Southern Co. has adjusted the wages of 180 security personnel at the Vogtle nuclear plant after a timekeeping mistake uncovered by the Department of Labor.
The affected employees at both operating Vogtle units were paid a total of about $459,000 to resolve the issue, according to a Southern Co. release. The pay glitch related to shift changes was found during a DOL compliance audit. The agency did not find any other compliance issues and concluded the mistake was not intentional.
According to Southern Co., about 900 people work at Vogtle 1 and 2 near Augusta, Ga., not including the workforce building two new units at the plant. Southern's Georgia Power subsidiary owns 45.7 percent of the older units. Oglethorpe Power owns 30 percent. The Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia owns 22.7 percent; and the City of Dalton holds the remainder. Southern Nuclear Operating Company operates the reactors. Armed nuclear security officers at the plant must meet the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's physical fitness requirements, often work 10 percent to 20 percent overtime and generally must have two years of related military or security experience, according to a recent Southern Co. job notice.