Negotiations paused as Pantex strike continues

Federal mediators have pressed pause on labor negotiations between Pantex and the Metal Trades Council as a strike continues.

The break will give representatives from the MTC and Pantex contractor Consolidated Nuclear Security time to review new information, federal officials said.

"The parties met this past week and spent many hours in meaningful talks, focused on their mutual efforts to bridge their differences," Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Deputy Director Scot Beckenbaugh said in a Saturday news release. "The parties will reconvene next week at a time and location to be determined."

Saturday marked the 30th day of the strike, surpassing a Metal Trades Council strike at Pantex in 1970 that lasted for 26 days.

The strike began after the MTC rejected the idea of a benefits valuation, which would compare Pantex workers' benefits with those of businesses in the area.

Members of the MTC rejected a four-year contract proposal from Consolidated Nuclear Security on Aug. 8.

The recess in negotiations was made at the request of the federal mediator.

The Metal Trades Council has represented Pantex's production and maintenance workers since 1951, according to information from the council's website.

Consolidated Nuclear Security took over management and operations at Pantex and the Y-12 National Nuclear Security Complex on July 1.

Attempts to reach MTC president Clarence Rashada and representatives from Consolidated Nuclear Security were unsuccessful Saturday.

MTC is not the only Pantex employees group to have struck. In May 2007, the then-537 member Pantex Guards Union ended a 34-day strike, with Union President Frank White citing "major gains" in seniority rights and medical insurance costs, Globe-News files show.

Pantex guards were also on strike for 89 days in 1981 over a wage dispute.