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Westinghouse,
which has been operating under bankruptcy protection, began
formal negotiations with the International Brotherhood of
Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and
Helpers in April.
The Boilermakers and Westinghouse engaged in a mediation process
that was not successful, and the union has refused to accept the
company's last, best and final contract offer, the company said.
"As the Boilermakers were not willing to accept the offer, the
company made the difficult decision to invoke a lockout,"
Michele DeWitt, Westinghouse interim senior vice president for
nuclear fuel & components manufacturing, said in a statement.
The lockout was set to go into effect just before midnight on
Sunday.
A union spokesman said the company and union had held only five
negotiating sessions and one meeting with a mediator from which
the company walked out.
"Clearly, Westinghouse has not bargained in good faith and we
will be exploring all available recourses against the company,
including filing unfair labor practice charges with the National
Labor Relations Board," spokesman Tyler Brown said in an emailed
statement.
(Reporting by Bill Berkrot; Editing by Sandra Maler and Andrew
Hay)
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