Workers at nuclear outage dig deep for troops

Stone & Webster employees raise over $8,000 for soldiers stationed overseas

UNION CONSTRUCTION WORKERS at Exelon’s Dresden Nuclear Station near Chicago have collected more than $8,000 for pre-paid phone cards and customized care packages for U.S. soldiers serving abroad.

Pictured (l. to r.) with a check for $8,270 are Dresden plant mgr. Dave Wozniak, L-17 steward Jim Bollin (Insulators), Deborah Trippiedi of Mom’s Cookies, L-1 steward Brett Hamilton (Boilermakers), L-916 steward Rick Wren (Carpenters), L-75 steward Paul Colabuono (Laborers), job site rep Jim Carpenter (L-1, Boilermakers), L-176 steward Mike Barkley (IBEW), L-444 steward Paul Falasca (Ironworkers), L-597 steward Bob Polancic (Pipe Fitters), and Stone & Webster site mgr. Graham Cross.

The workers, employees of Stone & Webster Construction Inc., timed their donations to coincide with Veterans’ Day (Nov. 11).

“Hundreds of our workers contributed to this worthy cause,” said Stone & Webster site manager Graham Cross. “Management was greatly impressed with the selfless generosity displayed by our union employees.” Stone & Webster also contributed toward the campaign.

The $8,270 donation went to Mom’s Cookies Inc. (Wilmington, Ill.), a public charity organization led by Deborah Trippiedi. Mom’s Cookies provides direct aid in the form of phone cards, individual care packages, holiday items, etc., to U.S. soldiers across the globe. “Our soldiers really appreciate being remembered by those of us at home, particularly at this time of the year. Everyone at Mom’s Cookies is grateful to Stone & Webster and its union work force for remembering our troops abroad,” Trippiedi said.

Over 135 Boilermakers are working on a refueling outage at the nuclear power plant. According to Local 1 (Chicago) Vice President Robert Schwartz, the Boilermakers are working in highly-radioactive areas under extreme conditions, performing maintenance and modification activities. “This is a combined effort with all Boilermakers working together, including travelers, to get the job done safely, on time, and with no problems,” Schwartz reported.