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Thanks a Lot: Utility Union Strikes in the Middle of Heat Wave
Townhall.com ^ | July 1, 2012 | Katie Pavlich

Posted on 07/01/2012 2:00:04 PM PDT by Kaslin

Remember when New York City's unionized sanitation workers refused to work during the middle of a deadly blizzard in 2010? All because they were protesting the budget? 

Selfish Sanitation Department bosses from the snow-slammed outer boroughs ordered their drivers to snarl the blizzard cleanup to protest budget cuts -- a disastrous move that turned streets into a minefield for emergency-services vehicles, The Post has learned.

Miles of roads stretching from as north as Whitestone, Queens, to the south shore of Staten Island still remained treacherously unplowed last night because of the shameless job action, several sources and a city lawmaker said, which was over a raft of demotions, attrition and budget cuts.

"They sent a message to the rest of the city that these particular labor issues are more important," said City Councilman Dan Halloran (R-Queens), who was visited yesterday by a group of guilt-ridden sanitation workers who confessed the shameless plot.

Remember when that protest resulted in the death of a new born baby who could not be reached by an ambulance because workers refused to clear the streets?

A blizzard baby delivered inside the lobby of a snowbound Brooklyn building died after an emergency call of a woman in labor brought no help for nine excruciating hours.

The baby's mother, a 22-year-old college senior, was recovering Tuesday night at Interfaith Medical Center, where her newborn was pronounced dead at 6:34 p.m. on Monday. That was 10 hours after the first 911 call from the bloody vestibule on Brooklyn Ave. in Crown Heights.

"No one could get to her. Crown Heights was not plowed and no medical aid came for hours," said the student's mother.

 

Well now, unionized utility workers are going on strike....in the middle of a heat wave.

Negotiations stopped just before 2 a.m. Sunday, 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.

On Sunday 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 good news:

The 8,500 unionized workers told the company they'd be willing to work without a contract to keep the power company running, said John Melia, spokesman for Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers of America.

"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.



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
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1 posted on 07/01/2012 2:00:06 PM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
"This is crazy! There's a heat wave," said David Palomino, a facility mechanic...

"We are living in the age of insanity." - The late grat George Putnam.

2 posted on 07/01/2012 2:01:46 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both)
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To: Kaslin

So there you have it: Easterners hate working families and the environment.

No big shock that the racist Tea Party is taking over.

/sarc


3 posted on 07/01/2012 2:02:17 PM PDT by Tzimisce (THIS SUCKS)
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To: Kaslin

EVERYBODY should be “unionized” - - it’s the Democrat dream!
Only then can America be as great as... France.


4 posted on 07/01/2012 2:02:36 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
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To: Kaslin

This is a different form of a death panel.


5 posted on 07/01/2012 2:06:29 PM PDT by mountainlion (I am voting for Sarah after getting screwed again by the DC Thugs.)
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To: Kaslin

Word has it that muni bus drivers in Columbus OH are striking tomorrow.


6 posted on 07/01/2012 2:07:50 PM PDT by Conservative4Ever (The Obamas = rude, crude and socially unacceptable)
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To: Kaslin

Hey muni unions: Thanks for making Governor Scott Walker look like a genius.


7 posted on 07/01/2012 2:10:30 PM PDT by Steely Tom (If the Constitution can be a living document, I guess a corporation can be a person.)
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To: Kaslin

>> We recognize we have a responsibility to the people of New York City and Westchester County,” the suburban county north of the city.

Thanks for doing what you’re getting paid to do. /s

Too bad the NYC DOT didn’t feel the same way during the snowstorm that resulted in a terminal pregnancy.


8 posted on 07/01/2012 2:11:28 PM PDT by Gene Eric (Your Hope has been redistributed. Here's your damn Change!)
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To: Kaslin

If they strike, and someone dies (from heat etc.) due to loss of electricity or water... I say charge every single union member as an accessory to murder. Every single person from the top down to the kid that joined last week.


9 posted on 07/01/2012 2:12:25 PM PDT by ThunderSleeps (Stop obama now! Stop the hussein - insane agenda!)
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To: Kaslin
Just the opposite of what a good business in a competitive environment would do in the event of a community disaster. Good work, union thugs.
10 posted on 07/01/2012 2:17:26 PM PDT by 4Liberty (88% of Americans are NON-UNION. We value honest, peaceful Free trade-NOT protectionist CARTELS)
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To: Kaslin

Give ‘em till midnight. If they aren’t at work, fire them and hire replacement workers. This is a state of emergency. I’m not sure if such a strike is even legal.


11 posted on 07/01/2012 2:20:15 PM PDT by meyer (It's 1860 all over again - the taxpayer is the new "N" word)
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To: mountainlion; Kaslin

12 posted on 07/01/2012 2:22:57 PM PDT by 4Liberty (88% of Americans are NON-UNION. We value honest, peaceful Free trade-NOT protectionist CARTELS)
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To: 4Liberty

begs the question.

should utility unions be in the “illegal to strike” category?

either way it is time to break all unions.


13 posted on 07/01/2012 2:25:36 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: meyer
I’m not sure if such a strike is even legal.

This falls under the same circumstance that led to Reagan's action against the air traffic controllers. He wouldn't have interfered with auto workers but in cases where strikes threaten public safety, firm measures are warranted.
14 posted on 07/01/2012 2:27:03 PM PDT by cripplecreek (What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?)
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To: Kaslin

I say Unionize The Unions!!


15 posted on 07/01/2012 2:27:44 PM PDT by SkyDancer ("Ambition Without Talent Is Sad - Talent Without Ambition Is Worse")
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To: meyer

16 posted on 07/01/2012 2:29:32 PM PDT by 4Liberty (88% of Americans are NON-UNION. We value honest, peaceful Free trade-NOT protectionist CARTELS)
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To: Kaslin

See, wind generators and solar your electricity would still be on...no? /s


17 posted on 07/01/2012 2:40:28 PM PDT by hadaclueonce (you are paying 12% more for fuel because of Ethanol. Smile big Corn Lobby,)
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To: Kaslin
"This is crazy, there's a heat wave!"

This is crazy, Obama just shut down a bunch of coal plants!

18 posted on 07/01/2012 2:42:34 PM PDT by Mamzelle
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To: Steely Tom

Scott Walker doesn’t LOOK like a genius, he IS a genius. ;^)


19 posted on 07/01/2012 3:17:25 PM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
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To: Kaslin

Using the con-Ed advertisment

Picket line ..... I’m on it!


20 posted on 07/01/2012 3:22:01 PM PDT by shoff (Vote Democratic it beats thinking!)
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