A U.S. Bureau of Land Management survey of Alyeska Pipeline Service Co.'s "employee concerns program" says many workers still fear harassment and retaliation if they report environmental or safety problems regarding the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System Alyeska operates.
An Alyeska official said, "We welcome the report. It gives us a snapshot of a relatively new program, which is only a year-and-a-half old. Generally, we agree with the report and will work to implement the recommendations."
She said Alyeska already has made some changes, such as having the manager of the program report directly to the Alyeska president and notifying contractors to improve their communications.
She said the survey found that Alyeska was doing some things quite well and that most Alyeska employees had seen improvements.
Alyeska established the "employee concerns program" in late 1995 in response to a series of "whistleblower" complaints and a congressional investigation.
The program seeks to give employees an impartial forum in which to raise and address their concerns about the operation of the 800-mile line and its Valdez marine terminal.
Survey results
BLM surveyed 1,356 persons, including Alyeska employees and contractor employees.
Contractor employees total about half of the pipeline workforce.
The BLM report made 23 recommendations to make the program more effective and better implemented. It said communications should be improved to eliminate rumors and misinformation; some managers are not fully cooperative, and "there is a perceived tolerance for retaliation, especially among contractor employees."
Bob Armstrong, assistant Interior secretary for land and minerals, said, "Alyeska has made much progress in the past few years, but more remains to be done in providing a work atmosphere free from fear of retaliation for expressing concerns.
"This report shows that the 'shoot the messenger' attitude, although more subtle than before, continues in some quarters at Alyeska, particularly in the contract work force."
The Joint Pipeline Office, a group of federal and state agencies that oversee the pipeline's operations, directed Alyeska to draft a plan by Apr. 18 to correct problems the report identified.
The survey said 74% of Alyeska managers and supervisors think the pipeline has improved its corporate culture in the past 2 years, and 59% of employees, 67% of contractor managers, and 49% of contractor employees agreed.
It said 74% of Alyeska managers think the pipeline supports employees who express concerns about operations, while 62% of employees, 66% of contractor managers, and 51% of contractor employees agreed.
