Nearly 1,000 Duquesne Light Company workers went on strike at midnight. Members of Local 29 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers walked off the job following failed contract negotiations.
The union is seeking management solutions for safety, staffing, equipment and working conditions. A representative stated that the union had not received a proposal from the company after presenting its last full offer Tuesday night.
Striking workers have established continuous picket lines at company facilities. Union members are rotating on six-hour shifts to maintain a 24-hour presence every day.
Tension occurred at facility gates as trucks from Indiana arrived at the property. Duquesne Light brought in out-of-state, non-union workers to fill operational gaps left by striking personnel.
Joshua Ewing, business manager for Local 29 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, outlined the union’s position regarding public service and worker needs.
“So my message to customers: We do not want to harm the public. We want to be able to provide safe and reliable power, but we need the tools and the equipment to be able to do so, and Duquesne Light is failing to address that,” Ewing said.
Duquesne Light Company released a statement overnight regarding its operational plans during the work stoppage:
“Duquesne Light Company remains committed to engaging in good-faith negotiations with IBEW Local 29 and reaching an agreement that reflects the value of our workforce. We also have a responsibility to keep costs affordable for our customers, stay competitive with our utility peers and provide reliable service to our communities.
“We are disappointed that we have been unable to reach an agreement despite presenting what we believe is an industry-leading offer for our employees. The Company’s final offer includes wages that would rank among the most competitive in Pennsylvania, double-digit wage increases over the life of the contract, a commitment to hire 120 additional union positions, and other significant enhancements designed to support our employees and their families.
“We are also disappointed by recent public statements that call into question Duquesne Light Company’s commitment to safety and grid modernization. Those assertions do not reflect the nature of the conversations that have taken place at the bargaining table or the progress our teams, union and management, have made together over the last several years. Through a sustained focus on workplace safety, the company has achieved a 75% improvement in key safety metrics, and we remain eager to discuss any specific safety proposals the union wishes to advance.
“Likewise, our continued investments in technology and infrastructure have helped deliver one of the most reliable electric systems in the state, with service reliability exceeding 99.6%. These investments are critical to keeping our employees safe, supporting our communities, and meeting our customers’ expectations for dependable service.
“As a result of the strike, we have activated our operational contingency plans to ensure safe, reliable and uninterrupted service continues, just as it has for more than 100 years. We are eager to continue negotiations with the goal of reaching a fair and balanced agreement. Throughout this process, we must also remain diligent in our delivery of safe, reliable and affordable service to the customers who depend on us every day.”
The current work stoppage follows previous contract negotiations between the utility and its workforce. Duquesne Light workers last authorized a strike in 2023, though an agreement was reached one day before that contract was set to expire.
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