Your PUD
News Release
PUD will take different approach on job cuts at dams
Chelan County PUD
News Release
3/23/2009
Chelan County PUD has told the local bargaining unit representative (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) that the PUD is withdrawing its intent to convert rotating crews at its hydro projects to shifts that would have fewer employees.
The PUD will focus on other cost-saving ideas, including mandatory five-day furlough without pay for all regular full-time and regular part-time employees and the “Double Yes” program announced last week. The “Double Yes” program invites employees to propose elimination of their job in return for a year’s severance pay.
“We are still concerned about operational costs associated with rotating shifts,” said Randy Stedman, executive manager of Human Resources. “We will continue looking for other cost-saving measures down the road.”
In January, the PUD had proposed reducing 10 positions at hydro projects on July 1 by reorganizing chief operators, senior operators, rotating wiremen and rotating mechanics into “four-letter shifts” instead of “five-letter shifts.” Three of the positions were already vacant, and one was a seasonal job, so six people would have had their jobs eliminated in the move that was expected over time to save about $825,000 per year. Impacts of the change had to be negotiated with the bargaining unit, Local 77 of the IBEW.
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For further information contact:
Randy Stedman
Executive manager, Human Resources
509 661-4667
Randy.stedman@chelanpud.org