Briggs
& Stratton
First
& Third Shifts
Grievance
Rep Report
by Barb Schuller & Mike Merrill 
The
following is a bleak report on the status of production at the Milwaukee Engine
Facility.
MED North
Micro Line - The target date for the start up of the Micro Line is
February 11th. The run rate is set for 500/day with 18 operators. As always,
this is subject to change.
Outboard Engine - Production start up will be sometime between March and
April of 2002. It will be run by 2
operators and 1 supervisor.
Opposed Twin Factory ( Model 40-42)
Depts. L5 and M5, plan to be shut down by April 26th, 2002, again as
always, this is subject to change.
Model 19's, Dept. L1X, Green Line - On February 4th there will be a
reduction in the run rate from 500 a day to 200 a day.This reduction will result
in the elimination of 21 assemblers and 2 dayworkers. The Company plans on
keeping the one's eliminated to run repairs.
M1X - which machines the Model 19's, plans to reduce by 8 operators on
Feb. 11th. The company plans on ending production of model 19's on or around
April 26th, 2002.
The E-Coat Line is expected to shut down around April 16th, 2002.
M8 - 8 operators and 4 set-up will be eliminated around March 15, 2002.
Insurance
A lot of our members are under the impression that you do not have to
have authorization for tests. You do. The misunderstanding is that you do not
have to have a referral for a specialist. You
still need authorization for tests.
MED South
The departments that make components for the southern plants, are running
as normal. Department 780 and 238 will be reducing because of the loss of the
twin production.
Dept 797 - We are still having problems with management. The Bargaining
Committee met with the Company regarding a training issue. We disagreed with
their policy, but unfortunately they put the policy into affect without
considering any of our concerns. A grievance has been filed.
Skill Trades - The company has informed the union that effective Feb.
4th, department 100 and 700 will be combining. It will be dept. 700. The
physical combining of the department will occur by March 1st.
Die Cast
The company has informed the Union, that in Dept. 191, they are going to
utilize the contract language on page 41 regarding new production. They are
freezing the jobs that pertain to the new Micro
Engine Block. This is the cylinder used in the production of the micro
engine.
We are still having a lot of issues regarding the combining of 2 machines
run by 1 tender. Tom Bishanell has been out numerous times to study these jobs.
We are having a lot of issues on 3rd shift in dept. 192. The Company has
put their facilitator on a special project for scrap, leaving our members with
no “go to" person. The
department is being covered by a facilitator from 191 taking half with the other
half is being covered by a facilitator from 197. There seems to be total
confusion whenever a decision or a problem arises. This has been brought to the
Company’s attention with no resolution as yet.