Deadline looms in talks at Pilgrim Nuclear Station
The operator of Pilgrim Nuclear Station said today that it would run the plant with replacement workers if a contract covering more than 250 employees expires late tomorrow with no new labor agreement or extension.
Negotiators for New Orleans-based plant owner Entergy Corp. were meeting in Plymouth today with representatives for 254 members of Utility Workers Union of America Local 369. Spokesmen for both sides said sticking points remained over wages, benefits and other issues as negotiators tried to replace a four-year pact set to expire at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.
Entergy spokesman Dave Tarantino said more than 100 replacement workers called in from other company locations and from contractors were prepared to keep the plant running if no contract deal or extension were reached by the deadline.
Allowing unionized employees to continue running the plant without a labor agreement could put its operators in violation of federal nuclear plant safety rules, Tarantino said.
"We can't have people working at the plant who could leave at any moment, and leave us subject to violations of our federal license," he said.
Union spokesman Jeremy Crockford questioned whether the plant could be safely run with replacement workers.
"Do you want a nuclear plant run by people who are going to cross picket lines?" he said.
Union members began voting today on whether to authorize leaders to call a strike if talks break down or if no agreement to extend the contract is reached. Results of the balloting were expected Wednesday night.
The contract talks cover nearly half of the 650 workers at the plant. Ninety other members of Local 369 are covered under a different contract.
Pilgrim Station, the only nuclear plant in Massachusetts, can produce 685 megawatts, enough to provide electricity to more than 500,000 homes. Entergy took ownership of the coastal Plymouth plant in 1999 from the former Boston Edison Co. (AP)
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