The layoffs that started in early July and continue today have taken a toll on all of our members. Some have never experienced any layoffs at Strattec while others have only experienced these types of layoff as an employee of Briggs & Stratton.

Since spin-off, we have done nothing but grow, 147 members to be exact. I am not saying things haven’t gotten slow. There was the GM work stoppage in 1998 that resulted in temporary layoffs and the economy downturn in 2001 that had displaced 110 members, some as voluntary and others as involuntary. We always seemed to rebound so much so that all 110 members were called back to work in 2001 and the company hired 8 more members in that same year.

But oh, how the times have changed!

The current layoffs are intended to be permanent. As members wait and wonder if or when they will become the next person to bump or get bumped or worse permanently displaced the morale continues to erode.

I know personally this is a very difficult time because I have bumped and gotten bumped in the 25 years I have been a member of this local. Just remember if you get bumped by someone the company took their job and they are just following the contract.

As of this writing we have 19 members on layoff, some of them are off under the six week language, others are off with restrictions, and the rest do not have enough seniority to get back in.

We had a third stage meeting with the company on September 4th. The grievance that was heard is the policy grievance I wrote on behalf of the toolmakers. The union feels the company is violating departmental layoff language. This actually started as three policy grievances in Dept. 51. I was able to get a settlement on the first grievance and the company has agreed to make our members whole. As of this writing, I have not received an answer from the company on the remaining grievances.

After the meeting ended we took the opportunity to raise some of our issues like job elimination versus lack of work, severance offers, and training to name a few. We are waiting for the company to respond.

Lately the hardest thing has been trying to figure out the direction the company is taking. As an example, one minute we are in a bitter dispute over the meaning of "similar," the next we are working together in a joint effort to commemorate the terrorist attacks on our Nation.

I ask that we stand together and put your faith in your Bargaining Committee and if you are having problems talk to your Steward.

In Solidarity,