Steve Wodka

They didn't seek to negotiate with its unions. They sought to impose a contract on the workers. And if the workers didn't like the contract, they could go out and strike. And in fact, from late 72 to early 73, there was a nine-week strike.

They didn't seek to negotiate with its unions. They sought to impose a contract on the workers. And if the workers didn't like the contract, they could go out and strike. And in fact, from late 72 to early 73, there was a nine-week strike.

And if you run a safe plant, if you really take the precautions, it cuts into profit.

And if you run a safe plant, if you really take the precautions, it cuts into profit.

The OCAW was, in the early 70s, was a very male-dominated union. The industries that we represent, oil refining, chemical plants, huge nuclear facilities, these were all male-dominated plants. And it was highly unusual that women worked anywhere and that a woman had risen to to a position of leadership in the local union.

The OCAW was, in the early 70s, was a very male-dominated union. The industries that we represent, oil refining, chemical plants, huge nuclear facilities, these were all male-dominated plants. And it was highly unusual that women worked anywhere and that a woman had risen to to a position of leadership in the local union.

Because the company's handling of plutonium were governed by the Atomic Energy Commission. This agency had regulations. It had the power to take...

Because the company's handling of plutonium were governed by the Atomic Energy Commission. This agency had regulations. It had the power to take...

So part of the whole issue was not only was the company doing bad things, but that the Atomic Energy Commission itself hadn't been enforcing the law, hadn't been protecting the workers. And this was the problem. with the Atomic Energy Commission in that they had not come down on this company, even though it was clear that this company was routinely violating the conditions of its license.

So part of the whole issue was not only was the company doing bad things, but that the Atomic Energy Commission itself hadn't been enforcing the law, hadn't been protecting the workers. And this was the problem. with the Atomic Energy Commission in that they had not come down on this company, even though it was clear that this company was routinely violating the conditions of its license.

You have to understand, there were all these contamination incidents at the plant leading up through to 1974. Kerbegee was never fined a dollar.

You have to understand, there were all these contamination incidents at the plant leading up through to 1974. Kerbegee was never fined a dollar.

So I'm working with them and we're going over everything. And then this whole issue of quality control starts coming up. And it's something we had never heard of before and something we had never dealt with before.

So I'm working with them and we're going over everything. And then this whole issue of quality control starts coming up. And it's something we had never heard of before and something we had never dealt with before.

They said, Material and rods that should have failed were being passed. And we think you should know about that.

They said, Material and rods that should have failed were being passed. And we think you should know about that.

The more we thought about this, it was, you know, there could be a meltdown.

The more we thought about this, it was, you know, there could be a meltdown.

We said, okay, look, we've never heard of something like this before. And if you're going to level a charge like this against Kern-McGee, it's got to be documented. People have got to see it. how and where the quality control tests and checks were falsified.

We said, okay, look, we've never heard of something like this before. And if you're going to level a charge like this against Kern-McGee, it's got to be documented. People have got to see it. how and where the quality control tests and checks were falsified.