Alissa Tabirian
NS&D Monitor
10/9/2015
An agreement has been reached between Pantex Plant contract manager Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS) and the union representing site workers, CNS announced over the weekend. More than 1,000 workers at the nuclear-weapon assembly and disassembly plant went on strike after their collective bargaining agreement expired at the end of August, rejecting the reduction of employee benefits in CNS’ final contract offer. Following a temporary pause in negotiations at the end of September, CNS said a new four-year labor agreement has been ratified and that the plant’s employees returned to work on Monday, Oct. 5. The workers’ union representative, the Metal Trades Council, said the new agreement features “improved medical coverage with controlled out-of-pocket medical costs and contained premium increases for current and future employees; maintenance of the defined benefit pension plan for current employees; maintained sick leave earnings and bank; and improved short-term disability benefits.” National Nuclear Security Administration Administrator Frank Klotz said in a statement, "Everyone worked very hard to reach the new collective bargaining agreement that was ratified by MTC members on Sunday. We are especially thankful to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service for its help in facilitating these negotiations."
