The Metal Trades Council’s rejection of Consolidated Nuclear Security’s “best and final” contract offer has further complicated an already difficult labor situation at the Pantex warhead assembly/disassembly plant, and has put the start of contract negotiations at the Y-12 National Security Complex on hold for the time being.Clarence Rashada, president of the Metal Trades Council, said the Aug. 8 vote to reject the CNS contract offer was “overwhelming,” and he acknowledged a vocal outcry among the rank and file to push for a strike at the government plant. He declined to release the exact vote totals on the proposed contract.Despite the union’s rejection of the CNS offer, the existing collective bargaining agreement at Pantex remains in effect until Aug. 28, and it’s likely the parties will resume negotiations before then in hopes of working out an agreement. Rashada, however, said the two sides “are not close.”CNS did not comment on its plans.
Meanwhile, the Atomic Trades and Labor Council in Oak Ridge was scheduled to start negotiations with CNS on Tuesday, but ATLC President Steve Jones confirmed that those talks have been postponed indefinitely because of the Pantex situation. The current agreement at Y-12 has already been extended multiple times, and it’s now due to expire Sept. 21.“We’re ready to go when called,” Jones said regarding the start of negotiations.CNS, a Bechtel-led contractor team, took over management of both Pantex and Y-12 on July 1, 2014, under a combined contract with the National Nuclear Security Administration. CNS won the contract by pledging to save the government money, and benefit changes and cost-cutting measures have created some worker concerns and unhappiness at both sites.
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