National Grid and Unions End Lockout, Reach Agreement (1)

British utility National Grid PLC and 1,250 United Steelworkers Local 12003 and 12012-04 in Massachusetts have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, ending a six-month lockout of the gas workers, the union announced late Jan. 2. “All picketing will cease immediately,” Local 12012-04 said in a statement.

Union members will vote to ratify the contract by Jan. 7 and details of the agreement will be released then, Local 12012-04 said.

The union’s previous contract expired June 24 and National Grid refused to allow workers to continue on the job while bargaining continued. The company had said allowing the ...