Oversight transition causes issues with benefits for some ex-USEC workers
Chillicothe Gazette – Dozens of workers at the Department of Energy Site in Piketon are having a difficult time getting vacation and health care benefits after a transition between federal contractors.
On March 29, workers were transferred from employment with the U.S. Enrichment Corp. to Fluor-B&W Portsmouth. Both companies are private companies hired as subcontractors for the DOE to do clean-up work on unused buildings at the Piketon site. Employees were promised a seamless transition of health care benefits and vacations, but the result has been quite the opposite.
“We knew there would be some growing pains with the transition, but I just don’t think the companies were ready,” said Bobby Graff, president of the United Steelworkers Local 689, which represents the affected workers.
Under their USEC contract, employees were granted two weeks of vacation time once they completed a year of service to the company. The agreement for the transfer of oversight at the site said USEC would pay out the expense of unused benefits to Fluor so Fluor could take over administration of them.
