Published: June 18, 2010

National Grid is at it again—trying to scare New Yorkers into believing the company cannot survive without another rate increase. (“Another hit to the wallet,” June 9 News.) Thankfully Sens. William Stachowski and Antoine Thompson stood up to a giant multibillion-dollar company to make sure some of its profits go to the hard-working cleaners and security officers at their facilities.

Public utilities, like National Grid, have been taking advantage of taxpayers and workers by allowing the contractors they hire to pay poverty-like wages. In turn, workers who are earning as little as $7.75 an hour are forced to rely on taxpayer funded programs to support their families. At a time when every penny of our state budget counts, the loophole that allows public utilities to continue putting the bill for their contracted workers’ food, health care and housing back to taxpayers has got to end.

It would cost public utilities only pennies of their profits to make sure these working families are able to support themselves. That’s why the Senate voted to close the loophole, and it’s why the Assembly and governor should follow suit.

Jerry Dennis
President, SEIU Local 200United Syracuse