‘Don’t be Cheap’: Union Workers Rally Against Con Edison Contractor Outsourcing

Union members from Communications Workers of America Local 1101 rallied with supporters outside Con Edison headquarters near Union Square Wednesday as the energy giant is reportedly planning to drop a union contract in favor of cheaper labor.

NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, Senator Jessica Ramos, Senator Brad Hoylman, and more joined dozens of CWA members at 4 Irving Place imploring ConEdison not to skimp on quality by dropping its unionized utility workers at the United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC)—which is responsible for identifying electric and gas lines, water mains and internet infrastructure prior to construction sites digging into New York City or Long Island streets. CWA firmly reminded Con Edison that the level of expertise and experience from union workers is needed when dealing with underground systems that could potentially cause electrical outages or gas main explosions if not managed correctly, putting workers and residents at risk.

“I’ll tell you right now as a lifelong customer of ConEd, I am disgusted with what they are trying to do,” Local 1101 President Keith Purce said. “There could be a gas explosion, or an electrical outage, hospitals going out of power just because they wanted to hire cheaper labor.” Read more in amNY.