UAW LOCAL 1050 UPDATE
8/3/15
Brothers
and Sisters of Local 1050,
It is with much regret
that the Bargaining Committee inform you all of the company’s newest tactic to
challenge our working conditions while clearly in the midst of an agreed upon
Collective Bargaining Agreement by unilaterally implementing a “B Schedule” for
Maintenance in Wheels to now work 52 weekends (Saturday & Sunday) each year as
part of their new weekly schedule.
On April 9, 2015 during
our then weekly Bargaining Committee meeting with the Alcoa Cleveland Works Lead
Team, we were handed a proposal titled “2015 Cleveland Alternative Work Schedule
for Skilled Trades B Crew.” This proposal wanted the Trades to work two 8 hour
shifts and two 12 hour shifts to cover every weekend throughout the year.
On April 14, 2015 the
Union responded to this proposal by disagreeing in part or full to any of the
company’s proposed alternative work schedule for Skilled Trades. In fact the
following is an excerpt of our response;
“The Union is unable to
agree in part or full to any of the company’s proposed Alternative Work Schedule
for Skilled Trades. The Union believes that our current Collective Bargaining
Agreement does not permit such a proposal without opening up our current agreed
upon Collective Bargaining Agreement along with our long standing past practice.
Ultimately, if there were opportunities for the Bargaining Committee to open up
the current contract, it would need membership approval. The Union believes that
the company can achieve the goals that you seek of operating 24/7 through
“Voluntary Overtime.” The company is now trying to get something from the
contract that was proposed in 2001, 2006 & 2012 contract negotiations that were
in all cases withdrawn by the company with regards to the Works Engineering
Overtime Agreement.”
On April 24, 2015 the
Union was sent an email of a second proposal that defined a new “B Schedule”
that would change the standard work week schedule from Monday thru Friday to
Wednesday thru Sunday as the standard schedule.
On April 30, 2015 the
Union once again responded but verbally at our Weekly Bargaining Committee
Meeting with the Lead Team of all the contractual language that would inhibit
such a schedule based on the current Labor Agreement.
On May 26, 2015 the
company responded to the Union’s contention of the contractual language that
would prohibit the company from implementing such a schedule. The company once
again stated that they believe they have to ability to bargain this change.
On June 1, 2015 the
company sent another letter stressing their intention of wanting to implement an
alternative work schedule for maintenance in wheels and that the “union has
failed to show justification that substantiates their position that the company
is prohibited from modifying the regular work schedule…”
On June 5, 2015 the Union
sent a “final response to the company once again trying to gain something mid
contract regarding Weekend Work in Skilled Trades that were proposed by the
company in prior contract negotiations with no success.” Once again the Union
cited Article IX Section 23,
Article X, W.E. Overtime Agreement #5, 7, 8, 26 & 28, Article XXIII Section 45 &
46, Local Letter page 224 that states in part; “During the Course of our 2006
contract negotiations, the parties discussed the need for employees in the Works
Engineering Department to provide advance notice of their intent to work
Saturday and/or Sunday so that the company may have enough time to properly
schedule its employees to perform planned and/or support maintenance
activities.” The Union also gave the company other options in order to achieve
their objective of covering every weekend that actually is within the confines
of the contract but weren’t even considered or attempted.
On July 28, 2015 the
Union was handed another letter from the company responding once again disputing
the contractual language that the Union stressed prohibits us from agreeing in
part or full of an Alternative Work Schedule. The company wrote in part; “As
such, the company feels that we have no other choice but to implement the new
work schedule beginning August 17, 2015.”
In response, the Union
immediately contacted the International Union and relayed the company’s new
strategy. We clearly disagree that this cannot happen mid contract without an
agreement as well as membership approval. The Local with the support of the
International Union will be having informational pickets at our gates in the
upcoming weeks. Please contact your Union Steward to volunteer to participate in
these informational pickets on public sidewalks in front of Alcoa. You have to
be on your own time. We have several volunteers at the moment but will certainly
need full support to let the public know that this company now wants to
unilaterally have the Trades work 52 weekends every year as part of their normal
schedule. This Local has had two work stoppages in a decade dating back in 1996
until 2006 because of mandatory weekends. We have fought long and hard to get
the time off with our families while at the same time providing for our
families. We have contract language that prohibits us from a work stoppage if an
issue can go through the grievance procedure and arbitration. If this did happen
it would be an illegal strike. Please try and keep a level head as we certainly
know what type of hardship this will put on those affected by this. How many
Managers would sign up for every weekend for their entire career going forward?
How many weddings or graduations happen on Mondays or Tuesdays? What about child
custody of your kid/kids that allow you to see them on weekends?
This is a blatant
violation of our contract. The effects of this business decision will no doubt
put undue hardship on many lives that this Local will not tolerate. We will do
everything within the confines of the Law as well as the contract. We will do
everything possible to not leave any stone unturned for justice in this case.
Please save your money because this company will stop at no end to repress this
Union and its rights.
And for the record…We
have not heard anything from the Arbitrator and do not have a date of when we
might. There are many rumors floating around out there and probably coming from
the ranks of Salary but there is nothing to report and no time table for when
this Break and Clean-up Remedy will be finally resolved and paid out.
In Solidarity,