Hanford nuclear site guards losing insurance coverage as lockout of union continues

Dec. 6—Hanford nuclear site guards remain locked out as a federal mediator assists with talks between Hanford Mission Integration Solutions and workers represented by Hanford Guards Union Local 21.

The Department of Energy contractor locked guards out at 5:30 a.m. on Nov. 27 after three extensions to the original contract expired.

On the day it was locked out, the union complained to the National Labor Relations Board about the lockout and said HMIS was refusing to bargain or was bargaining in bad faith.

The case is one of several open complaints pending before the federal labor board concerning HMIS and its guard union.

HMIS confirmed union members may not report to work until a new contract is in place. Workers are not on strike.

Chris Hall, president of the union, said the locked out workers faced the loss of health insurance on Friday.

"We have people waiting for surgery," he said.

The two sides returned to the bargaining table on Dec. 2 and again on Dec. 5.

Hall said the union was considering its response to a new offer that included a small wage increase but did not address two sticking points, arbitration and medical autonomy.

HMIS previously confirmed it brought in workers to provide safety and security at the site during the lock out.

The workers are exempt from DOE certified security police officers and security officers. They include workers from other sites, Hanford Patrol members who are salaried and not covered by the union and former Hanford Patrol members.

"We have implemented our contingency plan to ensure that national security interests are protected, and that Hanford operations continue to be safe and secure until HMIS and the union reach an agreement on terms of a new collective bargaining agreement," it said.

A HMIS official characterized negotiation sessions as "productive" while the union accused HMIS of trying to weaken the resolve of its members.

The Hanford site still has radioactive contamination from the U.S. nuclear weapons program from World War II through the Cold War.

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