System Council U-3 (New Jersey) members walk picket, worry about customer service

JCP&L making preparations for possible outages during storm

Published in the Asbury Park Press
By DAVID P. WILLIS
GANNETT NEW JERSEY

With possible snow in the forecast for Sunday night and Monday, Jersey Central Power & Light officials are keeping their eyes on the weather.

A storm is approaching the New Jersey area and is set to bring rain during the day on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Later Sunday night and into Monday, there could be some snow, meteorologist Larry Nierenberg said.

"Like everybody else in New Jersey, we too are watching the weather forecasts," JCP&L spokesman Scott Surgeoner said.

But with 1,350 workers and members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on strike, there are differing opinions on whether the company can handle outages that typically can come along with a winter storm.

"They won't be able to handle it. The highly skilled, trained professionals are carrying picket signs," said Ed Modzelewski, spokesman for System Council U-3, which is made up of five IBEW locals in New Jersey. "The guys that are out on strike know the system the best and are much better able to handle storm restoration."

Surgeoner said the company will be able to handle any outages. The company has plans to move more management and non-union workers from FirstEnergy's utilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania if needed, he said.

"We are not worried about resources from within FirstEnergy," Surgeoner said. "We will be able to assemble what we need if we have to."

During the strike, which began Dec. 8, the company has used management workers to do priority maintenance and emergency repairs to the electric network, including outage restoration, he said. "Our crews have done a remarkable job," Surgeoner said.

Meanwhile, the IBEW plans to hold a rally today from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at JCP&L's headquarters in Morristown to show that the union is united, Modzelewski said. The rally also will focus on the issue of health care for future retirees, he added.

The union has said it has agreed to pay more for employee health care, but the company wants employees' contributions toward health care to increase once they retire.

Talks are scheduled to resume on Tuesday between the union and the company and a state mediator.

The company has said another issue has been work rules, especially those related to making sure there is an adequate response by workers during off-hours. The IBEW has said the union has given JCP&L proposals that addressed the issue, but they were rejected.