Long Island Power Authority union leaders on Friday said non-union workers have been more than welcome to help put Long Island residents back on the grid.
The union's comments came after nearly two weeks of rumors that it was keeping workers who aren't members from working on the major restoration project.
Then on Friday, a Newsday report sourced Florida Municipal Electric Association Executive Director Barry Moline, who said that he sent crews to other states after the Local 1049 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers sent his workers a contract that would make them temporary members of the union.
That "letter of assent" was dated Oct. 29, the day Hurricane Sandy first started battering Long Island, according to Newsday.
But Don Daley, business manager for local 1049, told Patch it stopped being an issue soon after the extent of the damages on Long Island became clear.
"There hasn't been a union-non-union issue here since the severity of the storm became obvious. Our only goal right now is to restore power as quickly, efficiently and safely as possible and we welcome all the assistance we can get."
Wendy Ladd, a spokeswoman for National Grid, has also said that workers were not turned away if they refused to join the union.
