Consolidated Edison and the union that represents nearly 9,000 of its workers appear to be making little headway in negotiations to renew their four-year contract before its expiration at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday. Workers from Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America, who have not gone on strike in a quarter-century, voted overwhelmingly two weeks ago to allow their leaders to call a strike if no agreement is reached by the deadline. As the two sides plan to continue negotiations this weekend in Secaucus, N.J., a spokesman for Con Edison said it would mobilize managers if necessary to keep its electrical grid working. It serves virtually all of the five boroughs and most of Westchester County.
See "Union Says It and Con Edison Are Far Apart on Contract", Ken Belson and Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, June 26, 2008