(NEW YORK) – Responding to Consolidated Edison closing Walk-In Centers, suspending Meter Readings and limited work on Major Construction Projects in New York earlier this week after contract talks between the New York City Utility and its Unionized Workers broke down in the middle of a wave of extremely hot weather, New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento is publicly telling Con-Ed: “You picked the wrong fight.”

“Con Edison’s actions early Sunday morning were nothing short of reprehensible,” Cilento said in a statement distributed to media outlets by the State AFL-CIO. “They displayed unbridled contempt, not only for their Workers, but for their loyal Customers.  Instead of continuing to bargain in good faith with Utility Workers Local 1-2, Con Edison chose to fire their Union Workers, thus endangering the safety and well-being of millions of New Yorkers.”

Cilento said the Utility Workers “had a choice of whether to continue bargaining in good faith, or to strike, and they chose to negotiate.  Con Edison had the choice to continue bargaining in good faith or to lock out their Workers.  They chose a lock-out.”

Cilento added: “It’s clear that Con Edison made this reckless choice, sacrificing the well-being of their Customers and Workers, for the sole purpose of attempting to intimidate and ultimately break the Utility Workers Union.  Well, on behalf of the two-point-five-million Workers of the New York State AFL-CIO, we have one very clear and simple message for Con Edison: ‘You picked the wrong fight.’  Our Members are unified in this battle, a battle that started as a result of Con Edison’s deeply-misguided notion that they could intimidate Local 1-2, and by extension the Labor Movement in New York.  It’s just the opposite.  The Utility Workers will have the resources of the New York State AFL-CIO and its Brother and Sister Unions at their disposal for as long as necessary.  Not only has Con Edison put the safety and well-being of millions of New Yorkers at risk, they are also now on the verge of costing New York’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund approximately three-point-four-million dollars a week, beginning next week.  Because Con Edison locked out their Workforce, those Workers will be eligible to file for Unemployment Insurance Benefits seven days after the lockout began.  As a result, eighty-five-hundred Workers will be eligible for up to four-hundred-and-five dollars a week for at least the next twenty-six weeks.  Con Edison has single-handedly added to the economic difficulties facing our State and placed an unnecessary strain on the UI Trust Fund hurting other Employers throughout the State who contribute to the fund.  We urge Con Edison to put its Customers and Workers ‘first’ and to immediately begin negotiating in good faith with Local 1-2. I f not, they better know that the two-point-five-million Union Members of this State are in this battle for the long haul.”

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Your Regional, On-Line Labor Newspaper published the following Labor News Report on Sunday:

Union-Represented Consolidated Edison Worker Are Dismissed After Negotiations Break Down Early Sunday Morning/The 8,500 Unionized Workers Had Told The Company They'd Be Willing To Work Without A Contract To Keep The Power Company Running

(NEW YORK CITY) - Consolidated Edison closed Walk-In Centers, suspended Meter Readings and limited work on Major Construction Projects in New York today (Sunday, July 1st) after contract talks between the New York City Utility and its Unionized Workers broke down in the middle of a wave of extremely hot weather.

Negotiations stopped just before 2 a.m. this morning, a couple of hours after the existing contract expired.  The impasse came as New York braced for more high temperatures that will increase demand for air conditioning among the utility's 3.2 million customers.

This morning, police set up barricades in front of Con Ed's headquarters near Manhattan's Union Square.  Only two workers stood there, but they said more were expected as they awaken and learn about the lockout.  "This is crazy! There's a heat wave," said David Palomino, a Facility Mechanic who rushed to headquarters after finishing his early shift to find out what was coming next.  "The fight has escalated" between the two sides, said Palomino, who said Workers feared losing chunks of their Pensions and Benefits.

Temperatures were expected to reach into the 90s today, with a heat advisory for the afternoon, and be in the high 80s and lower 90s in coming days.

The extreme weather also included vicious storms from Indiana to New Jersey and south to Virginia that killed at least 13 people and left three million without power.  Most of the damage came in the Mid-Atlantic Region and only scattered outages across Con Ed's service area in New York were reported as of this morning.  Con Ed said it is keeping a close watch on its system and has trained managers working on essential operations.

The 8,500 Unionized Workers told the Company they'd be willing to work without a contract to keep the power company running.  John Melia, a spokesman for Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers of America, said: "We did everything to avert this action," he said. "We recognize that New York City is sweltering right now.  We recognize we have a responsibility to the people of New York City and Westchester County" the suburban county north of the city.

Negotiations lasted just over 10 days over a range of issues, including Pensions, Heath Care and Wages. 

"This is very unfortunate.  Both sides are very far part," Con Ed spokesman Michael Clendenin said.

Melia, meanwhile, said Union Negotiators were kicked out of the room in what he called a "Union-Busting Tactic." "This is not a Labor Issue," he said. "This is a Corporate Monopoly."