Watts Bar

[hackerd]

This is my first post so please inform me if I make a mistake. I've searched a while before posting this. I am a MM1 with about 3 1/2 years left on this contract. I'm an about to go to Japan for 3 years. Then, hopefully they will send me back prior to my separation, which is in Nov 2012. I saw that Watts Bar should have their other plant operational by about 2013. Does anyone know when they will start hiring for operator positions? I'm hoping that I can slide right into a job like this shortly before or after my EAOS.

Thank you all for this website. It has been very informative and I've referred plenty of my friends to check this site out.

[Broadzilla]

They should be done well before then. I believe the big TVA hiring push ends in mid 2011.

[Bleyse]

Staffing for unit 2 is already well underway.  There are currently 3 NLO training classes (approx 20 students in each) going on at WBN right now.  Latest class started in January and no word right now on when the next class will start.  There are also two ILT classes going with another starting up soon. 

[ps3081]

Does anyone know who is staffing the Document/Admin. Personnel at Watts Bar?

[chevy29]

Good evening all.  I am new to this site and currently I am a navy nuke machinist mate and have been for 4 1/2 years now.  Lately I have been really thinking about getting out of the navy and going civilian when my time is up (about 3 1/2 years left) on account that I want to actually be able to raise a family without having to leave all the time.  I have read pretty much this entire forum (along with the Sequoya plant) in hopes to find information on them.  As of right now if I get out I want to move to Tennessee, so thats why I am so interested. Currently I am thinking about going AO, but also not entirely certain what all is out there. Unfortunately I do have a few questions (some of which have been answered all ready but in very vague answers).
1)  What kind of jobs are available (nuke related), what do they do, and how does "advancement" work (for lack of a better word)?
2)  I understand that it is shiftwork so:  How long are the days and what is the cycle like for each shift?
3)  How much on average do people get paid, does qualifying EWS or getting a degree help get more?
4)  What are the benefits like, including say medical, dental, and retirement?
5)  Since I have a little bit of time left:  When should I officially apply for a job and take my POSS test (I would like to know that I have a job as soon as I get out)

Thank you everybody and sorry its such a lengthy post (and yes it is the same as the Sequoya site but I figured I may get more answers if I posted it on both)

[Broadzilla]

Just an opinion, but neither of your posts were germain to either Watts Bar or Sequoyah.
I found it rude that you posted it on both threads.

Mike

[DSO]

Good evening all.  I am new to this site and currently I am a navy nuke machinist mate and have been for 4 1/2 years now.  Lately I have been really thinking about getting out of the navy and going civilian when my time is up (about 3 1/2 years left) on account that I want to actually be able to raise a family without having to leave all the time.  I have read pretty much this entire forum (along with the Sequoya plant) in hopes to find information on them.  As of right now if I get out I want to move to Tennessee, so thats why I am so interested. Currently I am thinking about going AO, but also not entirely certain what all is out there. Unfortunately I do have a few questions (some of which have been answered all ready but in very vague answers).
1)  What kind of jobs are available (nuke related), what do they do, and how does "advancement" work (for lack of a better word)?
2)  I understand that it is shiftwork so:  How long are the days and what is the cycle like for each shift?
3)  How much on average do people get paid, does qualifying EWS or getting a degree help get more?
4)  What are the benefits like, including say medical, dental, and retirement?
5)  Since I have a little bit of time left:  When should I officially apply for a job and take my POSS test (I would like to know that I have a job as soon as I get out)

Thank you everybody and sorry its such a lengthy post (and yes it is the same as the Sequoya site but I figured I may get more answers if I posted it on both)

1) Posted jobs are the ones usually available
2) Days are 24 hrs longs and the cycles length for each shift varies
3) People on average get paid the following: total number of plant employees divided by the total yearly pay of the total number of plant employees--EWS or/and a degree may or may not help you "get more".
4) Benefits are usually beneficial in direct relationship to the name of the benefit
5) You should start applying and take the POSS test immediately as 3 1/2 years of practice should sharpen your job-hunting skills to put you right on target of having all the nuclear Tennessee power plant employers begging for your services

[chevy29]

yes I do kind of understand that it was a newbie question, but I think that it does pertain to these two places.  I don't give a rats @$$ about whats going on in Vermont or Nebraska, I wanna know how they run things in TN.  You know maybe I'm just naive but I would think that different people work at different places, so no I don't think it was rude posting it in both locations.  I think that it was having a legitimate question and hoping that if I posted it at both places I may find somebody that would be a little help.  And to be honest, I think that it was rude that I ask a few good questions and all I get is smartass remarks. 

[Broadzilla]

yes I do kind of understand that it was a newbie question, but I think that it does pertain to these two places.  I don't give a rats @$$ about whats going on in Vermont or Nebraska, I wanna know how they run things in TN.  You know maybe I'm just naive but I would think that different people work at different places, so no I don't think it was rude posting it in both locations.  I think that it was having a legitimate question and hoping that if I posted it at both places I may find somebody that would be a little help.  And to be honest, I think that it was rude that I ask a few good questions and all I get is smartass remarks. 

It was rude and if this is how you respond you won't make it a day in the commercial world.

Mike

[HydroDave63]

I don't give a rats @$$ about whats going on in Vermont or Nebraska

which is unfortunate, as that both places have BWRs which hire frequently, and fairly nice people to work with.

I have a hunch, based on this thread, that the poster can pretty much assume person(s) with hire/don't hire authority at TVA may have already made some mental notes...

[Bleyse]

1) Jobs available are on the TVA website.  That's the only way they hire, there's a nice search function to narrow down to the plants you are interested in.  "Advancement" is about like everywhere else; you put in your time, and if you do well enough and are motivated, you will 'advance'.
2) For Ops, it's 12 hour shifts, days and nights alternate weekly, 5 week rotation, training in middle, 8 day break at the end.
3) The pay rates for technical training positions are posted on the TVA website, and they are negotiated by union, so all employees covered by Trades and Labor agreements get the same rate.  As far as management goes, degrees and Naval accomplishments are more like minimum consideration qualifications.
4) TVA is a federal government corporation, so what do you think the benefits are like?  Seriously, you can find a lot of information on benefits on the TVA website.
5) POSS test is given to as many as 30 candidates all at once in a classroom setting; it's not gonna be an easy transition from Navy to TVA like you want.  The jobs that require people to take a POSS are usually only up for about 3-4 days, there's a very small window to apply.  

As you can see, at least three of your questions could have been answered if you just went to the TVA website and read the information that was posted there.  From that point of view, perhaps you can see why you ended up with some of the responses you got.

[chevy29]

Thanks Bleyse.  I didnt realize that all this was found on their website.  Im going to have to go check it out now

[LOKI RAD]

Is there an Outage at WBN this fall?

Who is the HP contractor, Atlantic or Bartlett?

Do They hire just locals or is it a super returnee plant?

I heard Bill Jasper was the RPM now that Sawyer left for BFN, do you call him directly for a job?

Thanks for any help!

[jowlman]

Bartlett has the HP contract.
They hire anybody, they are NOT a high returnee rate plant.
Bill Jasper is not the RPM, he is a supervisor.
I do think that they are having an outage, check the Bartlett wish list.

[War Eagle]

We're starting our outage in late September.

[LOKI RAD]

Anyone know how long it is scheduled to last and if there is another TVA outage to goto afterwards?

Thanks

[Lorrie Henson]

The information you seek can be found here....

http://www.bartlettinc.com/sp.cfm?pageid=1771


Watts Bar is for 4 weeks starting 9/20/09.... Sequoyah is 4 weeks starting 10/25/09.

Bartlett's number is 1-800-225-0385... recruiters are Scott (x1291) and Mike (x1275).

[LOKI RAD]

Thanks for the link.

I read somewhere they were paying $33 /hr & $115 /day, that is awesome!

[jowlman]

Unless they have signed a new contract, you have been misinformed. The pay for WBN and SQN is $30/hr without per diem, I think $25/hr and $70/day with per diem. There is also a $3.01/hr kicker on top of both rates for the first 40 hours. For some reason BFN is the money maker, there its $31.50/hr, if you aren't local you get $70/day on top of that, no local/nonlocal rates, and that $3.01 kicker for the first 40 hours.

[LOKI RAD]

This is really a dead link, is it not?

Do the Watts Bar RP techs not have a pulse?

No wonder they hire anyone as mentioned above.

So is it just the contractors that cant go anywhere else that goto Watts Bar?
 

[HydroDave63]

This is really a dead link, is it not?

Do the Watts Bar RP techs not have a pulse?

No wonder they hire anyone as mentioned above.

So is it just the contractors that cant go anywhere else that goto Watts Bar?
 

Sour grapes much?

[Limited Quanity]

This is really a dead link, is it not?

Do the Watts Bar RP techs not have a pulse?

No wonder they hire anyone as mentioned above.

So is it just the contractors that cant go anywhere else that goto Watts Bar?
 

It's that way during the outage too, LOL.  Pretty much like 30-40% on the returnee rate in the years past, that might be on the high side there  .  Jowlman doesn't frequent the "Bar" anymore, PM him and I'm sure he can enlighten you.  It's a new world everyday.  Some great people there, just the great ones are loaded down.  Not enough mules hooked to the plow.

[#1CubsFan]

Don't know if this is the right place for this but since it is a TVA plant thought I would try.Had heard rumors that Watts Bar and Browns Ferry were gonna be hiring some RP techs and hadn't seen or heard anything on here and nothing has been posted on TVA's website either and just wanted so see if anyone had any info on the validity of this? Thanks take it easy its my first post lol

[LOKI RAD]

Sour grapes much?

No Sour Grapes, just stating an observation.

I hear they cant staff thier outage as it is, maybe rumor, I guess we'll see!

[Limited Quanity]

No Sour Grapes, just stating an observation.

I hear they cant staff their outage as it is, maybe rumor, I guess we'll see!

No rumor.  Watts Bar and Sequoyah are being told that the vendor/vendors will not be able to staff at 100%.  Our RPM put that out this week on Friday.  The other sites are being asked to help compensate with increased shared resources personnel.  The other kicker is according to our 26 CFR fatigue assessment, it states we have to have 3 successive days off every 15 day period and still not work anymore than 72 hrs in a 7 day period.  Everyone has their own slant on the interpertation, but thankfully Watts Bar gets to jump on the grenade first.

[Longtime Nuke]

That is right regarding the work rule.  What is the the plan....5x12s?

[Broadzilla]

No rumor.  Watts Bar and Sequoyah are being told that the vendor/vendors will not be able to staff at 100%.  Our RPM put that out this week on Friday.  The other sites are being asked to help compensate with increased shared resources personnel.  The other kicker is according to our 26 CFR fatigue assessment, it states we have to have 3 successive days off every 15 day period and still not work anymore than 72 hrs in a 7 day period.  Everyone has their own slant on the interpertation, but thankfully Watts Bar gets to jump on the grenade first.

But make no mistake about it LQ, everyone in TVA will catch a few of the grenade fragments!

Mikey

[Nuclear NASCAR]

That is right regarding the work rule.  What is the the plan....5x12s?

One of the things I've been hearing is a 5 days on, 1 day off schedule which should meet the 3 days off in a 15 day period. 

[Limited Quanity]

But make no mistake about it LQ, everyone in TVA will catch a few of the grenade fragments!

Mikey

No doubt Mike.  The lab has a copy of "Draft C" of the ssp running around down here.  Draft "C" huh??  They just haven't made the phrase "3 days off/successive (i.e., non rolling)" go away yet.  Webster calls it like he sees it...break out the white out!!

[shehane]

Latest update (since we are working it)  the schedule for RP is 6 and 1 then 5 and 1 (no double time) for the two week schedule.  Of course Ops and Maint. are working some kind of 4 10s schedule with rotating days off giving them double time while meeting the requirment.