Le Socialiste
18th July 2012, 07:29
NEW YORK — Locked-out Consolidated Edison workers and other union members pledged to stand together at a Manhattan rally in support of the utility employees.
Tuesday's loud, boisterous rally was held in Union Square in the midst another heat wave blanketing New York City. Joining the members of Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 were members of the Transport Workers Union, the United Federation of Teachers, and others who threw their support to the utility workers.
"Your fight is our fight," said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
"This struggle isn't just about Con Ed workers, it's about all of us," he told the cheering crowd.
The Con Ed workers were locked out on June 30 after their contract expired and negotiations over a new one failed. About 5,000 managers are keeping electricity going for 3.2 million customers in New York City and Westchester County. Talks between the utility and its largest union resumed on Monday.
Neither Con Ed nor the union has indicated any real progress.
Union spokesman John Melia says the company "bowed to public pressure" in reinstating health insurance for the 8,500 locked-out workers. Workers are covered for July, retroactively.
—Copyright 2012 Associated Press
http://online.wsj.com/article/APdfe2ea64600e47609e9439bebebdee39.html
On July 17, the UWUA will hold a mass rally, starting at Con Ed headquarters at 4:30 p.m. and continuing at Union Square. This is an important next step in broadening this struggle and pushing it forward.
Everyone in New York City who thinks that a living wage, a pension and power at the workplace should come before the profits of the 1 percent should get involved in supporting the Con Ed workers, who keep the lights on for more than 12 million people. "Whatever it takes" should guide the strategy in organizing against this union-busting attack--one that will that will affect all workers.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
New Yorkers can join a rally for a fair contract on July 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Union Square. The demonstration, called by UWUA Local 1-2 and the New York City Central Labor Council, will assemble at the Con Ed headquarters picket line at 4 Irving Place at 4:30 p.m.
Get on the union's text-alert system by texting "UWUA" to 877-877.
Visit one of the picket lines at:
-- Headquarters, 4 Irving Place, Manhattan
-- 125th Street Office, 360 W. 125th St., Manhattan
-- 110th Street Yard, 2141 1st Ave., Manhattan
-- The Learning Center, 43-82 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City
-- Astoria Yard, 31-01 20th Ave., Astoria
-- Flatbush Office, 30 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
-- 3rd Avenue Yard, 222 1st St., Brooklyn
-- Neptune Yard, 1201 Neptune Ave., Brooklyn
-- College Point Yard, 124-15 31st Ave., Queens
-- Hillside Office, 88-11 165th St., Jamaica
-- Fordham Yard, 448 East Fordham Rd., Bronx
-- Van Nest Yard, 1601 Bronxdale Ave., Bronx
http://socialistworker.org/2012/07/17/con-ed-workers-need-support
Tuesday's loud, boisterous rally was held in Union Square in the midst another heat wave blanketing New York City. Joining the members of Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 were members of the Transport Workers Union, the United Federation of Teachers, and others who threw their support to the utility workers.
"Your fight is our fight," said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.
"This struggle isn't just about Con Ed workers, it's about all of us," he told the cheering crowd.
The Con Ed workers were locked out on June 30 after their contract expired and negotiations over a new one failed. About 5,000 managers are keeping electricity going for 3.2 million customers in New York City and Westchester County. Talks between the utility and its largest union resumed on Monday.
Neither Con Ed nor the union has indicated any real progress.
Union spokesman John Melia says the company "bowed to public pressure" in reinstating health insurance for the 8,500 locked-out workers. Workers are covered for July, retroactively.
—Copyright 2012 Associated Press
http://online.wsj.com/article/APdfe2ea64600e47609e9439bebebdee39.html
On July 17, the UWUA will hold a mass rally, starting at Con Ed headquarters at 4:30 p.m. and continuing at Union Square. This is an important next step in broadening this struggle and pushing it forward.
Everyone in New York City who thinks that a living wage, a pension and power at the workplace should come before the profits of the 1 percent should get involved in supporting the Con Ed workers, who keep the lights on for more than 12 million people. "Whatever it takes" should guide the strategy in organizing against this union-busting attack--one that will that will affect all workers.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
New Yorkers can join a rally for a fair contract on July 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Union Square. The demonstration, called by UWUA Local 1-2 and the New York City Central Labor Council, will assemble at the Con Ed headquarters picket line at 4 Irving Place at 4:30 p.m.
Get on the union's text-alert system by texting "UWUA" to 877-877.
Visit one of the picket lines at:
-- Headquarters, 4 Irving Place, Manhattan
-- 125th Street Office, 360 W. 125th St., Manhattan
-- 110th Street Yard, 2141 1st Ave., Manhattan
-- The Learning Center, 43-82 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City
-- Astoria Yard, 31-01 20th Ave., Astoria
-- Flatbush Office, 30 Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
-- 3rd Avenue Yard, 222 1st St., Brooklyn
-- Neptune Yard, 1201 Neptune Ave., Brooklyn
-- College Point Yard, 124-15 31st Ave., Queens
-- Hillside Office, 88-11 165th St., Jamaica
-- Fordham Yard, 448 East Fordham Rd., Bronx
-- Van Nest Yard, 1601 Bronxdale Ave., Bronx
http://socialistworker.org/2012/07/17/con-ed-workers-need-support