‘No Movement’ From Company in National Grid Lockout

HAVERHILL, Mass.—The lockout of more than 1,100 National Grid gas workers in Massachusetts is now well into its second month with no sign of an end, union members say. “Every time we’ve met with the company’s negotiating team we’ve asked two questions,” Jeff Hamel of United Steelworkers Local 12012-04 told the Eagle-Tribune. “If they’ll allow us to come back and work under the existing contracts until we can come to an agreement on a new contract, to which the answer has been no, and if there is movement on their side, and again the answer has been no.” Meanwhile, locked-out workers have been showing up at sites where gas leaks have been reported, watching contract workers trying to repair them. “The public is noticing these guys more and more because these guys are taking longer to find and longer to fix leaks,” Dennis Brodie told the Eagle-Tribune July 30. “The company has been seeking to cut gas workers’ health-care benefits, change how overtime is allocated, outsource meter changes and other work, and cut pensions for new employees,” Local 12012 President John Buonopane and Local 12003 President Joe Kirylo wrote Aug. 4. “It’s unethical.” Read more