PANTEX GUARDS UNION APPROVES NEW CBA

Pantex’s guards won’t be hitting the picket lines this year. The Pantex Guards Union ratified a new contract with Pantex Plant contractor B&W Pantex late last week, bringing the latest round of negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement to an uneventful close five years after the guards went on strike over retirement, benefits and career longevity issues. Details of the agreement were not available, but with the economy struggling, protective force unions have been forced to lower their expectations for wage increases and massive changes to benefits and retirement packages. Nonetheless, with collective bargaining agreements at Savannah River, Pantex and Oak Ridge expiring during a six-month span this year and unions keen on protecting the existing benefits of guards, weapons complex observers feared possible work stoppages at multiple sites. However, Savannah River and Pantex guards have thus far completed negotiations rather smoothly. The CBA between International Guards Union of America Local 3 and Oak Ridge security contractor WSI expires in August.