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Jul 22, 2006 9:06 am US/Eastern
Hard At Work? Not These Con Ed Workers
by Ti-Hua Chang
WOODSIDE (CBS) ―
The power problems had Mayor Bloomberg promising swift action by Con-Ed. He said they're doing all they can, but CBS 2 caught Con Edison workers in Woodside not working.
Five Con Edison workers in two vans were caught on video, sleeping, reading newspapers, making phone calls, and removing their sign that indicates they are at work.
This lasted for nearly half an hour.
The workers were asked, "I was just wondering what you guys have been doing this past half-hour? Because I saw the manhole over here. Is this a cable repair?"
One worker said, "We're working over here on the sidewalk. I really can't say anything. We're trying our best. So, that's all I can really tell you right now."
When asked if they were on lunch break for the past half hour, the worker said, "No."
He then added, "I can't really say anything. Sorry."
A co-worker in the Con-Ed truck where this worker was interviewed slept through the entire interview.
The workers then drove off after being asked if they could say what they were repairing.
Residents in the area also questioned the workers. Restaurant owner Luis Figueroa said, "They say, 'Well, I don't know, we don't know yet. We're working on it.' I said, 'But I see you here eating. I saw you for an hour. You've been eating; you've been sitting down here inside the van with the A.C. on.'"
Another resident said, "They were there yesterday. They're not doing anything."
Con Edison officials refused to look at the video of their workers or to explain on camera what they were doing.
Someone from the public relations department at Con Edison spoke with CBS 2 on the phone, saying, "First and foremost, you're not allowed to speak directly to our employees...Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We'll look into it and call you."
Con Edision has yet to follow up on their promise of a return call.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
