Honeywell’s Metropolis plant is bringing back the remaining 11 workers on its recall list to meet its 2014 production targets.
Plant Manager Jim Pritchett says the recall allows workers to get trained and recertified in time to support plant operations in January.
Honeywell Metropolis is the only facility in the country that converts uranium ore into uranium hexafluoride, an essential compound for producing enriched uranium. The plant shutdown in May of 2012 to upgrade the facility to meet new Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards. The plant laid off 228 employees during the renovations.
The Metropolis plant restarted operationsin July of this year but only recalled a portion of the union workers, but as of this recall, the plant will return to its pre-lay-off worker force.
Honeywell Spokesperson Peter Dalpe said four of the workers will start this Monday and the others will start December 23rd following return-to-work physicals next week. Dalpe said recertification depends on the job, but in general it's two to three works for the positions the plant is recalling.
United Steelworkers union representative Chris Lech said he’s pleased that the remaining workers are returning, although he would’ve liked the recall to happen sooner.
