Concerned Piketon Gaseous Diffusion Plant workers facing layoffs next year from the plant’s announced closure can get a head start on job training and education.

Wednesday, July 05, 2000

Concerned Piketon Gaseous Diffusion Plant workers facing layoffs next year from the plant’s announced closure can get a head start on job training and education.

The Career Resource Center, funded by U.S. Enrichment Corporation, which operates the plant, and the Department of Energy, will provide job searches, training classes, resume work and other help, said Elaine Litten, center coordinator.

The center opened about May 1 to assist workers affected by a 325-employee layoff planned for July 14.

"We’re starting to see a lot of activity now," Mrs. Litten said last week, after USEC announced the plant’s impending closure.

"It’s open to all employees until July 14," she said. "We’re seeing a lot of pro-active people coming in to get help."

After July 14, the center will close to everyone except those already entered into its computer system or those affected by the 325-worker reduction, Mrs. Litten said.

The federal privatized company announced June 21 that it will shut down production next June at the Pike County plant. A small part of the plant will remain open and employ a few hundred workers for four to five years, until USEC’s other plant in Paducah, Ky., is upgraded.

The company, a nuclear fuel supplier, said it can’t charge enough to cover the cost of two plants because the worldwide price of uranium has fallen.

State and federal legislators reacted with anger and continue to take steps to stop the closure.

Local employment agencies cannot estimate how many Lawrence County atomic plant workers will lose jobs, but there are 1,400 facing layoffs a year from now.

Nancy Craigmiles, Ohio Bureau of Employment Services office manager in Ironton, has said the local agency will become involved as the layoff date approaches.

When there is such a large number of layoffs, with the potential to affect Lawrence County, the agency usually sends somebody to the plant and will do that if necessary, Mrs. Craigmiles said.

When the USEC announces employees’ separation date, that will determine when local OBES representatives act.

Staff at the Waverly OBES office also will ask all Piketon employees where they want to file for unemployment benefits, Mrs. Craigmiles said.

The Career Resource Center is located in Piketon.

The center is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. during the week, providing career counselors, resume experts, classes teaching interview skills and even tips on how to negotiate salaries, Mrs. Litten said.

"We will get you anything you need to know to help you get a job," she said. "Some of these people haven’t had to look for a job for 25 to 30 years."