Members of the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) continue their strike against Consolidated Nuclear Security (CNS), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contractor, at the Pantex nuclear weapons facility in Amarillo, Texas.
The workers are members of OPEIU Local 306, part of the Amarillo Metal Trades Council (MTC), a 10-union council within the Metal Trades Department that represents roughly 1,200 Pantex workers who are responsible for the nuclear weapons life extension programs – weapons dismantlement; development, testing and fabrication of high explosives components; and storage and surveillance of plutonium pits. This is the only facility in the U.S. responsible for the assembly, disassembly and replenishment of the nation’s nuclear weapons stockpile.
At issue are benefits, sick leave, medical coverage, prescription drug coverage, elimination of defined benefit pensions for new hires and increased healthcare costs for retirees.
“This is a difficult and often dangerous job, with workers exposed daily to 22 different carcinogens,” said OPEIU Local 306 President Pam George. “If you’re going to expose workers to this kind of health risk, then you need to provide them with adequate health insurance and other benefits.”
After more than seven months at the bargaining table with CNS Pantex, the company’s “best, last and final offer” was overwhelmingly rejected by the workers, with 93 percent of those eligible to vote casting ballots. With 87 percent of the unionized workers at the Amarillo facility voting to strike, at12:01 am on August 28, the 1,200 members of the Amarillo Metal Trades Council went on strike.
Workers at Pantex have been covered by a collective bargaining agreement since 1950. “There hasn’t been a strike at Pantex since 1970,” said George. “We’ve always been able to negotiate a fair contract for these workers, but CNS is a new contractor who wants to gut our contract. Our members are prepared to stay on strike until a fair and reasonable contract can be reached.”
In addition to OPEIU, other unions involved in the strike are the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW); International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW); International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE); United Association (UA); International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB); Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART); International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT); and the International Association of Fire Fighters.