NEW YORK—Utility Workers Union of America (UWAU), Local 1-2 rebuffed Consolidated Edison’s contract proposal Tuesday evening, describing the proposal as phony, and dashing hopes of a resolution for the three-week-long standoff any time soon.
Con Edison highlighted some of the details of the proposal in a press release, such as wage increases of more than 10 percent over four years, further wage increases for employees who have not yet reached the maximum rate of pay in their job title, and maintaining current pension benefits for employees hired before July 1.
UWAU Local 1-2 said the contract details are misleading. In a press release, the union cited “huge increases in employee payments for health care that will wipe out any improvements in wages and reduce our standard of living.”
The union also said that employees hired after July 1 would only get $800 a month in retirement benefits after 30 years of service, and the proposed wage increases would be minimal to the point of 2 cents a year.
As part of its proposal, the union alleged Con Edison demanded that locked-out employees drop all legal challenges.
Con Edison spokeswoman Sara Banda said, “There’s misinformation circulating about various issues about wages, which is why we put out the information” about the latest contract proposal.
“The negotiations are ongoing,” Banda added. “We look to find a solution to benefit all parties.”
Banda confirmed that about 5,000 management employees, who are not part of any union, are running the company’s system right now in lieu of the utility workers, and with the help of contractors.
Con Edison serves 3.2 million customers in the five boroughs and Westchester County.
John Melia, spokesman for UWAU Local 1-2, said Con Edison “has not been acting in good faith.”
“Negotiation implies that there is a back and forth,” he said. “There has been no back and forth. There is just dictation.”
Contract negotiations between Con Edison and the union broke down at the end of June, after more than 10 days of negotiations.
The Epoch Times publishes in 35 countries and in 19 languages. Subscribe to our e-newsletter.
