ML18139A057

Informs NRC of Dispute W/Util Re Issue of Qualification Testing of Employees W/O Any Prior Formal Training.Requests That NRC Investigate Matter & Provide Interpretation of Regulations Re Training & Qualification Testing

ML18139A057
Person / Time
Site:	Surry
Issue date:	03/18/1980
From:	Barcia J AFFILIATION NOT ASSIGNED
To:	Haass W Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation
References
NUDOCS 8003210524
Download: ML18139A057 (1)

Text

e UTILITY EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION P. 0. BOX 258 RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23202 MAR.CH 18, 1980 Mr. Walter P. Haas, Chief Quality Assurance Branch Division of Project Management U. s. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Washington, D. C, 20555

Dear Mr. Haas:

The Utility Employees Association (UEA), as the labor collective bargaining representative of the Quality Assurance employees at the Surry Nuclear Power Station, has a dispute with the Virginia Electric and Power Company (VEPCo) concerning the issue of qualification test-ing of employees without any prior formal training.

In this dispute, VEPCo maintains that the NRC only requires that Quality Assurance personnel be tested for qualification and does not require any type of fon:nal training. The UEA maintains that both formal training and then testing are required by the NRC and is the only way to ensure both proficiency and qualification.

VEPCo has established proficiency by giving the Quality Assurance personnel at Surry a written test. All employees involved have taken and passed this test. However, these employees maintain that merely taking an arbitrary test does not show proficiency to do the job properly, especially a test which the employees themselves worked and helped in deveJoping the questions. This is the reason the Quality Assurance personnel at Surry have asked for additional training which is why the UEA is haviqg this dispute with VEPCo. -------------------------------

We would appreciate it if you would inve$tigate this matter

-and give us your interpretation of the NRC regulations regarding*

training and qualification testing.

It is our goal that employees performing Quality Assurance functions should be able to ensure that such work is carried out in a safe and efficient manner. Due to the importance of this dispute, we would appreciate your immediate attention to this matter. We have notified VEPCo that we will abide by the NRC interpretation of the requirements.

---

Respectfully yours,

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Jose F. Barcia, Chairman Board of Trustees JFB/dlt