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Ross Galbraith Commentary

I fully support the position taken by the Telegraph-Journal in its April 29 editorial ("No Compromise on AECL costs") concerning the New Brunswick government's efforts to seek compensation from Ottawa for Atomic Energy Canada Limited's (AECL) Point Lepreau refurbishment delays and the resultant unbudgeted energy replacement costs.

The initial stage of the refurbishment, performed by the members of my union, Local 37 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), was completed on time. However, since turning the project over to AECL, the refurbishment schedule has fallen behind almost every time we entered a new work phase of the project. These delays have been due to the growing pains associated with work procedures and AECL's incredibly complex robotic equipment that's being used for the first time.

However, I do need to correct a statement attributed to Premier Graham, as reported in the same edition of the Telegraph-Journal, which suggests that Point Lepreau's workers are idle, yet still being paid, while waiting for the reactor to return to service. This is absolutely not true.

The fact is, our members are being heavily utilized in all aspects of the project and they have a clear understanding of the importance of the refurbishment for the people of New Brunswick. Point Lepreau's workers have also been incredibly busy in supporting roles for AECL, and if it wasn't for them, the project would be even further behind schedule. To suggest they are sitting around waiting for the plant to start producing electricity again is both a disservice to them and an inaccuracy to the public.

This is a massive project and a 24-7 operation. And because of this, hundreds of our workers have been shifted from their normal work day and have been assigned to different schedules and longer hours.

Don't get me wrong. Our workers aren't complaining about doing what it takes to get the job done. Members of the IBEW working at NB Power have embraced the principle of job flexibility and multi-skilling in order to contribute to the success of the company. They are very flexible, within the limits of their safety, knowledge and training, to support the company's operations. And at Lepreau, this has meant that many of our workers have temporarily left their normal jobs and are performing other valuable activities in support of the refurbishment.

Just as an example, not only have our members been working on maintenance and plant upgrades, but they are now involved in the intensive job of commissioning new equipment and the many plant systems that have been modified as part of the refurbishment project. Many workers are involved in the painstaking job of checking and testing hundreds of plant systems as they are turned back over to NB Power.

On top of that, many are engaged in updating the flow sheets, schematics and written procedures contained in the Point Lepreau documentation and work control system. This work is labour intensive and exacting, and also vitally important. Members of other work groups, such the training department and our security force, are also fully engaged in performing their normal functions in addition to extra work generated by this project.

As well, many work as radiation protection assistants to ensure the safety of the hundreds of external trades workers helping with this project, while others have been temporarily assigned to other work groups that have increased workloads for the reasons stated earlier.

The idea that there have been additional costs because our members have been kept on the payroll while idle is wrong. But, it is true that a great deal of their labour has been extra work caused by the schedule delays and from helping AECL do their part of the project.

The premier is absolutely right when he says that it should not fall on New Brunswick ratepayers to cover the learning curve that is resulting in refurbishments proceeding much smoother elsewhere. For example, the refurbishment of a CANDU reactor in Korea was started nearly a year later than the one at Lepreau, and it has already caught up to where we are. It is because of the lessons learned at Lepreau, and it is absolutely unfair that New Brunswickers pay for that.

The premier has some very valid arguments to push Ottawa to take responsibility for AECL's delays, but suggestions they are maintaining an idle IBEW workforce isn't one of them. The workforce is far from idle, and in fact is a big part of the solution.

Ross Galbraith is the Business Manager of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 37.

Posted May 07 2010, Source ,