UWUA Local 369

04/15/2014

Thinking of the victims, first responders and the countless other heroes today as we honor them on the 1st anniversary of the Boston Marathon

03/27/2014

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our brothers and sisters at the Boston Fire Department and to the families of Lt. Walsh and firefighter Michael Kennedy who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty

11/07/2013

Entergy to Lay off Workers at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in Plymouth

Utility workers raise safety concern over Entergy’s proposed staffing cuts at one of the country’s oldest nuclear power plants

BRAINTREE (November 7, 2103) – The Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 raised new safety concerns today after receiving notification from Louisiana-based Entergy Corp. that the company plans to lay off several workers at Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant.

The company, which earns nearly $1 million per day from the Plymouth, Mass. plant, plans to slash as many as 8 administrators, technicians and technical specialists – many of whom have worked at the 40-year-old plant for decades. The administrators are responsible for writing many of the procedures that govern daily protocols and operations at Pilgrim. Procedure writing is timely, critical work, particularly at a nuclear facility as old as Pilgrim – work that will have to be shifted onto other employees following the cuts.

“These layoffs are concerning and it’s unclear why Entergy feels it needs to cut staff at this time,” said UWUA Local 369 President Daniel Hurley. “It is ironic that days after Entergy Pilgrim Nuclear Power plant is placed on a dubious list of 15 underperforming nuclear sites in the country, the company has chosen profits over safety. Our first priority is the safety of our members and our communities, and no one knows how to operate this plant better than the men and women who have been working here for decades.”

Entergy and the UWUA engaged in contentious negotiations last year surrounding a contract for nearly 250 members of Local 369. Union workers were locked out of the nuclear power plant for over a month in 2012 and had their healthcare coverage revoked before an agreement was finally reached in early July.

“Entergy has indicated that it wants the same number of employees working at each of its nuclear facilities, but that is a flawed approach,” Hurley said. “Pilgrim is one of the oldest nuclear power plants in the nation and it requires a unique and specific workforce. Staffing cuts such as those Entergy is proposing can have a real impact on the operation of Pilgrim. This is a classic case of doing more with less and this is not how to run a nuclear power plant.” Furthermore, Entergy has target mostly woman in these positions.

UWUA officials have called upon Entergy for additional information regarding the layoffs, which are expected as early as December 13th,. To date, company officials have ignored requests for more information on the model used to justify the elimination of these positions.

“It’s outrageous that Entergy officials refuse to provide additional information requested by our members,” added Hurley. “It’s in everybody’s best interest to have the best possible workers staffing this plant, and we want to keep our workers on the job doing the work they are trained to do.”

Entergy operates or manages ten nuclear power plants around the nation, including those in Michigan, Vermont, Arkansas and Mississippi.

08/07/2013

FULL-TME JOB POSTING
ERISA Training Fund Executive Director

The UWUA Power for America Training Trust Fund, a Taft-Hartley, multi-employer joint, labor-management training trust fund, seeks a salaried, full-time Executive Director with experience. The Fund was founded by the Utility Workers Union of America National Union and various utility industry Employers. The Fund is based out of Southfield, MI and has various ERISA training programs in Michigan, Illinois, Iowa and other locations.

Candidates should be self-motivated, conscientious, and possess excellent managerial, project management, planning, budgeting, communication and interpersonal skills. The ideal candidate will have knowledge and experience in Taft-Hartley ERISA training programs and be familiar with the training needs of the utility industry. Some travel required. To apply, mail, fax or email cover letter, resume and references to P4A Job Applications, TPA TIC International, Inc., 6525 Centurion Drive, Lansing, MI 48917-9275, fax (517) 321-7508, email: [email protected], tele. (517) 321-7502.

Job duties: The Fund Executive Director is responsible for the overall administration of the training programs and operations of the Fund, and reports directly to the Board of Trustees. His/her duties are as the Board of Trustees may determine, including, but not limited to:

(a) managing, administering, monitoring, developing, directing, overseeing and coordinating the training programs and overall operations of the Fund in compliance with the governing documents of the Fund (as they may be amended from time to time);

(b) leading, directing and supervising Fund employees (including instructors) in the performance of their job duties; monitoring their performance and work hours, payroll, expense requests, job duties, and their compliance with Fund policies and practices;

(c) directing and coordinating with Fund Trustees, Fund staff, Fund professionals, Third Party Administrator, training partners, vendors, consultants, representatives of the Union and industry Employers, participants, and others dealing with the Fund;

(d) making recommendations to the Board of Trustees for the Fund’s annual objectives and preparing the annual budget;

(e) coordinating among and between the various Fund training programs, including coordination with grant partners and other related entities;

(f) communicating with participants and developing and implementing systems for evaluating the progress of participants;

(g) attending meetings of the Board of Trustees (unless excused) and providing periodic written reports to the Board of Trustees not less frequently than quarterly (or as the Board may direct otherwise) with information on his/her activities, the training programs being provided, the progress of participants, and other matters relating to the training programs and Fund operations;

(h) maintaining all records necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the programs provided by the Fund, and overseeing administrative and support duties as may be necessary, including but not limited to record-keeping of Fund records, files and property, maintaining correspondence and other communications, etc.;

(i) monitoring, tracking and safeguarding the equipment, records, files and property of the Fund to see they are properly stored, secured and accounted for;

(j) working with educational institutions and training partners to develop, maintain and improve Fund training programs;

(k) reviewing the current training programs and making recommendations to the Board from time to time for any proposed or suggested modifications, improvements and/or expansion of programs that may better meet the training needs of the industry, trade, and/or contributing Employers;

(l) with respect to the tuition reimbursement program for Utility Lines Construction Services employees, maintain and develop training programs to meet the needs of the participants and contributing employers; work with educational institutions to develop and approve appropriate educational programs of study; administer and oversee the tuition reimbursement program; monitor participant progress and review for approval the educational plans; present plans to Board of Trustees for approval when necessary; report to the Trustees on the programs; develop and maintain appropriate scholarship programs; process reimbursement requests pursuant to the plan documents, program requirements and policies; evaluate the programs; communicate with participants; oversee the computer loan program; participate in community outreach to explain Fund programs; maintain necessary records; provide reports to the Trustees; etc.;

(m) assisting in the promotion of the Fund’s programs and recruiting, including participating in community outreach to explain Fund programs;

(n) attending such educational/trade conferences or training as the Board of Trustees may authorize and determine will be in the best interests of the Fund; and

(o) performing any other assignments as may be directed by the Board of Trustees.

To apply, mail, fax or email cover letter, resume and references to P4A Job Applications, TPA TIC International, Inc., 6525 Centurion Drive, Lansing, MI 48917-9275, fax (517) 321-7508, email: [email protected], tele. (517) 321-7502.

07/10/2012

Thank you to everyone for their support in ending the lock out. We are pleased that our workers have voted to accept Entergy’s latest contract offer. These have been lengthy and difficult negotiations for our workers, who have been locked out of their jobs for over a month and without medical coverage since the beginning of July. Entergy began negotiations with demands for major concessions on healthcare, retirement, salary and staffing, and we fought hard to emerge with important protections for the hardworking men and women who safely run Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant on a daily basis and make the plant extremely profitable for management. Now is the time for us to move forward and our workers are looking forward to returning to their jobs this week.

07/03/2012

Good to speak with this morning. Let's end this lockout and reach a fair agreement. The safety of our communities depends on it

07/02/2012

Have you signed our petition to tell Entergy to Choose Safety Not Greed and end the lockout?

https://www.change.org/petitions/entergy-corporation-put-safety-before-greed-and-end-the-lockout-of-uwua-local-369-workers

For nearly a month, Louisiana-based Entergy Corp. has chosen to lock out nearly 250 members of UWUA Local 369 at the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant in...

07/02/2012

Statement from Dan Hurley on returning to negotiating table Friday with Entergy:

"We’ve been ready and willing to negotiate at all times throughout this process. We are glad that Entergy has agreed to return to the bargaining table. But make no mistake: For the past month, Entergy has locked our workers out of their jobs. They have taken medical coverage away from our workers and their children. Entergy has sued to restrict our First Amendment rights to picket and protest, and paid thousands of dollars to run inaccurate ads in local papers. Entergy has cancelled critical safety drills at Pilgrim Nuclear, forced inexperienced replacement workers to double up on vital safety responsibilities due to short staffing, and at times run the plant at 40 percent power to cope with leaks and overheating.

Virtually every major political leader in this state has stepped forward to tell Entergy, a Southern corporation that pays its executives millions while denying basic decency to workers, to stop endangering the public and let us go back to work.

We are glad that Entergy is coming back to the table. We hope it is not to offer us another contract that simply nickels and dimes the workforce. The safety of our communities depends on having experienced workers doing their jobs, and it’s time for Entergy to end the lockout and reach a fair and reasonable agreement."

07/02/2012

06/29/2012

Entergy's Countdown to Cruelty: 48 hours until Pilgrim Nuclear workers and families lose healthcare

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/28/4598199/entergys-countdown-to-cruelty.html =cpy

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Locked-out Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant workers and their families are bracing for a devastating blow as Entergy Corp. prepares to end their healthcare coverage at midnight on Saturday, June 30.