Griev. Rep Report Briggs & Stratton

1st & 3rd Shifts

By Mike Merrill & Barb Schuller

MED SOUTH- PRODUCTION AS USUAL

In the coil department, the stator rates are under fire again from the company timestudy department. Tom has been diligently working on the grievance to come up with a fair and equitable rate.

Department 780 will go to a three shift operation 2-17-03. They will be moving three set-up people from the other shifts.

Department 715/238 will reduce by three pieceworkers because of the automation of the rocker arm assembly.

Department 243 is currently running three shifts on the rack plater. That part of the department is running at capacity.

DIE CAST

We continue to have concerns regarding the Beaver Tail job in dept. 192. The company timestudy department studied the job. Their study showed the job running at a rate that cannot be done by one person, yet the company continues to insist that this can be done. They placed a slider on the job, which does not work, because of the extensive flash on the part. Besides the flash, there is the trimming, filing, inspection and packing. It’s a little overwhelming even for the most experienced operators.

The company posted voluntary layoff notice for four tenders as they achieve their desired staffing of set-up people. Three of these layoffs were taken by volunteers. This cutback is due to the company getting more set-up A people in place to do relief. The staffing intention of the company was to have ten set-up A’s on each shift. Currently there are nine on first and third shifts and ten on second shift. The tender relief position was temporary until the set-up people were in place. First and third shifts have retained one relief person until the tenth set-up A is in place.

Everyone in Die Cast was given some information on plant or department evacuation methods. When the company tells you to leave the area, please leave for your own safety.

MED NORTH

Micro Line – At the time of this writing, the prospective customer is LA Equipment. The company is hoping to get a contract signed soon with them. If that happens, production could possibly start up in March. As of now we do not know what the production rate or run will be.

M-3 – The Company posted a voluntary layoff because they are ahead of the production schedule. The posting is for two set-up people and five operators.

M-8 – The Company is extending the 60-day layoff notice. It was originally to take effect March 2nd. The original notice was for nine set-up, ten operators, one labor grade. 20. The layoff will take place approx. April 15th. As always, this plan is subject to change.

Menomonee Falls – There are a lot of new people that came in the warehouse side because of retirements. We have a lot of issues with training procedures and the new daywork standards the company has put in place. We are currently trying to address them with management.

Workers Comp — When our members report a workers comp. injury, there are multiple forms to be fill out. One of the forms in the packet is a “Voluntary and Informed Consent for Disclosure of Health Care Information”. Read that form carefully. It states on the form you are not required to sign this. Under the workers comp. law, the company has the right to medical information regarding your injury only..

In Solidarity

Mike and Barb