Lab, Guards Union Agree to Extend Bargaining Talks by 60 Days
NS&D Monitor
4/24/2015
Los Alamos National Laboratory and its protective force workers will have another two months to hash out a new collective bargaining agreement after the lab and union agreed to a 60-day extension to the labor deal late this week, NS&D Monitor has learned. The lab last week began readying a contingency force that would take over security at the lab after its expiration today, but International Guards Union of American Local 69 and lab protective force subcontractor SOC-Los Alamos made enough progress in negotiations this week to extend the talks.
The union is believed to have softened its stance on a number of issues. It had sought to preserve its lucrative health benefits deal—its members don’t pay for health benefits at all—while boosting its retirement benefits along with significant pay increases. The lab has pushed for union members to contribute to health care costs, which would bring the protective force in line with other sites around the complex, and is opposed to significant changes to retirement benefits and large pay increases.
There hasn’t been a security strike in the weapons complex since Pantex guards went on strike in 2007. The last work stoppage in the weapons complex took place in 2011 when more than 800 machinists and production workers went on strike for 42 days.
