Union complains TVA denies guards representation

Posted: Monday, June 8, 2009 8:01 pm

KNOXVILLE (AP) — A labor union claims the Tennessee Valley Authority is denying representation to security officers hired in-house for the Browns Ferry nuclear plant in Alabama.
The Huntsville, Ala., station is the first of three TVA nuclear plants that are transitioning their guard force from a government contractor onto TVA’s payroll. TVA has offered to hire virtually all guards now working at Browns Ferry.
TVA spokesman Gil Francis says once the Sequoyah and Watts Bar nuclear plants in Tennessee finish hiring, a union election will be held to decide a single bargaining unit for all three plants. He couldn’t say when that will be.
But the United Government Security Officers of America says it means guards starting work next Monday at Browns Ferry could be without union representation for up to six months.

Published in The Messenger 6.8.09