Atomic plant workers picket over contract

[Omaha Steve]

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=588134&category=BUSINESS&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=5/10/2007

Atomic plant workers picket over contract
Union members say changes were made without discussion

By ALAN WECHSLER, Business writer
First published: Thursday, May 10, 2007

NISKAYUNA -- About 75 designers and draftsmen walked out of the Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory Inc. here and in Milton during a one-day strike Wednesday over a contract disagreement.


The workers left work at 10 a.m. and picketed for nearly three hours Wednesday morning. The protest brought as many as 250 union workers from KAPL and other businesses to the demonstration, according to the union.

Members of the International Federation of Professional & Technical Engineers Local 147 said the strike stemmed from changes made to a recent contract after it was ratified by members.

According to Charles Trembley, a designer at KAPL and vice president of the chapter, the members of the union voted last August to approve a tentative four-year contract. But after the contract was approved by members -- and before it was signed by officers -- union officials said they found changes in the contract's wording. The changes had to do mainly with vacation and vision benefits.

"They imposed those new rules on us that were never discussed," Trembley said.

Despite discussion of the issue with management, the changes remained, Trembley said.

FULL story at link.