| I read some mis-information in several places on the web regarding power companies helping the areas affected by Sandy & thought I would share this from NorthJersey.com: http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen/Non-union_power_crews_welcomed_in_NJ_to_help_restore_service_state_says.html?page=all Non-union power crews welcomed in NJ to help restore service, state says Friday November 2, 2012, 1:04 PM BY JOHN REITMEYER STATE HOUSE BUREAU The Record New Jersey's power companies are stressing today that they are accepting help from both union and non-union crews during the massive effort to restore power to those still in the dark in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The clarification comes after a utility company from Alabama said a six-man crew was headed to New Jersey on Wednesday, but turned back in Virginia after they said concerns were raised about whether New Jersey would accept help from the company's non-union utility crew. Non-union crews should not be concerned about coming to New Jersey to help bolster the efforts of New Jersey utility companies, officials said today. "We are accepting any available resource," said Karen Johnson, a spokeswoman for PSE&G. "We are working with our union and have non union crews participating in our restoration efforts," said Ron Morano, a spokesman for JCP&L. "We continue to accept support from out of state utility companies and contractors." Confusion arose after an Alabama television station reported yesterday that a non-union crew was turned away. A statement issued today from Alabama-based Decatur Utilities said the company believes its crew would have had to agree to certain conditions to work in New Jersey, and pulled its crew back from a Virginia staging area as a result. At no time was the crew "turned away" by anyone in New Jersey, the statement said. Thousands still remain without power in New Jersey days after the storm hit, with many suffering through cold nights without heat or hot water. No out-of-state crews - union or non-union - that are coming to help New Jersey utilities will be turned away, said Kevin Roberts, a spokesman for Governor Christie. "We are welcoming whatever help comes in, union or non-union, to assist with the recovery," he said. |