LYNN – Regional wastewater treatment plant employees angered by what they call stalled labor contract talks are planning a street protest Thursday near the Lynnway facility.Ric Casilli, business agent for Local 201 of the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communications Workers of America, said workers will stage a protest on the sidewalk across from the Shell gas station between 3:15 and 5:30 p.m.According to Casilli, the action is being called to protest stalled labor contract talks between 30 wastewater treatment workers – members of Local 201 – and the foreign-based multi-national conglomerate, Veolia Water, which manages the facility under a 20-year lease agreement with the Lynn Water and Sewer Commission.Told about the planned protest, Veolia spokesman Matt Demo said, “Veolia Water remains committed to the negotiation process and to reaching a mutually acceptable resolution. Reasonable options remain on the table.”The current labor agreement expired at midnight April 30, but an extension provision in the contract has kept it intact. The situation will stay that way unless one of the parties issues a five-day written notice that it wishes to terminate the contract, Casilli said.
