http://www.cnycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=638417Nuclear plant union rejects contract, strike looms
by Jeremy Ryan
SCRIBA -- Union workers at Nine Mile Point nuclear power plant in Scriba say they will strike after rejecting Constellation Energy’s latest contract proposal.
Ted Skerpon, president and business manager of IBEW Local 97, tells CNY Central that the union went to a meeting requested by Constellation Energy Nuclear Group Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. At the meeting, the union says the company presented a contract proposal which the union rejected. The company says that was their final offer, and will implement the contract at midnight.
Skerpon says because of this action, the union will strike. 560 members who perform a range of jobs from control room operators to radiation monitors to maintenance electricians will walk off of their jobs at midnight when the existing contract expires.
Constellation spokesperson Jill Lyon said Thursday that the company bargained in good faith with a goal of achieving a contract that properly balances the needs of employees and the company. Lyon says the company believes it put a fair offer on the table.
Guy I know works there. Says they will strike tonight. So management and some scabs who have been following them around for a couple weeks are going to be doing the jobs that the union guys trained at for over a year and half.
I can't believe we aren't going the route that Germany has decided to take. Something has got to give.