Politics & Government

Entergy, Union Reach Tentative Agreement

Entergy and the 67 technical employees represented by the UWUA Local 369 reached a tentative agreement on a new contract Wednesday.

Entergy Nuclear and the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) reached a tentative agreement Wednesday on a new, four-year labor contract for Local 369 Technical employees at Pilgrim Station, pending a ratification vote by Union membership, according to an email from Entergy spokesman Carol Wightman. 

Additionally, the parties have agreed to a 21-day extension that will expire at midnight on Nov. 14. The previous contract for the aproximately 65 workers affected by this union contract will remain in effect during the extension. The original contract was set to expire at midnight Oct. 24.

"We appreciate the hard work of both parties to come to a successful outcome to this negotiation process. We believe the new proposal represents fair and equitable terms both for our employees and the Company," Pilgrim’s Site Vice President Robert Smith said.

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UWUA Local 369 president Dan Hurley said negotiations were encouraging.

"We are dedicated to ensuring that our workers and communities stay safe and it has always been our hope to reach a resolution before the current contract expires and this tentative agreement is a step in the right direction," Hurley said in a release from the union.

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"While Entergy began negotiations with demands for major concessions on healthcare and working conditions, we have emerged with important protections for our hardworking men and women and the communities that we serve," Hurley said.

The current contract for the 62 tech workers expires October 24, 2012. The vote on this tentative agreement will take place Nov. 1, and the contract has been extended until November 14, 2012.

Entergy and the UWUA engaged in a summer of contentious negotiations surrounding the contract for nearly 250 members of Local 369. Union workers were locked out of the nuclear power plant for over a month and had their healthcare coverage revoked before an agreement was finally reached in early July.


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