HANFORD UNION NOTIFIED OF CHPRC LAYOFF PLANS

The Hanford Atomic Metal Trades Council was notified this week that 67 represented workers will lose their jobs at Hanford as a result of a planned layoff by CH2M Hill Plateau Remediation Co. In addition, 28 of its workers responded to a request for volunteers for layoffs, bringing the total job cuts for HAMTC workers to 95. The layoffs have been expected. CHPRC announced in April that it would cut up to 400 union and nonunion positions in two phases. In the first phase, 58 employees were laid off in June. That leaves up to about 340 layoffs possible in the second phase in September, which includes the 95 HAMTC workers. The HAMTC layoff notice was for workers at CHPRC and subcontractor Materials and Energy Corp. However, laid off workers with more seniority than workers with the same jobs elsewhere at Hanford can claim their jobs in a “bump and roll.” The 67 HAMTC-represented positions targeted for involuntary layoffs are spread across 13 specialties, with the largest number being 25 nuclear chemical operators.

CHPRC told workers in a bulletin this week that reduction in force notices will go out Sept. 17, and Sept. 27 will be the last day of paid employment. Layoffs for nonunion workers will be decided based on evaluation of skills needed and a rating and ranking process. CHPRC said in April that layoffs will include both CHPRC workers and also workers with the 11 subcontractors preselected when it took over the central Hanford cleanup contract. Many workers will be eligible for a severance package that includes one week of pay for every year worked up to 20 years. CHPRC, with Washington State University and WorkSource, plans a job fair Oct. 11.