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WHEREAS, functional electric infrastructure is of critical importance to the City of Pittsburgh; and,
WHEREAS, reliable electric service depends on a skilled, experienced workforce that has the training and resources to do its job safely; and,
WHEREAS, the members of IBEW Local 29 have been engaged in contract negotiations with Duquesne Light Company (DLC) prior to the expiration of their existing contract on Sept. 30; and,
WHEREAS, after negotiations failed, IBEW Local 29 members initiated a strike on October 1; and,
WHEREAS, for several years, IBEW Local 29 leadership has raised concerns about staffing shortages as well as documented unsafe working conditions and workplace injuries; and
WHEREAS, those shortages have impacted DLC’s service and have contributed to power outages lasting nearly two weeks for some residents following severe weather events; and,
WHEREAS, these issues deserve to be addressed in good faith at the bargaining table in a way that takes workers’ concerns around workplace safety, inadequate staffing, retirement benefits, and fair wages seriously; and,
WHEREAS, IBEW 29 leadership has reported troublesome behavior on the part of DLC, including circumventing the bargaining process by releasing details of contract drafts and moving to employ out-of-state, non-union replacement workers to cross the IBEW Local 29 picket line; and,
WHEREAS, collective bargaining requires good-faith negotiations and should result in a fair agreement that protects workers, respects the collective bargaining process, and recognizes the contributions of the people who keep our region and its power grid running;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby urges Duquesne Light Company to return to the bargaining table in good faith in order to quickly resolve the disputes to reach an agreement and ensure that IBEW Local 29 workers receive a fair contract and that Pittsburgh residents do not experience stops i...
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