Workers at depot incinerator OK contract

This story was published Wed, Feb 7, 2001

By Mary Hopkin
Herald Oregon bureau

HERMISTON - Laborers working at the Umatilla Chemical Depot incinerator site have agreed to a three-year contract with Washington Demilitarization Co.

Randy Knop, organizer for Laborers Local 121 in Hermiston, said it took about eight months to work out the first-time contract.

"Currently, this affects about 10 employees, but there will be approximately 30 when they get to the burn stage," Knop said.

The employees work in a number of warehouses that are used for storage near the incinerator, which is being constructed to destroy the 3,717 tons of chemical weapons stored at the depot.

"They maintain the warehouses, which store everything from office supplies to furniture to government-furnished equipment - anything that we need and keep on hand," said Chris Early, Washington Demilitarization Co. spokesman.

The negotiations went into mediation in January after employees and the company could not agree on pay scales, health insurance and benefits.

"These employees hadn't had a wage adjustment in three years," Knop said. The employees were exceptionally happy with the end result, he added.

Depending on their classifications, the employees will be paid between $10 and $18 per hour, will receive paid vacations, sick leave and holidays and the company will pay for their health insurance.

"Some people might look at this as a small unit," Knop said, "but it is the starting point of where the company will be when they start dealing with all other labor negotiations, and there will be a lot of them."

Early said this is the first contract with employees who will actually be working at the depot when incineration begins.

"This was a good deal for everyone concerned," he said. "It was a very important contract that allows us to continue preparing for operations."

Union and company representatives are to sign the agreement at 9 a.m. today.

 

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