More than 150 INEEL workers will lose jobs

More than 150 employees will lose their jobs at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory this week as the government resorts to forced dismissals after only a few dozen employees volunteered to leave.

The Idaho Statesman

Bechtel BWXT Idaho, which runs INEEL for the government, said only 45 employees agreed to voluntary separation since the offer went out a month ago. Managers said they need to trim just more than 200 workers to bring payrolls in line with operating plans for the coming year.

Members of the state´s congressional delegation, which has been fighting to stabilize and expand jobs at eastern Idaho´s largest employer, objected to the announcement in August. They complained that the decision to further curtail payrolls had not been adequately justified.

The firm had received authority from the Energy Department late last year to cut as many as 500 jobs in the latest round of reductions.

Dismissed employees will receive two weeks pay, severance pay based on their years of service, a $6,000 one-time payment, vacation time pay and continued medical coverage.

The layoffs will bring the work force at the site to about 7,300. Bechtel BWXT has cut about 2,000 of its employees since it took over management of the site in October 1999. Employment at INEEL peaked at nearly 13,000 in 1992.

This week´s layoffs complete Bechtel´s restructuring to separate activity at INEEL into environmental cleanup operations and research and development activities.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/Story.asp?ID=49272