Talks resume in 6-week-old JCP&L strike
(Fri, Jan/21/2005)
NEWARK, N.J. - Striking electrical workers and Jersey Central Power & Light resumed negotiations Friday, the first talks in a week, as the union walkout was into its seventh week.
Despite the assistance of a mediator, "There was no significant progress or breakthrough," said Scott Surgeoner, spokesman for the state's second-largest power company.
Talks with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers are to resume Thursday, he said.
Union spokesman Jack Moriarty said sticking points include company proposals that he said would increase health care costs for retirees and force workers to be on call at all times by carrying either a beeper or cell phone. He likened that to an "electronic dog collar."
Surgeoner said the company is willing to listen to union ideas on how to get in touch with workers in an emergency.
"We need employees to be available when our customers need them most, which is when those customers have a power outage," he said. "As things stand today, we have to call a list of 60 or 70 people to get the four or five we need. And that just wastes time as the customer sits there."
Since some 1,350 workers struck on Dec. 8, the company has been using managers with training as line workers.
The strike is the first since 1987 for JCP&L, which provides electricity to 1 million customers in 13 counties, primarily in the northern part of the state.
The five local unions comprising IBEW System Council U-3 represent linemen, technicians, clerks, mechanics and other employees of the Morristown-based company.
---
On the Net:
IBEW Unit 3 System Council: http://www.ibew1298.org/JCPL-FENews.htm
JCP&L: http://www.firstenergycorp.com/welcome/index.jsp
Article's URL:
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/104-01212005-436578.html
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment