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UWUA: Con Ed Utility Workers To Strike If Contract Agreement Not Reached

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Con Edison crews working to restore power knocked out to customers in Brooklyn and Queens from the excessive heat are involved in contract talks and workers have authorized a strike for June 30 if an agreement is not reached.

Harry Farrell, president of Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America, warned his members could be on picket lines if and when the next heat wave hits.

"If we go on our strike, it will be devastating because I don't believe management has the capability of doing what we've just done over the past couple of days," he said. "If there's another heat wave next week and they experience the same kind of difficulties that they've had, who knows what's going to happen."

Local 1-2 represents 8,500 Con Ed workers. Farrell said the negotiations on those workers' contracts, which expire at midnight on June 30, are down to the wire.

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