November 2001 UE 506 News
SECURITY PRECAUTIONS BRING REALITIES OF 9/11 TO OUR PLANT
Like all good Americans, Local 506 members are carrying on their lives with a spirit that can’t be broken, not even by the events that occurred on September 11th. However, that spirit can’t override the harsh realities that have, at least temporarily, changed our routines. Random vehicle checks while entering or leaving the Plant, a stricter schedule for Plant-gate access and a new photo I.D. policy are all new regulations imposed on us since the tragedies.
Regarding the above changes, concerns over giving up some of our civil liberties were raised during the course of our September membership meetings. We have addressed those concerns with the Company and they have already made some reasonable modifications. The Company is still considering other suggestions proposed by the Union. The best balance to be struck in these unprecedented times is one that provides the level of security needed to insure our safety while protecting us from any unnecessary invasion of our personal rights. Thus far, the Company has been cooperative with the Union in discussions on these matters therefore we are confident that we can work through these issues.
A few reports of unidentified white powder being found in the Plant have been brought to our attention but fortunately all investigation results so far have not turned out to be anthrax. We have addressed the handling of these situations with the Company as well and a consistent policy should be in place by the time this paper is distributed.
NOVEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE
The first order of business will be nominations for District Council Six Delegates.
Members will discuss and vote on a 2002 Holiday Schedule
Recently elected Stewards and Alternates will be sworn in for the new 2-year term of office.
The financial officers will present a fiscal year-end review and their recommendations for 2002
The winners of the Gun Raffle (watch fund) will be drawn at the end of the 1st Shift meeting
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND TIMES ARE:
Wednesday, November 14, 2001 (All meetings)
7:25 a.m. (3rd Shift)
1:00 p.m. (2nd Shift)
3:20 p.m. (1st Shift)
Kitchen’s Kabinet November 2001
Sixty-six grievances have been filed at the Step #2 level so far this year. This compares to sixty-three cases last year during the same time period.
Our last Step #2 meeting was held October 26, 2001. There were twenty-nine cases on the agenda. Of the twenty-nine cases heard, sixteen cases were resolved.
Several resolves are worth mentioning. Building #63 had a grievance concerning excessive overtime being worked after the transfer of work announcement. The Union was able to convince the company to hire additional workers in the warehouse and identify hourly workers throughout the plant to assist the warehouse at the end of each quarter. Historically, the warehouse has shipped much of its material at the end of the quarter, using management to supplement the workforce during these times. This practice was a thorn in our sides for years but now hourly workers will be used, instead of management. Several overtime grievances from building #6 were also resolved to our satisfaction.
A grievance had been submitted then placed on hold regarding the safety net placement during layoffs. The safety net grievance was placed on hold so discussions could take place between the officers and Union relations on suggestions for changing the local layoff procedure to provide better placement opportunity. These discussions have resulted in a tentative agreement, which now has to be presented to the Executive board and membership for approval.
Another area of concern for some time now is the FMI (Field Modification Initiative), which has been a promising area of business growth for years. The FMI projects are primarily worked on in the back of Building #18 but some of the work is performed at locations in and outside of the plant. The way workers are selected for these projects has been an issue for years, the Union has finally prodded the company to develop a more permanent and hopefully more fair process. We have not seen the proposal yet but we have been told it will be ready for discussion soon.
After discussion at the Step #2 meeting, a series of grievances from the Powerhouse, relating to safety and inadequate training, were placed on hold to allow further discussion back at the divisional level. These cases relate to changing personnel in the powerhouse and how inconsistent training may be jeopardizing the safety of those who work in the powerhouse.
Steward’s elections will have been completed by the time this article goes to press so thanks to everyone who ran and congratulations to those who were elected. Thanks also go to those who served in the past but chose not to run again or ran and were not reelected. The Local 506 Officers, Executive Board and Membership ask that the recently elected Stewards and Alternate Stewards serve with honesty, integrity and dedication. After all, the Union cannot function without a solid Stewards system. Thank you.
VOTE ON 2002 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The following tentative holiday schedule will be discussed and voted on during the Wednesday, November 14, 2001 meetings. The language listed below this schedule refers to the floating holiday and represents the same terms as in prior years.
New Years Day Tuesday, January 1
Martin Luther King’s Birthday Monday, January 21
Good Friday Friday, March 29
Memorial Day Monday, May 27
Independence Day Thursday, July 4
Labor Day Monday, September 2
Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 28
Day after Thanksgiving Day Friday, November 29
Day before Christmas Tuesday, December 24
Christmas Day Wednesday, December 25
*Floating Holiday
* Requires management approval and one week’s notice. Must be used for Monday following Thanksgiving (December 2)) if going to be absent that day. If floating holiday has already been used and an unpaid absence occurs on December 2, holiday pay for November 29 may be denied. The floating holiday must be used in lieu of unpaid absences following the exhaustion of vacation and sick and personal pay. Holiday will be granted in order in which employees request it, not to exceed 10% of the work group.
MOTION REWRITTEN
During October meetings, a motion was tabled that in effect would have automatically taken away "member in good standing" status from members who took certain assignments in NAFTA related countries. The following revised motion has been submitted for consideration at the November meetings.
The Anti-NAFTA position this union has taken since 1993 has brought forth questions. After a long discussion on the issue, UE 506 members see some need for workers to perform certain tasks on our locomotives in these countries. These tasks involve warranty problems, upgrades, and work on wrecked locomotives. This work is necessary to keep our business strong. Any UE 506 member taking G.E. paid work trips to NAFTA countries for reasons that are detrimental to this Union will be charged with Article XIII.
NOMINATE DISTRICT SIX DELEGATES AT NOVEMBER MEETINGS
The nominations of delegates to all 2002 District Council Six meetings was inadvertently omitted from the October meeting agenda, therefore nominations will be taken from the floor during membership meetings on Wednesday, November 14, 2001 at the UE Local 506 Hall.
The District Six constitution provides seven delegates for Locals our size. The 506 officers, by virtue of our constitution, hold three of these positions. The names of nominees for the four remaining delegates and for three alternate-delegates will be placed on a ballot and a vote will be conducted at the Wednesday, December 19, 2001 membership meetings. The four candidates receiving the highest vote totals will assume District delegate status. The other three candidates will be designated as alternate- delegates. In the case of a tie vote, a run-off election will be held at the January 2002 meetings.
UNITY COUNCIL
AVAILABLE TO HELP
(* Note new pager numbers)
The Unity Committee was formed to help resolve issues of discrimination in the shop. If you have a need to talk with someone about a problem page Wayne Burnett at * 878-9697, Donna Cramer at * 878-9866, Dennis Crawford at * 878-6476, Don Kosobucki at * 878-6714 or call the Union Hall at 899-3108 and we’ll have someone will get in touch with you.
HAVING A
PERSONAL PROBLEM?
(* Note new pager numbers)
Contact UE Local 506 Employee Assistance Program liaison Joe Ambrose at Ext. 2670 or pager no.
* 878-6111Or
Call the EAP Counselor at 875-4EAP (Ext. 4327)
"ROC" A NEW APPROACH TO ORGANIZING
By Randy Majewski
At the 66th convention in Pittsburgh a new strategy to organizing was introduced called ROC (Regional Organizing Councils). Under this plan, locals in all districts (such as our District Six) take an active more intensive buy in to organizing. With this program in place, volunteer members meet and develop organizing plans for shops that have been identified as having some potential. Our experience, as UE Members and workers on the shop floor enables us to interact better with members of non-union shops.
You may ask why would we want to get involved so heavy in organizing. Why? For the simple sake of just making life better for the people we bring under the UE umbrella and it insures the future of our union.
As explained in recent editions of the Local 506 NEWS and at the last few membership meetings, serious financial issues face the future of UE and growing the union is one of the ways to rectify our problems. Really, what better way than to spread the UE word than to have workers who have experienced and enjoyed the benefits of being member of a democratic union like ours. Also in conjunction with the "ROC" program, we are again asking anyone with any leads or inquiries to relay that message to the "ROC" volunteer contact in your division or to your chief steward. A full list of volunteer organizers and their respective divisions will be printed in the December Local 506 NEWS.
Remember as the attacks on working people continue this is one way to fight back to organize the unorganized to make the quality of life better for them and insure the future of our union. Any questions or leads please contact the volunteer organizer in your division, call the Hall at 899-3108 or UE International Representative Debbie Gornall at 455-1064.