USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

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

Membership Meeting 

Sunday December 7, 2008

Frank Monreal's El Matador

9155 W. Bluemound Rd. Milwaukee 

9:30a.m.

   Members are urged to Attend this Meeting.

by Scott Godshaw

            The membership meeting was held on April 27, 2003 at Monreal’s El Matador at 9:30 a.m. sharp.

            Ralph Schweiger read the Trustee report. Joe Chambers, in his Financial Sec/Treasurer Report stated there were1313 members at Briggs and 370 members at Strattec for a total of 1683 dues paying members in March. A motion was made and passed to accept the report as read.

COMMUNICATIONS

Worker’s Memorial Day, April 28th, a program will be held at Zeidler Union Square at 5 p.m. honoring those members that died on the job last year.

On May 4, 2003 a commemoration will be held for the Bay View Tragedy at the State Historical Marker Grounds.

National Association of Letter Carrier’s Annual Food Drive will be held on Saturday May 10, 2003. Volunteers are needed at the post office from 1-6 p.m. or at the Hunger Task Force from 1-5 p.m. or 5-9 p.m.

Wisconsin Labor History Society Conference will be held on Sat. May 17th at the Plumber’s Union Hall in Milwaukee. This year’s theme is The Building Trades: A Heritage of Struggle and Success. The fee is $20.00 and anyone attending will be reimbursed.

Executive Board recommended motions as follows:

REPORTS OF OFFICERS

            President Greg Gorecki reported on disturbing news from United Way, update on Die Cast at Briggs, W.A.R.N. notices, and attempts to schedule meetings with the Company. The meeting with the Service Division Management and attempts to change vacation was turned down by members. At Strattec, Gorecki reported on a declining relationship with management, settlement on a grievance prior to arbitration, problems in Service Division, upcoming mediation on May 20th on a grievance still awaiting a decision on an arbitration case that was heard in November of 2002.

            Mike Merrill reported on the Micro line, harassment meetings, respect your co-workers and giving a lot of credit to M-8 steward Raylonzo Woods for doing a fine job in handling a situation in his department.

            Karl Schneider reported on updates at Strattec, managers going to a more traditional relationship with the Union, grievances on management doing bargaining unit work, vacation scheduling and thanking the stewards for their hard work.

            Tom Bishanell gave his Time Study and Job Evaluation Report for both companies.

            Joe Chambers, under old business, read the by-laws to be discussed and voted on. The by-laws were read at the March membership meeting. An amendment to the by-law regarding vacancies was moved and with it the by-law passed. The by-law regarding per diem money also passed.

            Under new business, a member from Strattec wanted his grievance to go to arbitration but his motion did not pass. The grievance dealt with a 3-day discipline.

            Before adjournment, Vice-President John Nalepinski read a prepared statement honoring Greg Gorecki. Nalepinski then introduced retired Vice-President, Colin Campbell who gave a special presentation to retiring President Greg Gorecki. It was a plaque with Gorecki’s gavel on it.