Published: June 28, 2010

Two sister unions apparently think Con Ed's not exactly "on it" when it comes to paying fair wages, forcing their cleaning workers to turn to food stamps to survive.

32BJ SEIU and upstate sister union Local 200United kicked off a statewide radio campaign today, encouraging state Assembly members to pass a measure they say lets "National Grid, Con Edison and other public utilities [keep] workers in poverty."

The Assembly version of the legislation (A-10257) is sponsored by Queens' Mike Gianaris, a man who's had his differences of opinion with Con Ed in the past.

"There is no excuse for Con Ed's workers to be on food stamps while its executives have multi-million dollar compensation packages. This bill will allow hundreds of hard working men and women to adequately provide for their families," he told the Daily Politics.

A Senate version of the bill has already passed, and the unions are hoping for an Assembly vote this week.

“New Yorkers do not want to subsidize poverty-wage jobs at big utilities that keep our families and neighbors struggling,” said 32BJ Secretary Treasurer Hector Figueroa. "The Assembly should stand up for taxpayers and workers by voting to close the public utility loophole this week.”

Here's the script for the minute-long spot:

National Grid and Con Edison are at it again. This time, they’re taking advantage of a loophole that keeps thousands of New Yorkers working for poverty level wages—and pushes hidden costs on to the rest of us. This unfair “public utility loophole” lets contractors hired by National Grid and Con Edison pay the women and men who clean their sites little more than the minimum wage. While the big public utilities rake in billions, these workers are trapped in a life of poverty—needing food stamps and other public assistance programs just to survive…programs that all of us pay for. That’s not just wrong. It’s an outrage. The State Senate has already passed legislation to close this unfair loophole. Now it’s up to the Assembly to act. So call your local Assembly Member. Tell the State Assembly to close the “public utility loophole”. Tell them to do it now. Paid for by SEIU Locals 200 and 32 BJ.

You can hear the actual ad by clicking here.