Shop Chairman’s Report
By: Steve Rop
Shop Committee Members: Russ Bolthouse, Mike Carlson,
Nancy Fopma, John Graver, Marty Green, and Doug Lail
November 2008
2nd SHIFT FULL TIME BENEFIT REPRESENTATIVE
Greg and I have concluded our interviews for the 2nd Shift Benefit Representative position and have forwarded names to the Region and Solidarity House for final approval. We hope to have a response back within 4-6 weeks, but in the meantime Sylvia Lillard will be functioning as the full time benefit representative on 2nd shift.
EPSILON REMOVAL
At this time work has already started on the removal of the four Epsilon rail cells. This work is going to go to Parma, Ohio, which is located near Cleveland. The local union will be requesting of the International to negotiate Paragraph 96 moves for this work. I know that to the dismay of some of our members we will be taking this out the same way it was put in, which is by putting together teams of maintenance employees on every shift and working under Document 112 of the National Agreement and our Local Maintenance Team Agreement. According to management, it will be done on straight time and we only have 23 days to do it. Going forward it is the Shop Committee’s position that Local 730 members remove any equipment and presses that are to be taken out.
PLANT CLOSING UPDATE
MFD Divisional Manager, Cathy Clegg was in our plant recently to further explain the reasons why our plant was chosen to be closed. At the end of her presentation it basically came down to location and the cost of shipping parts, which we still don’t agree with. We out perform our sister plants on so many other metrics and the Harbour report as well. This meeting was also attended by Region 1D Assistant Director, Gerald Kariem and International Representatives, Mark Kelly, Bill King, and Harvey Woodard. Gerald asked Cathy Clegg if anything could be done to reverse the decision of closing this location and she replied, “no.” The corporation is also looking at closing another stand alone stamping plant, but wouldn’t say which one. Following are the places where we were told that work was going and when we receive the dates of when that work is going we will inform the membership; Flint, Mansfield, Marion, Parma, Wentzville, Pontiac, Shreveport, Fairfax, Indy, and Spring Hill, Tennessee. Some of the dies that we run in B size presses will have to be reworked to run in A size presses. Also, management is planning to have all employee meetings the week of December 1st. After having discussions with management, we are looking at opening an Information Center very soon.
SAFETY
It seems that lately we have been having more injuries than usual. Once again, I can’t stress enough to just take the time to be aware of your surroundings.