USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

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

Micro Line — At the time we are writing this article, Oct. 3, 2002, the company informed us that the supplier used for the pistons no longer wants to supply us because they cannot meet the quality standards at the price quoted. Currently, we are sorting thru 60,000 pistons, the company thinks there are only going to be about 5,000 good ones. Purchasing is asking the current supplier to produce new pistons until they can find a new vendor. If this happens, they hope to start production again on October 21st. The run rate will be 125 per day with five operators and three dayworkers.

Dept. 206, Outboard Engine — Currently, they are building 33 a day, with 9 operators and 2 dayworkers. Parts will be moved to the new line around the end of October, with a run rate of 125 per day. This run rate will add an additional 13 new operators and 1 labor grade 13 dayworker. The company did tell us they are using the 18 month language for this department. The language they are using is Article VIII - Section 15 under Seniority, "Employees who choose or are assigned to a newly established department under the seniority provisions of this contract shall have departmental super seniority for eighteen (18) months from the date the first employees are assigned." The 18 month language started May 6, 2002 and will be in affect until November 6, 2003.

M3 — no changes

L1X — Green Line, Model 9 assembly is still scheduled to go down December 20th, 2002.

M7P — Tanks, will be going down October 18th, which will reduce the number of operators to three and set-up supervisors to two. Model 9 blowers will go down on November 2nd, at that time the department will be eliminated.

Paint Line (old E-Coat dept.) — With tanks being eliminated, they will reduce on October 27th. The dept. will go down to six labor grade 27's, one labor grade 21, two labor grade 16's and one labor grade 10.

M8 — They will be eliminating 3rd shift as of October 4th. The original Warn notice for that date would have affected five set-up, two supervisors, and six pieceworkers. The company held a meeting with the department October 2nd, thru transfers no pieceworkers will be eliminated, there still will be an elimination of 1 supervisor and 2 set-up.

Department 197 — The Company has gotten a 40% rate increase on the Lennox part retro active. This now becomes one of the most profitable parts produced in die cast.

Department 192 — A lot of our members are still being written up for one bad part in a load on the Beaver Tail. This has happened in spite of management’s stated intentions not to do so. We approached the company after their time study came back proving that the work content was too much for the tender to do in the time allotted. Fred Quilling stated "until they are able to improve the process no one will be written up."