Your PUD News Release

PUD announces cost-saving changes that will trim jobs

Chelan County PUD
News Release
1/7/2009

Chelan County PUD on Wednesday told employees that it plans to reduce 10 jobs at its hydroelectric projects by reorganizing shift work by chief operators, senior operators, rotating wiremen and rotating mechanics. Since three of the positions are already vacant and one is a seasonal job, the actual reductions in full-time personnel will be six, effective July 1.

“We have a difficult announcement to make, one that will affect a number of our employees,” said General Manager Rich Riazzi in a message to all employees Wednesday afternoon.

“In our ongoing efforts to address financial pressures and reduce operations and maintenance costs, the District has decided to restructure the rotating shifts at our hydro projects. While the number of employees covering each shift will remain essentially the same, a new shift schedule will allow responsibilities to be covered by 40 employees throughout the year instead of 50.”

Cost savings are estimated over time at about $825,000 a year.

Management notified bargaining unit leadership of the decision Wednesday morning. The next steps will involve negotiations regarding the impacts of the change and implementation.

Riazzi also told employees there are no immediate plans for further staff reductions. He said as the PUD has asked customers to pay more, the PUD has pledged to look for ways to cut its own costs. This decision is a result of that financial scrutiny, he said.

For further information, contact:

LaDawn Ostmann
Chelan County PUD Labor and Employee Relations manager
509 661-4964, office