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Bad Information’: Chris Christie Explains Story of Why Non-Union Alabama Utility Workers Told Not to Help

Nov. 2, 2012 3:13pm Mike Opelka

UPDATE:

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie addressed the Alabama utility controversy during his afternoon press conference on Friday.

In short, he says the Alabama workers were on their way to New Jersey and called someone (it’s unknown who) while in Virginia. That’s when they were told they couldn’t help if they were non-union. Christie says they were given “bad information,” and such a requirement does not exist. He also said he’s talked with all the power companies involved and assured the public that if such a requirement was in place, he would exercise his power as governor to override it.

Listen below:

Original story below.

Earlier this morning, TheBlaze reported on a story claiming that non-union utility workers from Alabama had been turned away from New Jersey communities in dire need of help. That story went viral as many wondered how a union could be so calloused in the face of a major disaster like the one still unfolding in the Garden State.

The Blaze contacted NJ Governor Chris Christie’s office to ask about this allegation. We await an official response. One Blaze source (who is also a NJ resident) called the Governor’s office to complain about rejecting any help. She claims that she was initially told:

“this was not true and the Govenor’s office was looking into who spread the rumor.”

A follow-up call provided a slightly different twist, as the Governor’s people reportedly told our source:

“The story is probably true, and the Governor is working on it.”

Shortly before 3pm ET, Governor Christie’s office gives us an official statement on this issue:

“We are welcoming whatever help comes in, union or non-union, to assist with the recovery.”

The governor’s official statement, while helpful going forward, doesn’t exactly address what may have happened in the past.

In the meantime, the Newark Star Ledger is reporting that NJ unions are not blocking the workers:

“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(Morano) 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.

The Alabama utility company seems to contradict that statement. From the Decatur Utilities press release on the issue:

Decatur Utilities sent a 6-man crew to the Northeast Wednesday, October 31^st, bound for Seaside Heights, NJ, to assist with power restoration. Communications with Seaside Heights was poor due to lack of cell phone service in the area. Upon arriving at a staging area in Virginia, crews were held in place pending clarification of documents received from IBEW that implied a requirement of our employees to agree to union affiliation while working in the New York and New Jersey areas. It was and remains our understanding that agreeing to those requirements was a condition of being allowed to work in those areas.

Further investigation into the story first carried by WAFF TV in Alabama has confirmed what the press release states.

Is it possible that the Decatur Utilities crew was turned away for not joining the IBEW? Yes. And there are many people involved who are saying that’s exactly what happened.

Additionally, last night on Fox Business, Ray Hardin, the general manager of Decatur Utilities explained the issue to Stuart Varney. Stating that the company’s crews were in a staging area in Virginia when the IBEW sent documents requiring union membership before they could do any work. The company would not agree to unionizing their employees at this time and told their employees to return home to Alabama.

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Comments (251)

HKS
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:43pm
Sounds to me like they did the right thing and returned to home. Let em eat cake.

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- KIWL-DA-WABBIT
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:50pm
  Yeah, let them eat cake! just wait til they start putting people in the camps. If they don’t yet just know this they are using this as a teachable moment. Teaching FEMA how people react, they are learning from this, how better to control the havoc that will be caused here, FEMA will one day start taking people to SAFETY!
  
  Report this comment
- Bluefish49
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:58pm
  This is even worse than being turned away at the job site….the sheer arrogance of the Electrical Union and state authorities….as someone that works with Union trades they all feel that they do work safer, better and under cost….all untrue.
  
  Report this comment
- jungle J
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:08pm
  They did the wrong thing by abandoning the resdents they sholuld have joined the union and then sued later. The would have painted the picture to the public much more clearly that way…..but then again the union members may have murdered them.
  
  Report this comment
- SCREW-WINDOWS
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:12pm
  I’m surprised they didn’t go on strike like the low lifes they are. I bet they are grumbling because now they have work to do.
  
  Report this comment
- nowonuno
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:13pm
  Keep voting DemocRAT and support their union buddies and “your chickens will come home to roost.” Let’s extract all those NOT supporting the rats and leave the rest to enjoy their “utopia”. Hey moron Libs…do you get it yet?!? If not, enjoy your new waterfront property. Maybe they should call “Brownie”.
  
  BTW, a trucker that is sitting outside the Lincoln Tunnel in NJ called the Schnitt Show (http://www.schnittshow.com/main.html) and offered a lot of insight. Schnitt posts free podcasts of the show later, so you can listen to it. He also claimed a photo of BHO that shows him with a couple of military guys from the last storm in New Orleans was Photoshopped. He said his truck was in that spot on the day it was supposedly taken. Can’t confirm, but wouldn’t be surprised.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:16pm
  Why do I still support Obama? (nicely done video)
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RhgnHHhwPI
  
  Spread it around…..
  
  Report this comment
- Spirit 72
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:22pm
  Only God can straighten this mess out! Union, government, and certainly the Obampire can NOT.
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:35pm
  Hi MONK, Excellent video. Really says it like it is.
  
  Report this comment
- Crazyotto
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:36pm
  yeah… have fat boy get out there and do some real work intead contributing to Obama’s re-election. CC is a big fat jerk and NJ deserves big fat jerks telling what to do
  
  Report this comment
- SocialistSlayer
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 5:27pm
  Christie is a Fat Commie !
  
  Report this comment
- turkey13
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 5:34pm
  Come on folks, the NJ Electricial Brotherhood was just protecxting their turf. If these non union workers come in and work for free all that overtime won’t be available. If the Alabama workers had paid $10,000 they could have worked.
  
  Report this comment
- nighttrainno9
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 5:56pm
  MONK
  That was absolutely great, to bad we can get that one on all
  the major networks.
  
  Report this comment
- Sparksalot
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 7:18pm
  Bluefish, Unions like the IBEW have a stranglehold on the northeast. The funny thing is, that list of states from which crews came from includes chapters of the IBEW. I was a young electrician, (5 years ago), and i was going to go work for Florida Power and Light. I was told that a job requirement was membership in the…….. You guessed it, the IBEW. I politely declined, and went to work for a government contractor. We had 3 requirements there, on time, under budget, and 55 hours a week, minimum. When we traveled in the US, we had to be paid at local union rates (Davis- Bacon Act) . We STILL came in under budget. This dream job evaporated with the election of the president. His first order was to mandate all govt contracts be done by UNION contractors. So my job disappeared. I now slave away in retail sales, making peanuts all because of a frigging political hack and some over paid pampered, “my union mandated, in between breaks, break” clowns.
  
  Report this comment
- getitgotitgood
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 7:41pm
  Unions can go straight to hell
  
  Report this comment
- MDKing
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 8:05pm
  Sounds like Jersey isn’t hurting as bad as the main stream media is screaming about doesn’t it. God bless the right to work states, maybe NY and NJ should look into it?
  
  Report this comment
- desertspeaks
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 8:16pm
  sounds like the person who answered the phone in NJ told them that.. a union member??
  
  Report this comment
- scarydave
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 12:36am
  Bluefish49…
  “This is even worse than being turned away at the job site….the sheer arrogance of the Electrical Union and state authorities…”
  That’s the exact same thought I had when reading this updated version of what happened. The folks from Alabama did the only thing they could. Stupid Unions!
  
  Report this comment
- mamatango
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 5:53am
  Union, Spunion, who cares? It’s just a mafia anyway. They collect dues from their workers, then THEY, the Unions vote for “the little people. No one gives a hoot about the “little people” in the unions, but the union bosses get rich off them. And Liberal politicians eat it up.
  
  Sickening and un-American. No other way to describe this filth.
  
  Report this comment
- GETLIFE
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 5:58am
  Love the title of this story.
  No, Christie does not EXPLAIN anything.
  He basically makes it look like the Alabama crew got their info from a roadside phonecall to an anonymous source.
  
  Were they at a staging area?
  Who was informing them?
  
  Just smooth-talkin’ from Christie who implies the crew should have gone all the way to NJ to find out if they were being lied to or not.
  
  Report this comment
- georgette
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 10:33am
  ….. bureaucracy is not hampered by the heavy burden of common sense.
  
  Report this comment
- Pigpen
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 10:38am
  JUNGLE J posted: “…but then again the union members may have murdered them.”
  
  Hey! Another thinking patriot has their EYES WIDE OPEN! Bravo to JUNGLE J !!! As for the rest of you, let us put it this way: Do you remember learning about the Middle Ages? Now what did all of your cynical High School and College professors teach you was the reason WHY all of those Knights fought constantly? Was it for Honor and Chivalry and Faith? NO! It was for LAND! And why LAND? Because land was the ONLY real income producing asset at that time! LAND + LABOR = PROFIT! So now we have abandoned the physiocrat model and we now focus on MARKETS. Do you think that maybe LAND in the Middle Ages and MARKETS today just might have something in COMMON? Do you really BELIEVE that human nature has CHANGED from then to now? REALLY? Are you REALLY so mush-headedly bigoted against the “paraoid paulbots” that you can’t see that MAYBE, just MAYBE all of those “accidents” and “suicides” aren’t what they appear to be? Excuse me, aren’t what they are SPUN to be?
  
  Report this comment
- 00100111
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 1:13pm
  Back pedal, back pedal, back pedal. The word got out if you’re non union you can’t help. They’re embarassed now. The only reason they’re now saying “Anyone can help” is because they got caught.
  
  Report this comment
- wordsofwisdom
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 1:53pm
  How sick is this? Are people so blind to reality that they put their union above helping people recover from a major tragedy. This seems to be the case in NJ. I think it’s sick just like this administration unions put them selves before the nation! The president is in CYA mode over Benghazi and the unions are trying to take advantage of their fellow man in order to protect their turf. Really sad. Is this the America we want? Selfish people that think only of them self’s in time of crisis? No not me. I want an America that cast off selfishness & work together to solve problems. I wan’t a government that leaves the party, union & bias affiliations behind so they can do what is right for all the people not just a few cronies or the unions!
  Me I just keep singing this song “Ode to Obama” http://www.reverbnation.com/open_graph/song/13541875
  in hopes that I am right. Please eather get out and vote this incompetent arrogant administration out of office or else kiss America & your ass good by.
  
  Report this comment
- butthedd
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 6:11pm
  If they don’t want help they can return to the stone age and eat each other.
  
  Report this comment
- H-Rock 75
  Posted on November 4, 2012 at 1:30am
  I have dealt with unions all my career, and I inspect highway construction. The guys with shovels get called operators and paid as such and there is none of the “this is my job that’s yours, we take lunch breaks at noon.” Everybody works and you cannot tell difference between union and non union. I also found that if I pick up a shovel for five minutes when a teamster screws up I can be the hardest boss to them in the world forever. When 20 tons of asphalt fell in a pile and there was no bobcat around, nobody said to me “your the government inspector, your non union put the shovel down.”. That is my normal day at a job site. It wasn’t a catastrophe like what happened in new jersey. How can these unions have any pride at all when they are this ignorant?
  
  Report this comment
ClinicalThinker
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:42pm
Bloomberg Marathons while part of his citizenry go without food, water, and electricity.

New Jersey refuses help from non-union electrical people who ON THEIR OWN DIME came to help.
Are then FORCED TO TURN AROUND and go home.

Glenn ponders why donations to the Red Cross are down.

Fairly simple … none of these people accept or deserve NON-UNION donations?
Could it be divine providence?

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- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:15pm
  and Nero played his violin as Rome burned, wanna bet he gets re-elected?
  
  Report this comment
- toiletclogga
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:27pm
  Christie is trying to play the part of peace maker now. He knows the IBEW told those workers they were not needed or wanted, and now Christie has to make up for the idiocy of the IBEW idiots. Nothing like cutting off one’s nose to spite your face!
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:38pm
  CLINICALTHINKER, It just blows my mind that Bloomberg is going out of his way to literally sierra hotel india tango on his on people to have his marathon to let 0bama know that NYC is fine and can carry on. What a turd in a suit!
  
  Report this comment
- Crazyotto
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:42pm
  Let Kristie Creme get his fat rear end out there and do some work for a change instead of talking smack to Conservatives… He is a jerk and NJ deserves him…
  
  Report this comment
- DeOppressoLiber
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:54pm
  Blue states get what they vote for and support. Your short term decisions have long term consequences.
  
  You want sympathy, after decisions like this? Like my Ranger Instructor told us in Ranger School, It is in the dictionary between $h!t and Syphilis, now deal with the situation at hand. You helped make this a Goat Rodeo (not really that PC) by you previous actions and decisions, now fight your way out this mess.
  
  Vote for Dear Leader next week, to get more of the same!
  
  Report this comment
- shimauma42
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:55pm
  Heya NJ, are you all learning your lesson about big government unions yet? I hope you are.
  
  Report this comment
- Chet Hempstead
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 2:45am
  RJJinGadsden
  You clearly do not know the meaning of the word “literally.”
  
  Report this comment
- mamatango
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 5:55am
  Ya COOKED Your Goose, Christy! B’ Bye now…..
  
  Report this comment
Mr.Fitnah
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:42pm
NiCE JoB BRoWie.

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tomyj17
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:42pm
The IBEW union got caught with their fingers in the ringer,probably told off and now is back pedaling, to make them feel better.IT CAN’T BE FIXED WITH DUCT TAPE OR ELECTRICAL TAPE…

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- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:11pm
  Reminds me of 3 sayings from Oklahoma,
  silence is golden, duct tape is silver
  the surest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back into your pocket
  you cant shine a turd
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:29pm
  TOMYJ17, Since I am in Alabama, I heard a couple of things about this from very early this morning. One speculation is that the IBEW union in that area had been alerted by members from Alabama Power that these guys as requested were en route. They were confronted in Virginia by other members or by phone and then turned around and sent packing. Still waiting to hear how much of that story is true, but it is all looking to be so.
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:43pm
  My husband got a call in to the Bill Bennett show this morning on just that topic. I can’t remember who was subbing for Bill (Mark Stein maybe?). I bet this viral news got through to a few of the New Jersey people, and Chris Christie is worried about reelection.
  
  Report this comment
Watermain
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:40pm
This should make all union members so proud and encourage them even more to vote for their loser in chief Obama.

Remember Benghazi on Nov. 6th

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- mcsledge
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:09pm
  Yes, honor the fallen by dismissing the traitor.
  
  Report this comment
watashbuddyfriend
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:39pm
Only the people in the Blue States would believe the ****-and-bull response!

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walnutportconservative
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:38pm
What is so hard to believe here.
I was forced, as a condition of employment to join a union twice, for over a twenty five year period. Extursion by mobsters is nothing new. What is the big deal?
Why does everyone pick on unions? We need a good stronge arm in these hard times. Just sign, work,and pay the dues to your thug… I mean rep.

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PATTY HENRY
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:38pm
UM…let’s see…the WORD of a SOUTHERNER or a UNION THUG….now let’s see.
OF COURSE ALABAMA CAME THERE TO HELP !!! I’m sure Christie’s office will sort it out
eventually, and the word will go out (or has gone out) “DO NOT TURN AWAY HELP!!”

Pray for these people, folks. You can see that not all of them are RICH NYC brats…but people who really need out help. I have -0- idea why so many of them were so unprepared, but whatever…it
is what it is, they are CHILDREN OF GOD and they OBVIOUSLY NEED help. WE can point fingers later…first we must stop the bleeding…
THEY ARE AMERICAN!! That’s the best you can be on this EARTH: AN AMERICAN!!! WE are truly the world living under one ROOF and we have a lot of clean up to do. Obama has made our entire country look like those aerial shots of Staten Island..but we have 4 more days!! THANK GOD!! EVERY VOTE IS GOING TO COUNT. EVERY VOTE !!! WE just did numbers from MIAMI and while ROMNEY is ahead, it’s still amazingly close!!! EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!
ALSO PRAY FOR GLENN and all his group as they go out this weekend to do what they do best!!

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- walnutportconservative
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:45pm
  With you Patty
  
  Report this comment
- Spinmamma
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:07pm
  Absolutey the only attitude to have
  
  Report this comment
- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:19pm
  Patty Henry; you give me hope for our country
  
  Report this comment
- pghpatriot
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:19pm
  Nice, Patty! Amidst my anxiety, frustration, fear and hatred (for this administration), a beautiful voice of reason rings loud and strong.
  
  Here is a hug I wish I could give you in person!
  
  Report this comment
- KIWL-DA-WABBIT
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:25pm
  People in this country are spoiled rotten, fat and sassy. God has plans to abase this country, God cannot humble, read your bible, humbling is something that you do yourself, God brings low, abases, it is up to ourselves to become humble.
  These arrogant people in this country are about to be awakened, glued to their cellphones pressing buttons, selfish. hell perilous times are coming!
  
  Report this comment
- OhioRifleman
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:52pm
  @ Kiwl Da Wabbit
  
  Tim? Yet another moniker? This is getting old…
  
  Report this comment
- Crazyotto
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 5:12pm
  Patty, they have long voted for liberal, entitlement pushing, progressive style politicians.. Kristie Creme is no exception. He is a jerk and liar who most likely sided with the unions on this one. They deserve the government they voted for ..,. Bloomberg and his ego is going ahead with the Marathon. Squandering millions in valuable resources in order to prove that he can do it. Meanwhile many people on the route will have no electricity, food, fresh water, or heat… Thanks to a silly Billionaire who rules NYC like his own personal fiefdom handing out silly edicts about hamburgers, Sodas and cigarettes… I don’t empathize with a population that continually supports politicians that have no respect for the constitution or this country. I hope they get real uncomfortable, hungry, cold and thristy. Maybe they will wake up and throw these bums out… Probably not though!…and that is why I don’t care what happens to them. We have lived through some pretty terrible storms down here in Houston and have gone without power for weeks. In fact my Mother died in our living room during Hurricane Ike… the Hospitals couldn’t take her as they were full and they said her prognosis was less than hopeful ( and was old). I didn’t see anyone from up North give a damn. Hell they all make fun of us down here. Screw them!! They can take their progressive mind set and shove it up a hole where they normally shove their gerbels.
  
  Report this comment
- BlackCrow
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 6:18pm
  By the time the mess gets ironed out those crews will be back in Alabama and it would be doubtful their boss would cut them loose again.
  
  Oh well, they had their chance and….in their own bed.
  
  Report this comment
- PATTY HENRY
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 3:20am
  I love AMERICAN PATRIOTS – YOU are the country to me. I have a passion for my country – which is you and when I hear of unjust things that happen to you (anyone) I die a little inside and it just turns into RESOLVE!
  I’m so sorry to hear about your MOM dying during Hurricane IKE…how frustrated and sad … I don’t know that I could have handled that. THE ONLY thing that keeps me SANE nowadays is my FAITH.
  I know GOD is right here with us. I know our first job is going to HIM first and being obedient…that nothing here matters over that. SO know that…and understand that KNOWING GOD, LOVING GOD and WANTING TO ALWAYS BE WITH GOD for ETERNITY does NOT mean that we can give any less than our best every day …. Lean on Him, Ask Him your questions and HE will lead us. HE is an amazing power, a warrior and HE does not suffer fools – especially those who use people, who want to enslave people, who would watch 4 BRAVE HEROES die in BENGHAZI and then lie about it. GOD has US (you and me) alive at this very time, in this very place, and having been lucky enough to be able to hear GLENN et al …FOR A REASON. GOD BLESS US ALL. GOD WINS!!! :)
  
  Report this comment
- Ramv36
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 11:38am
  CRAZYOTTO does make a salient point.
  
  Is my bible-thumping, gun-clinging, sloped-forehead, backwards, hillbilly, knuckle-dragging, toothless, Missouri flyover country money good enough for the elite living in the Northeast?
  
  Report this comment
- crazy_N_alabama
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 1:01pm
  Patty. I’m a SOUTHERNER and you are a JEW. One would think that a Jew would understand more than anyone the horrors of stereotyping and prejudice. But I guess not. Please stop categorizing all southerners into one bad lump.
  
  Report this comment
ExTex
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:37pm
The northern unions are no more than organized crime units; exploiting this tragedy in order to get more dues and protect their turf. Pathetic. Meanwhile, Bloomberg says “the show must go on” with the New York Marathon and no one drives into the city without 2-3 passengers. Priorities out of whack? How is it that the people in the Northeast are supposed to be the most educated and enlightened, but have not ONE ounce of common sense? I didn’t get my degree from an ivy league school, but I’ll stack my pragmatic brain upside any of these “geniuses”.

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- brianemcfarlane
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 5:35pm
  Part of getting a degree, especially from an Ivy league school is that you have to demonstrate that all COMMON SENSE WAS EXTRACTED!
  
  Report this comment
tomyj17
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:33pm
It sounds to me like the IBEW got their fingers caught in the “ringer”and they might have realized that it was not a smart move on their part,it was stupid,and you can’t fix it with duct tape or in this case electrical tape.

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matt708
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:32pm
the union officials should be prosecuted

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- IMCHRISTIAN
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:57pm
  I wonder if they had a serious illness and had to go to Doctor would they make sure he was in union first?
  
  Report this comment
- Baerlin
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 6:00pm
  I would actually sue them for child endangerment and negligence. There has to some ambulance chaser out there that would be willing to take this…………
  
  Report this comment
- RivahMitch
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 7:41pm
  IMCHRISTIAN: You wrote: “I wonder if they had a serious illness and had to go to Doctor would they make sure he was in union first?”
  
  If you study Obamacare, you’ll discover that the Kenyan Marxist already has that covered. All medical personnel including doctors will be government employees and, since Jimmy Carter, the only right Federal employees have is to be represented by a union. See how easy the fix is;-(
  
  Report this comment
Cibolo
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:32pm
I can’t help the people in Benghazi, I have a campaign to run…… Hi ho, hi ho, is off to Vegas we go
I can’t help the people of Stanton Island, I have a campaign to run…… Hi ho, hi ho, is off to Vegas we go

FIRE IMPEACH THIS CLOWN BEFORE MORE PEOPLE DIE!!!!!!

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The-Monk
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:31pm
Thank you for posting this story Mike and The Blaze.

I wonder if the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) has any affiliation with the United Nations? http://ibew.org/

Local 1212 Members of the United Nations

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- The-Monk
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:38pm
  Oops…..
  
  “Local 1212 Members of the United Nations”
  
  http://www.ibew1212.org/photo_album_un_vsg_.htm
  
  Report this comment
- Watermain
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:42pm
  That would be the Int’l Brotherhood of Election Workers. They’re not going to receive a real nice welcome either.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:58pm
  I’m with ya on that Watermain !!!
  
  Report this comment
- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:30pm
  as The Monk is our Researcher, how about researching Catv parent companies and whom they own and their CEO & CFOs? interesting reading especially in light of media bias, FCC rules and equipment they use. GE, Motorola and George Soros. Not many are known for traditional conservative values.
  
  Report this comment
- The-Monk
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 5:53pm
  @pragmaticpatriot,
  
  Uhmm… I guess that is a compliment ?
  
  Report this comment
jakartaman
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:30pm
Seeing that unions by way of their DNA are lying lowlifes – I would favor the Alabama boys.
I also hope the NY/NJ liberals figure it all out – but I know better.
Stupidity is an incurable disease

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- OhioRifleman
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:36pm
  @ Jakarta
  
  Correction: Stupidity is a Darwinian disease. Often enough it kills those afflicted, but not always. Sometimes, people survive and wake up. (Not always, mind ye, not always.)
  
  Report this comment
- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:01pm
  WTF is wrong with these people? Around here, and other places in the Mid-West, people get together to help others out. Up there, they just eat each other. Dog-eat-dog. These people only care about themselves, typical NE liberals.
  
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momrules
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:30pm
Those Alabama linemen wouldn’t have driven to NJ just to turn around and leave without good reason. I believe the Alabama people.
Get rid of the unions.

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:35pm
  If I understand right, they didn’t head back home but elsewhere out of state to help others who wanted help. Jersey’s loss is someone else’s gain. Since NJ doesn’t want non Union help, I’ll let Union members donate food and money.
  
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- pragmaticpatriot
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:02pm
  Man thats a tough choice, who told the truth? Good ol Southern Boys that just drove 20hrs in a bucket truck that wont go over 50mph or Yankee NJ union thugs that would rather protect their turf than help their customers? liberals sure seem heartless
  
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- moonlight on the bay
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 6:58pm
  I believe the Alabama crew as well. What kind of FOOLS turn down ANY help to get that place powered up again??? I hope the people who are waiting for power hear about this story. These guys had a helluva long way to travel, left their own families to come work at least 12 hour shifts, I bet. If I were that Alabama crew, it would be too late to kiss and make up with New Jersey. Hell no, we’re not coming back now, you had your chance and BLEW it. Learn from this terrible decision.
  
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Popp40
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:30pm
There are reports that in order for them to work up there they had to join the union…..unions are destroying America and this is just further proof of it.

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Cibolo
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:27pm
This is a dangerous game the officials are playing in the areas hit by hurricane Sandy, I see Katrina all over again.

When are people going to learn that the only thing Government is really good for is ripping off the public!

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- Cavallo
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:37pm
  “When are people going to learn…”
  
  When it is far to late to do anything about it.. then there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth and expressions of “Why didn’t someone do something before?!.. oh woe is us!”
  
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- OhSuzieQ
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 8:34am
  Cibolo, YOU hit the nail on the head.
  Btw, sitting reading all the posts, wow what an eye opener. I really thought The Blaze was different. Boy was I wrong.
  
  Patty we think the same way. Thank you for being you. God Bless You Patty!
  
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PissOnLiberals
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:26pm
Ya right I’m sure the workers from Alabama drove 600 miles to get here then decided they didn’t want to work.

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- MCON29
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:34pm
  If they were required to join the union what other choice did they have? Join the union? This is where right to work laws are important and very neccesary
  
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- BreeZee
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:36pm
  This just shows the character and moral fiber some people have. The union memebers calling them scabs and go home started to LIE when their assinine actions came to light. Yea real men there NY/NJ. And where’s mr. photo op prez with his cut the red tape and bullcrap? oblamer is a disgrace for a leader.
  
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- Watermain
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:45pm
  If they would have joined the union they wouldn’t have to work, just pay union dues and stand around waiting for the paycheck.
  
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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:41pm
  PISSONLIBERALS, I’ve driven from just Upstate, NY to here in Alabama and returned when I was in the Army. It was 1,075 miles. I guess that it is a good thing that the power company in Decatur only had to pick up the mileage for only half of the trip.
  
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M40-A1
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:25pm
The IBEW leadership should be prosecuted for murder if any deaths result in the loss of power. Or the citizens should hunt them down and hang them from the nearest tree. I prefer the latter.

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Cibolo
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:24pm
LIES, I have heard the audio of these Union Workers giving the non-union workers the boot! Another wonderful result, brought to you by the democrats and this unfeeling, uncaring POTUS!

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- Watermain
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:49pm
  Why are there any available linemen around to act as union goons? Why aren’t they out putting up new lines and making repairs like the Alabama workers want to do? Screw unions.
  
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- Mescalero Apache
  Posted on November 3, 2012 at 11:52am
  I haven’t heard any negative feedback on the 26 trucks carrying 51 utility company volunteers who left San Antonio, TX on their way to W. Virginia. At the last minute they were diverted to New York because their help was needed more there than W.VA. But, I don’t think that not even the unions would be stupid enough to mess with 51 VERY LARGE Texans driving BIG trucks!! Even though you can’t fix stupid–messing with Texans is PAST STUPID!!!
  
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SingerGuy
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:24pm
Let the history revisionism begin. The Unions don’t want people to see how they actually handle things. Good on this Alabama utility crew for bringing this to the nation’s attention. People need to see what Union labor does when they think no one is paying attention.

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Owt_Raged
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:24pm
So sad that the IBEW puts their own pocketbook ahead of the lives of the people they are supposed to be helping.

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toiletclogga
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:23pm
I believe the folks from Alabama. The IBEW in New Jersey is run by crime syndicate boss George Norcross, the head of the Democrat political machine in Southern NJ. If you want to find out who told the folks from Alabama why they were not welcome, it’s best to start with George Norcross.

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progressiveslayer
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:22pm
Of course it’s true because unions are only concerned with one thing,maintaining their monopoly wherever the union pigs operate. If things were done properly union busting would be a national sport,pound them into submission and remove them from the entire country permanently.

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- Gonzo
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:52pm
  My Apology to the Governor for castigating him over this issue earlier. He still slobbered all over Obama though.
  
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Gary S
Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:16pm
Let them freeze in the dark.

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- Shasta
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:33pm
  Let who freeze in the dark? The people responsible for this mess are the unions, and I am sure they all have power and are doing just fine.
  
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- Wilsonpd
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 3:53pm
  The people who do stuff like this are never the people who suffer for it. I try to keep that in mind when my first instinct is “ef ‘em let ‘em freeze”. Better is to look for organizations that actually do some good. Mercury One is a good place to start.
  
  Unions are a scourge, a carbuncle on American’s nether regions
  
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- mcsledge
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:14pm
  Shasta – States determine whether they will require unions. You may not like the end results, but they made their own beds by dismissing one’s right to work without joining a union. Poor decisions from yesterday are catching up with them today. That’s THEIR fault.
  
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- THX-1138
  Posted on November 2, 2012 at 4:56pm
  A lesson in the function of Karma; make bad enough decisions for long enough and you will suffer for them. This is how we learn; some of us more slowly than others.
  
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