July 27, 2011 - Nearly 450 striking International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 97, on strike since July 9, feel assured their days on the picket line are nearly over. On Friday, July 22 the IBEW and Constellation Energy Nuclear Group, owner of Nine Mile 1 and 2 nuclear plants, announced that they had reached a tentative agreement which, pending union ratification could take striking personnel off the line and back in the plant by Wednesday.

Jill Lyon, spokesperson for CENG, said a ratification vote of the agreement would take place on Monday and Tuesday. Both sides expect easy passage, but Lyon was unwilling to discuss terms of the tentative agreement, stating details would be provided to the public after the vote. Speaking in anonymity, IBEW members say they feel the agreement is a victory. 

“Although the contract will only cover four years and doesn’t include the wage increases we asked for, it does address the retirement issues that forced us off the job.”

The outcome of the vote is expected to be announced late Tuesday or early Wednesday.