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IBEW Nuclear Plant Workers Strike June 11, 2003 More than 200 members of Local 1289 in Lakewood, New Jersey struck their employer at the at Oyster Creek nuclear power plant on May 22 after months of ineffective negotiations. Amergen, the owner of the plant, imposed its last best and final contract offer on the local without agreement. At issue are not salaries and benefitsalthough the company has attempted to increase the burden of health care costs on the membersbut job security and safety, said Local 1289 Business Manager Ed Stroup. "The union has ensured safety and security, not only of its members but the public at largethat is what our struggle is about," Stroup said. "If we did not resist these strong-arm tactics and terrible working conditions, our members would be devastated by a huge corporation only interested in more profit." In hard line negotiations, the company with support of parent Exelon, has attempted to lay off critical personnel, abolish job descriptions, use contractors and eliminate long-standing rules providing protections for workers during layoffs. The contract expired on January 31 after a three-month extension. Weeks of tense talks produced no agreement and the company decided to impose its last offer on February 4. Members rejected the offer, authorized a strike and filed a complaint against the company with the National Labor Relations Board. In late May, when an electrical problem forced the plant offline, the 217 members went on strike. Today, the plant is again working but its regular operators are walking the picket line outside while managers and other nonunion personnel operate the oldest nuclear plant in the country. The local says safety is at issue now that people unfamiliar with the plants peculiarities are running it. A June 5 session with a mediator produced very little progress. At the mediators request, the local pulled together a list of the most important issues. It is a long list, Stroup said, and nothing is likely to change unless the company starts to bargain. "The mediator is not a magician," Stroup said. "We sent them proposals and they flat out rejected them. We want to continue to negotiate and resolve this and get a reasonable contract. They are the ones that are refusing to move. "All I can say is thank God for a strong membership who twice rejected this terrible offer," Stroup said.
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Above: Oyster Creek Nuclear Station, Lakewood NJ Local 50 Members Ratify Dominion Contract... September 12, 2002 President's Message:
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