Oyster Creek

[Rennhack]

Don't forget to vote.  Keep your comments civil.

[Rennhack]

Talk About: Oyster Creek

[Pet_Cow]

Another hole, particle city. I remember sitting at the control point and I reached behind me and causually opened up and electircal panel that was not secured. Someone had hidden High contamination signs in all their panels!I took them out a showed bad boy Bob, "Hey someone hid these signs in your electrical panels- don't worry, I took them all out." Turns out they were supposed to be there. The ceiling lights had a thick layer of 50k dust on it. Things got worse in the contaminated areas.

On the 95 foot level guys standing around in their underwear were getting contaminated waiting in line to use the frisker. They were leaning against a concrete wall (right below the fuel pool) which was leaching.

They also spent a fortune at this plant to figure out why all the pigeons perched outside the Reactor building were dieing. The brought the experts in to examine the birds. After a few days and much expense they figured out the birds were dieing because the workers were throwing stones at them.

[rlbinc]

I heard OC went on strike this week.

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/ny-bc-nj--nuclearplant-stri0523may23,0,1498358.story?coll=ny-ap-regional-wire

Anybody have the details?

[thx113823]

All we heard was that the union guys have
been working without a contract for several months,
and they finally got fed up and walked!!!!!

[rlbinc]

Exelon was planning on laying off 25% of the Oyster Creek RP staff?

http://www.jerseyshorenuclearwatch.org/workerstrike.htm

Sorry about the source, but the parties aren't saying much.

I'd appreciate some official word if it's available.

[Kretgar]

There's more to it than no contract.  There were no negotiations.  They handed our representatives a contract offer and said take it or leave it.  We left it.  Then they gutted that offer to make it worse, and said take it or leave it.  We took it to the NLRB.  Using three different (and bad) judgement cases, the NLRB ruled in favor of the company.

The company claims they have to control costs, and cited the $250,000 they paid in overtime meals last year.   What they don't tell you is they paid out $1,000,000 each bonuses to two individuals.  But the guys working 16 hour days are gutting the company profits when they get a $17 meal allowance.

They want to get rid of the pre-20 year workers to avoid retirements; they want the contract to allow them to lay-off union workers as they see fit, and bring in contractors; they want the contract to allow them to split overtime to 4 hour blocks - so they can make people stay 4 hours after shift with no notice and avoid the callout list.  (When they imposed the contract, that was the first thing they did, forcing 12 hour shifts for all of us - something they wanted long ago).

They want the contract to allow the supervisors to do the work of the union people - and to allow operators to do rad tech work (such as area surveys), so they can lay off 75% of the rad tech force.

Exelon is attempting to bust the union, plain and simple.

[DainJer]

Why do you think they are slowly forcing about NPSW?
Although i hva e no love lost for stone and webster,90% of their work force is union,and they have become very union friendly, one rumor i kept hearing is that Bechtel wanted the maintenance contract for all the exelon plants.
It may work in Jersey, and it may work in PA....but i think the Chicago unions are a little more stubborn....i do not see the will county union (Dresden) rolling over.
They already lead the united states in money spent for convictions of predatory contractors, they also have the highest per capitaof members who have spent jail time for questionable union practices.

[carlosz]

Does anybody know if there is a Hotline to get updated information?

[mltdwn12]

Worked in New Radwaste bldg 81-83 for Hittman, Picked up over 10 R exposure in two years! They had an "opps" and backflowed hot resin into the air lines overhead. GA we worked in all day was 20-30 mr/hr. Never anything hot, just a little dose every day!

On the upside, I loved Seaside Heights in the summer and racing at Englishtown

Craig

[Rennhack]

Moke posted this in another thread:

If you return there during the off-peak season (after Labor Day) you may check out the Ocean Terrace Condominiums at 732-793-7922 Fax: 2201 and ask for Janice. Tell em Ed Young (Hawaiian) sent you. Janice has some nice efficiencies (180-200 / wk) located on the Beach at the southern end of the Boardwalk in Seaside Park.

[carlosz]

"Negotiations between the company and bargaining unit resumed July 3. The union presented a one-page proposal, conceding only to the company's wage and benefit proposal. The company's latest offer retains the same wage and benefits package of its previous offers and adds changes that reflect the lessons learned while management has been operating the plant during the current strike".
Exelon Nuclear Vision. July 10, 2003. [smiley=argue.gif] [smiley=argue.gif] [smiley=argue.gif] [smiley=argue.gif] [smiley=argue.gif]

[Nukeman]

Surf and Stream Campground
Route 571
Manchester Township
(908) 349-8919

I stayed there for the outage and it was a decent place.  Rate was 400 plus elec.  which was the only one I found that wasnt 600 or more plus elec.   Good luck in your search.

nukeman

[carlosz]

IBEW Local 1289 Strike.

Two months after walking off the job at Oyster Creek Generating Station on May 22, members of the IBEW Local 1289 are still walking the line, and the company’s hope
for a quick resolution to the strike has faded.
In the meantime, the union has met with the company and a state mediator four times in eight weeks, each time failing to bring a solid proposal to the table. At the request of Wellington Davis, executive director of the New Jersey
Mediation and Conciliation Service, company and union negotiating teams met on July 21.
At the outset of the meeting, the company - in response to a union request from an earlier session provided union negotiators with a comprehensive offer document reflecting all the changes and contract language from the company’s
July 3 offer. The company asked union negotiators to take the offer back to the membership for a vote. Union leaders did not respond.
The company also provided alisting of the 19 issues
currently separating the parties. The issues in dispute center on other contract changes - largely restrictive work
rules - which remain one stumbling block in negotiations over the past several months.
Davis recommended union leaders put their counter proposal
together before the next negotiating session. Union negotiators reluctantly agreed and indicated they
would have their proposal finished by Friday, July 25. No date for the next negotiating meeting has been set.


Work Rule Changes Primary Issue in Strike.

“This strike will end when union leaders take their responsibility seriously,” Oyster Creek Site Vice President Ernie Harkness said. “The company has made five solid proposals, and in return the union has rehashed proposals previously rejected.” The most recent of these proposals was presented July 3 and 7.
The company has repeatedly rejected the union’s binding arbitration offer and the union’s attempt to delay implementing new work rules. Union leaders claim the
new rules will make the plant unsafe, and yet management and non-represented employees have been running the plant safely, efficiently and at full power since the union walked off the job.
“We would never consider implementing rules that would
jeopardize plant or public safety,” Harkness said. “The new rules would allow the company to run Oyster Creek more competitively and efficiently. Cross training employees
is nothing new to corporate America. It is the way business
in the 21st century will be run.”

Nuclear Vision. Dresden Iluminator. July 23, 2003

[carlosz]

“Union leadership is portraying the work rule issue as an item that arose from recent contract negotiations,”
Harkness said, “and that isn’t true. We have been trying
to reform the work rules since prior to AmerGen’s purchase in 2000.”
“I have said repeatedly the strike will not be resolved until union leaders keep their promise to address the work rule issue,’’ Harkness said. “That has not happened, and until it does we will continue to negotiate in good faith
with union leadership. We remain committed to finding a resolution.’’

Non-Represented Employees Pull Together.

Since the union members went on strike an incredible amount of work has been done by Oyster Creek employees as well as
employees who have dedicated their time to the station from other Exelon Nuclear sites and business units in Exelon.
Employees worked long and hard to bring the unit back on-line on May 26 after an unplanned outage occurred on May 20. Thanks to cooperative efforts from the workforce now on-site, workers have completed 120 work orders in the
corrective and elective maintenance backlog since May 20 in addition to the new items the site actively identified for repair. There has also been over a 50 percent reduction in main control room and radwaste deficiencies with all work completed with high quality. The company continues to
remain open to negotiating with the union. “Our wish right now is to end the strike, but that cannot and will not be the case if the union doesn’t start negotiating seriously,”
said Harkness. “The plant isn’t suffering as a result of the strike - union represented employees are.”
As of July 1, since striking employees are not eligible for unemployment benefits, the average unmarried employee has lost about $8,000 and an employee with a family nearly $9,000. Local 1289 members have been picketing at the entrance of Oyster Creek since the walkout. Activity on the picket line has been steady for the past few weeks.
“It’s going to be a long, drawn-out and frustrating process. I think we have seen some of that in the last negotiations on both sides. Still, management and nonrepresented employees maintaining the plant are upbeat,” Harkness said. “It hasn’t been easy on them,” Harkness acknowledged. “Their response does not surprise me because
of the professionalism the team has shown me in the last 2
1/2 years addressing the challenges that face this small single unit. Their dedication has been paramount to our success.”

Nuclear Vision. Dresden Iluminator. July 23, 2003

[bronxcheer]

What is "Nuclear Vision. Dresden Iluminator" ? Is this a company news letter?

[DJ@Retired]

Its Exelon Propaganda news letter. With there twist on how they see things.   Its all to show there the good guys in this strike. They also would like you to believe there not making a lot of money. Thats why the CEO made 27 million last year. That why they pay Jim Furik PGA Golfer 4 million to where a shirt. If you want the other side of the story you need to go to http://www.ibew1298.org/1289/1289Home.htm . JMHO DJ

[DJ@Retired]

ly 23, 2003

N-plant strike negotiations may continue next week
By JIM McELHATTON Staff Writer, (609) 978-2015

Nearly eight hours of talks late Monday night failed to produce a settlement as the labor strike at the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant now enters its third month.

Plant owner AmerGen Energy Co. and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1289 may meet again Monday, according Ed Stroup, president of Local 1289.

Stroup declined to say if both sides were any closer after Monday's meeting.

"We still have some work to do," Stroup said. "I'd like to get this thing resolved, but I don't have the ability to say where the end is right now."

AmerGen officials said the union and management disagree on 19 issues included in the company's contract proposal.

Plant site Vice President Ernie Harkness said the sticking point in negotiations continues to be proposed work rules that would consolidate some workers' responsibilities, resulting in the loss of about 20 jobs.

"Without considerable discussion on the work rule issue, there is no quick end in sight," Harkness said.

Harkness said replacement workers have been running the plant safely and more efficiently since 217 IBEW members went out on strike May 22.

The company also provided the union with news reports on an agreement recently reached between the Philadelphia Convention Center and six labor unions.

The deal allows union members to perform each other's tasks to reduce costs.

However, Stroup said the IBEW didn't appreciate hearing about the convention center.

"This is a nuclear power plant we're talking about here, not a convention center," Stroup said. "A nuclear power plant has procedures that a convention center does not."

The union has agreed to consider an "advanced radiation worker program" in place at the Clinton Generating Station in Illinois, which is owned by Exelon Nuclear, the parent company of the Oyster Creek ownership.

"It sounds very good and flowery," said Stroup. "But all the program is spreading work among the general population of workers. We're not happy about that, but we're having it shoved down our throats."

Harkness said the work rules are needed to keep the plant competitive. Harkness also could not say when the strike might end.

"We do not want the strike prolonged," he said. "But a resolution does not appear any closer, especially with nonunion workers at the plant proving that the new work rules do in fact lead to improvements in efficiency while meeting all safety requirements."

To e-mail Jim McElhatton at The Press:

JMcElhatton@pressofac.com


Oh by the way are Advanced Rad Worker "ARW" program is a completed Success. We have 1 Qualified ARW worker for the whole plant. JMHO DJ

[carlosz]

Oyster Creek Contract Agreement Reached

[carlosz]

Importance:      High
Oyster Creek Contract Agreement Reached
DATE: August 5, 2003
FROM: Ernie Harkness, Oyster Creek Site Vice President

INSTRUCTIONS: Urgent! Please share the following information with your employees immediately.

Oyster Creek Generating Station reached an agreement with IBEW 1289 today on a new contract, resolving the 76-day strike.  After several tough-negotiating sessions the past two weeks, both sides agreed to provisions in the contract early this morning. Bargaining unit members are scheduled to vote on the agreement Thursday.

“Our ability to manage the labor action and operate the plant safely over the past 76 days is directly attributable to the commitment of management employees from Oyster Creek.  Thank you,” Ernie Harkness, Oyster Creek Site Vice President, said.

“We were challenged, but we also learned a lot about how to operate the plant more efficiently.  We’ll now be able to apply what we learned with all our workers,” Harkness said.

The strike began May 22 when 217 union members walked off the job.  Nineteen individuals have since resigned from the union, having previously returned to work. If the contract is ratified, striking employees are expected to return to work Aug. 11.

[carlosz]

I heard that the Local 1289 is not recommending this agreement because is the worst offer yet!  and that they are
just giving the people a chance to end the strike if that is what they want.

Any more news from either side?

[DJ@Retired]

Negotiations Update
August 7, 2003

To all members of local 1289:
The vote on the AmerGen/Exelon contract passed today by a narrow margin and the offer was formally accepted.
Members will be contacted by the company as to when to report back to work next week.


Well they gave up jobs, Double time, Meal money, Time off, Work rules and they have to be ARW trained. They gave up over $10,000 in pay for a contract not worthy of toilet paper.  :-/ Local 1289 never give up. Tomorrow another day.   Good luck in the future.... DJ

[DJ@Retired]

Oyster Creek Strike



The Strike is over. Local 1289 workers to return to work Monday.

August 8, 2003 The Asbury Park Press
Oyster Creek workers vote to end strike, accept 3-year contract
LACEY -- Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1289 last night approved a contract offered by the management of the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, ending the longest strike in the plant's 34-year history.

The three-year contract approved by the union gives the plant, owned by AmerGen Energy Co., the ability to lay off as many workers as it wishes in the next three years, said Stroup. Supervisors are now also barred from doing bargaining unit work, and a provision that would match the overtime earned by outside contractors to union workers was deleted, Stroup said.

The contract also provides for a 3 percent salary increase per year over a three-year period, increases the employee 401(k) plan, creates special increases in the 401(k) plans of workers over 50, and a 10 percent increase in vacation time, said Gina G. Scala, spokeswoman for the plant.

Asked who has emerged as the victor in this difficult strike, Stroup replied, "Nobody. There are no winners. The company doesn't win. They got the contract they wanted, and we got a contract we didn't want. We're afraid this contract is going to lead to an eventual problem at the plant. We fought it every step of the way -- but we can only fight so far."

August 8, 2003 The Press of Atlantic City
Oyster Creek union accepts contract offer
WALL TOWNSHIP - With misgivings about the fairness of the settlement proposal submitted by Oyster Creek officials and agreed upon by their union negotiators, a majority of the 198 members of IBEW Local 1289 on strike from the nuclear power plant ratified a new contract Thursday night and will return to work Monday.

It was a bittersweet day for the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who had been on strike for 11 weeks and according to union President Ed Stroup, now had to live with a contract that was worse than parent company Exelon Nuclear's "last, best final offer" before the May 22 strike.

"People are happy to work (again), but are not happy about the contract," Stroup said.

More than 90 percent of the union turned out to vote at Wall Township headquarters Thursday, Stroup said.

He called the results of the vote a "squeaker" in favor of ratifying the contract.

Stroup said that union members were heading out late Thursday night to Lacey, to the front of the 34-year-old power plant, to tear down pickets and angry protest signs that marked the longest strike in the plant's history.

August 8, 2003 Ocean County Observer
Strike ends
LACEY -- Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1289 voted yesterday to accept the settlement package worked out between the union and representatives from Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, thereby ending the strike that began 79 days ago.

However, he said that AmerGen, the company that manages Oyster Creek, renegged on their original statement to let go of 10 percent of the union workforce. This was one of the company moves that began the strike.

"They're indicating that they are not going to hold to the number of job cuts," he said.

He said that AmerGen did not know how many jobs would be cut, nor the positions, only that the number would be greater than 10 percent.

"The company has the right to hire permanent replacement workers," Stroup had told union members, "no matter how you decide to vote."

Employees are scheduled to return to work on Monday, in groups of 40 to 50 a day for the week, Stroup said.

Site communicator Gina Scala said that 19 strikers had crossed the picket lines.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Dan_E.]

[quote/]
The Strike is over. Local 1289 workers to return to work Monday.

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1289 last night approved a contract offered by the management of the Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, ending the longest strike in the plant's 34-year history.  

Asked who has emerged as the victor in this difficult strike, Stroup replied, "Nobody. There are no winners. The company doesn't win. They got the contract they wanted, and we got a contract we didn't want.

It was a bittersweet day for the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers who had been on strike for 11 weeks and according to union President Ed Stroup, now had to live with a contract that was worse than parent company Exelon Nuclear's "last, best final offer" before the May 22 strike.

"The company has the right to hire permanent replacement workers," Stroup had told union members, "no matter how you decide to vote."
[/quote]

Who did the negotiating for this union? If they weren't Amergen officials, they must have been related or paid well for their efforts.

[SloGlo]

Oyster Creek Strike

Asked who has emerged as the victor in this difficult strike, Stroup replied, "Nobody. There are no winners. The company doesn't win. They got the contract they wanted, and we got a contract we didn't want."

this sure reads as though oyster creek management won.