Markey: Keep Workers on the Job at Pilgrim

Press Release

Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today questioned the wisdom and safety of laying off workers at the Pilgrim nuclear power plant. The owner of the plant, Louisiana-based Entergy, announced that as many as eight administrators, technicians and technical specialists will lose their jobs, which could put additional stress on workers to ensure the safety and performance of the Plymouth-based power plant.

"We need these workers on the job to keep Pilgrim operating safely, especially since it is one of our nation's oldest nuclear power plants," said Senator Markey. "These are experienced and hard-working nuclear power technical experts, and that's exactly what we need and expect to have in place at an older nuclear facility like Pilgrim. Entergy should immediately reconsider this ill-conceived plan and keep these people on the job."

In the summer of 2012, when 250 union workers were escorted off Pilgrim grounds during a labor dispute, then-Rep. Markey and Rep. Bill Keating (D-Mass.) questioned whether the replacement workers brought in to staff the plant could adequately ensure its safety.

"We know the best team at Pilgrim is the team that is there now, and has been there for years," said Senator Markey. "Entergy shouldn't make cuts to that team, they should keep everyone on the job so Pilgrim is safe and operating smoothly."

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