SRR, Local Labor Council Sign Initial Agreement
November 17, 2009
Jim French (left), Savannah River Remediation (SRR) President and Project Manager, and Ken Ward, President of the Augusta Building Construction and Trades Council, sign the initial labor agreement between the two entities. The agreement will run through the life of the SRR liquid waste contract at Savannah River Site.
Aiken, S.C. – The first labor agreement between Savannah River Remediation (SRR), the liquid waste contractor at the Savannah River Site (SRS), and the Augusta Building and Construction and Trades Council (ABCTC) was recently signed signifying a major working relationship between the two entities during SRR’s contract at SRS.
On signing the agreement, Jim French, SRR President and Project Manager, called it a “great day” and that he and SRR were looking forward to working with the building trades members.
“We have work to do and we appreciate what you do,” French said. “This agreement gives SRR access to skilled manpower that has many years of SRS experience and a built-in safety culture that believes in safety first. We all agree that we do not want our people going home hurt. The unions and their members help us with that effort everyday.”
The agreement contains terms and conditions of employment to efficiently execute the SRR liquid waste work scope and establishes dispute resolution procedures in case differences surface. The agreement will extend through the life of the SRR six-year, plus optional two-year, contract period.
“The agreement establishes a labor / management cooperative committee to enhance communications on topics of mutual interest and concern,” said Tom Manley, SRR Manager of Labor Relations. “It cements the long-standing, mutually beneficial relationship between the parties.”
Ken Ward, ABCTC President, acknowledged the initial agreement between ABCTC and SRR is a good one and one that complies with all Federal and State regulations.
“This is a good agreement, and we will implement it to the best of our abilities to reach our mutual goals at SRS with safety the number one priority,” Ward said.
SRS is owned by DOE. The SRS Liquid Waste contract is managed by SRR, a team of companies lead by URS Corp. with partners Bechtel National, CH2M Hill and Babcock & Wilcox. Critical subcontractors for the contract are AREVA, Energy Solutions and Washington Safety Management Solutions.
Point of Contact: Dean Campbell, Manager, Public Affairs dean.campbell@srs.gov