BUILDING TRADE UNIONS: KEEP VERMONT YANKEE OPEN
Montpelier, Vt. – (Dec. 30, 2009) – A coalition of construction unions will hold a press conference to announce their support for Vermont Yankee, a nuclear power facility whose license is up for renewal in 2012. The event is open to the public, lawmakers and members of the media and will take place in the State House’s Cedar Creek Room Jan. 4 at 1 p.m.
The Vermont Building and Construction Trades Council is a partnership of 15 labor unions that represent several thousand workers – many of whom work at Vermont Yankee as both year-round employees and subcontractors. Jeff Potvin, business manager of UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 693, serves as president of the Council.
“Our members have logged thousands of hours at the facility since it opened,” said Potvin. “Clearly, the subcontracting opportunities available at Vermont Yankee are immense. They all pay above-average wages, health care and retirements benefits, and are vital to the regional economy. The economic benefits are a big reason why the state’s construction unions support re-licensing Vermont Yankee.”
A founding affiliate of the Council, the 1,200-member International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 300 represents approximately 200 permanent, full-time Vermont Yankee employees. In addition, IBEW Local 300 electricians and apprentices consistently work for subcontractors at the plant. A typical refueling outage temporarily employs 1,100 trades-people.
“Closing Vermont Yankee would effectively squash hundreds of union jobs that pay wages far exceeding the norm for our area,” said IBEW Local 300 President George Clain. “Eliminating these careers, along with the almost certain rise of statewide electricity rates if Vermont Yankee exits our energy portfolio, is not in the best interests of working Vermonters. Nor is it responsible to chase off an employer that annually pumps millions in payroll, state and local taxes, as well as $100 million in economic activity into the coffers.”
Located in Vernon, Vermont Yankee is a 650-megawatt power plant that employs 650 people. It provides over one-third of the state’s electricity at the lowest costs in New England. Vermont Yankee personnel get intensive, year-round training – a key factor in recently receiving a Green Mountain Voluntary Protection Program STAR flag from the Vermont Department of Labor for exemplary commitment to workplace safety.
“Given our turbulent economy, Vermont is in need of quality jobs and access to reasonably priced, low-carbon, domestically-produced energy. Vermont Yankee provides both,” said Clain. “Renewable power sources and efficiency should definitely be in the mix and will create jobs, but cannot reasonably be expected to replace Vermont Yankee in the near term. Now is not the time to gamble with so many livelihoods.”