An impasse in labor negotiations continues at Entergy’s Pilgrim nuclear plant in Massachusetts, with union members voting down the latest contract offer and picketing near the plant.
The rejected contract proposal is the latest in two months of negotiations between Entergy and the Utility Workers Union of America Local 369. In what the workers describe as a lockout, about 240 union members have been kept off the job since June 5 when a temporary contract extension expired and Entergy began bringing in replacement workers from its nuclear fleet.
A notice posted on the union’s website in the days following the vote Wednesday gave instructions for picketing. During past negotiations, the union has objected to offers it said negatively affected health benefits, scheduling, pay and other issues, while a public statement by Entergy countered that the average pay among currently contract-less unionized Pilgrim workers is $122,000 per year.
Following the most recent union vote, the Plymouth Daily News quoted union officials as saying the two sides remain at an impasse on healthcare premium increases. The union members voted 137-89 to reject the contract.