Uranium prices skyrocket; weapons plant workers go on strike

Back on March 27th, we highlighted the fact that shortages of processed uranium have been driving the price of nuclear fuel to near-record levels in recent months. Now, The Washington Times reports that the price of uranium has jumped another 19 percent in just the last two weeks.

It hasn’t been the best week for the nuclear industry. The Washington Post reports:

More than 500 security guards at the nation’s only nuclear weapons assembly plant walked off the job just after midnight yesterday to protest what they said is a steep deterioration in job and retirement security since the government changed fitness standards for weapons-plant guards in response to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

The contractor at the plant, BWXT Pantex in Carson County, Tex., replaced the striking guards with a contingency force that it says will secure the plant’s weapons, nuclear materials and explosives as long as necessary.

“Contingency force?” That’s reassuring. I guess it sounds better than “second string” or “substitute.”