TO Representative ____________________
The Department of Energy is seeking public comments regarding the costs associated with the pension and medical plans on DOE sites.
I am a worker at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge site. We have a multi contractor pension plan due to the multiple contractors performing various activities for DOE and NNSA. The pension plan was set up by DOE. Neither DOE nor any of its contractors have had to add funds to the plan since 1985.
Now DOE wants to renegotiate (eliminate) the plan for workers who have sacrificed their health and lives to perform a critical service for the United States of America. If DOE or its contractors had been required to add funds to the plan for the past twenty plus years, we would not be where we are today. The pension plan for DOE employees is enriched with retirement benefits much greater that the plan at the Oak Ridge sites. Why is DOE not looking at its own plan and eliminating non-productive workers. They could then redirect some of the funds to personnel that actually perform a critical service to United States of America.
The Department’s new policy for pension and medical benefits will be a serious detriment to the interest of the Local, State and Federal agencies who are committed to the clean-up mission and to the employees who are working to carry out the Department of Energy’s mission at the sites. It will have an inverse impact on personnel who actually perform a critical service to the country.
The workforce in Oak Ridge is exposed to many radiological and contaminated hazardous chemicals at the sites. This is a highly skilled workforce which is today and always has been dedicated to performing a service for the federal government.
The medical and pensions benefits we have today represents a commitment from the federal government that employees performing hazardous work will be compensated for their efforts. DOE should continue to fund pension and medical benefits as a commitment to their current and future workers.
The Atomic Trades and Labor Council is extremely proud to represent a workforce that has made severe sacrifices for their dedication in contributing to the nation’s war efforts during World War II and the Cold War. These workers continue to carry out the mission of DOE and are also dedicated to helping clean up the environmental legacy as a result of their contribution to our national defense. The federal government must continue to support their efforts and not eliminate worker benefits.
I adamantly oppose this new directive and respectfully request the Department of Energy abandon any plans, now or in the future, to eliminate medical and pension benefits for workers at the DOE sites.
Sincerely,
Name: _________________________
Address _________________________
City _________________________
State ______________ zip _______
Here is address/phone numbers for Governor Phil Bredesen and our U.S. Senators and U.S. Congressman.
Governor Phil Bredesen
State Capital, First Floor
Nashville, TN 37243-0001
State Office 615-741-2001
615-532-9711 fax
Senator Lamar Alexander
302 Hart Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-4944
202-228-3679 (Fax)
865-545-4253 (Knoxville)
Senator Bob Corker
Dirksen Senate Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
202-224-3344
202-228-0566 (Fax)
865-637-4180 (Knoxville)
Congressman William L. Jenkins
1207 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
1st District
202-225-6356
202-225-5714 (Fax)
423-247-8161 (Kingsport)
Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr.
2267 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
2nd District
202-225-5435
202-225-6440 (Fax)
865-523-3772 (Knoxville)
Congressman Zach Wamp
2447 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
3rd District
202-225-3271
202-225-3494 (Fax)
865-483-3366 (Oak Ridge)
Congressman Lincoln Davis
504 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
4th District
202-225-6831
202-226-5172 (Fax)
865-354-3323 (Rockwood)
Congressman Jim Cooper
1536 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
5th District
202-225-4311
202-226-1035 (Fax)
615-736-5295 (Nashville)
Congressman Bart Gordon
2304 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515
6th District
202-225-4231
202-225-6887
615-896-1986 (Murfreesboro)
Congressman Marsha Blackburn
509 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
7th District
202-225-2811
202-225-3004 (fax)
Congressman John S. Tanner
1226 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
8th District
202-225-4714
202-225-1765 (fax)
Congressman Harold E. Ford, Jr.
325 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
9th District
202-225-3265
202-225-5663 (fax)
Senator Randy McNally
5th District
District Address
94 Royal Troon Circle
Oak Ridge, TN 37840
Phone (865) 483-5544
Nashville Address
307 War Memorial Building
Nashville, TN 37243-0205
Phone (615) 741-6806
Representative Jim Hackworth
33rd District
District Address
Three Rocky Top
Clinton, TN 37716
Home Phone (865)457-5266
Local to Nashville Office (865)482-2455
Nashville Address
37 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0133
Phone (615) 741-4400
Fax (615) 741-4322
Representative Les Winningham
38th District
District Address
P.O. Box 186
Huntsville, TN 37756
Phone (423) 663-3417
Office Phone (423) 286-9090
Office Fax (423) 286-9092
Nashville Address
36 Legislative Plaza
Nashville, TN 37243-0138
Phone (615) 741-6852
Fax (615) 741-1041