Con Edison-union talks collapse amid heat

Consolidated Edison closed walk-in centers, suspended meter readings and limited work on major construction projects in New York Sunday after contract talks between the utility and its unionized workers broke down in the middle of a wave of extremely hot weather.

Negotiations stopped just before 2 a.m. Sunday, a couple of hours after the existing contract expired. The impasse came as the region's high temperatures increased demand for air conditioning among the utility's 3.2 million customers.

Sunday morning, police set up barricades in front of Con Ed's headquarters near Manhattan's Union Square.

"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. He was one of few workers there; a union official said more picketing was planned for Monday.

"The fight has escalated" between the two sides, Palomino said, explaining that workers fear losing chunks of their pensions and benefits.

Temperatures were in the 90s Sunday and expected to be in the middle to high 80s this week.

At an electronics and air conditioning retailer across the street from Con Ed, manager Ramon Nieves said there have been multiple power outages in recent years in his Queens neighborhood.

"I'm mad at Con Ed -- what are they thinking?" he said. "A lot of people could get sick in this heat." He said his store sold about 35 percent more air conditioners this month than in the same, cooler period last year.

Con Ed said it has trained managers working on essential operations.

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."

He disputed the company's claim that its managers could do the job of the union workers.

"They know what happens in a heat wave. They know they don't have the expertise to fix it," he said.

Con Ed said it had wanted a two-week extension of the current contract while negotiations continued, with assurance that the union would not strike without notice. The company said it offered such an extension, signing an agreement to that effect, but that the union didn't sign it. Con Ed said if the union agreed to the extension, employees would be welcomed back.

Negotiations lasted just over 10 days over a range of issues, including pensions, heath care and wages.

"This is very unfortunate. Both sides are very far part," Con Ed spokesman Michael Clendenin said.