Massive Rally Tells National Grid: Back Off Your Giveback Demands!
Over half of the entire membership of TWU Local 101 showed up to rally in front of National Grid's Jay Street headquarters in a clear mandate for a tough line against massive health care cost increases demanded by the employer. With a five-year wage freeze on the table as the price to continue existing health plans, TWU International President Harry Lombardo and TWU Local 100 President John Samuelsen, who is also Executive VP, and Transit and Utility Division Director Jerome Lafragola joined Local 101 President Mike Conigliario and his team on stage to address the membership.
As National Grid management made themselves scarce, union leaders and members expressed their outrage that the huge multinational utility company with revenues of $24 billion worldwide and with US profits of $1.7 billion last year would attempt to force a lower standard of living on its dedicated workers. TWU Local 101 members service gas lines and terminals in Brooklyn and Queens providing safe energy to the largest population center in the United States. Their slogan, "burning bright," expresses what the Union members do and also how they used to feel about the company, the former Brooklyn Union Gas. Now we call the boss "National Greed" -- and their current bargaining position is living up to that name.