CNWC

Canadian Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter | February 2013

admin — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 21:29:43 +0000

Canada’s Nuclear Industry - Talk It Up
A famous Yogi Berra quote, “déjà vu all over again” captures the ongoing challenge facing our industry— countering apocalyptic rhetoric with the facts. Recently, there has been lots of media coverage of anti-nuclear advocates, re-energized by the tragedy at Fukushima, opposing existing and proposed nuclear projects…

Click here to download the February 2013 Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter in PDF format.

Canadian Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter | December 2012

admin — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 13:55:59 +0000

Canada’s Nuclear Industry: The Yin and Yang
Hydro Quebec’s decision to close Gentilly-2 is not good news for Canada’s nuclear industry. It the problems the
industry faces from the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the future of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL). Hydro Quebec’s press kit referenced this uncertainty as a contributing factor to their decision…

Click here to download the December 2012 Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter in PDF format.

Canadian Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter | September 2012

admin — Mon, 01 Oct 2012 14:31:20 +0000

Now or Never—Time to Talk New Build

The progress made to date regarding OPG’s Darlington new build project is heartening for Canada’s nuclear industry. However, given the stakes in play, our provincial and federal politicians should be doing more to advance the decision to build new CANDU 6 reactors.

Click here to download the September 2012 Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter in PDF format.

Canadian Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter | May 2012

admin — Sun, 17 Jun 2012 15:57:36 +0000

AECL’s Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories— A Valuable Canadian Research Facility
Back in early February, the Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, announced that the Government was inviting Expression of Interest in the activities of Atomic Energy of Canada’s Limited’s (AECL) Nuclear Laboratories. Such an initiative is intended to benefit the Government with the experiences of other domestic and international players as it proceeds to restructure Canada’s nuclear industry.

Click here to download the May 2012 Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter in PDF format.

Renewal of Cameco Corp. Operating Licenses in Port Hope #2 [Dec 2011]

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:44:12 +0000

…The CNWC has reviewed the applications for the license renewal for the Port Hope Nuclear Fuel Conversion Plant located at Port Hope Ontario as well as the CNSC Staff Submission. The CNWC is in full support of having the Operating license renewed for a five year period.

The two United Steel Workers (USW) local unions at the Conversion Facility are long time members of the CNWC and as such keep us well informed of the activities at this facility.

The United Steel Workers (USW) is a Union that takes the Health and Safety of its members very seriously. The USW has spearheaded many Health and Safety campaigns on behalf of their members over the years. This fact hopefully will assure the Commission and the Public that if there were or are in the future any safety concerns at the Cameco Port Hope facility that they would be brought to the attention of the USW and would be addressed promptly…

To read the full submission download it here in Microsoft Word format.

Renewal of Cameco Corp. Operating Licenses in Port Hope [Dec 2011]

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:36:58 +0000

The Union at the Cameco Fuel Manufacturing Plant, the United Steel Workers (USW) Local Union 14193 has been a long standing member of the CNWC.

As do all of the member organizations of the CNWC, USW Local 14193 holds health and safety of workers to be paramount. Management and the union at Cameco continue to have a very good understanding and good working relationship. The CNWC fully endorses and supports the very active health and safety culture promoted and established by USW and Cameco. The Union has worked with Cameco management to establish many safety policies which are in place at the worksite.

The plant Safety Committee consists of both union and management representatives. It meets monthly to address any and all health and safety issues. Monthly meetings well exceed the requirements for the frequency of meetings required under Federal Law for this type of workplace.

To read the full submission download it here in Microsoft Word format.

THE CANADIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT (CEAA) REVIEW

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:28:55 +0000

… The 2010 Federal Budget made welcome improvements to the federal environmental assessment regime. We understand that the Standing Committee on the Environment is looking at a review of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act and we wish to provide you with the views of the CNWC members as you prepare for that process.

Our member Unions insist on the highest standards for the health and safety of their members, their members’ families and the communities in which they live. Good safety performance results in good environmental safety. We fully believe that workplace safety and protection of the environment go hand in hand.

A growing demand for emissions-free electricity has powered tens of thousands of high-skill, high-paying jobs and contributed to economic development in communities across the country. Our industry, from mining to clean electricity generation, is poised for even more growth in the future…

To read the full submission download it here in Microsoft Word format.

Canadian Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter | February 2012

admin — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 15:14:33 +0000

Why Is Nuclear Energy Getting Such Minimal Attention

Three January speeches made by Canada’s NRCAN Minister, Joe Oliver, include many references to the oil sands, their importance to Canada’s economy, of diversifying markets for our energy resources and the need to build enabling infrastructure, like pipelines. One word you won’t find in these speeches is nuclear. It’s clear that this single-minded fossil fuel focus as the way to make Canada an energy superpower will come with significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Last year, the International Institute for Sustainable Development indicated that Canada would fall short of its 2020 emission goals by over 50%.

Click here to download the February 2012 Nuclear Workers’ Newsletter in PDF format.

Relicensing of the point lepreau nuclear generating station

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:38:52 +0000

… The Canadian Nuclear Workers Council has reviewed the CMDs from the CNSC and NB Power. We agree with the CNSC Staff’s conclusions that a five year license should be granted and that the reloading of fuel can commence. Two of our major member unions, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 37 represent 94% of the staff at the Point Lepreau Generating Station and the International Boiler Makers Union (IBB) local 128 has many of their members working on the refurbishment project. We have consulted with both of these unions and they are in support of the CNWC’s submission.

As we have stated in previous submissions to the Commission, the CNWC holds health and safety of workers to be paramount. The local union fully endorses and supports the very active health and safety culture promoted and established by NB Power and continues to work with management to maintain a strong safety culture. However, if there was any health and safety matter of potential threat to workers and their families that was not being addressed expeditiously, please be assured that it would be brought quickly to the attention of the CNSC by the IBEW, IBB, or the CNWC.

To read the full submission download it here in Adobe PDF format.

Hydro Quebec application to combine their waste management facility license with their operating license

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 23:33:25 +0000

The Canadian Nuclear Workers Council (CNWC) is an organization that is comprised of Unions that represent workers in Canada’s Nuclear Industry. Appendix 1 attached states the objectives of the council as well as a list of the Unions that are members of the Council.

The Canadian Nuclear Workers Council is in full support of the renewal of the Operating License for Gentilly – 2 and we also support the inclusion of the Waste Management License with the Operating license. The Local Unions at Gentilly-2 Generating Station are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and are all members of the CNWC. These Unions represents 85% of the staff at the Power Plant. and this submission is made with their agreement and support.

To read the full submission download it here in Adobe PDF format.