NOT ON THE SAME PAGE         

This committee needs you to know that the changes in manpower in the Press Room and Metal Assembly on May 8^th were not agreed to at all.  Contractually, management has the right to call the manpower on each line, but if they don’t meet Ergonomic Rotation Guidelines, that’s where management and the union have a problem. 

Management made this call on no kind of a study at all, which in turn has caused the union to write Health and Safety grievances and Paragraph 78 grievances.  Management is in violation of Health and Safety where they removed people that were placed on the line for Ergonomic issues.

About a week before they pulled this manpower, management told us they were going to do it without our consent or blessing.  They have already put eight people back on the lines in the Press Room, and by the time I give this report, I expect that management will replace the manpower on the line that was put there just for Ergonomic reasons.

Once again brothers and sisters, this is not a violation of the contract, but is a violation of our Health and Safety Ergonomics.  Remember, Health and Safety is a very serious grievance and also is a strikeable issue.

To anyone that thinks this committee is with management on this issue, nothing could be farther from the truth.  They more or less threw it in our laps and said, “Deal with it!” 

This committee will stay on this until we get some kind of resolution.  To do it right, management needs to do a Time Study and then get the okay from our JETT’s (and theirs) that the Ergonomic Rotation Guidelines are okay.  Until they do this, we have a major problem.

MAINTENANCE TEAMS

For the brothers and sisters that don’t know yet, the committee has issued a 30 Day Letter for the Maintenance Teams.  We have told them (management) that as long as I see them trying to improve this issue, we will continue to work with Maintenance to get their Teams where they should be.  The last few weeks we have had several meetings to talk about what is wrong and for clarification on where the Union thinks they need to improve. 

We have a lot of things that need to be fixed folks, but this committee will make a promise that we will get the ship upright and sailing again.  I will tell you that the horsepower that is needed to change things has been at those meetings with open ears.  So stay tuned Maintenance, if management wants Teams in the Maintenance arena, then they need to fix what is broken.

PRE-RETIREMENT

We have to take our hats off for the fine job our Benefit Reps are performing in assisting so many of our brothers and sisters preparing for retirement.  They have risen to the challenge, like we knew they would. 

In the next few months a lot of people will be leaving, and if we don’t get a chance to say goodbye, we would like to wish all of you a happy and long retirement.  Remember – you helped make this plant what it is today, and we thank each and every one of you for that.  A lot of you have been good friends over the years, and I will not forget you!

NEW BUILDING

The bid is back in for the new building that will be built where the tower was at one time.  After looking over the package, I think the membership will be okay with the way it goes up.  We will do a lot of the work with our trades, and the plant manager has told me there is some overtime money in the kitty to get this building done for they want it up as soon as they can get it done.  The committee will be keeping an eye on what happens back there.  Hopefully, it will go as smooth as the tear down did, and management does it right.

DELUCA VISIT

DeLuca will be in the plant today for an update.  The committee will have time with him at 1:30.  So from the first shift meeting on, I will be able to fill you in on how it went.

HALF MAST

It seems that every time I pull into the parking lot lately the flag is at half mast, which means a Michigan soldier has died in the war.  Please remember these fallen soldiers in your prayers, as they have given their life for our country.  May God bless you and may we never forget the sacrifice they made for America.

Securing your future and this plant’s future!

Louie Schreuder

Shop Chairman