CL&P workers rally at Capitol

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) -- More than 150 Connecticut Light & Power's unionized linemen rallied at the state Capitol on Monday, saying staffing levels at the electric utility are inadequate and are putting workers at risk and impeding service reliability.

The union, which has been without a contract since June, said the utility has about 400 linemen, fewer than it had last October when a snow storm left tens of thousands of customers without power for days. Tens of thousands were also left without power for long periods when the remnants of Hurricane Irene struck the state last August.

"We need help and we need help now, not next year or the year after, but today. We want help," said Steve Casper, a 30-year veteran lineman who works in the New Milford area and is a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 420. He said he works with a crew of 13 people — down seven people from five years ago — that's responsible for eight towns.

Tricia Taskey Modifica, a spokeswoman for the utility, said staffing levels are on par with other utilities across the nation. She said hundreds of experienced crews are brought in from out of state when an emergency strikes.

"The truth of the matter is, it wasn't understaffing that left people without power for more than a week. It was that historic storm that we'd never seen before that devastated our state and devastated our system," she said. "We had 2,200 utility crews on the ground from outside companies who came in to help, so it really wasn't a staffing issue.

The linemen held a noontime rally on the state Capitol steps. Some wore shirts that referred to CL&P as "Corporate Lying Pigs" and held signs that called "safe staffing now," ''stop the greed" and "reliable power." Some top Democratic politicians, including state House Majority Leader Brendan Sharkey and Senate President Donald Williams, turned out to express support for the workers.

Williams said state legislators listened carefully to the workers after the two storms hit Connecticut and used their recommendations as part of a package of changes enacted by the General Assembly and Gov. Dannel P. Malloy to improve preparedness and response to major storms.

"We need to stand with you to make sure those reforms are not just words on a page," Williams told the crowd.

The lineman also received the support of federal officials, including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Reps. Chris Murphy and John Larson, who sent representatives to the rally. Blumenthal, the former state attorney general, called for increased staffing, fair compensation for the workers and affordable rates. He said the company has "the opportunity and obligation to do the right thing for both workers and consumers."

Frank Cirillo, business manager for the IBEW, Local 420, complained that lower staffing levels at CL&P have led to forced overtime under the threat of discipline.

"That's a total shame. It shouldn't be that way," he said.

Modifica said "antiquated union rules" prevent the company from being able to schedule line workers when customers need them most. But Cirillo said the company already has the flexibility it needs to schedule the employees.