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A Resolution of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania supporting the resolution of a collective bargaining impasse between Duquesne Light Company (DLC) and striking workers represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 29.
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WHEREAS, DLC provides electrical service for over 600,000 residential and business customers in Allegheny and Beaver Counties; and
WHEREAS, in the face of increasingly intemperate weather and more frequent sever weather events, maintaining this service in a safe and consistent manner is a vital service that the public relies upon for, among other things, heating and cooling, preservation of food and medical supplies, lighting, transportation, communications, and performance of employment-related duties; and
WHEREAS, on September 30, 2026, a collective bargaining agreement between DLC and approximately 1,000 of its IBEW Local 29-represented employees expired; and
WHEREAS, without a new collective bargaining agreement in place, the IBEW Local 29-represented workers went on strike as of October 1, 2026; and
WHEREAS, the striking workers include linemen, customer service representatives, mechanics, and troubleshooters, all of whom perform vital functions in maintaining DLC’s electric service and the company’s relationship with its rate paying customers; and
WHEREAS, according to published reports, some progress towards resolving the strike had been made with regard to a few points of negotiation, such as workers’ right to organize, technology concerns and retiree health care; and
WHEREAS, as of the date of drafting of this resolution, however, the two sides are described as being “very far apart” on a number of significant issues centering around employees’ safety and operational concerns, and including staffing, equipment, technology, training and working conditions employees need to perform their jobs safely; and
WHEREAS, IBEW Local 29 has indicated that striking workers will maintain picket lines at DLC facilities throughout the region 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the duration of the strike; and
WHEREAS, DLC has brought in at least some replacement employees during the strike, but it is not immediately apparent what the training and experience levels of these replacement workers may be; and
WHEREAS, although DLC representatives have asserted that customer service and utility operations teams will remain available, DLC’s contact center will remain open during regular business hours, and customers can still pay bills, access payment assistance programs and request to start, stop or transfer service as usual, it is the judgment of Council that continuing operations with replacement workers is a stopgap measure at best, and is not sustainable; and
WHEREAS, it is further the judgment of Council that the continuation of this situation will ultimately prove to be detrimental to the health, safety, and well-being of DLC’s rate paying customers;
SECTION 1.
The Council of the County of Allegheny hereby resolves as follows:
County residents’ access to safe, reliable electrical service depends on the service providers’ commitment to being fair and responsible employers. Given that maintaining labor peace and a capable and experienced workforce is essential for the future of DLC and our community at large, Allegheny County Council hereby urges DLC to work collaboratively with its IBEW Local 29-represented employees to negotiate a fair contract in an expeditious manner, for the health and safety of electricity consumers throughout our region.
SECTION 2. Severability.
If any provision of this resolution shall be determined to be unlawful, invalid, void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be considered severable from the remaining provisions of this resolution, which shall be in full force and effect.
SECTION 3. Repealer.
Any resolution or Ordinance or part thereof conflicting with the provisions of this resolution is hereby repealed so far as the same affects this resolution.