Dive Summary:
- After failing to reach a new deal with the United Government Security Officers of America Local 36 before their three-year contract expired at midnight on Sunday, Entergy Corp. locked out its security force at the Grand Gulf Nuclear Station in Port Gibson, Miss.
- Entergy Nuclear claims to have enacted its contingency plan by staffing the security force with other workers from Grand Gulf and other Entergy nuclear stations, as well as officers from independent security firms.
- In June, unionized workers at Entergy's Pilgrim nuclear plant in Massachusetts were locked out and only reached a deal after 4 weeks of unrest while another contract at the same plant runs out later this month.
From the article:
"... 'Since those employees would have been working without a contract, they would reserve the right to leave their posts and strike at any time — a situation that is unacceptable at an Entergy Nuclear plant,' Balduzzi said. 'The health and safety of the public is foremost among our obligations, and this measure will ensure we meet the rigorous standards required for securing, operating and maintaining our nuclear power plant.'
Balduzzi says experienced individuals at Grand Gulf and from other Entergy nuclear plants and professional security firms will be filling those positions. Officials with New Orleans-based Entergy Corp. declined to say how many employees had been locked out, whether talks are continuing, or what contract terms are in dispute. ..."