Any truth to the story that union utility workers in NY.....

[Hotler]

are running off non-union utility workers coming in from out of state to help with repairs after the storm??? Links please. A coworker is spreading that story and I call bullshit.
Thank you.

[pinboy3niner]

1. Snopes says it's FALSE:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/sandyunion.asp

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. No it was about their certification

They had to check to make sure they were qualified to work on the electrical system that was damaged. Apparently there are significant differences and just because you can repair the lines in one state doesn't guarantee you can repair them in another state.

Union membership has nothing to do with that.

[NJCher]

3. I was going to call the union

to see if there was any truth to it. Sounds to me like r-w BS. I first heard it from a caller on C2C.

I talked to some of the line men from out of state myself. They said they were getting paid well. A friend said he thought the guy said $16 an hour, but that couldn't be right. I am thinking he misheard and it's 60 an hour, which would be about right for skilled work and then something extra for being away from their families.

We tried to give them some money as a thank you for coming all the way up here, but they refused to take it. This was after they had the lines fixed.

Here's an interesting article on the line men and out-of-state troopers who came here to our rescue:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/sandy_relief_becomes_national.html#



Cher

[DonViejo]

4. This story originally came up in the days...

immediately after the hurricane hit NYC and NJ, the closing days of the Presidential race too. The RW went nuts with it. The Union denied the charge, as did the men involved and, I believe, some State officials from the volunteers home States. You can probably find more articles here on DU if you do a search.

[Hotler]

5. Thank you. nt

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Thoroughly debunked. See these threads by Omaha Steve:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014288086

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021816086