Utility crews from Alabama ready to help hurricane stricken and desperate people in New Jersey without power have been told to "stand down" and some are already headed back home. Why? Because they're non-union workers. Keep in mind there are still millions of people in New Jersey without power and many who have been stranded for days as a result. The crews drove 900 miles to reach the area effected by Sandy and this is how they were received:
Crews from Huntsville, as well as Decatur Utilities and Joe Wheeler out of Trinity headed up there this week, but Derrick Moore, one of the Decatur workers, said they were told by crews in New Jersey that they can't do any work there since they're not union employees.
The crews that are in Roanoke, Virginia say they are just watching and waiting even though they originally received a call asking for help from Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
The crews were told to stand down. In fact, Moore said the crew from Trinity is already headed back home.
Understandably, Moore said they're frustrated being told "thanks, but no thanks."
WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL
The good news? Not all has been lost. Some crews from Alabama will be doing work to help hurricane victims in New York.