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| CNS Y-12 currently{{when|date=May 2013}} employs approximately 4,700 people. About 1,500 additional personnel work onsite as employees of organizations that include [[UT-Battelle]], [[Science Applications International Corporation]], UCOR, and WSI Oak Ridge (an American-controlled unit of [[G4S Secure Solutions]]), which holds the security contract for the site. Workers at the site were represented by the [[Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union]].<ref name="Dumas">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Bischak |first=Greg |editor-last1=Dumas |editor-first1=Lloyd J. |editor-last2=Thee |editor-first2=Marek |encyclopedia=Making Peace Possible: The Promise of Economic Conversion |title=Facing the Second Generation of the Nuclear Weapons Complex: Renewal of the Nuclear Production Base or Economic Conversion? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=brijBQAAQBAJ |access-date=2022-03-20 |year=1989 |publisher=Pergamon Press |series=Peace Research Monograph |volume=19 |isbn=0-08-037252X |page=115}}</ref> | | CNS Y-12 currently{{when|date=May 2013}} employs approximately 4,700 people. About 1,500 additional personnel work onsite as employees of organizations that include [[UT-Battelle]], [[Science Applications International Corporation]], UCOR, and WSI Oak Ridge (an American-controlled unit of [[G4S Secure Solutions]]), which holds the security contract for the site. Workers at the site were represented by the [[Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union]].<ref name="Dumas">{{cite encyclopedia |last=Bischak |first=Greg |editor-last1=Dumas |editor-first1=Lloyd J. |editor-last2=Thee |editor-first2=Marek |encyclopedia=Making Peace Possible: The Promise of Economic Conversion |title=Facing the Second Generation of the Nuclear Weapons Complex: Renewal of the Nuclear Production Base or Economic Conversion? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=brijBQAAQBAJ |access-date=2022-03-20 |year=1989 |publisher=Pergamon Press |series=Peace Research Monograph |volume=19 |isbn=0-08-037252X |page=115}}</ref> |
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| ==Anti-nuclear protests==
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| [[File:Orepa-2011-y12-rally-tn3.jpg|right|thumb|April 2011 Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance rally at the Y-12 entrance]]
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| Since 1988, Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance has organized non-violent direct action protests at the Y-12 Complex, in an effort to close down the weapons plant. Sister Mary Dennis Lentsch, a Catholic nun, has been arrested many times for protesting at the Oak Ridge facility.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna20183587 |title=Nun sentenced for protesting nuke plant - US news - Crime & courts - NBCNews.com |website=[[NBC News]] |date=August 8, 2007 |access-date=2012-08-28}}</ref> She has said, "I believe the continuing weapons production at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, is in direct violation of the treaty obligations of the United States and consequently, is a violation of Article 6 of the U.S. Constitution".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jul/05/protesters-plan-morning-resistance-y-12/ |title=Y-12 protests nets dozens of arrests |author=Frank Munger |date=2010-07-05 |work=Knox News }}</ref>
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| In 2011, the Rev. [[William J. Bichsel]], an 84-year-old priest, received a prison sentence of three months for trespassing on federal property at the Y-12 complex.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/09/13/1822294/the-rev-bill-bichsel-of-tacoma.html#storylink=cpy |title= Rev. Bill Bichsel of Tacoma sentenced to 3 months for Y-12 protest in Tennessee |date=2011-09-13 |work=The News Tribune |agency=Associated Press}}{{dead link|date=June 2014}}</ref> In 2012, there were protests about the new uranium processing facility.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2012/apr/21/protesters-rally-against-new-y-12-uranium/ |title=Protesters rally against new Y-12 uranium facility |author= Lance Coleman |date=2012-04-21 |work=Knox News }}</ref>
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| In July 2012, [[Megan Rice]], an 82-year-old Catholic sister of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, and two military veterans, Gregory Boertje-Obed, and Michael Walli, entered the Y-12 complex. They were all [[Plowshares Movement|Plowshares activists]], and they chose Y-12 because of its crucial role in the production of nuclear weapons. They spray-painted anti-war slogans on the exterior of the Highly Enriched Uranium Materials Facility, a structure for storing weapons-grade uranium.<ref>{{cite book |last=Sargent |first=Carole |author-link= |date=2021-02-02 |title=Transform Now Plowshares: Megan Rice, Gregory Boertje-Obed, and Michael Walli |url= https://litpress.org/Products/3722/Transform-Now-Plowshares|location= |publisher= Liturgical Press|isbn=9780814637227}}</ref> The [[Anti-nuclear movement|anti-nuclear]] activists, who got past fences and disabled security sensors before dawn on July 28, spent several hours in the complex, spray-painted peace messages, and prayed and sang before they were stopped by guards. The security breach prompted private experts to criticize the Department of Energy's safeguarding of nuclear materials.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/08/us/pacifists-who-broke-into-nuclear-weapon-facility-due-in-court.html?_r=1&ref=atomicweapons |title=Security Questions Are Raised by Break-In at a Nuclear Site |author=Matthew L. Wald |date=2012-08-07 |work=The New York Times }}</ref> The [[Inspector general#U.S. offices of inspector general|DOE-OIG]] found that all of the defenses for the plant were insufficient and that the security response had "troubling displays of ineptitude."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/us/18-months-after-security-breach-former-y-12-nuclear-weapons-plant-boss-tells-his-story-1.268183 |title=18 months after security breach, former Y-12 nuclear weapons plant boss tells his story |last1=Munger |first1=Frank |date=2014-02-17 |website=www.stripes.com |publisher=Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn. |access-date=2014-02-17}}</ref> On May 9, 2013, the three were convicted of sabotage. In her testimony, Sister Rice said, "I regret I didn't do this 70 years ago."<ref>[http://www.ibtimes.com/nun-83-convicted-breaking-tennessee-nuclear-site-my-regret-was-i-waited-70-years-sister-megan-rice (Rice quote)].</ref>
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| ==See also== | | ==See also== |