Jan. 12, 2005

Benefits Advisory Panel

In a National Nuclear Security Administration news release dated Jan. 7, the Laboratory SEB announced:

"SEB also is forming a Benefits Advisory Panel that will advise the SEB on pension and benefits matters, as necessary, and will be available to the government's contracting officer during the transition period when the actual pension and benefit terms and conditions will be negotiated for the new contract. The panel will consist of experts from the Department of Energy, its actuarial adviser and a law firm specializing in these matters."

I was pleased to hear that a Benefits Advisory Panel was formed, however it raises some questions:

Who does the law firm represent? Who is their client?

Will the employees have representation on the Benefits Advisory Panel?

Will the employees have legal representation on the Benefits Advisory Panel?

Thank you for considering my questions.

--James Dyke