OAKMONT, Pa. — Duquesne Light employees gathered outside around 11 p.m. Wednesday ahead of a potential midnight strike, as some customers worried about how a walkout could affect power restoration after another major storm.
For Adeshewa Metzger of Oakmont, the possibility of another prolonged outage brings back memories of the April 2025 storms.
She said her home lost power for about five days.
“It was terrible. I remember trying to keep my family calm and wait for my husband to get home, scrambling for my emergency supplies,” Metzger said.
Duquesne Light says it is prepared to bring in nonunion workers from out of town.
But Metzger questions how quickly crews could restore service if another storm hits during a walkout.
“These 100 year storms are now turning into two to five year storms and I think that we need to have a more robust response to that and be more proactive instead of reactive,” she said.
The union is seeking a contract that addresses safety and operational concerns, including staffing, equipment and working conditions.
A union representative said Wednesday that the negotiating committee had not received a proposal from the company after presenting its last full offer Tuesday night.
“Based on the Company’s actions, or lack thereof, it appears that nearly 1,000 represented Duquesne Light workers will be on strike at midnight tonight,” the representative wrote in a statement.
In a statement to Channel 11, Duquesne Light said it remains focused on reaching a deal.
“Our goal remains to reach an agreement that recognizes the contributions of our employees while also being mindful of our customers’ very real and urgent concerns about energy costs and affordability,” the company said.
For Oakmont customer Matt Coghlan, the possibility of prolonged service interruptions remains a concern.
“If they go on strike, they think they can keep their grid running until it breaks down and then it starts to be a problem,” Coghlan said.
The union says its negotiating committee will continue working toward an agreement for as long as necessary.
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