January 07, 2019

Senators Warren and Markey Applaud the End of the Six-Month Lockout of 1,250 Union Workers by National Grid

No Longer Left in the Dark, Union Workers Will Be Able to Resume Working Throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Support Their Families

Washington, DC - United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) are pleased that on Monday, members of United Steelworkers Locals 12003 and 12012 at National Grid of Massachusetts voted to ratify a new contract agreement with the company, ending the lockout of 1,250 employees.


"While we are thankful for all of the hard work put into these negotiations, lockouts are unsafe, unfair, and should never be used as a negotiating tactic, damaging public trust and harming hard-working families," said Senators Warren and Markey. "The six-month lockout tremendously impacted the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and we are glad that more than 1,000 workers will be able to go back to work and help support their families."

The senators stood by and fought alongside union workers to get them back on the job and end the lockout.  In October 2018, Senators Warren and Markey sent a letter to the Marcy Reed, President of National Grid of Massachusetts, urging her to ensure that the gas workers locked out by National Grid would be available to help with the Merrimack Valley recovery from the gas explosions on September 13, 2018.  In June 2018, Senator Warren expressed her support for United Steelworkers Locals 12003 and 12012 in their negotiations with National Grid. During the same month, she rallied with members of the United Steelworkers Local 12003 at the National Grid Lockout Protest.

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