(NEW YORK) - Renewed talks between Consolidated Edison and its Labor Union yielded no results Thursday (July 5th), allowing a five-day lockout that has idled 8,500 Utility Workers to continue.

The meeting at an undisclosed site in New York City, which included Mediators to help Con Edison and the Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 hammer out a new contract, continued into Thursday evening with no end in sight, officials on both sides confirmed.

“The talks are still progressing tonight as we speak and that’s all I know,” said John Melia, a spokesman for UWUA Local 1-2.  Melia said talks would continue into the evening but had little hope an agreement would be reached.  “There won’t be a resolution tonight and rest assured, we’ll be here in the morning,” he said.

A Con Edison spokeswoman confirmed talks were continuing but could not comment further.

Con Edison locked out Union Workers early Sunday after talks broke down and their four-year Labor Contract expired.  That action led the Union to file Labor Charges Thursday with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) alleging an Unlawful Lockout.

In turn, Con Edison rolled out a media campaign Thursday with large print advertising in Westchester County’s and New York City’s Major Daily Newspapers.  The ads stated that the Union refused the Utility’s requests to extend the expired Labor Contract for two weeks, then refused to give seven-days and then 72-hours notice of any Strike.

“Advance notice is important so that we can plan for the safe and reliable operation of our complex energy systems,” it said. “We owe it to you – our customers – to prepare for any work stoppage.  If the workers could walk off the job without warning, we would risk disruption to the system.”

The dispute over a new contract involves Pay, Benefits and Pensions.

Con Edison’s Vice President of Government Relations, John H. Banks, issued a letter Thursday saying that the Utility’s latest proposal to the Union is to maintain a Pension Formula for existing Employees with some modifications; to implement a Cash-Balance Pension Formula for new hires; and to maintain current Sick-Leave Allowances with changes to how future Sick Allowance will be refreshed for Employees returning from Sick Leave.  Banks said the Utility withdrew its proposal to Freeze the Maximum Pay Rate for a limited number of titles whose compensation is above comparable Utilities.

At the Con Edison Substation in Valhalla, about 50 Locked-Out Union Members waved signs bearing the phrase “Whatever it takes” Thursday as temperatures climbed into the mid-90s.

“I’m very disappointed with the Company,” said Diane Miskiewicz, 62, of Somers. “I give forty-three years of dedicated service and they want to take it away all of a sudden.”

Miskiewicz, who has spent her entire career in Con Edison’s Legal Department and is preparing to retire soon, said: “I’m in my house alone.  I don’t have a husband to take care of me.  It hurts.” She said she and the others had heard no reports on how negotiations were unfolding.  “Con Ed always keeps its employees in the dark,” she said.

About 349,000 Customers in Westchester rely on Con Edison for electricity.  The Utility assigned about 5,000 Managers, Contractors and Former Employees to keep power flowing while the 8,500 Union Workers are locked out.

Four Workers have suffered minor injuries this week.  One worker burned his face while working underground Wednesday.  He is expected to be released from the hospital Friday.

Con Ed spokesman Allan Drury said: “We do our best to prevent injuries, but this can be dangerous work and injuries can happen to anyone.”

Union Members have not been paid since the impasse began.  This week, they learned their Health Coverage had been canceled.  Con Edison said that under the Federal COBRA Law, the Union Members can continue their Group Health Coverage at their own expense.

“All of us realize Medical Costs are going up,” said John Gampers, a Con Edison Worker who lives in Garrison’s Continental Village. “We know there have to be concessions there, but we want a Fair Cost-Of-Living Increase and we want the Company to stop harassing us on Sick Time and to leave the Defined Pension Benefits in place.”

Gampers and others said their benefits are whittled each time Con Edison renews its contract with the Union.  Meantime, they said, Compensation for the Utility’s Top Officials has climbed sharply.  A recent Shareholders’ Report shows the total compensation for CEO Kevin Burke rose from $7.9 million in 2009 to $10.9 million in 2011.

“It feels horrible,” Gampers said. “The ‘American Dream’ is gone.”

The Unlawful-Lockout Charge could take two to eight weeks to investigate, NLRB Spokesman Tony Wagner said.  Then, if the parties don’t settle the charge, the Regional Director would dismiss the case or recommend injunctive relief, he said.