Non-Union Utility Workers Not Allowed to Help in New Jersey

You are right, that policy should be suspended. If I lived in that area I would be up in arms! The workers, btw, went elsewhere to help so they didn't go home. But this is absolutely ridiculous. Did you know that there is a federal law that says only union workers can help in a situation like the BP spill? I forget its name but that is one reason that was given for the slow cleanup on the Gulf. The unions won't relax their policy. They have their agenda and will stick to it no matter what, even if it means losing jobs or closing a facility that employs them. At least that is what the union people I know say. There is a reasoning behind it but it is so outdated that it does nothing but harm them these days.

Just a simple case of "who the hell cares what the union says"? They are clearly too powerful as proven here. They have truly lost sight of what their purpose was. It is a pity.

Of course they're not, Union workers want that money but they won't work under such conditions so the good people from another frickin state come to help but are turned away. I think we should stop donating money to help them out as well because unless its got Obama on the face of it, its not worth anything. Yea its wrong but so is the whole Nobama administration, forget those people, they can just rot. If somebody extends a hand you take it, idiots!

If that were true, that would be absolutely awful.... Except it is not true. This lie is sick. http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/union_official_denies_non-unio.html

You need to look into this more as there are private utlitie workers working in my folks twon right now from our state who are not union and they are not having any issues at all being allowed to work. My folks live in the middle of NJ.

Fatcat44 This is the first I have heard of this..it's totally wrong and I would expect an uproar over it...

Why must human institutions (human beings) always want monopolies and 100% POWER!!?? And my second comment: What is wrong with a little common sense for crying out loud!!??

I heard about that and it really irritated me. What has the world come to? It's all about money and power and no one cares about people, especially people who might need help. Some of the news coming from the aftermath of this storm is disturbing indeed.

I understand unions...my husband has been union plumbing/pipefitting for 35 years... and they are so stupid. They are tearing them selves down out of arrogance. I understand the union want to keep their foot hold, but still...the people of NY and NJ are homeless and no utilities and all that...if the union don't want non-union to help out....make all them union people house and feed the people that need the help of a construction worker! But to say they can't help when so much is needed..that is just horrible. What they should do is make what htey have out here...a book 1 which is local members. Book 2 is in-state people, but out of the local people and book 3 which is out of state people with travel cards. Then call of book 1 and when that is cleared and they need more, they go to book 2...and when that is cleared and they need more..they go to travelers book 3. And maybe tell the book 3...we'll keep you for 90 days...after that you leave or you join. But good grief...think of the people of the state...those are the ones that are hurting...sometimes the unions are not that "people orientated". It's all about themselves...forget those that are cold and homeless...they aren't union. Or if the govenor cared about the state..he'd sign some temporary law into order saying...any qualified construction worker that comes to help in an emergency...can automatically be employed, once all the state members have secured jobs and more help is needed.

This is a good fairy tale, but like all fairy tales IT ISN'T TRUE!!!! Here is your link: http://www.cnbc.com/id/49699566

I heard on FOX that Christie said utility trucks from non-union states came up to help but went to where they weren't needed. Whether or not they were sent to where they were needed was not known.

I'm torn on this. I realize they need all the help they can get, but the problem is that they are trying to keep out scam outfits. They learned during Datrina and other catastrophies that there are unscruplous people who will take advantage of the situation. Now, if these non-union outfits are proven to be legitimate, then they should be allowed to help.