Setting the Record Straight on Hurricane Sandy Response (utility crews NOT ‘turned away’ in NY/NJ”)

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.ibew.org/articles/12Daily/1211/121113_SandyResponse.htm

November 13, 2012

IBEW members and hundreds of other workers, union and nonunion, are pulling together to help the Northeast recover from the devastating effects of Superstorm Sandy. The storm slammed coastal areas with strong winds and high seas, simultaneously flooding business and residential areas while knocking down trees and power lines – all in one of the most densely populated areas of the United States.



The recovery has been a massive effort that deserves praise, but instead, there have been erroneous reports that have cast the heroic efforts of IBEW members in a bad light.

There were reports, sketchy at first but then cobbled together with disconnected facts that formed a false and harmful picture of the recovery efforts.

Specifically, many people have been led to believe that the IBEW turned away nonunion workers from assisting in the restoration work and sought to force them to join the union. The reports are absolutely false and paint a picture of a situation that never existed.

No assistance was ever turned away by the IBEW or any of its employers. Reports that help was denied in New Jersey proved to be totally false, even being denied by those who allegedly were turned away.

(WAAY-TV, “UPDATED: Officials say local utility crews NOT ‘turned away’ in NY/NJ”, 11/2/12)

“Decatur Utilities GM: Union Paperwork Was FromAlabama” 11/2/12)

FULL story at link.

[still_one]

1. The problem is this should have come out two weeks ago

[eppur_se_muova]

3. I remember posting something about this at the time ...

There are several articles at al.com ...
http://search.al.com/jersey+power+utilities?date_range=all

(WARNING: slow pages, adware)

After searching, I think this is the article I thought I had posted ...
http://blog.al.com/breaking/2012/11/huntsville_utilities_denies_cl.html
It is certainly a definitive summary/clarification of the earlier, confused reports.

ETA: It looks like Omaha Steve posted it. I guess I saw the same story (in our AL paper, part of al.com) and went to post it but found a thread already up.

[Luminous Animal]

4. Several DUers posted the facts while the propaganda was being catapulted.

So did the Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/non-union-ala-utility-crews-returns-home-before-getting-chance-to-help-restore-power-in-nj/2012/11/02/e9f4ccea-252e-11e2-92f8-7f9c4daf276a_story.html

[Mariana]

5. It did come out two weeks ago.

Those who spread RW lies chose to ignore the earlier stories debunking this particular RW lie, and are continuing to spread it. Therefore, the debunking needs to be repeated.

[still_one]

6. The msm did not bother, and someone should have pushed it in their faces

[Omaha Steve]

7. I had several posts on the DU about it 2 weeks ago

Lost in the shuffle?

[liberalmuse]

2. My RW coworker tried to tell me this last week.

She told me her sister, who works at PUD told her this. I told her that didn't sound right and I'd have to check the source. Sure enough... And it only took me 5 seconds. She still doesn't get it, though. Every time she comes up with something like this, I tell her I have to check the source and do some research of my own before commenting, and every time she's been wrong. Oh, and I let her know. Fox News and RWNJ radio rots brains.