USIC & Reconn

USIC Workers Protect their Work and Ratify a New Contract

After a hard-fought battle, workers at USIC ratified a three year contract. Before the contract fight at USIC, we had to pressure Con Edison to renew their tone-and-mark contract with USIC. “Con Ed thought they’d be able to give the contract to a non-union company and pay less,” said CWA 1101 Executive VP Al Russo. Contractors submitted bids that undercut USIC. “But they didn’t take into account that because New York City passed prevailing wage, sick time, and on-call laws in the last few years - laws we fought hard to get enacted - contractors would have to abide by those laws as well,” Russo said. We mobilized political support from legislators who helped put those laws in place, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, to convince Con Edison to keep their tone-and-mark contract with USIC. In addition to Lander, NY State Senators Jessica Ramos, Brad Hoylman and Gustavo Rivera, and NYS Assembly Person Alex Bores all helped us keep the pressure on Con Ed.

With the Con Ed contract with USIC in place we were able to negotiate a three year contract with USIC. The contract includes additional pay for members who are training new hires, more sick days and Paid Time Off, and a shorter time span to accrue vacation. “We’ve come a long way from the first contract we negotiated with USIC in 2016,” Russo said. “Through our successful efforts to get USIC workers included in prevailing wage law, members on-going mobilization, and bargaining, USIC members have raised their standard of living and improved working conditions significantly.”

The Bargaining Committee included Local 1101 Executive VP Al Russo, Business Agent Heather Trainor, Division Chief Ficorelli, Lead Organizer Keith Hogarty, USIC stewards Larry Howard and Rich Garvey, and CWA District 1 Staff Representative John Dempsey.

USIC Con ed rally with electeds

USIC workers with Elected Officials at Con Edison rally