• Consolidated Edison Inc. failed to reach an agreement with its unionized workers over the weekend, resulting in the immediate dismissal of thousands of workers, according to a Wall Street Journal report.
• The union's current contract expired at midnight on Saturday, and issues involving pensions, health care and wages led to stalled negotiations.
• A Con Ed statement indicated that the Utility Workers Union of America would not agree to a proposed two-week contract extension while a new contract is worked out.

From the article:

Consolidated Edison Inc. and its unionized workers failed to reach agreement on a new labor contract over a weekend dominated by a heat wave, prompting the New York-area utility to dismiss thousands of workers. ...