Washington, D.C., April 15, 2008 — The AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD), and all affiliated international unions of the BCTD, and Bechtel Construction Company (Bechtel) today announced their commitment to negotiate a project labor agreement for Bechtel’s scope of work in the construction of a proposed third reactor at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant in Maryland.
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.
“We are proud of the long-standing partnership we enjoy with Bechtel Construction Company,” said Mark Ayers, president of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO. “Once UniStar would make a decision to build, we look forward to being the first to build the first new generation AREVA EPR in America and making the Calvert Cliffs project a successful model for labor-management partnership, and one that will be desired for all future nuclear facility construction. We are especially grateful to UniStar Nuclear Energy for its confidence in the BCTD and Bechtel to take on this herculean project.”
"The alliance between the BCTD and Bechtel reflects our joint commitment to helping the nation meet its growing energy needs," said Jim Reinsch, president of Bechtel’s Nuclear Power division. "When the third partner in the effort, the federal government, approves loan guarantee contracts, the Calvert Cliffs project and others throughout the country can begin their critical contribution to the country’s economic future."
According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, the average nuclear power plant generates $430 million in total output for the local community and nearly $40 million in local labor income. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission expects as many as 22 license applications could be submitted by 2010 to build 33 new nuclear power units.
About Bechtel
Bechtel is one of the world’s premier engineering, construction, and project management companies. Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 22,000 projects in 140 countries on all seven continents. Today our 42,500 employees are teamed with customers, partners, and suppliers on hundreds of projects in nearly 50 countries. For more information about Bechtel, visit www.bechtel.com.
