No strike at Indian Point as labor deal reached

Union leaders and management at Indian Point Energy Center reached a tentative contract agreement Saturday morning, diffusing a potential strike, Entergy Corp., the owner of the Buchanan-based power plant, said in a press release.

Utility Workers Union of America Local 1-2, which represents about 400 employees out of a total 1,600 at the plant, had authorized a strike if a new deal wasn’t reached by midnight Friday when the previous contract expired.

Entergy officials said in a written statement that the new contract “benefits all parties,” including the workers, the union and Entergy itself. Entergy spokesperson Jim Steets did not disclose the terms of the deal pending a union review of the contract. He said it was “more than likely” union members would vote in favor of the deal. The union is scheduled to hold a vote in the next few weeks.

Executive leaders at the the union could not be reached for comment about the details of the contract agreement. On the union’s website, a message stated, “tentative agreement reached with Entergy; four-year agreement; more details to follow.”

Indian Point produces 25 percent of the electricity consumed in New York City and Westchester County. Entergy, a national company that generates more than $10 billion in annual revenue, is seeking to relicense Indian Point’s dual reactors with the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, amid opposition from some environmental groups and politicians including Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.

Indian Point 2’s permit expired last year and Indian Point 3’s permit will expire in December 2015. The NRC has allowed continued operation of the plant until a decision is reached on its permit renewals.