Con Ed, workers' union still far apart on 10th day of lockout

Con Ed and its largest employee's union were still far apart Tuesday on a contract agreement that would bring more than 8,000 people back to work, officials from both sides said, as an employee lockout of the energy supplying company stretched into its 10th day.

Con Ed said it was "hopeful" that they could come to an agreement with Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 after a spokeswoman said it offered a new contract proposal Tuesday afternoon. It was the first time both sides had met since Saturday.

But union spokesman John Melia slammed the company for its "thug-like, union-busting behavior," accusing it of lying to the public and the press. He said the union's demands had yet to be met, but would not comment on Con Ed's proposal, saying, "we're not going to debate a collective bargaining agreement in public."

The two sides are still at odds over worker salaries, health care costs and pensions.

Con Ed locked out its workers last Sunday morning, just hours after their employees' contract expired, and at the beginning of a weeklong heat wave. The company's 5,000 managers have been performing the worker's duties, along with some outside contractors.

At least four managers have been injured on the job since the lockout began, Con Ed said, including one man whose face was burned while on the job, and another who was blasted in the ear with an air horn by a protesting worker.