Negotiations for a new contract between Connecticut Light & Power and its workers have deadlocked in a dispute over staffing that the union blames on heightened efforts by the utility to never again be caught short in a major storm, The Associated Press reports.
Nearly 200 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers rallied Tuesday in front of the Hartford headquarters of CL&P parent company Northeast Utilities to protest what they say is pressure to work overtime each time a storm looms.
“More boots, fewer suits,” the crowd chanted as a few office workers stared out from inside the building.
Brian Coggshall, 36, an electrician at the utility, said his work group has been cut from 18 to 20 workers to 13 in the four years he’s been at CL&P. Contractors are used to save money and employees are ordered to be on call whenever a storm is brewing, he said.
“The company doesn’t think anyone here has lives,” Coggshall said. “Summertime vacations are ruined. You’re told to be on call.”
The union, which represents about 1,000 workers, is demanding a 30 percent increase in staffing in a new contract. The previous agreement expired June 1.
Caroline Pretyman, a spokeswoman for Northeast Utilities, said staffing is in line with that of other leading utilities. CL&P also relies on the standard practice of calling for aid from other utilities when major storms hit, she said.
Rising health care costs and the union’s refusal that workers pay more are major obstacles to a contract, Pretyman said.
