Business Digest: Sen. Alexander pushes NLRB reforms

photo Sen. Lamar Alexander

Republican Sens. Mitch McCon-nell and Lamar Alexander introduced a bill on Tuesday that would add another member to the National Labor Relations Board to keep an even balance between Democratic and Republican board members.

The NLRB currently has five top board members who are appointed by the president to oversee labor disputes between companies and employers.

Alexander said his NLRB reform bill would require the board to consist of three Republicans and three Democrats, like the Federal Election Commission.

"Our legislation is very simple," Alexander said on the floor Tuesday. "It will change the NLRB from an advocate to an umpire."


TVA worker sues over firing

A man was fired from his job at TVA's Bull Run Fossil Plant after only three weeks because he has a workers' compensation claim pending due to "exposure" experienced while working at the federal agency's ash spill cleanup site in Kingston, a legal action avers.

In his complaint filed in Anderson County Circuit Court, William Hedgecock seeks a total judgment not to exceed $1 million for alleged violations of the state's retaliatory discharge law. The complaint names Pullman Power LLC, a Kansas City-based industrial firm, as the defendant.

Hedgecock alleges he started work on or about Aug. 26, 2013, and was fired three weeks later, purportedly due to a "permanent furlough." No other workers were terminated, the complaint states.

When Hedgecock asked supervisor Larry Wheeler why he was fired, Wheeler allegedly responded, "Well, the TVA Comptroller instructed me to terminate you" and referenced the pending workers' compensation claim, according to the lawsuit. As a result of his termination, Hedgecock sustained "loss of income, emotional distress and humiliation," the legal action contends. He is seeking back pay, front pay, reinstatement and compensatory and punitive damages.

The Kingston ash spill cleanup involves 5.4 million cubic yards of coal ash that burst from a ruptured holding cell at TVA's Kingston Fossil Plant on Dec. 22, 2008.


Investors buy Victory Lane

Victory Lane Quick Oil Change, which has a franchised location on Signal Mountain Road in Chattnaooga, has a new owner. Justin and Lauren Cialella, who own and operate 11 Victory Lane locations in Michigan, have purchased the company and relocated the headquarters from Ann Arbor to Canton, Mich. Derrick and Jane Oxender, the founders and former owners, retain ownership of four units after the sale.

"The Victory Lane Brand is one of the oldest in the industry and the franchising model is unique in its independence from big oil companies, and its commitment to customer service," said incoming CEO Justin Cialella.

Victory Lane Quick Oil Change Inc. was founded in Ann Arbor in 1985, and has 29 franchise locations throughout the U.S.


Inspector named for Browns Ferry

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has appointed Adam Ruh to serve as the new resident inspector at TVA's Browns Ferry nuclear plant, which is located near Athens, Ala.

Ruh joins Senior Resident Inspector Dave Dumbacher and Resident Inspector Tom Stephen at the plant, which operates three reactors. At least two NRC resident inspectors are assigned to each operating U.S. commercial nuclear plant. They serve as the agency's eyes and ears at the facility, conducting inspections, monitoring major work projects and interacting with plant workers and the public. Resident inspectors can serve at one site for up to seven years.

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