US News

CON ED WORKERS FACE LIGHTS OUT IF TALKS FAIL

Heated contract talks between Con Edison and the union representing 9,000 of its workers will resume this morning – but a strike could still be called tonight if the sides fail to reach a deal.

Workers had threatened to walk off the job Sunday – after a Saturday night deadline – but Gov. Paterson stepped in at the last minute asking that both the utility company and the union take a 72-hour cooling-off period.

Both sides will return to the bargaining table today at 9 a.m. at the State Labor Relations Board’s offices in TriBeCa. Reps met yesterday to discuss logistics for the meeting.

“We continue to remain hopeful that our discussions with the union leadership will produce a fair and equitable contract for our employees,” said Con Ed spokesman Michael Clendenin.

“We are also committed to securing an agreement that holds down costs for our customers as much as possible.”

A spokesman for Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2 said a new deadline has been set for tonight at 11:59. The union contends that the two sides remain at odds over issues such as wages, health-care costs and pensions.

Con Ed had offered to immediately increase all workers’ wages by 0.5 percent, and some could receive another 0.5 percent increase for “merit,” according to the union.

The utility company also offered to put new hires in a 401(k)-style retirement system, rather than offer them a traditional pension plan.

The proposal – which was rejected last week by the union – also included a 0.5 percent raise in January 2009, followed by 1 percent raises in June 2009, June 2010 and June 2011.

Con Ed said it is hopeful a deal can be reached but has a contingency plan in place if workers strike.

The utility company said supervisors are ready to step in to keep the system running without any disruptions in service if a strike is called.

A work stoppage would involve gas, electrical and steam workers in every borough and Westchester County, with the exception of Staten Island.

The union represents 9,000 of Con Ed’s 14,000 employees.

A strike would cripple the city’s already troubled construction industry by slowing electrical, gas and steam hookups for new developments and rehab projects.

Both sides had been in talks for the preceding 10 days before they broke off discussions Saturday night.

The last contract negotiation between both sides, in 2004, was resolved minutes before deadline and ratified by 55 percent of the union’s members.

The last Con Ed walkout occurred in 1983 and lasted nine weeks.

clemente.lisi@nypost.com