The Boilermakers union celebrates an organizing win at BWXT, Lynchburg, VA. L. to r., NEO John Bland, ISO-ED Don Hamric, IR Tim Tolley and NEO Mike Hancock led organizing efforts with L-45 BM-ST Kevin Battle (not pictured).
Workers at BWXT in Lynchburg, Virginia, voted overwhelmingly yesterday to unionize with the Boilermakers union. The union welcomes 145 machinists from BWXT’s machine shop micro-unit as new Boilermaker brothers and sisters, represented by Local 45 (Richmond, Virginia).
Northeast Area organizer John Bland said the initiative all started when a BWXT worker reached out to Kevin Battle, Local 45 Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer. They were upset about working conditions and constantly changing rules, and they knew unionizing would give them a voice and a say through collective bargaining.
“As soon as Kevin got the call, everyone got moving on it,” Bland said. “He swung into action and started follow-ups immediately.”
He said the workers were especially key in organizing at BWXT. Because BWXT is a secured nuclear operation, the massive facility is not accessible to visitors, such as union organizers. Even inside the facility itself, for security purposes, some units, areas and workers are off-limits to one another.
“The workers really took the reins inside and got the ball rolling,” he said. “Over 30 people showed up for our first meeting. They wanted a union, because they had wanted a voice for many years and to have a seat at the table. Wages are usually an issue, but this was more about their conditions and how they were being treated at work.”
Organizing efforts began in January, and M.O.R.E. Work organizing funds were invested to support the campaign.
“This win will help grow our industry and show more workers another way of life,” Bland said.
