Storm Panel Hears Utility Unions

HARTFORD (AP) _ Leaders of unions representing Connecticut Light and Power line workers are blaming lower staffing levels and an unwillingness to allow longer shifts for the extended power outages from the freak October snow storm.

The union officials appeared Friday before Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s so-called Two Storm Panel, which is examining the preparedness and response to the snow storm and the remnants of Hurricane Irene.

Frank Cirillo, business manager for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 420, said since 2009, line crews’ work hours have been cut during storms. He said some workers were forced to take longer than eight hours off. He says longer shifts are safe that hundreds of man-hours a day were wasted.

CL&P has said the 16-hour-shifts, followed by eight hours off, were for safety reasons.