SCHENECTADY, N.Y., Jan. 19 (UPI) — Citing pay freezes and employee benefit losses, technicians and specialists at Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in New York are seeking to join a union.
“Under the Bechtel Marine Propulsion Corporation, Knolls Atomic Power Lab has experienced many changes that have resulted in less efficient operations, poor morale, pay freezes and loss of benefits,” said Butch Greski, a technician at KAPL.
“As a technician/specialist, a union will give us the voice we need to hold KAPL accountable to fair compensation, reasonable treatment and continued success into the future.”
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory is a research and development entity dealing with nuclear reactors and provides relevant support and training to U.S. Navy personnel.
Designers and draftsmen at KAPL belong to the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, which the technicians and specialists seek to join.
A news release said KAPL’s technicians and specialists are filing with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board’s office in Albany, N.Y., to join unionized colleagues in the IFPTE local 147.
“As more of our colleagues join IFPTE, the more effective our ability in working with Bechtel to ensure its treatment and compensation of employees is fair, and their service to the Navy is outstanding and efficient,” said IFPTE Local 147 President Charlie Trembley, who is a design coordinator at KAPL.
“We also look forward to our administrative staff, engineers, scientists and other professionals at KAPL, as well as our counterparts at our sister locations, joining IFPTE so their voices are also heard.”
