Membership Meeting Recap

by Scott Godshaw

The membership meetings were held on May 23, 2002 at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively at Monreal’s El Matador. Vice-President Colin Campbell presided over the 12:30 meeting and President Greg Gorecki presided over the 3:30 meeting.

Reports

Ross Winklbauer read the Trustee Report at both meetings.

Joe Chambers gave his Financial Secretary Report and stated there were 1543 members at Briggs and 444 members at Strattec for a total of 1987 members paying dues in April.

Communications

A "Thank You" letter from Adam Lubin, Milwaukee Area Labor Electoral Coalition Coordinator, regarding our help in the recent County Executive Election.

Membership approved purchasing 150 T-shirts for those participating in the Laborfest Labor Day March.

Membership approved maintaining our Time Study Consultant.

Reports of Officers

In the President’s Report, at Strattec, the Company has brought back their Timestudy Analyst to address special rates. The Company must give you one hour notice before timing you. We are looking for an EAP person from the Strattec ranks. The Company has informed the Union of the upcoming layoffs in Department 90 in July. The Hire Center will be coming in June to do a seminar in the Strattec cafeteria. A NAFTA petition will be written, timeline is key. Union met with Company regarding bumping similar jobs. Strattec is close to having an EVA payout. There are about 5 weeks left in the fiscal year. The final tally will be released at the end of July.

At Briggs, The Joint Board met with the Company on May 2nd regarding the same state of business. We gave arguments to try and keep the Model 9 until the EX engine would be ready to run in 2004. They said the decision was already made at the higher level and due to economics the decision could not be changed.

The Model 9 Assembly will move in December. The Red Line will move to the Green Line, as the Red Line will be sold to Generac. The 9H Fueltank and Blower Housing Cells will move to Auburn around the end of October. The Model 31 ELS Crankcell will move to Statesboro. The Steel E-Coat system will be discontinued and sold by the end of this fiscal year. The Slitter Operation will discontinue the Coating Line. The V-Twin Flywheel will be moved to Auburn in August. Flywheel Machining for Model 12 and 9H along with the Counterweights for the 28 will stay until the model is discontinued. The Micro-Engine Assembly was supposed to be at 250 a day but there have been some quality problems and soft orders, so production levels are a little skeptical at this time. The Outboard Marine engine is supposed to start with low volume in August. Generac will be using the northeast area for warehousing. The Company will be using our drivers. The EX engine is still earmarked for Milwaukee in July of 2004.

We questioned the Company about the Die Cast rumors. They had inquiries about selling the operation but nothing serious. We did again address the issue of getting the same pension deal that salary people received in December. The Company was not very receptive.

Also reported was the uncertainty of Summerfest tickets this year. Third Stage will be held June 6th, two discharges will be heard and a discussion regarding problems in Die Cast. Steward training will be held June 6th at Monreal’s.

You will be receiving a flyer from Wisconsin Vision, whose main business is done with Union members. The Union is also exploring options for our members who retire and need information on financial planning.

Mike Merrill reported on updates on the North End including the final days of the Model 19 & Model 40-42’s. Mike also reported on M-3, the Micro and Outboard engines, E-Coat being shut down and warehousing Generac parts.

Jesse Edwards reported on Die Cast, bringing some people back, a new part being cast, and due to safety issues a safety committee is being formed. Dept.188 will be adding a 2nd shift. M-3 will move 3rd shift to 2nd shift and vacation checks, for those not on pay as you go, will be given out June 19th.

Karl Schneider reported that the Company made the Union aware of people violating the Smoking Policy. If the policy is not followed, tobacco could be banned from the premises. Delphi has issued a zero tolerance for quality. We had a meeting with the Company regarding job elimination. The HIRE Center will be in the cafeteria in June. Two grievances are headed to arbitration and one is headed to 3rd stage.

Barb Schuller reported on MED South.

Tom Bishanell gave the Timestudy Report for 2001 and the first quarter of 2002.

Under new business, nominations were taken for the AFL-CIO Wisconsin State Convention.

A motion that was presented properly prior to the first meeting was voted down by membership. The motion was for Jesse Edwards to take a grievance to 2nd stage. The way the grievance was written there was no contract violation however, Jesse and Tom Bishanell continue to put pressure on the Company to have these jobs in Die Cast timed.

No discharged members were present.

The next meeting will be held at AMF Bowlero on June 20th at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively.