Under Secretary of Energy, Charles B. Curtis, today announced the creation of a new Office of Worker and Community Transition at the Department to better manage the effects of work force reductions and redirection on DOE's workers and their communities. Mr. Curtis appeared before a Congressional Panel saying, "This office will provide the leadership and technical expertise necessary to ensure the fair treatment of our workers and the opportunity for careful and deliberate consideration of important issues we face in this area."

In keeping with President Clinton's commitment to those who served our Nation during the Cold War, this new office will provide a focal point for working with organized labor and other stakeholders in addressing issues associated with the impacts of DOE's changing missions. The office will report directly to the Under Secretary.

In April of 1993, Secretary of Energy, Hazel R. O'Leary established a Task Force on Worker and Community Transition to oversee the Department's implementation of section 3161 of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 1993. This decision to establish a new office demonstrates the Secretary's commitment to address these issues at a high level and on a permanent basis.

The new office will develop policies and guidelines for worker and community transition. It will provide comprehensive planning and analysis of current contractor work force capabilities and future work force and training needs. This planning will be done in the context of the Department's commitment to worker health and safety and its initiatives to increase efficiency and reform contracting. Robert W. DeGrasse, Jr. who chaired the task force, will serve as the Acting Director of the Office of Worker and Community Transition until a permanent director is named.