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Bechtel, AFL-CIO in Labor Agreement for New Nuclear Energy Plant

At the BCTD conference, it was announced today that the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department had committed to negotiate a project labor agreement with San Francisco-based Bechtel to construct a proposed third reactor at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland.

From the Press Release,
Under the agreement, to be signed by the end of 2008, the BCTD will commit to provide, qualified, skilled, craft workers to the Calvert Cliffs project, and Bechtel will commit to provide fair wages, fringe benefits, and working conditions for all craft workers. The proposed plant would create 4,000 new jobs during peak construction and 360 permanent jobs once the new reactor is operational.
Michael Wallace, President and CEO of Constellation Energy, has targeted Dec. 2008 as the groundbreaking date for Calvert #3.

Comments

Anonymous said…
Wow 360 permanent jobs! And tons during construction.

I find when I talk about nuclear power to people one of the points they like the most is the high paying job creation. And secure jobs, with full benefits. Often in towns with a lower cost of living too.

America has great amounts of capital to deploy, and the higher the capital investment per job, the less wages matter for the workers.

-aa2
Anonymous said…
Exactly! This is what I say all the time. High value added per employee is the holy grail of a great society.

Capital intensive industries -> high wages pretty much don't affect the company bottom line -> wages are high.

The opposite is of course what you get out of the extremely capital non-intensive service (or really, servant) sector.

Industry FTW!
Anonymous said…
Has the Maryland PSC, who dashed the hopes of a married Constellation and FPL, had their say in court about whether they will allow a new Calvert Cliffs? I would be careful about making too many plans until all of your ducks are in a row.

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