Pilgrim Union Workers Approve New Contract With Plant Owner

Workers at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station will be headed back to work soon, now that they've approved a new contract with the plant's owner, Entergy Corp.

Members of the Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 ratified the four-year agreement Sunday, after rejecting two previous proposals.

Precise details of the deal aren't being made public, but Entergy says it includes wage increases and "comprehensive" benefits.

"The new contract represents a substantial commitment by the company to our employees over the next four years in guaranteed wages and benefits," said Entergy spokeswoman Carol Wightman. "We now look forward to reintegrating our employees to get them back on the job as soon as possible."

The company locked out hundreds of workers in early June amid contentious negotiations.

"I'm very pleased to have our members going back to work and having Entergy end this lockout," said Dan Hurley, Local 369 president. "You know, we always wanted to get back in that plant and run that plant safely and starting [Monday] we're gonna have that opportunity."

The contract is retroactive to May 16.