Strattec
Security Plant
Grievance
Rep Report
By Karl Schneider, Grievance Rep
I am sad to report the loss of some of our family. Betty Marinoff passed
away on Dec. 29th, Eileen Neth passed away Jan. 20th, and Jim Prud'Homme who
retired in 1997 passed away on Jan. 22nd. My condolences go out to their family
and friends.
I was informed that contract books should be available for distribution
on February 15th.
Department 90
We had asked the Company to meet with us back in December to discuss the
future of Strattec in Milwaukee. After the Company cancelled a couple of dates
they agreed to meet with us on January 14th at 1:00 P.M. for a 1-hour meeting.
On January 14th at approximately 12:30 P.M. I received a call from management
and was asked to come down to the Human Resources Dept. at 12:45 P.M.
At 12:45 P.M. I met with the Plant Manager and the Human Resources
Manager. I was informed that our 1-hour was changed to ½ hour and the Company
was going to inform the Union that they are going to move Key Molding and Key
Notching down to Mexico and as a direct result, this would eliminate 65 jobs. I
was also told that they planned to meet with lower management to explain their
decision.
After receiving the news that we are going to lose 65 family supporting
jobs to Mexico I returned to the union office to inform Dennis and Al your
Bargaining Committee and President Greg Gorecki of the company's plans.
We went to the meeting at 1:00 P.M. where we were officially informed
about the job loss. The Company said they were basing their decision on the same
principles as the new work (Daimler-Chrysler F.B.I. Key) that was reported on
earlier. They told us the decision was final. They also said it would reduce
costs. The cost reductions are labor; reduced dollar value of inventory, and by
moving molding and notching closer to assembly there is a dollar savings in
inventory.
We also went to the
meeting at 2:00 P.M. with Department 90. In that meeting management said they
would use daily communication to inform the rest of the departments that molding
and notching are going to be done in Mexico.
This announcement by the Company will affect every member in some way
shape or form!
If I sounded redundant in my chronological timeline it was to emphasize
that the first time the Union became aware of this job loss was at 12:45 P.M. on
January 14, 2002.
We had a 3rd stage grievance meeting with the Company on January 17,
2002. After the grievances were heard, we asked the Company for more information
on the recent announcement of jobs being lost to Mexico. Those are as follows:
?
When will the first person be displaced as a result of Monday's
announcement?
A We believe it
will be in May or June.
?
Will the Company sit down with the Union to negotiate an early retirement
package?
A We feel we are
not in a position to do that. We had to make a contribution to the pension fund
this year and we anticipate making contributions in the future.
? I then asked
for documentation of the contributions made and expected contributions that need
to be made.
A They are posted
in the Union bulletin board.
?
Will the Company explore all state and federal benefits allowed under
NAFTA?
A Yes they will
assist the Union in any way necessary to help any displaced employees.
We have received more information from the Company in regards to their
plans to move this work. I want to stress that this is their timetable and it is
subject to change. The Company said when all cuts are final they would have 1
shift and it would be staffed as follows: 1 labor grade 20 machine attendant, 3
labor grade 12 set-up, and 2 piece workers. They said this should be completed
by December of 2002. They also said the group that supports molding and notching
would be reduced as follows: 2 labor grade 17 auditors, 1 material handler, 1
receiving inspector, and a total of 11 skilled trades (3 electricians, 3
millwrights, 2 machine repair, and 3 automation). The Company said the movement
of the support departments should be done by November 2002.
The last thing I wanted to report on is a question was raised at the
January membership meeting about the seniority rosters that I gave to the
Stewards. More specifically the direction that I gave the Stewards in regards to
the seniority rosters. I believe the Stewards are the first-line of contact in
the make up of our Union. I was trying to direct membership to utilize their
Stewards as a first means of getting information. By no means was I trying to
restrict that information from membership.
In Solidarity,
Karl Schneider
Membership Meeting