Local 1101 Rallies to tell ConEdison: “DON’T BE CHEAP!”

Dozens of fired up 1101 members - along with ally elected officials - rallied loud and energetically outside of ConEdison headquarters in New York City on September 21st to fight back against the energy company’s plans to cut union jobs in favor of cheap contractors.

United States Infrastructure Corporation (USIC) workers represented by CWA Local 1101 are a critical part of New York City and Long Island’s building and infrastructure process, performing essential “tone and mark” work, identifying electric and gas lines, water mains and internet infrastructure in and around construction sites before any project commences and a company breaks ground on a city street. But ConEd recently released a contract bid for tone and mark work, signaling their intention to drop USIC in favor of cheaper, non-union contracted labor - despite posting $1.5 billion in profits in 2021.

“I’ll tell you right now as a lifelong customer of ConEd, I am disgusted with what they are trying to do,” Local 1101 President Keith Purce said. “There could be a gas explosion, or an electrical outage, hospitals going out of power just because they wanted to hire cheaper labor.”

Local 1101 members were joined by CWA Local 1102, as well as several elected officials who spoke out in support of the workers: NYC Comptroller Brad Lander; NYS Senators Jessica Ramos, Brad Hoylman, Gustavo Rivera; Councilmember Marjorie Velázquez; and NYS Assembly candidate Alex Bores.

“Every job, a union job!” CWAers chanted as ConEdison came out of the building to watch.

“Just as ConEd is asking New Yorkers to accept higher utility rates, they are seeking to cut an important union workforce out of their operations,” said NYS Senator Jessica Ramos, Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. “The work CWA Local 1101 members do for ConEd is critical and potentially dangerous work. It protects the rest of us from gas main explosions and electricity outages. If ConEd is worried about their bottom line, their best bet is to pay for high standard, high-quality union work, rather than paying the expensive costs of shortcuts down the road.”

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