers Fail to Reach Contract

New York power utility Consolidated Edison locked out its unionized workers Sunday after contract talks reached an impasse Saturday night, raising the possibility of power cuts during a summer heat wave.

According to a statement from Con Edison, "The company’s offer to extend the current contract remains on the table. Con Edison said if the union leadership agrees to extend the current contract, the company would welcome its employees back immediately...Management also offered to continue negotiations if both sides agreed to give each other seven days advance notice of a strike or work stoppage. The union rejected the offer."

Management for Con Edison, whose company provides the power for the majority of Westchester and New York City, reported Sunday that work on "non-emergency" projects "would have to be limited, though the company still plans to continue to respond as usual to emergenies.

According to an msnbc.com report:

John Melia, a spokesman for the Utilities Workers Union of America (UWUA) said that as of 2 a.m. Sunday (EDT) its 8,500 ConEd power workers were locked out...Both sides continued talking for over an hour after the midnight Saturday deadline expired, but failed to reach a settlement over a new contract for the company's unionized workers. A major sticking point in the contract was ConEd's plan to phase out defined pensions.

The report said union members stated they are look for "a fair contract."

Allan Drury, public affairs manager for Con Edison, provided a document Sunday signed by company representative Mary Adamo offering to continue the labor contract through July 14 while negotiations continue. According to Drury, the union president refused to sign the document (see attached).

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