2008 Bargaining Up-Date
 

THE PENSION ISSUE - Sandia Labs has two separate and distinct pension plans.  The three unions participate in a pension plan called the Pension Security Plan (PSP)  and the white collar staff participate in a pension plan called the Retirement Income Plan (RIP).  The two plans have very different methods to calculate retirement benefits.  The RIP uses a percentage formula - simply put its annual pay times a percentage times years of service equal annual pension benefit.  the result is this - as a person's pay goes up with raises, their pension benefit goes up with their pay.  The PSP uses a band formula - a set dollar amount your band times years of service equal monthly pension benefit.  every increase in band values must be gained at the bargaining table - and its not guaranteed.  If pension band values do not increase with wages, your pension decreases.  It will replace less and less of the pay you earn during your working years.  SO - here's the rub - DOE perceives any increase in band values as an increase in benefits and they oppose it.  The automatic increases in the RIP benefits are NOT judged as an increase because there is no change in the existing RIP formula and the increases are implemented without opposition from DOE!!!  This is why your bargaining team is working hard to convert the PSP to a percentage based formula.  The outcome could benefit every MTC member not to mention put us all on the same benefits (including pension).

 
 
 

*TAed (Tentative Agreement Reached)  The following is list of  tentative agreements reached: Preamble with no change; Previous Agreement with date change; Article 1 (Recognition) no change; Article 2 (Management of the Business) no change; Article 3 (Definition of Terms) no change; Article 4 (Collective Bargaining) no change; Article 5 (Access of Visiting Council Representatives) no change; Article 6 (Treatment of  Employees Peforming Council Duties) minor word changes; Article 7 (Bulletin Boards) no change; Article 8 (Nondiscrimination) no change; Article 9 (Conducting Council Business on Laboratories  Time) no change; Article 10 (Grievance Procedures) changed "directorate" to "center"; Article 11 (Arbitration) no change; Article 12 (Work Schedules) eliminated reference to Steam Plant employees and defined flexible work schedules as not being able to alter hours worked in a day; Article 13 (Overtime) no change; Article 14 (Job Grades) no change; Article 16 (Payment of Wages) no change; Article 17 (Called in emergency) added on-call pay of $40.00 for each 24 hours period; Article 18 (Minimum Pay Allowance) no change; Article 21 (Holidays) no change; Article 22 (Pay Treatment of Absences) added wording to paragraph 4 and 5.2; Article 24 (Energy Conservation Day) Friday, January 2, 2009; Friday, November 27, 2009, and Friday, November 26, 2010; Article 26 (Peacetime Training and Local Emergency Service with the Armed Forces) no change; Article 27 (Leaves of Absence) changed paragraph 4.2 and 7.3 to 12 weeks to coincide with law.  Eliminated paragraphs 5 and 6 and incorporated into paragraph 7.  The number sequence will be changing; Article 28 (Pension) no change; Article 30 (Rest Periods) no change; Article 32 (Suspensions & Terminations) no change; Article 33 (Notices to the Council) change to paragraph 1 that all notices be sent to a Council Officer; Article 34 (Layoff Notice and Allowance) clarified language on how layoff allowance is paid; Article 35 (Continuity of Operations) no change; Article 36 (Supervisor & Nonrepresented Employees) no change; Article 38 (Occupational Radiation Exposure) no change; Article 39 (Agency Shop) no change; Article 40 (Payroll Deducations) no change; Appendix A updated to include new jobs and grades; Exhibit I (Time Recording) no change; Exhibit II (Essential Functions) clarified how layoff allowance will be paid; Exhibit IV (Benefits Review Committee) corrected Guards reference; Exhibit VI (Term of Employment) no change; Exhibit  VII (Nonrepresented Employees Performing MTC Work) changed name to John Slipke and changed paragraph 4 to better define Sandia's mission; Exhibit VIII (Access to Personnel Records) with date change; Exhibit  X (Compressed Work Week) deleted "mid day" and added "at a fixed time defined by Management"; Exhibit XI (Displacement Task Force) defined a specific process for up-dating matrix and a deadline; Exhibit XII (Trades Plan) date change; Project Trades Appointment changed paragraph 4 that employees selected will all receive the same amount and it will not exceed $3,500.00; (Advanced Manufacturing Trades Training Program) date change and added language to allow apprentices to be LTE's pending hiring slot becoming available; (BAT Testing) no change; Career Development Program no change; (Expedited Post & Bid) placing Neutron Generator new Trades 1 and Trades 2 into groupings; (Limited Term Employees) date change and eliminated reference of AMTTP from title; (Neutron Generator Production) established 2 levels, a Trades 1 and a Trades 2 with requirement for both levels; (New Technologies) no change; (On-Roll AMTTP) no change; (OJT) no change, (Optional Progression for Custodians) no change but included letter to be given to new custodians making sure they know of option; (Polygraph Test) no change; (Production Specialist Skills Acquisition) raised all skills and added TPM and also an adjustment for training; (Building Operations Team) no change; (Explosive and Nuclear Handlers) no change; (Mobile Crane Certification) no change; (Standards) Agreed to appoint a task force to develop an optional path for acceptance into the AMTTP possibly with skill based testing. (CINT Letter) that states Sandia will utilize MTC employees to perform all graded work at that facility including grounds maintenance and custodial functions; (Military Benefits) side letter changed dates only Steward letter allowing A266 time to be paid once a year for training for all stewards, chief stewards and officers.