Time Study Report

Large back-log of compensation grievances still unresolved

By Tom Bishanell, Union Compensation Analyst

Strattec Security Corporation

Our records show that as of December 31, 2000, the Union has 94 outstanding time study grievances at Strattec Corporation. The Union is in the process of working out some settlements in the piecework area on short-running jobs. At the end of November, 17 grievances, some dating as far back as 1993, were submitted. Settlement takes time because production numbers need to be tracked and multiple parts run under the same grievance. Strattec’s records on this go back only as far as January 1, 1997. The cooperation of Briggs and Stratton’s Information Systems Department is needed to accomplish the rest.

In the near future, with the assistance of the stewards, the outstanding grievances in each area will be reviewed once again. This will be done in an effort to see what is pertinent and what is obsolete. Our goal is to keep the process moving and to try to settle as many piecework grievances as possible before the ever-looming contract date, May 31, 2001.

The daywork system at Strattec finds only 13 outstanding grievances as of December 31st. These will be more difficult to resolve. Two daywork upgrades went to the third stage on November 8th. One was denied and the other still does not have finalization. Since arbitration is the last viable option on all daywork grievances, the complete process becomes frustrating and lengthy. If there is any solace in this, the Contract states that any upward adjustment of a labor grade, as a result of a grievance, will be retroactive to the date of the grievance.

Briggs & Stratton Corporation

As of December 31, 2000, the Union has 123 outstanding time study grievances at the Briggs and Stratton Corporation. For a time, consistent progress was being made. More grievances were getting settled while fewer grievances were being written. The opposite is starting to occur. In order to increase the amount of submissions, more time needs to be devoted to studying and timing the grieved jobs. A more concerted effort to side step daily interruptions will be made so more time can be devoted to this essential process.

Another aspect of the problem stems from the fact that more new rates are being grieved. Operators do not feel they are provided the same earning possibility as on the previous rate. The Contract states that new incentive standards shall provide earnings comparable to those earned on accepted standards. When the new rate is cut one-third to one-half lower than the previous rate, it causes frustrations with our members who feel their earnings are undermined. This usually results in an instant grievance.

The daywork system at Briggs and Stratton has 33 grievances awaiting settlement. It is almost a carbon copy of the situation at Strattec, only in greater numbers.

Our comparative ranking systems both start with our underpaid skilled trades. Is our present daywork system broken or out-dated? Does it need to be totally revamped? Should merit increases be reinstated within the labor grades? Can something be achieved that is appealing to both the Company and the Union? Maybe, many of the upgrade issues have been postponed by the company in hopes they will disappear. Instead, they are piling up waiting for arbitration. We need solutions today!