The brief hot and humid summer spell has ended and it is almost as if Vermont Yankee had to leak after that stress. The plant has reduced power by 15% to repair the 3,000 gallon a day leak in the fed water system. Sadly this is such a regular happening that the details are familiar as the spokes persons pre-chewed press statement.

No surprises in that routine.

However Vermont Yankee has won Star status in another area .Today the Brattleboro Reformer reports that Entergy did so well in managing plant safety that it was recognized as a Green Mountain Voluntary Protection Program Star participant. Because Yankee achieved Star status, it is no longer subject to random compliance

Yankee’s safety director does some not unexpected bragging about how wonderful Vermont Yankee is and Entergy in general but then a surprise jumps out that some habitual anti-union folks ought to take note of .Some or perhaps a big chunk of the credit goes to the employees union! Yes an employees labor union, one of those troublesome worker organizations.  

Daniel Whipple, a Vermont OSHA compliance assistance specialist, who conducted the site review of Yankee’s safety and health programs points out  

Yankee employees also have a union — the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers — that actively works with management to protect its members.

It is a good to reminder that as Yankee gets run for all it is worth by Entergy someone is looking out for  those that work there.

http://www.reformer.com/localn…