USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

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

 


Home Up Briggs News Incumbents re-elected PACE Region X Women's Membership cuts reduce income Treasury decreased Production remains low at Briggs Strattec negotiations begin Strattec Security Corp Compassionate Conservatism 12th Annual Health West Allis Plant Grievance Rep Report Briggs Retiree Club March Membership Meeting Recap What Does Labor Want Where dues go

 

[ Home ] [ Briggs News ] [ Incumbents re-elected ] [ PACE Region X Women's ] [ Membership cuts reduce income Treasury decreased ] [ Production remains low at Briggs ] [ Strattec negotiations begin ] [ Strattec Security Corp ] [ Compassionate Conservatism ] [ 12th Annual Health ] [ West Allis Plant Grievance Rep Report ] [ Briggs Retiree Club ] [ March Membership Meeting Recap ] [ What Does Labor Want ] [ Where dues go ]

Strattec negotiations begin;

Briggs requests early negotiations

 President’s Report

by Greg Gorecki
President

 Briggs sent letter

          On March 29, 2001, Briggs & Stratton faxed a letter to the Union office citing Article XIV, Section 4 of our contract requesting our Local to join in good faith negotiations for a successor contract. Our Regional Representative Ernie Dex is in the process of setting up dates for the talks to begin.

          Negotiations will probably start the first week of June and we will set an agenda after the first meeting. The intention is to get a successor contract by August 1st of 2001. With our Regional Rep. involved with Strattec’s negotiations where  the Contract is expiring on May 31, 2001, we could run into delays. Also, with the shutdown scheduled for the weeks of July 16th through the 29th, we may have problems scheduling a ratification meeting that does not fall during the vacation shut-down. The Union plans to make every effort to comply with the conditions of the Contract without inconveniencing our members.

More layoffs

          On the production side, orders just seem to keep slowing down. What we are led to believe is that in June the Model 40/42 will drop production down to the 450 per day level. The best possible guess that we hear is things might start to pick up after the July shutdown. That is when L-5 should go back to at least 750/day and shortly after that the Micro engine should start full production.

Strattec negotiations begin

          Negotiations began on March 27th with the exchanging of proposals. The committees met the following day and explained the positions of their respective proposals. We are scheduled to meet April 3rd, 4th and 5th to work on contract language. Meeting dates have been scheduled until at least May 3rd. As soon as possible, prior to the ratification meeting, we will get a copy of the final proposal to our members.  The Bargaining Committee has set a tentative ratification date of May 20, 2001.

          With the exception of 4 pieceworkers, employment levels are almost back to normal. Considering there were almost 100 people on layoff, the business seemed to recover rather quickly, and that was good news for our members. The Company has even made mention that they might be looking to hire some people to possibly fill some daywork openings.

Unemployment Results

          It has been a long wait, but working with our attorney, and with assistance of some management at Briggs & Stratton, we were able to get some relief for our members that lost their unemployment because they reported their EVA check as earnings while they were laid off.

          After many discussions with Unemployment Compensation at the Madison office, we were able to reach a solution. The agreement was set in the following manner. If you get an EVA check at Briggs and are laid off, the check will apply to the 4th week of July’s earnings. You will be able to  learn from the personnel office if you will have an EVA check on the last Friday of shutdown if you are drawing unemployment that week.

          That means the check would apply to the same week that you are not eligible for Unemployment Compensation benefits because you have to claim your vacation for those 2 weeks. For our members that only get one week vacation, the vacation pay should be applied to the last week of shutdown.

Bittersweet Benefits

          If you did not return your cards to American Income Life (A.I.L.) last year, you will probably be getting another one in the mail shortly. Since I was elected only one year ago, A.I.L. has already issued five (5) $2,000 checks to the families of members for accidental deaths that have occurred in the past year.

          While it is unfortunate that we have had so many accidental deaths in the last year, it was certainly of some comfort and economic relief to the beneficiaries. A.I.L. deals mainly with Union members and their accidental death benefit that is given to our members and retirees is just one way of helping Union families. They also handle other types of insurance and their representatives are always friendly, courteous and not pushy. This is verified by the evaluation slips that the Union gets back from every member’s home that they visit. They also run a food pantry for needy families, so if they come to your house, be sure to donate some non-perishable canned goods.