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:
-
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.
-
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.
Membership Meeting