NUKE WORKERS LOCKED OUT FOR A DAY

NECN: Scot Yount, Plymouth, Mass.) - Workers are picketing outside the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth, Mass. this Wednesday afternoon.

Their contract expired at midnight, and they say they've been locked out.

Workers, from UWUA Local 369 from AFL-CIO, are picketing, saying they've been locked out after contract talks stalled.

Entergy says they are not locked out, rather they have a paid day off while union and management work through the stalemate.

The union workers say they believe the plant is unsafe because managers are filling in and are not adequately trained.

The union says the company is attempting to shift some $1.2 million in health care costs to employees.

Now the union voted back on May 4 to authorize a strike for its 380 members. The company says it requested an extension to the current contract but it was declined.

The company says the union has stated it reserves the right to strike, at any time, day or night. The company says that is unacceptable.

Carol Wightman, the Entergy Pilgrim station spokesperson released this statement:

"The contract between Entergy and Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 (Production & Maintenance/Office, Technical & Professional) expired at midnight Tuesday, May 15. Negotiations continued throughout the night into early morning May 16 in an effort to settle the contract, and we were not successful in reaching an agreement. The contract has not been settled. The Union has advised the company that it will conduct a ratification vote of the membership on the company's proposal, but has not specified a date for that vote. The company requested an extension to the current contract to allow additional time for discussions and the union declined. In fact, the union stated that it reserves the right to strike at any time, day or night, and Entergy management advised the union that this is unacceptable. We are continuing to attempt to work through some of the issues today. There is no employee lockout, some of the affected bargaining unit members are receiving a paid day off while we work through these issues."

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