ML13335A002
| ML13335A002 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Pilgrim, Vermont Yankee, Yankee Rowe, FitzPatrick |
| Issue date: | 11/13/2013 |
| From: | Judson T Citizens Awareness Network |
| To: | Richard Guzman Plant Licensing Branch 1 |
| Guzman R | |
| References | |
| 2.206, G20130211 | |
| Download: ML13335A002 (5) | |
Text
From:
Tim Judson To:
Guzman, Richard Cc:
deb@nukebusters.org; mary.lampert@comcast.net; paul@beyondnuclear.org; cevan@sover.net; jessica@allianceforagreeneconomy.org
Subject:
RE: G20130211 - new information in support of petition Date:
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 1:34:32 PM Attachments:
UWUA Entergy LayoffsFINAL.pdf Entergy to lay of Pilgrim plant workers.pdf
Dear Mr. Guzman,
Thank you again for all of your work regarding our petition. In your last correspondence, you indicated you were being reassigned and that Ms. Nadiyah Morgan would be our new petition manager. We havent received confirmation of that handover being completed, so please forward this on to Ms. Morgan or notify us if we should contact her directly.
We would like to submit the attached new information as supplemental to our petition, in particular the issues raised in our October 17 supplement regarding Entergys implementation of workforce reductions and the safety impact on plant operations and workforce morale. Entergy last week announced plans for additional staffing reductions at Pilgrim, a signal of further financial stress. The union representing non-management employees at Pilgrim, UWUA Local 329, is raising safety concerns about the workforce reductions, given the critical functions provided by the employees whose positions are being eliminated:
The company plans to slash as many as 8 administrators, technicians and technical specialists - many of whom have worked at the 40-year-old plant for decades. The administrators are responsible for writing many of the procedures that govern daily protocols and operations at Pilgrim. Procedure writing is timely, critical work, particularly at a nuclear facility as old as Pilgrim - work that will have to be shifted onto other employees following the cuts.
Attached is a press release issued by UWUA Local 329 articulating the unions concerns about the impact of this additional workforce reduction, as well as a news article in the local media reporting on the issue. These developments pertain directly to the concern about the safety implications of the reactors financial condition and the qualifications of the Entergy licensees to continue operating them.
Sincerely,
Tim Judson Associate Director Nuclear Information & Resource Service 6930 Carroll Avenue, Suite 340 Takoma Park, MD 20912 www.nirs.org O: 301-270-6477 x14 F: 301-270-4291 E: timj@nirs.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media
Contact:
Krista Robinson Cell: 617-650-6153 krobinson@oneillandassoc.com Entergy to Lay off Workers at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth Utility workers raise safety concern over Entergys proposed staffing cuts at one of the countrys oldest nuclear power plants BRAINTREE (November 7, 2103) - The Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 raised new safety concerns today after receiving notification from Louisiana-based Entergy Corp. that the company plans to lay off several workers at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant.
The company, which earns nearly $1 million per day from the Plymouth, Mass. plant, plans to slash as many as 8 administrators, technicians and technical specialists - many of whom have worked at the 40-year-old plant for decades. The administrators are responsible for writing many of the procedures that govern daily protocols and operations at Pilgrim. Procedure writing is timely, critical work, particularly at a nuclear facility as old as Pilgrim - work that will have to be shifted onto other employees following the cuts.
These layoffs are concerning and its unclear why Entergy feels it needs to cut staff at this time, said UWUA Local 369 President Daniel Hurley. It is ironic that the day after Entergy Pilgrim Nuclear Power plant is placed on a dubious list of 15 underperforming nuclear sites in the country, the company has chosen profits over safety. Our first priority is the safety of our members and our communities, and no one knows how to operate this plant better than the men and women who have been working here for decades.
Entergy and the UWUA engaged in contentious negotiations last year surrounding a contract for nearly 250 members of Local 369. Union workers were locked out of the nuclear power plant for over a month in 2012 and had their healthcare coverage revoked before an agreement was finally reached in early July.
Entergy has indicated that it wants the same number of employees working at each of its nuclear facilities, but that is a flawed approach, Hurley said. Pilgrim is one of the oldest nuclear power plants in the nation and it requires a unique and specific workforce. Staffing cuts such as those Entergy is proposing can have a real impact on the operation of Pilgrim. This is a classic case of doing more with less and this is not how to run a nuclear power plant.
Furthermore, Entergy has target mostly woman in these positions.
UWUA officials have called upon Entergy for additional information regarding the layoffs, which are expected as early as December 13th,. To date, company officials have ignored requests for more information on the model used to justify the elimination of these positions.
Its outrageous that Entergy officials refuse to provide additional information requested by our members, added Hurley. Its in everybodys best interest to have the best possible workers staffing this plant, and we want to keep our workers on the job doing the work they are trained to do.
Entergy operates or manages ten nuclear power plants around the nation, including those in Michigan, Vermont, Arkansas and Mississippi.