OFFICE OF WORKER AND COMMUNITY TRANSITION

PROGRAM UPDATE

March-April 1997

WORK FORCE RESTRUCTURING ACTIONS

WORK FORCE RESTRUCTURING TO OCCUR DURING CONTRACT TRANSITION AT THE MOUND SITE IN OHIO

On April 1, 1997, the Department of Energy announced that transition to a new performance-based contract at the Mound site, scheduled to be completed by July 31, 1997, is expected to result in changes in the work force. The composition and extent of these changes will be based on the new contractor's assessment of its work force and skills requirements in consultation with the Ohio Field Office, the Environmental Management Program and the Office of Worker and Community Transition.

The Ohio Field Office is circulating a draft work force restructuring plan that will cover these actions and expects future restructuring at sites it manages as the Ohio Field Office Strategic Plan is implemented over the next several years. Employees who are not hired by the new contractor at Mound will be involuntarily separated and receive benefits consistent with the plan now under development.

WORK FORCE REDUCTIONS ANNOUNCED AT THE PRINCETON PLASMA PHYSICS LABORATORY IN NEW JERSEY

On April 2, 1997, the Department of Energy announced that up to 200 positions will be reduced at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). This restructuring is the result of reductions in budgeted activity at the Laboratory, including the termination of the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor. Employees in major job categories, which have identified reduced requirements, will be eligible to apply for participation in separation programs included in the PPPL Work Force Restructuring Plan. These include a Voluntary Separation Program (VSP) that will provide severance payments to employees over the age of 55 with 10 years service who agree to separate or a Voluntary Reduction-in-Force Program which provides severance payments for targeted categories of workers who do not meet the criteria for the VSP. Other benefits will be provided consistent with the terms and conditions included in the PPPL Work Force Restructuring Plan.

Subsequent to the offering of these voluntary programs and any internal placement in other University positions, a determination will be made on whether involuntary separations will be required.

APPROVAL OF A VOLUNTARY SEPARATION PROGRAM AT ROCKY FLATS IN COLORADO

On April 25, 1997, the Department of Energy approved a request from the Field Manager at the Rocky Flats Environmental Technology Site in Golden, Colorado, to open a targeted voluntary separation program. This voluntary separation program was previously announced on February 6, 1997, and may involve up to 400 reductions in the prime contractor work force, Kaiser-Hill, over the 1997-1998 time frame as it implements efficiency and productivity improvements, considers activities for outsourcing, and makes adjustments for project progress.

A revised Rocky Flats Work Force Restructuring Plan was recently approved and is intended to guide periodic and ongoing restructuring activities that will be required as the site transitions to ultimate closure.

COMMUNITY TRANSITION ACTIVITIES

POLICY AND PLANNING GUIDANCE FOR COMMUNITY TRANSITION ACTIVITIES PUBLISHED IN FEDERAL REGISTER

On February 7, 1997, the Policy and Planning Guidance for Community Transition Activities was published in the Federal Register. The Office of Worker and Community Transition is currently working with the Office of General Counsel to develop a rulemaking that would address additional concerns raised by that Office. The rulemaking will codify the Department of Energy's policy requirements associated with community transition activities. Additional points of clarification on the Policy and Planning Guidance submitted by the Department and its stakeholders will be incorporated as well. The rule is expected to be completed by late summer.

WORK FORCE PLANNING

PROGRESS CONTINUES TOWARD COMPLETION OF THE WORK FORCE INFORMATION SYSTEM

The following actions occurred in the months of March and April 1997:

1. Work continued on completion of the coding phase of the Work Force Information System (WFIS). Efforts focused on meeting the April National Stakeholder's Workshop milestone. Activities included creating tables, implementing modifications, and developing summary reports.

2. WFIS was demonstrated at the April National Stakeholder's Workshop in California. As part of the demonstration, a Q&A session was held which proved to be helpful to participants as well as demonstrators.

3. The first draft of the Work Force Information System (WFIS) Handbook was completed and is currently under Departmental review.

4. The draft package of the next "update" memorandum, which is distributed to all WFIS users was completed. The memorandum consists of apprising users of the developmental progress of WFIS, responds to questions from the National Stakeholder's Workshop, and other attachments providing additional information or clarity of information previously provided.

5. Continuity testing and chatterbox testing were performed during the month of April. Continuity testing was performed to assure the WFIS server at DOE Headquarters was able to see the TCP/IP addresses of users in the field. Chatterbox testing was performed to assure the telephone lines were open and operational, so that a remote work station dial-in to the WFIS server from a modem would be complete.

LABOR RELATIONS

INTERNATIONAL GUARDS UNION OF AMERICA, LOCAL 38, STRIKE AT PANTEX PLANT IN TEXAS

On March 16, 1997, approximately 350 members of the International Guards Union of America (IGUA), Local 38, voted to strike at the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas. On the evening of April 2, 1997, the membership of the IGUA voted to accept the recommended settlement conditions by a margin of 157 for the proposal to 130 against it. The settlement conditions included the following: 1) annual wage increases over the next five years of 4.5%, 3%, 3%, 3%, and 2.5%; 2) an agreement that subcontracting decisions will be discussed with the union prior to implementation and that laid off workers will be eligible for re-hire and recalled prior to any subcontracting of bargaining unit work; 3) slight modifications to the sick leave policy; and 4) an employee contribution of 10% of the cost of the health care premiums with an annual cap of 10% total increase to the employee.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

The following is a list of collective bargaining agreements that have been recently negotiated or are scheduled to be negotiated in the second quarter of calendar year 1997:

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION ACTIVITIES

FIFTH ANNUAL NATIONAL STAKEHOLDER'S WORKSHOP HELD IN OAKLAND

On April 9-11, 1997, the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Worker and Community Transition held its Fifth Annual National Stakeholder's Workshop at the Oakland Marriott City Center in California. There were 325 people in attendance, making this Workshop the best attended of all previous stakeholder workshops. Prior to the Workshop, a DOE Employee Session was held on April 8. Both meetings addressed a wide range of work force restructuring and community transition issues critical to the future success of the Department. Two important elements of the meetings were reviewing progress made on the challenges identified during the March 1996 stakeholder's meeting in Atlanta, Georgia, and identifying areas needing priority attention during the early months of the second Clinton Administration. Related meetings were also held on April 8 to discuss specific items involving Labor Relations, Community Reuse Organizations, and the Community College Network.

These workshops are an opportunity for the Department to highlight elements of departmental policies. In addition, this forum has been used to identify areas needing more formal policy and to begin the process of developing new guidance. Our newly-published guidance on economic development arose from a workshop two years ago. Most importantly, these workshops bring together local elected officials, union representatives, community representatives, contract managers and Department of Energy staff in one location to discuss the intersecting issues accompanying the dramatic change in the Department's activities. The format of this workshop focused on discussions of best practices and lessons learned in the process of obtaining an effective and efficient work force.

The Workshop was also effective in addressing the issues and challenges identified at the last stakeholder's workshop in Atlanta, Georgia, and we are now striving to resolve those issues that are critical to the future success of worker and community transition activities. A Meeting Summary Report is being developed and will be mailed to all workshop participants in July 1997. In the meantime, we have prepared a comment response document capturing what we believe are the most important insights and next steps resulting from this Workshop. We will strive to accomplish the commitments identified within this document prior to our next National Stakeholder's Workshop. If you were unable to attend the Workshop and would like to receive a copy of the Meeting Summary Report, and/or a copy of the comment response document, please call Natasha Wieschenberg at (202)586-5830, or e-mail her at natasha.wieschenberg@hq.doe.gov.

"TRANSITIONS" INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INTRODUCED AT DOE'S NATIONAL STAKEHOLDER'S WORKSHOP

On April 9, 1997, at the National Stakeholder's Workshop in Oakland, California, the Office of Worker and Community Transition unveiled TRANSITIONS--an internet-based economic development marketing tool designed for Community Reuse Organizations. Through TRANSITIONS, a community may advertise land that is available for redevelopment at its nearby DOE site. It may also use TRANSITIONS to describe the community's work force. Since TRANSITIONS resides on the Internet's World Wide Web (http://www.transitions.org), the information about the DOE site and the work force is readily available for viewing by any Internet user interested in business relocation or land development.

Community Reuse Organizations may display their community's information on TRANSITIONS at no cost. As an added benefit, a Community Reuse Organization may join the TRANSITIONS electronic news group to ask questions and exchange information about reuse activities and experiences with other reuse organizations. For more information, please contact Laurel Smith at (202) 586-4091.

ATTACHMENT 1

DOE Prime Contractor Employment

Fiscal Years 1988-1997

COMMUNITY REUSE ORGANIZATIONS

FERNALD
David McWilliams, Chair
Fernald Community Research Organization
3371 Hamilton Cleves Road
Hamilton, OH 45013
(513) 738-0164
(513) 863-6250 (FAX)

HANFORD
Sean Stockard
TRIDEC
901 N. Colorado St.
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 735-1000, ext. 225
(509) 735-6609 (FAX)

IDAHO
Dan Cudaback
Eastern Idaho Economic
Development Council
683 N. Capital Ave.
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
(208) 522-2014
(208) 522-3824 (FAX)
E-mail: eiedc_dc@srv.net

LOS ALAMOS
Sid Singer, Chairman
Los Alamos Regional Development
1808 el Grancho
Los Alamos, NM 87544
(505) 662-5495
(505) 662-2088 (FAX)
E-mail: ssinger@roadrunner.com

MOUND
Mike Grauwelman
MMCIC
P.O. Box 232
Miamisburg, OH 45343-0232
(937) 865-3921
(937) 865-4431 (FAX)
E-mail: mmcic@aol.com

NEVADA
Tim Carlson, President
NTS Development Corporation
2340 Paseo Del Prado
Suite D-108
Las Vegas, NV 89102
(702) 257-7900
(702) 257-7999 (FAX)
E-mail: tcarlson@ntsdev.com

OAK RIDGE
Lawrence Young, Executive Director
Community Reuse Organization of East Tennessee
113F Union Valley Road
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(423) 482-1336
(423) 483-6126 (FAX)
E-mail: younglt@oro.doe.gov

PINELLAS
Andrew H. Hines
Pinellas Plant CRO
Triangle Consulting
150 Second Avenue, North
Suite 1600
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(813) 894-1100
(813) 822-0914 (FAX)

PORTSMOUTH
Greg Simonton
Project Director
Southern Ohio Diversification Initiative
1864 Shyville Road
Piketon, OH 45661
(614) 289-3654
(614) 289-4591 (FAX)

ROCKY FLATS
DeAnne Butterfield, Executive Director
Rocky Flats Local Impacts Initiative
5460 Ward Rd., Suite 205
Arvada, CO 80002
(303) 940-6090
(303) 940-6088 (FAX)

SAVANNAH RIVER
Lewis Attardo, Executive Director
Savannah River Regional Diversification Initiative
P.O. Box 696
Aiken, SC 29802
(803) 593-9954 ext. 1409
(803) 593-4296 (FAX)
E-mail: srrdi@aik.tec.sc.us