USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

Representing  employees at Briggs & Stratton Corp. and Strattec Security Corp. in Milwaukee, WI

Grievance Rep Report

Strattec Security Corp.

by Karl Schneider

Brothers & Sisters,

          At the start of the new year, we are faced with unfamiliar conditions. We, as members working at Strattec, have never experienced layoffs due to the economy. The 1998 layoff was a direct result of GM's work stoppage. After their strike ended, we came back to work and stayed working for a long time. In fact, Strattec hired approximately 40 people. We had overtime, and in my opinion, we were doing very well. Now, the Company is in uncharted waters and without a lot of experience in layoff language. They have asked me to participate in all reductions and recalls, which I have agreed to do. Before the layoff started on January 15th, the Company said they could see 3 weeks out and they needed to lay off approximately 100 members, subject to change. I asked them repeatedly if they were sure about the number of members that they were laying off. We all know what happened on January 22nd. The Company recalled 18 members and laid off an additional 4. Again, I told the Company how disruptive it is to members lives with recalls from layoff after short periods of time. I also told them shift balancing is disruptive to their lives. The following week the Company did present new evidence as to why that happened. They showed me how they get their production schedules and in one business unit it was so far out of balance, they ended up terminating their salaried planner.

          As of this writing, there are 42 members on layoff of which 15 are involuntary and 27 are voluntary. On January 25th the Job Consolidation Committee met with the BUM's. The Union voiced its concern about unlike jobs being grouped together. The Company suggested letting the Dacum process address the Union's concerns. We agreed to have weekly meetings on Thursdays and continue to move forward.

          PIC meetings will be starting back up again on January 31st. These meetings have not met in awhile because of the Holiday and/or CORE members on vacation.

          Presently I have two policy grievances, one on how back pay is paid out on piecework grievances and the new eating policy and 3 other grievances going to second stage.

          On January 16th an arbitration meeting was held. The case involved outsiders doing our work.

          On a positive note, the BUM's from the Die Cast Business Unit and the Assembly Business Unit traveled to Detroit to bid on some new work for Delphi. It is a CSS type housing for the Ford F150. It sounded very promising. In fact, they have a second meeting scheduled for the first week in February. If we get this contract, it would mean new work for Milwaukee. But as of right now, I want to caution membership that no contract has been signed.

                                                            In solidarity,