Bartlett vs Clinton Hopefuls

[Tech A]

Is the rumor true that if you want to go to Clinton you have to work the old exelon plants also?  Sounds great for the ex numanco techs who get another plant added on their "core group," but it doesnt sound right for the Bartlett returnees who don't want to stay in Illinois for the winter.  Isn't Clinton the highest paid outage plant that Bartlett has?

[DJ@Retired]

Everyone, I do believe this rumor to be true. Bartlett has to do this to get the North plants staffed. So they sort of black mail you into working there hard to staff plants. The RP tech's at Clinton do not agree with this policy but understand why it’s being done. Funny if they would treat you guys better they wouldn’t have to hold hostage to work thier. But I can't Blame Bartlett. It’s Business 101.  We are losing some good techs because of it. Please Email me for further info or help with this problem. No promises but as always, I'll try and help.

[Joe Ferguson]

Nobody is being held hostage.  It's an economic strategy that benefits Bartlett, the technicians, and Exelon.  There is and should be an incentive for the tech's to work the circuit.  If you have noticed, Exelon plans their refueling outages strategically close to one another.  The reason they do that is to be able to take advantage of craft resources (including HP's) and to take the units off-line during non-peak periods (spring and fall).  If we are losing "good tech's" because they don't want to work the string, that a decision they make.  The sun is still gonna come up and somebody else will make their $money$.  It ain't personal - it's business and it ain't for everyone.

[DJ@Retired]

Hostage might not been the best word. But I would want to work where I chose. Not where a company wants me to go. Funny we don't have problem's getting tech's to come to our plant until they started forcing them to go north.

[illegalsmile]

Hostage might not been the best word. But I would want to work where I chose. Not where a company wants me to go. Funny we don't have problem's getting tech's to come to our plant until they started forcing them to go north.

if you have the right to work where you chose, doesn't Bartlett have the right to hire the people they chose? a lot of us have made statements that The Company only cares about how much money we can make them. But how many of us would take a job for Bartlett if another company was paying $3/hr more an hour up the road. This Exelon Package Deal just sounds like good business planning to me.

[Already Gone]

Hostage might not been the best word. But I would want to work where I chose. Not where a company wants me to go. Funny we don't have problem's getting tech's to come to our plant until they started forcing them to go north.

Yeah, it would be nice to get what we want and only have to give what we want to give for it.  Sorry that some of your favorites are going to pass you by because they don't want to work at the "North" plants, but the company is running a business - not a cruise ship line.  If you want to go where you want to go, then you have to buy a ticket.  In this case, the "fare" for riding the Clinton Gravy Train is to work at the other Exelon sites - which will pay you a ton of money and you can work Byron, Braidwood, Dresden, and LaSalle without changing hotels. 

I guess my real point is that you have to do what the guy who signs the paycheck tells you to do, or go work for someone else (and do what they want).  It is, always has been, and always will be, true that the person who pays the money is the one who gets the choice.
But, since slavery is illegal, nobody can force you to do anything - even by paying for it.  You can always walk away.

[retired nuke]

Hostage might not been the best word. But I would want to work where I chose. Not where a company wants me to go. Funny we don't have problem's getting tech's to come to our plant until they started forcing them to go north.

Gee, I always assumed that being an employee, the company held some rights as to where I went....'course I always had the right to not go where they wanted, and work for someone else. 

There are advantages for the company (training, security, inprocessing, etc) to having craft sollow their outage schedule. There are advantages for the craft (continuous steady work, short travel, firm schedule, getting to work with the same folks all season). 

If you don't like the deal, you don't hafta take it.

In my past life as a roadie, sometimes I did, sometimes I didn't. Better life as a house tech now anyway...

[DJ@Retired]

Everyone all I'm saying is that I wouldn't take a deal with strings attached. So I would pass on Clinton. Speaking for myself. You have the final decision. If Bartlett does not get enough resumes to a certain plant then that plant would have to go to a back up contractor who maybe does not have those same strings attached. There is power in the word NO.

[Tech A]

Who gets first dibs on the exelon outages?  If a Clinton returnee confirms to all the exelon outages do the old exelon techs (numanco) have to look elsewhere?  Or does Big Blue give the old exleon plants Clinton and tell the faithful returnees of Bartlett to take another month off?   

[RAD-GHOST]

Tech A, 

Over 40% of the US nuclear facilities are scheduled for a shut down this Spring.  DOE and D&D are currently ramping up at several locations (probably 100 positions before 01/01/08), Diablo & Salem's SGR's are estimated to take another 240 Techs out of circulation for a couple of months.  That leaves about 350+ ANSI Qualified Technicians for the other 40 outages!  As far as the Exelon package, your choice, "Deal", or "No Deal"!  Obviously some of the Exelon facilities have people problems, (they don't like people)!  I've always heard good things about Clinton, but if they're the cherry pie in your dung dinner, then it's time to move on!  Like Beercourt said, you can take home a good chunk of change with the Exelon Bonuses and we all know why they pay those bonuses!

Have a Great Day, RG!

[Tech A]

Your missing the point RG, the question is  who does Bartlett take care of the faithful returnees or the "numanco" techs. Clinton has always been a good place to go because it always starts at the beginning of the year (Jan 8th).  While the others start in Feb. and March (Salem).  So now If I was an old returnee I would be a little heated that I could be losing the first outage of the year and  the highest paid outage Bartlett has to offer. If companies have their way all the outages will be on a circuit and it will be like the "Core group" of Duke.  And we all know how well those techs are paid.  By the way SGR's are no longer guaranteed two months of work.  Techs have been getting laid off after one month of work at SGR's.  40% of the outages dont start in Jan.

[Joe Ferguson]

You guys are getting all rapped around the axel here.  Just let go of the 'Numanco' and the 'Bartlett faithful' stuff.  With all that work going on this spring, the upper hand goes to the tech's - not the comany(s). 
It gets even easier yet - if you want to work and make the money, then 'GO'.  If not, call your buddy at Clinton, or Byron, or Braidwood, or LaSalle, or even DresneyLand and ask them if they can float you $50.00 until your unemployment check gets in.

Get a kleenex and get back to work.

ro

[Dave Warren]

Sounds like you guys need a union.......roflmao
Just kidding. Just kidding.

Beer Court could not be more correct.

I'm a former self-proclaimed King of the Exelon circuit, remembering old-school companies like DNI, PSESI, Numanco, and eventually Bartlett.
I did not have a week off from 1987 until late 89, when I first started in the Commonwealth Edison ratholes. That would be as a Control Point and a Junior HP. Life was good back then. You would be body counting (laying down back then) and they would ask you to go to another Illinois plant. No joke. Oh, how times change.

It still can be good in Illinois. If the timing is right, your job performance is right, and you are enough of a glutton to want to work all the union houses. Not to mention, you shouldn't piss off Denise (Hi, Denise..).

I know you probably want to go certain places at certain times, but if you just suck it up and go get your money someplace where you don't want to go, it will all come back around. Kinda like karma.

TECH A: I have never worked east of the Ohio / Pennsylvania border in 21 years in this business. Guess what? I was given an opportunity near Philadelphia, doing safety and not Rad Pro. I took it and I had never been here for work or pleasure. It all worked out just fine and now I am headed back to the house to eat some turkey in a few days. I went with a brand new company, at a brand new site in a brand new field and I feel great about it. Don't tie yourself down to a rock that doesn't move. Branch out my friend and diversify.

[Tech A]

Thanks Mr. Warren for your input, and I agree with diversification, but why did it take you 21 years to finally diversify?  My question is whats Bartlett going to do if they are truely going to "Package Clinton"?  Returnees of Clinton or the "old numanco" to fill the rest of the exelon outages.  And if they give it to the "old numanco" chain how will the returnees feel?  Again Mr. Warren thanks for your input, but for me branching out happen a long time ago.

[Already Gone]

Thanks Mr. Warren for your input, and I agree with diversification, but why did it take you 21 years to finally diversify?  My question is whats Bartlett going to do if they are truely going to "Package Clinton"?  Returnees of Clinton or the "old numanco" to fill the rest of the exelon outages.  And if they give it to the "old numanco" chain how will the returnees feel?  Again Mr. Warren thanks for your input, but for me branching out happen a long time ago.

First, the "old numanco" or "returnees" you keep referring to are groups of people.  Bartlett doesn't hire groups of people - they hire individual technicians (sometimes in pairs, but that is another mistake to be addressed in another time and place) to fill open positions.  My guess is that they are going to staff all these outages with the first techs to say yes.  Naturally, they'll call people in a certain order.  They will probably start with the techs who have worked at Illinois Exelon/AmerGen in the past and won't have to go beyond that to find enough takers.

If you haven't noticed, Bartlett has had the other Exelon plants for quite some time now.  They have staffed them without having to stamp the word "numanco" on anyone's forehead.  The only segregation among Bartlett employees seems to be happening in your mind.  If you are counting on Bartlett to discriminate against its own employees because they used to work for the other guy several years ago, you are going to get disappointed.  There isn't room in this business for employers to carry grudges or prejudice against their own techs because they used to work for a company that they bought.  The two factions that you have created here for the sake of this dicussion - "old numanco" vs. "returnees" do not exist.  There are Bartlett techs and Bartlett techs.  The company is going to give these jobs to the Bartlett techs.  There will certainly be techs from both groups on the list.
In case you haven't figured this out already ( I bet you have.) Bartlett pretty much has to follow a set of rules which doesn't include appeasing or offending any particular groups:
Rule 1:  Staff the job
Rule 2:  Use the most qualified people
Rule 3:  Take care of your people first
Rule 4:  Hire whoever you can get to fill the remaining slots - treat them like part of the team
Rule 5:  The customer's needs come first  - following rules 1-4 will take care of rule 5

[illegalsmile]

Damn, doncha hate it when people start injecting reason and reality into these threads?!?!?
As usual, well put, Mr. BC

[Nuclear NASCAR]

Damn, doncha hate it when people start injecting reason and reality into these threads?!?!?
As usual, well put, Mr. BC

No wonder that Nukeworkers National Treasure is the second to 1000 Karma is there?  Excellent application of common sense as always Troy.

[Rennhack]

No wonder that Nukeworkers National Treasure is the second to 1000 Karma is there?  Excellent application of common sense as always Troy.

He's goona pass me soon (karma).  Grumbel, grumble...

[Already Gone]

Mike and I will testify that Exelon/Amergen pay in real money.  We both got to cash our checks from TMI even though we weren't working for Bartlett or Numanco or DZ Atlantic.
There is plenty of work out there for all of us.

Warren, I assume you were on your lunch break when you posted that last one   

[RAD-GHOST]

Warren, I assume you were on your lunch break when you posted that last one 

Now That's Funny!    

[Eric_Bartlett]

Thanks Mr. Warren for your input, and I agree with diversification, but why did it take you 21 years to finally diversify?  My question is whats Bartlett going to do if they are truely going to "Package Clinton"?  Returnees of Clinton or the "old numanco" to fill the rest of the exelon outages.  And if they give it to the "old numanco" chain how will the returnees feel?  Again Mr. Warren thanks for your input, but for me branching out happen a long time ago.

I can't stay out of it anymore.  I've been staffing the Clinton Station for 18 years now.  The Illinois Exelon circuit since we got called in to back up Brand-X and then picked up the whole system.  One of the first things that happened much to the chagrin of many of the returnees from all the plants was I set them all up as a run, blame me personally for that if you must but what is done is done and I don’t see it changing any time soon as it benefits not only our client, but Bartlett and the techs that choose to work it. 

The days of staffing plants as individual entities are over.  The days of fleet wide staffing and system staffing are here.  We, Bartlett, did not create the change but we have adapted to it as have the majority of techs.  If we tried to staff plants as individual we would fail.  End of issue.   

As far as you breaking down techs into 2 groups "Clinton returnees" and "Old numanco" - that’s the most ridiculous statement I've heard in a long time and I've heard some ridiculous things in this business.   We can break it down even further if you want - how about "Been with Big Blue for 20+ years" as compared to "Only worked the past 3 outages at Clinton (6yrs)" as compared to came to Bartlett when we picked up all of Illinois (7yrs) - who would have first dibs then? - You trying to alienate allot of good techs that work the old Comed now MW Exelon circuit is just plain foolish.  Those that I would consider "Old Numanco" are Atlantic loyalists now, and that’s fine - I'll get 'em working for us someday, if not that’s my problem.  The hard working techs that put up with the ungodly hours and fast paced outages in Illinois deserve to get a chance to work at their regions highest paying plant if they want too - not all want to.  Most of the Illinois crew now is actually old school Bartlett Techs anyways and those that weren’t before, I would gladly call old school Bartlett techs now.  I've dealt with these folk for over 7 years and have found them to be one of the hardest working, most decent bunch of folk and it personally offends me that you would actually try and pigeon hole them as people less deserving than anyone else that has worked for and supported this company and the various sites we staff.  Dave Warren is right, you can make good money out there - change your attitude first though or you'll be on the first layoff.

I apologize for the grammar and spell'n as I don’t type quite clearly when I'm extremely irate.

Take it slow,

Eric

 

[Dave Warren]

Mike and I will testify that Exelon/Amergen pay in real money.  We both got to cash our checks from TMI even though we weren't working for Bartlett or Numanco or DZ Atlantic.
There is plenty of work out there for all of us.

Warren, I assume you were on your lunch break when you posted that last one   

Actually, I was just letting the sweat dry, in between Confined Space Entries......

[RAD-GHOST]

EB,

Take a Chill Pill, your gonna Bust a Vein! 

I'd like to disagree with you, but in this case I can't!  The Fleets, (that word always cracks me up, Brand name for enima's), want the biggest bang for their buck!  From a business perspective, I'd want Techs who resided in the system and traveled through out the system.  That's called returnees, cheaper to train and familiarize with the facilities!  Tech A obviously wants to buy a piece of the pie!  Nice if it can happen, but if it can't, it's simply time to move on to bigger and better things!  I've taken myself out of the game a couple of times, because I wouldn't buy the package deal, that's called CHOICE!  I also know others that have done the same thing.  There may be a line of takers for the Excelon circuit, then again maybe not, time will tell! 

I must be one of the Bastard techs for Big Blue, only worked for them collectively about 3 years out of 28!  I'm waiting to hear about the prefferences for the old IRM, Cleanco, Hydro-Nuclear, CE, RAD, DNI, American Nuclear, NSSI, Power System, PSESI, SEG, Siemens, SEC, Enercon, Kelly and Acts Technicans!  Then I'll be all over you EB!  Funny, I only worked for Numanco a total of 6 months in 28 years!  Does that qualify me? 

Dave, DNI was bought out in 1985 by KLM!  Just a little Nuclear History.

Take it slow Dude, RG!    

[Tech A]

So techs that have been with Bartlett with at least 15 years or more and that have been to Clinton (and the plant wants them) should be the first to get  the slots to Clinton?  Sounds easy to me.  Have techs been confirmed to Clinton yet?    Is the same Cordinator going to be there or has he/she been affected also?

[felchie]

Just to try to get back on subject.....A lot of tech's who have been loyal to Bartlett over the last 10+ years had some concerns when
Numanco was acquired by Bartlett, they were concerned that some key positions in the company would be given to Numanco faithful (who for years bad-mouthed Bartlett, and were their biggest competitors).  This has now come true, look at some of the utility/regional managers and their background.  Now personally I get
along great with them and have no issues, but, the scuttlebutt from
the breakrooms is different.  Look at SC/Supv/Alara positions being
filled and you see a trend....Look at the current Clinton situation and the trend continues, Denise is taking care of her people, which I understand, but, there needs to be some flexibility to also take care
of those who have toed the blue line.....