OFFICE OF WORKER AND COMMUNITY TRANSITION
December 1995
WORKER AND COMMUNITY TRANSITION WORKSHOP
The Office of Worker and Community Transition plans to hold its fourth National
Stakeholders Workshop on March 13-15, 1996, in Atlanta, Georgia. With the assistance of a
planning committee composed of stakeholders, contractors, and Departmental employees, the
draft workshop agenda was developed and is attached to this Program Update along with a
registration form, exhibit space reservation form, and a general information sheet with
more details on the workshop format, exhibit space, and hotel information. These materials
were mailed to all stakeholders on our mailing list and are also available on both the
Electronic Bulletin Board and on the Internet Home Page.
The workshop will be held at the Radisson Hotel Atlanta, located in downtown
Atlanta on Courtland and International Boulevard. A block of rooms has been reserved at
the government per diem rate for all workshop participants. If you wish to reserve a room
at this rate, please call the hotel reservation desk at (404) 659-6500 and mention that
you are with the Worker and Community Transition Workshop.
We look forward to seeing you in March!
WORK FORCE RESTRUCTURING PLANS
IDAHO DRAFT WORK FORCE RESTRUCTURING PLAN RELEASED FOR STAKEHOLDER REVIEW
On December 21, 1995, the Department of Energy released the final draft of the Idaho
Operations Office FY 1995-1997 Work Force Restructuring Plan for stakeholder review and
comment. The comment period was extended until January 12, 1996. After consideration of
stakeholder comments, a proposed final plan will be submitted for Secretarial approval and
transmission to Congress by the end of February 1996.
WORK FORCE RESTRUCTURING ANNOUNCEMENTS
ADDITIONAL WORK FORCE REDUCTIONS ANNOUNCED AT THE NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY
LABORATORY
On November 2, 1995, the Department of Energy's (DOE) National Renewable Energy
Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado announced plans to reduce its 900 person regular
work force by 10 percent because of anticipated funding reductions of more than $30
million. In fiscal year 1995, NREL's operating budget was approximately $237 million.
Initial projections for fiscal year 1996 included a reduction to $200 million. Recent
indications, however, are that NREL's budget will be lowered by an additional $27 million,
to $173 million, which is estimated to result in an overall loss of approximately 150 to
160 employees. The budget cuts are a result of lower than expected appropriations for
renewable energy programs and deeper cuts in some specific programs, including
photovoltaic (solar) cells and fuel-efficient vehicle research.
On December 21, 1995, the Laboratory announced that it will further reduce its work
force as a result of continuing reductions of its fiscal year 1996 Federal funding for
renewable energy research and development. These separations are an increase from the
estimate of approximately 160 employees announced on November 2, 1995 to an overall
reduction of 226 positions at the Laboratory.
NREL has offered at-risk regular employees a voluntary separation package. The voluntary separation incentive program provides two primary options for employees:
1) those who volunteer to separate would receive 2 weeks severance pay for each year of
service to a maximum of 36 weeks. Employees selecting this option would also be eligible
for Displaced Worker Medical Benefits, educational and relocation assistance; and 2)
provides employees with a lump-sum severance benefit based on years of service. Employees
with less than 5 years service would receive $17,000; employees with between 5-10 years of
service would receive $25,000; employees with more than 10 years of service would receive
$35,000. Employees selecting the lump-sum option would not be eligible for medical,
educational or relocation benefits. All separating employees will be provided with career
assistance services.
WORK FORCE PLANNING ACTIVITIES
The Work Force Planning Projections Subcommittee presented the results of its review of
the Common Occupational Classification System (COCS) and the work force planning process
which includes COCS to Bob DeGrasse, Director of the Office of Worker and Community
Transition. The Subcommittee agreed that there were no major obstacles to making COCS a
part of a standard process for work force planning. The Office of Worker and Community
Transition agreed to use COCS as the Department's classification system for defining
current composition of the contractor work force and for projecting future requirements.
LABOR RELATIONS
POLICY ISSUES
OCAW Lawsuit -- The Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers International Union
(OCAW) v. O'Leary settlement agreement is currently with OCAW's attorney for their
review.
Davis-Bacon -- The Office of Worker and Community Transition is in the process
of working with the Office of Procurement Policy to develop a satisfactory method of
providing a long-term solution to questions raised by the inadvertent withdrawal of
certain Department of Energy Acquisition Regulations this past fall.
CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
Mound -- The Ohio Field Office has finalized and received DOE Headquarters approval on its joint Value Statement with the represented work force at the Mound facility (OCAW and UPGWA unions). After receiving local union approval, the Statement has been released to the national representatives of the respective unions for review. The Department of Energy and the unions signed the Statement on
January 15, 1996.
EG&G also reached preliminary consensus with OCAW and UPGWA at Mound on a
partnership agreement that reflects the DOE Value Statement. The agreement simplifies and
streamlines work rules and job classifications, and provides job security provisions. It
is anticipated that this document will be signed by the contractor and its unions at the
same time as the DOE-union Value Statement. Together, the documents represent a new
approach to cost savings, productivity and work innovation while preserving jobs.
Pantex -- The collective bargaining agreement between Mason-Hanger and the Metal Trades Council (MTC) has been extended for 2 years, until January 1998. A vote was taken by the MTC membership to extend the collective bargaining agreement.
Upcoming Negotiations -- The following is a list of collective bargaining
agreements scheduled to be negotiated in the first quarter of calendar year 1996:
Argonne National Lab OCAW Firefighters
Grand Junction IGUA Guards
Argonne National Lab IBT Teamsters
Grand Junction MTC Production and Maintenance
COMMUNITY TRANSITION ACTIVITIES
As a result of discussions at the National Stakeholders Workshop in September 1995, the Office of Worker and Community Transition held a Focus Group meeting
on December 12-13 to develop a strategy to resolve barriers to effective and meaningful
community transition activity. Nine areas were identified that require further development
and/or clarification: Performance Measures, Peer Review Funding, Personal Property,
Intellectual Property, Commercialization Strategy, Strategic Planning and Roles and
Responsibilities, Reprioritization, and Facility Modification and Reuse. Several working
groups are modifying existing language to the Community Transition Guidance to reflect
these new issue areas. Changes to the Guidance will foster an increased understanding of
program goals, objectives, and expectations among Community Reuse Organizations, field
offices, and DOE Headquarters. The draft revised guidance will be presented for discussion
at the next National Stakeholders Workshop on March 13-15, 1996.
COMMUNITY TRANSITION FUNDING FOR THE EASTERN IDAHO REUSE ORGANIZATION (CRO)
On December 4, 1995, the Department of Energy announced that it would provide $5
million in community transition funding to assist in the diversification of the Eastern
Idaho economy and to mitigate the effects of downsizing in light of the uncertain future
of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL).
Over the past 24 months, approximately 1,700 jobs have been lost at the INEL--almost
25% of the work force from 1993. In addition to the impact on the local economy, the INEL
downsizing is reducing the revenues of local government and its ability to be responsive
to local needs. This trend is expected to continue in the future. The funds will be used
to support management efforts for start-up firms, new job creation, expand existing
services delivered by the region's incubator facilities and provide planning assistance to
existing firms to diversify or expand their businesses.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ACTIVITIES
OFFICE OF WORKER AND COMMUNITY TRANSITION COMMENT BOARD ON THE HOME PAGE
The Office of Worker and Community Transition has established a Comment Board
on its Internet Home Page. The purpose of this board is to list major issues identified
through stakeholder workshops, focus groups, individual identification, as well as other
means, and to provide you with an opportunity to comment on these issues. We will use this
forum to identify additional issues and to ultimately develop a comment resolution
document.
Major issues were identified in the following areas at the September 1995 National Stakeholder Workshop: Work Force Restructuring, Work Force Planning, Contract Reform and Labor Interests, and Community Transition. These issues have been posted on the Comment Board and are available for comment. All comments will be submitted on-line and posted for others to view. A formal Departmental response to your comments will be posted on-line prior to the March 1996 National Stakeholder Workshop. Additional issues that arise will be posted as appropriate.
You can reach the Office of Worker and Community Transition Home Page at the following
Web address: http://www.stat-usa.gov/owct.html. You should have received a
User's Guide with additional information on the Home Page with the last Program Update. If
you did not receive the User's Guide and would like a copy please contact Laurel Smith at
(202) 586-4091.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRIME CONTRACTOR EMPLOYMENT
The attached table documents prime contractor employment reductions that took place in
FY 1995 at selected sites. The table illustrates that more than 18,000 prime contractor
separations that have taken place since FY 1995 with only approximately 30% of separated
workers leaving involuntarily. An aggregate figure for subcontractor reductions at
selected sites is also included. All of the subcontractor separations are involuntary.
ATTACHMENT
*Please note that the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY PRIME CONTRACTOR EMPLOYMENT table does
not translate into the html Internet format. If you are interested in receiving a
copy of the table, please call Laurel Smith at 202-586-4091.