USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

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

Burleigh & Menomonee Falls Plants Grievance Rep Report

By Barb Schuller, Mike Merrill & Jesse Edwards

Die Cast management continues to hassle members

          For the past several months we, as a Union, have been trying to talk about and settle many issues and concerns in Die Cast. The “perception” of Die Cast to our members is of an area run by a management that is not concerned about its employees. Management cares only about the size of their EVA bonus.

          Issues such as chairs and its “perception of a non-professional image” does not “sit” well with our members. On May 22nd management again removed all chairs from Die Cast. We feel this is unfair to our members. They deserve chairs at their workstations to at least take the pressure off their feet for a few seconds in between shots.

          The past practice of allowing chairs in Die Cast did not stop the machines from running or from producing a quality part. We are persistent in pursuing this issue every chance we get. All our members are asking in Die Cast is to be able to get off their feet for a brief moment here and there, without having to go to break ares. This is especially important, since the Tender jobs are running at a piecework rate.

          July shutdown – It is our position that the posting of March 20, 2000 only posted mandatory for Department 173 and 187. The verbiage of “may have limited production” does not constitute mandatory. The purpose of the language requiring that any mandatory work planned for shutdown be posted prior to April 1st was not met by that posting. The Die Cast Management does not agree. We are pursuing this issue.

          There has been an ongoing problem in Department 189, Die Cast Trim, pertaining to excessive flash on parts to be trimmed. These are parts they receive from Die Cast. The concerns have been addressed to middle management by our members and their answer was deal with it or I’ll move the presses over to Die Cast and you won’t have a job. Intimidating tactics like this does not show management’s commitment of working with the people

          The Company talks about Employee Involvement in Die Cast, but until they take the concerns of our members seriously, this program will not succeed.

Service Division

          Department 472 called back 3 pieceworkers from voluntary layoff on May 30th, with 4 more returning on June 5th. The Union-Management Safety Committee meets on a regular basis. If there are any safety concerns in the Service Division, feel free to contact any member of the team. They are listed below:

Cindy Schreiner          Ext. 8036   

Steve Griffin                 Ext. 2510

Jason Prei                   Ext. 5598

 Derrick Stingley        Ext. 8420

Rich Ward                  Ext. 8552  

 Mike Merrill                Ext. 2196

Pay as you go vacation

          Pay as you go vacation – When using a back charge on a Monday for a Friday missed, your 8 hours will be paid on the following week’s check. This is because the vacation day is not entered until you call in the back charge on Monday.

MED South

          MED South is stable right now. No layoffs are planned. The combining of M7S located in MED North with Department 715 MED South should be completed tentatively September 7, 2000.

Plant 5

          On Monday, June 19th, the production level on the L5 assembly line is going from 750 to approximately 450/shift. A layoff of 26 or 27 total assemblers is expected. Voluntary will be posted. M5 machining will not be affected right now. If the production stays at the lower level, machining could be cut back in the future.

Pilot Area

          On Monday, June 19th, L1 Green Line is going back up on 1st shift and will be running at the 725 run rate. Members on voluntary layoff will be called back. M1 machining is currently running only on 1st shift. There is a possibility of another shift going back up in 3 to 4 weeks. The productivity reward bonus will be paid out June 14th. Currently, we do not have the figures of that bonus. A meeting with Dave Mauer is scheduled for June 12th.