Non-Union Utility Crew's Claim Of Being Rebuffed In NJ Comes Under Fire

Out-of-state workers have been pouring into New Jersey to help with the recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy, but one Alabama-based utility crew claims that it returned home because of a requirement that all workers be union-affiliated. Labor officials, a New Jersey utility company and Gov. Chris Christie deny, however, that any such condition exists.

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers presented Alabama-based Decatur Utilities with documents stating that any utility crew coming to help out had to be unionized, according to Decatur's general manager, Ray Hardin.