Griev. Rep Report Briggs & Stratton Second Shift

Cutbacks & Problems

The employees in Dept. M8X were notified August 1, 2002 that 13 jobs would be permanently eliminated, effective October 1, 2002. That’s two Supervisors, five set-up, and six machine operators. Third shift would also be closed down.

Some of the employees in Die Cast wanted an active safety team, so the safety team was re-activated on July 17, 2002. I have sat in on some of these meetings, but right now we are waiting to see what actually gets done. There are nine people on the safety team, and if you have any safety concerns in the Die Cast division, please see these people on 2nd shift: Mike Griese, Leroy Kunke, James Hale, Sheila Putman and John Nalepinski. On first shift, please see Mike Hempe and Bill Dall. From the Company, we have Fred Quilling, the plant manager and Jason Prei, the head of safety for Die Cast.

I had a problem out at the Menomonee Falls plant where employees were being denied vacation days. After talking to the Company about this, they have recalled employees and started training them to fill vacancies so employees can take their hard earned vacation. This was a major problem, one reason being that it’s been a very hot summer and also the Menomonee Falls plant does not have a shutdown. Hopefully after talking with the manager this won’t happen again.

S&A Benefits Increase

Effective August 1, 2002 your S/A benefits went up to $305.00 per week. To be eligible, you must be totally disabled from work. With less than five years seniority you get a maximum of 26 weeks. If you are still disabled after 26 weeks, then you may be eligible for Social Security (SSI) benefits. Your benefits are payable beginning with the first day of disability due to an accident, and beginning on the eighth day because of a disease. Benefits are payable beginning with the first day you are confined in a hospital for 24 hours. Benefits will also be paid beginning with the first day for any disability resulting from surgery.

If you are released to go back to work with restrictions you have to go get reinstated. If Briggs does not have a job that's compatible with your restriction, you will be placed on layoff with limitations, and at this point you should file for unemployment compensation. If you are denied unemployment because of the 15% labor market rule then you will be considered totally disabled from work. Therefore, you could collect again collect S&A benefits. This is a NEW change in the contract. Before if you had a restriction and the Company didn't have a job for you and you couldn't perform 15% of the jobs in the labor market, then you were out with nothing. So with this change, you could collect S&A

Laborfest a Success !

I was encouraged by all the members, family and friends who attended LaborFest this year. This gives us a chance to show the Company and the world, the union is here to stay. "Together we stand, and divided we fall."

In solidarity,

Jesse Edwards