text: CH2M Hill is the old Veco company that has been notoriously nonunion for decades.  Veco was brought to the Slope to get rid of unions back in the 1970's.  Unions in general have local hire preferences as outlined in labor contracts.  In general local union residents are kept on jobs and the nonresidents are laid off first.  Nonunion shops don't have this kind of agreement since they have no contract.  When union workers are laid off they simply go sign the book at the union hall and wait for the next job or they can travel to other union jobs in other states where they have to wait for the locals to go to work first, but if there is enough work they go to work.  The union pension funds paid out of state are sent back to the workers home local.  These are not 401 savings accounts that are often cashed out when nonunion workers lose their jobs.  I advise Mr. Deral Wise to join the IBEW and then his local hire rights will be protected.  The IBEW pension plan cannot be beat!  I know.