Locked out National Grid workers back to negotiating contract, benefits

On Wednesday, locked out National Grid workers will be back at the bargaining table as they try to reach a contract agreement with their employer.

Since the lockout began in June, the two sides have been going back and forth working to negotiate a deal.

For some locked out workers, the toll is hitting harder than most.

Chris Brennan, one of the lockout employees, is scrapping together every penny he owns in order to keep his wife alive without health insurance.

His wife, Caroline Brennan, 54, is battling stage 4 cervical cancer -- and that too, after beating breast cancer.

Brennan is doing everything he can to pay for his wife's critical treatment, as he goes on six months now without a paycheck and health insurance.

“I’m behind on everything. It’s just, trying to hold out for one more day, one more round, one more round of bills. Whatever it is,” he said.

PREVIOUS: Out of work and struggling, locked out National Grid workers make plea for help

Last Friday, the locked out workers and National Grid released a joint statement saying they are optimistic about a potential new deal after state lawmakers passed a bill to extend unemployment benefits for those workers.

The new bill, which awaits Governor Charlie Baker's signature, will give the workers 26 more weeks of benefits, or until the locked ends. The costs will be absorbed by all employers who pay into the state's unemployment system.

Governor Baker's office released the following statement.

"The Baker-Polito Administration is grateful for the Legislature acting quickly and will now carefully review the legislation while looking forward to both sides reaching a compromise to end the lockout this week."

There's no word on if he'll sign it -- but lawmakers say his administration played a role in writing the bill.

Wednesday's negotiation meeting in Waltham is expected to go until 8 p.m., and both sides will continue meeting until Friday.

Cox Media Group