Grievance
Rep Report
Briggs
& Stratton
First
& Third Shifts
|
by Barb Schuller & Mike Merrill 
MED North
L5 Assembly Line - It's plans are still April 26th for the
last production, but it could extend into May. M5 machining will stay up a
couple of weeks past assembly to run service parts.
L1X Model 19 - The Green Line is going up in production
from a 200 run rate to 500 on April 8th, which will bring back an additional 13
assemblers for 4 to 6 weeks - at that time the line will go down and production
will cease.
M1 Machining - It will bring back 5 pieceworkers on April
1st due to the increased production for the Model 19 engine assembly.
The Micro Line - It's expected to go up April 8th with a
200 run rate which will bring an additional 9 assemblers back.
Model 9 Line - Due to an increase in orders, it will be
going on 9 hours April 8th plus some Saturdays, which could possibly bring some
overtime to M3.
M8 - It will increase by 8 operators and 1 set-up on
Monday, March 25.
All this information is subject to change.
MED South
At this time of the article, according to management, there
is no change in the current production levels.
Die Cast
We are trying to address the Company with numerous issues
that our members feel are not being addressed - from long running jobs for
machine tenders - to the challenge of making all the quality checks that change
on a daily basis while the machines run at top speed.
Three of the newest Die Cast machines from the 1200 Ton
area will be going to Statesboro, and one machine either from 600 or 900 Ton
will be going to another small engine plant in the South.
"Where's the Commitment to Milwaukee?"
Menomonee Falls
The Company has informed us of their seasonal layoff to
start sometime in April. The breakdown of whom it will affect has not been
determined as yet.
Model 9 decision
We both would like to comment on the Company's decision to
move the Model 9 Line down to Auburn. The Bargaining Unit, our members on the
shop floor, and some management people worked hard to bring that engine line
back to Milwaukee. Our members took an
extension and concessions. We worked hard to improve the quality of the engine,
which was the reason it was brought back to our facility. Our members'
commitment to quality has been proven with very few warrantee claims as compared
to what it was when it was built in Auburn. When the Company brought that line
back, it was going to be a viable engine for Milwaukee until 2006.
What's employee involvement - our members got involved,
took cost out of the engine, improved quality, and the thanks our members get
from the Company is that they move our jobs. Again, where is the commitment to
Milwaukee? It's just another slap in the face to our dedicated members of Local
7-232.
In Solidarity,
Barb and Mike
Membership Meeting