Utility crews in Alabama know a little something about natural disasters. Working in one of the deadliest tornado states in the country provides invaluable, if unwanted, experience
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They also know that outside assistance is necessary in storm ravaged areas. State crews worked side by side with utility workers from all over the country after the April 27 tornadoes tore through Alabama.
That’s why crews from Decatur, Huntsville and Trinity, Al headed north to Seaside, New Jersey when the city put out a distress call in the wake of Hurricane Sandy’s destruction. Upon arrival, they were turned away because they aren’t a unionized company, according to WAFF in Huntsville.
According to the report, “Derrick Moore, one of the Decatur workers, said they were told by crews in New Jersey that they can’t do any work there since they’re not union employees.”
Several media outlets report that some of the crews moved on to Long Island to help with recovery, while other crews have headed back home.
The Daily Caller reports, “Electric repair work for public utilities in New Jersey is dominated by the International Brotherhood Of Electrical Workers, a unit of the politically powerful AFL-CIO. Many parts of coastal New Jersey are projected to be without electric power for at least seven to 10 more days.”
