Power plant personnel get bonus for job well done

Power plant personnel may have to wait longer for the salary increase that had been planned for them, but they will at least receive something extra before the holidays.

Gov. Juan N. Babauta announced late last week his plan to give a bonus salary to each of the 18 employees at the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation’s power generation division.

“I want to say how impressed I have been with [CUC power generation manager] Al Santos and all the crew at the power plant during the emergency. Because of their performance under pressure I have asked Executive Director [Lorraine] Babauta to give me a proposal for a monetary award to each of the 18 people at the power plant who made the repairs and kept the lights on for all of us,” Babauta said.

The governor said the exact amount of the proposed salary bonus has not been determined yet. “We’re trying to come up with a reasonable amount that the employees can appreciate,” he said.

He also assured that CUC customers that the payment of bonus to the employees would not hurt the cash-strapped utility firm.

“It’s not going to cost more than several thousand dollars. We’re just trying to find a way to reward the employees who have worked very hard over the past months to keep our lights on,” Babauta said. “Actually, doing this is going to help CUC. If the employees are happy, they are more productive.”

An Oct. 5, 2005 memorandum issued by Santos to CUC executive director Lorraine Babauta indicated that at least six other employees were being considered for promotion, pay increases, or additional benefits.

Santos recommendations included:
• The promotion of an administrative support assistant to administrative support technician. CUC’s fiscal year 2005 budget shows that the employee is currently paid $21,300 a year. The only employee currently holding the position of administrative support technician in the power generation division receives an annual salary of $30,802.
• The promotion of a trade assistant/helper, with an annual salary of $18,540, to trade technician. The salaries of existing trade technicians in Santos’ division range between $15,400 and $34,783.
• The promotion of a trade specialist, with an annual salary of $19,662, to trade technician.
• The reclassification of a purchasing technician, with an annual salary of $19,662, to trade technician.
• The reclassification of a purchasing specialist, who earns $21,017 a year, to trade technician.
• Hazard pay for an administrative support assistant, with a current salary of 18,000.