Rally to Back Locked Out Con Ed Workers

For the past two weeks, 8,000 ConEd employees, members of Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America,  have been locked out of their jobs during one of the hottest summers on record. These union workers want to return to their jobs, but ConEdison is trying to force them to accept big givebacks on pensions and other issues. The ConEd workers know that if they win, it will be a big victory not just for their union, but for the rest of the 99% as well.

Yesterday, unions held a big rally to support the locked out workers. Chris Maisano took a picture of some of the New York DSA members who turned out in support.

left to right; David Duhalde, Jackie Sewell, Peter Queck, and Andrew Porter.

Bloomberg Business Week reported

Tuesday’s loud, boisterous rally was held in Union Square in the midst another heat wave blanketing New York City. Joining the members of Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 were members of the Transport Workers Union, the United Federation of Teachers, and others who threw their support to the utility workers.

“Your fight is our fight,” said Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union.

“This struggle isn’t just about Con Ed workers, it’s about all of us,” he told the cheering crowd.