Alissa Tabirian
NS&D Monitor
9/25/2015
Negotiations have resumed between Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), the managing contractor of the Pantex Plant in Texas, and the Metal Trades Council, the union representing some of its employees, as a strike by a third of the plant’s workforce enters its 29th day. Approximately 1,100 unionized employees went on strike when their collective bargaining agreement expired late last month. Eighty-seven percent of the unionized workers voted against CNS’ “best and revised final offer,” rejecting the reduction of benefits in the contract.
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) announced last week it would intervene in the strike. CNS spokesman Steve Myers confirmed the resumption of negotiations and said that during the mediation process, “Pantex continues safe and stable operations.”
The unionized employees object to benefit reductions that include a freeze in sick leave hours accrued until the new year and the provision of 40 hours of annual personal leave that could then be banked up to 80 hours year-to-year, whereas they are currently entitled to accumulate 1,600 sick leave hours. Other points of contention for the employees include reductions in prescription drug and pension benefits.
