[PlumberKhan]

Originally Posted by Fishooked

Joe Wheeler Cooperative?

I mean but still...help is help...doesn't make any sense to me...

This just showed up in my FB news feed:

http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/201...incart_m-rpt-2

Major utility companies in New Jersey said that they are welcoming any and all out-of-state crews helping to restore power, and have not refused any non-union contractors.

At least one media report out of Alabama claims that personnel from that state were turned away in Seaside Heights because they were not affiliated with a union.

“We take crews as they become available,” said Ron Morano, a spokesman for Jersey Central Power & Light. “Everyone understands this is an all-hands-on-deck event.”

He said crews from throughout the nation were now working in JCP&L’s service area, including from California, Idaho, Kentucky, Florida, Michigan and North Carolina.

He did suggest that municipal companies might have issues working side-by-side with non-unionized contractors.

“We did not turn any crews away,” he said.

A Public Service Electric & Gas spokeswoman also said the extent of damage from Monday’s superstorm called for as much manpower as could get here.

“We have not turned any mutual-aid crews away,” Deann Muzikar said. “We’re taking any help we can possibly get.”

As of Wednesday, about 1,050 out-of-state contractors were working in PSE&G’s service area, she said, including from utility companies in Canada, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Pennsylvania and other states.