Guards Go on Strike at Nuclear Weapons Plant

[RiverStone]

Source: Washington Post

By Dale Russakoff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 17, 2007

More than 500 security guards at the nation's only nuclear weapons assembly plant walked off the job just after midnight yesterday to protest what they said is a steep deterioration in job and retirement security since the government changed fitness standards for weapons-plant guards in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The contractor at the plant, BWXT Pantex in Carson County, Tex., replaced the striking guards with a contingency force that it says will secure the plant's weapons, nuclear materials and explosives as long as necessary. The issue is not confined to Pantex because guard union leaders at other weapons plants also are raising concerns about the new security requirements, which they say will force many older guards out of their jobs.

Congressional Democrats criticized the Energy Department for not acting to resolve the guards' concerns in time to avert a strike.

"This employment instability not only raises the potential for significant costs to the American taxpayer, but also raises serious nuclear security concerns," said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who chairs the oversight subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041601649.html?hpid=moreheadlines

---

So the Energy Department says there is no cause for security concerns; yea right! At a time when our "security" resources are already spread too thin; I find it amazing this administration thinks they can soft peddle this as no big deal.

They just hope this story will fly under the radar of public awareness. Seems pretty scary from here...

[IChing]

1. Pantex has got some serious problems

Pantex employed approximately 3,800 people in 1996 and had a budget of $308 million for fiscal year 1998.

In November 2006 The U.S. Energy Department fined the plant's operators $110,000 after it was revealed plant workers had applied an unsafe amount of pressure to a W-56 warhead that was being dismantled.<1> The workers blamed the mishap on being forced to work 72 hour work weeks and having plant managers focused more on production rather than safety.


Controversy

The activities of the plant, like those of the US nuclear weapons industry as a whole, have been controversial. In the early 1980s, local Bishop Leroy Matthiesen began encouraging Catholic workers at the plant to leave their jobs, offering financial support to those who did. In 1986 peace activists purchased 20 acres adjacent to the facility to create The Peace Farm1, as "a visible witness against weapons of mass destruction". It continues to draw attention to the plant in its current role as the lead facility maintaining and modifying the US nuclear arsenal.

In December of 2006, an investigation by The Project on Government Oversight "led to the Energy Department to fine the plant's operator $110,000, was due partly to requirements that technicians at the plant work up to 72 hours per week."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pantex

http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/pantex.htm

[Kagemusha]

2. Uh, fitness concerns meaning, a guard should be able to run on foot?

Since that might come up in the course of protecting nuclear plants?

What am I missing here?

[Robbien]

3. That contingency force. Their name wouldn't by any chance be

Blackwater would it?

Whomever it is, Pantex will probably be paying the contingency contractor much much more than the guards are making. Pantex will just past through the cost to we the taxpaying people.

[RiverStone]

4. Great question

And one wonders what type of in-depth screening and deep background checks are in place for this
"contingency" force???

It's only nuclear weaponry.

Given this is all happening in Shrub's home state, I have confidence there are a few wacko foxes guarding the henhouse.

[lyonn]

5. This whole thing doesn't smell right

After 6 years they are getting worried about who is guarding the facility? And yes, Blackwater does come to mind. Like the guards are going to run a foot race to capture a terrorist? That doesn't sound like security to me.

It sounds like they are discarding those that take their jobs seriously for those that are paid killers? Just wondering. Why all of a sudden does the Energy Dept. get excited about security and the ability of the guards to run a foot race. Of course you want those type people along with the ones that may have the smarts to know what to look for.

[formercia]

6. No place to run to

Pantex is in the High Plains boonies.

[hogwyld]

7. This is just great

No only do the terra-ists now know where the stockpile is, but they also know it's guarded by the second stringers... Move along, nothing to see here.:wtf:

[Omaha Steve]

8. Guards Go on Strike at Nuclear Weapons Plant

Source: Washington Post

Guards Go on Strike at Nuclear Weapons Plant

By Dale Russakoff
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 17, 2007; Page D01

More than 500 security guards at the nation's only nuclear weapons assembly plant walked off the job just after midnight yesterday to protest what they said is a steep deterioration in job and retirement security since the government changed fitness standards for weapons-plant guards in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The contractor at the plant, BWXT Pantex in Carson County, Tex., replaced the striking guards with a contingency force that it says will secure the plant's weapons, nuclear materials and explosives as long as necessary. The issue is not confined to Pantex because guard union leaders at other weapons plants also are raising concerns about the new security requirements, which they say will force many older guards out of their jobs.

Congressional Democrats criticized the Energy Department for not acting to resolve the guards' concerns in time to avert a strike.

"This employment instability not only raises the potential for significant costs to the American taxpayer, but also raises serious nuclear security concerns," said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), who chairs the oversight subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041601649.html?hpid=moreheadlines

[truthisfreedom]

9. "Heckofa job, Energy Department! Heckofa job!"

Hey ho, way to go bushco!