I am livid- anyone doesn't want our help????

[TravelingChris]

Here is the story about how some utility line workers were turned away from helping with restoring power- and yet I hear how many of you don't have it. THis infuriates me.

 

http://www.waff.com/story/19981857/some-nonunion-ala-crews-turned-away-from-sandy-recovery

[justasque]

I've learned not to judge based on one news story. We haven't heard the story from the other side.

 

Managing volunteers during a disaster can be a very complex issue; more so when they're doing skilled technical work. And I'm not clear whether this is volunteer work or paid temp work. I can see how help is needed, but I can also see that companies need to be selective about who works on their equipment, for all kinds of reasons. For example, "Union" might be a quick (but clearly very, very rough) way to assess skills/training in someone you don't know. Or there might be liability/insurance concerns. Or accountability issues - these workers will presumably be using (or billing for) the company's spare parts, possibly tools, etc. In addition, more people is good up to a point, but at some level you end up with more people than you can effectively dispatch and keep track of. If there's not actually a shortage in NJ but there is in NY, then it makes sense to send folks to NY, and again "union" might be a quick-and-dirty way of sorting through potential workers.

 

Or, of course, they could be making horrible decisions, in the face of disaster, that will have real people suffering the consequences.

 

Without hearing the other side, we just don't know why this crew was sent to NY instead of NJ.

Edited November 2, 2012 by askPauline

[Unicorn.]

Wow. That's really sad.

[QueenCat]

I've learned not to judge based on one news story. We haven't heard the story from the other side.

 

Managing volunteers during a disaster can be a very complex issue; more so when they're doing skilled technical work. And I'm not clear whether this is volunteer work or paid temp work. I can see how help is needed, but I can also see that companies need to be selective about who works on their equipment, for all kinds of reasons. For example, "Union" might be a quick (but clearly very, very rough) way to assess skills/training in someone you don't know. Or there might be liability/insurance concerns. Or accountability issues - these workers will presumably be using (or billing for) the company's spare parts, possibly tools, etc. In addition, more people is good up to a point, but at some level you end up with more people than you can effectively dispatch and keep track of. If there's not actually a shortage in NJ but there is in NY, then it makes sense to send folks to NY, and again "union" might be a quick-and-dirty way of sorting through potential workers.

 

Or, of course, they could be making horrible decisions, in the face of disaster, that will have real people suffering the consequences.

 

Without hearing the other side, we just don't know why this crew was sent to NY instead of NJ.

 

Lots of good points to consider. And most news media only give the sensational part of the story. We just don't know what's actually going on here.

[I talk to the trees]

Meh. If the union workers are so superior, let them do the job on their own. And darned if I'd so much as blink the next time they "needed help." :tongue_smilie:

[duckens]

From the deeper storm coverage that I have heard, the job of getting the power back on will be complicated by the flooding. So much of the infrastructure is underground in many of these metropolitan areas (NYC was profiled; not NJ). Workers in many areas can't even START on electrical work until the process of pumping out the underground infrastructure tunnels is in place.

[Carrie12345]

I don't know about NJ, but our utility company in PA has finished the bulk of outages. I think the stats are 290k customers restored out of 340k for PPL. Now they're down to the most complex repairs, but at much fewer sites. I'm assuming you can only use so many hands per problem.

[Elizabeth in MN]

I have friends in West Orange who are being told minimum two weeks to power.

[itsheresomewhere]

That story is false. They have been on the radio repeatedly saying they never turned anyone away. Whoever it was, was not someone with the power company. They did send say they told a crew to head somewhere else that was a more urgent need.

 

It is a big deal up here that someone did this to them. Even AC who has the largest union says they wouldn't turn away help from non union workers.

Edited November 2, 2012 by itsheresomewhere

[Lang Syne Boardie]

Never mind.

Edited November 2, 2012 by Tibbie Dunbar

[charcat13]

http://www.decaturutilities.com/images/stories/DU/PDFS/Press_Release_%20Hurricane_Sandy.pdf

 

Decatur Utilities press release explaining what happened.

[nono]

Trust me, the "news" coverage of this event couldn't be worse if we had state-sponsored television. I guarantee we don't have the whole story.

 

You know how the boarwalk in Atlantic City is gone, according to national reporters? It's not. They all stood in the same spot at the bend, and took shots only in one direction. I kept asking my dh, "Why aren't they showing the shot in the other direction? The one towards where everything is, where it isn't condemned?" But not ONE did. Like lemmings they stand there and LIE to folks in and out of the region. News is no longer about truth in this country, people. Be as wary of "traditional" news sources as you are of info from the internet.

 

Oh, and btw, Atlantic City has reopened. The casinos are opening today(many of which line the boardwalk). The boardwalk is fine. It's been verified by the Atlantic City Press, and locals alike.

[*Michelle*]

http://www.decaturutilities.com/images/stories/DU/PDFS/Press_Release_%20Hurricane_Sandy.pdf

 

Decatur Utilities press release explaining what happened.

 

Huh. So they weren't "turned away," but they were made to believe that they wouldn't be allowed to help unless they affiliated with the union. Interesting.