TORONTO - Nuclear power plant operators will suffer from a brain drain unless a strike by scientists and other industry professionals comes to an end, says the association representing those on the picket line.

Workers employed by Candu Energy Inc. - a subsidiary of SNC-Lavalin International - have been on strike since early last month. They do design work for nuclear reactors.

Picketers from the company turned out Wednesday to at Ontario Power Generation in Toronto and the Bruce Power nuclear plant in Kincardine.

Michael Ivanco, vice-president of Society of Professional Engineers and Associates - which represents about 850 nuclear engineers, scientists and technicians who went on strike - warned that Candu's best and brightest are taking jobs elsewhere rather than sticking around for the labour dispute.

"It's a problem because 60% of Ontario's electricity is supplied by nuclear power and we have lost some of our best workers," he said.

The federal government sold Atomic Energy of Canada Limited last October to SNC-Lavalin and Ivanco said hundreds of highly skilled engineers, scientists and technicians have left the company since.

He blamed the sale and the strike for Candu's loss of some of their most marketable workers.

The nuclear technology company provides nuclear power reactors and products to customers worldwide.

Ivanco said their labour dispute is mostly about Candu workers having to "swallow several unreasonable concessions."

He said SNC has recently eliminated their defined-benefit pension plan, wants to be able to enforce shift work and have demanded concessions on seniority and vacation time.
A spokesman for Candu could not reached for comment.