USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

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

 


Home Up Primary Results Jobs to Mexico Briggs 1st & 3rd Shift Strattec Security Plant Assistance for laid off members Arbitration Loss February Meeting Primary Election Candidates for President Guide Candidates Strattec Bargaining Committee Candidates Nominations General Election Notice Unemployment Extension Maximum Unemployment rate Meeting Recap Retiree insurance info Dues total Briggs recall dates Membership Info Annie Wacker endorsed Dudzik endorsed Briggs Retiree Club

 

Home Up Primary Results Jobs to Mexico Briggs 1st & 3rd Shift Strattec Security Plant Assistance for laid off members Arbitration Loss February Meeting Primary Election Candidates for President Guide Candidates Strattec Bargaining Committee Candidates Nominations General Election Notice Unemployment Extension Maximum Unemployment rate Meeting Recap Retiree insurance info Dues total Briggs recall dates Membership Info Annie Wacker endorsed Dudzik endorsed Briggs Retiree Club

President’s Report

Strattec to move 65 jobs to Mexico

Briggs sends notice of 61 job cuts

      by Greg Gorecki, President

Strattec

      We received some disturbing news on Monday, January 14th. The Union had intended to discuss the future of work in the plant including the removal of certain machines in Department 90 and the removal of some jobs in the assembly area. After the Company canceling several meetings, we were able to get this one locked in. To our surprise and disappointment the Company informed us that they would be moving the majority of Department 90 to a newly leased plant about a mile from their assembly plant in Juarez, Mexico.

      While the Union was aware the Company was looking for a second plant in Mexico, we were led to believe it was for the joint venture with Witte. This would have had little or no effect on our Milwaukee workers. This news is very disturbing especially in these hard economic times.

      The Company estimates as many as 65 hourly people could lose their jobs. We were informed it would be 45 members directly from Department 90 and an additional 20 members from supporting departments. This is something the Company claims they must do to reduce inventory, costs and also speed up delivery to their customers. The Union looks at it as a disturbing trend and a way to exploit cheap labor. The Company also stated that the lease would run for 7 years and that they will only use about 1/3 of the new 60,000-sq. ft. facility.

Union Seeking Help for effected Members

     The Union has already been in contact with the HIRE Center for information on obtaining training and relocation assistance for our members that will lose their jobs. They advised us to delay filing the application until we are closer to our first members being laid off. They said this was preferred to avoid the risk of having the application denied because no lay-offs have occurred, inferring that the Company may change their mind. Early filing can also create a risk that the grant would begin too soon and the last members laid off falling out of the time lines of the grant.

Arbitration Loss

     We received the arbitration decision back from arbitrator Jay Grenig. He heard the case of one of our members that was discharged for violence on the picket line. In upholding the discharge, Arbitrator Grenig ruled that:

  1. Even though the victim was blind-sided and did not see the grievant actually strike him, he was verbally confronted by the grievant immediately after the "smack" and the smack left a large welt that was still there 12 hours later.

  2. The grievant's denial of striking the employee is contradicted by credible evidence (videotape, employee's word and marking on his head).

     The arbitrator included in his decision different cases that discharges for picket line violence that were upheld, and the acts that occurred, such as:

A. Kicking a car entering or leaving a plant

B. Throwing stones or pebbles at cars crossing the line

C. A striker taking two unsuccessful swings at workers crossing the picket line

Briggs

     From Briggs, we have received two W.A.R.N. notices informing us of future job losses for departments:

            L1X              22 jobs

            M1X               8 jobs

            100                 16 jobs

            700               1 job

            173               2 jobs

            M8              12 jobs

            The job loss will occur on or about March 15, 2002.

Help for members sought

     The Briggs future production picture appears to be gloomier by the month. We did request a meeting with the Company regarding the dismal outlook for our members and to see what, if anything, they would be willing to do for our people. After offering some relief to their excess salary people, we felt compelled to give it a try to see if the Company would do the same for us.

     The meeting took place on January 23rd. At first, the Company balked at the Union's request. We tried to present our case for he laid off members and 250 to 300 other members that will lose their jobs as the engine lines go down this Spring.

     We were looking for ways to get all our members back to work. We discussed some concepts and the Company's response was that they wanted to "look at some numbers."

     We again stressed how urgent this was for our members and the Company stated they would get back to us after they could uncover some information and examine some costs.

     We also proposed some ideas to the Company to help get some of our more senior members back to work. We suggested allowing all people that intend to retire at the end of this June to take a voluntary layoff if they choose, and fill the resulting openings with laid off members.

     The Company said they would consider this idea along with others and get back to the Union within a reasonable time.