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United Aerospace
Workers |
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Revised
Brothers and Sisters, As you know, on Tuesday, 11-04-2008, we were able to avoid mass layoffs of our members by reaching an agreement with the Company to extend the three day work week until January 30, 2009. This comes after careful consideration of all options by the union leadership in Tulsa and McAlester and the Company. Details of the agreement have been posted on both in-plant union bulletin boards. I urge all members to read the agreement and ask questions if there is anything you don't understand. I want to take the opportunity to give a little history of our local. Many members have suffered layoffs on more than one occasion during their career in aircraft here. I am one of those members, having been laid off three times since being hired in 1979. My first layoff occurred after only six months of employment by our former Company, Rockwell International. Especially those those of you hired in the '70's and '80's remember those revolving door days well. But, we suffered through it and those of us who believed the job was worth coming back to, accepted recall when the Company called us back once new work became available. On all of those occasions, there was no option, NO WAY to avoid a layoff. Even though many times I remember the union leadership and the membership fighting with the management in vain attempts to dissuade the Company from sending us home. And I also remember being teased by the "old timers"; the real old timers who helped organize this union, They told us that we hadn't "paid our dues" until we had been laid off a few times. That we would come back a little stronger from layoff and a little less naive about the Company caring so much about us. The bottom line was a Company won't pay to produce what they can't sell, so out the door you go. We didn't like being teased much by the old timers, but we took it, because we respected them for the sacrifices we knew they had endured to establish this union and the good jobs with good benefits that came with it. Personally, I felt like we OWED them. We did owe them, for what they had done and what they continued to do for themselves and for us. They mentored us in our crafts at work, in how to act as a union member and just in life in general. Some of the best friends I have ever had were those old timers. If we showed the slightest initiative or interest they would show you anything, teach you anything. They were good people. Many are retired now. Many have gone on from this world. I miss them. I miss their guidance. I miss the camaraderie. I just miss them. Now, we OWE it to them, to take what they did for us and do something with it. To continue what they started and to honor it. To honor them. We can START by honoring each other. To respect each other as Brothers and Sisters of this Local. I know some of you think it sounds corny when I call you brother or sister. I DON'T CARE IF IT SOUNDS CORNY. Because, if we truly treat each other as brothers and sisters should, we will become stronger, closer, more productive and more prosperous as a union body. Brothers and Sisters care about each other, are upset when one of their own is treated badly by another and are not so selfish that they only think about them selves. As union members, we are a brotherhood with a common goal to bargain collectively with the Company for a fair and equitable contract for all members. We didn't get to where we are today, overnight. Collective bargaining is an ongoing process that never ends. We can never stop, never quit, trying to improve our contract. We all have a stake. This time, unlike the old times of revolving door layoffs, was different. We weren't losing a work contract, there was no cancellation of a bomber contract by the government, and we didn't finish up a program. IAM Machinist union brothers and sisters went on strike to improve their lot in life, and to protect each others jobs. Think about that for a moment. 27,000 IAM Machinists struck to save a minority of their union brothers and sisters jobs, among other things. That wasn't greed. That was compassion. That took guts. They struck solid for 57 days and helped each other. And guess what? They helped us too. If you don't get what that means...ask an old timer. Ask your union committeeperson. They'll know. So, this time we had an opportunity to avoid a layoff, much like we did in 2005. We knew there would be those who would be upset no matter which way we went, extend three day work week or layoff. But think about what those 27,000 strikers did for each other. Senior members, think about what the charter members of our local union did for us. And you Junior members think about what has been done in the past, to give you the opportunity you have now. And what the Senior members are giving up for you now, so that you don't have to be laid off. It's hard, but it was the right thing to do. And we will get through it. So if you're one that has been gloating and pouring salt in the wound of those that are not happy with this situation; I'm talking to you...STOP IT. It's conduct unbecoming a good union member. If you can't be kind. Then please just be quiet and treat one another with respect. We are ALL SPECIAL in this local. Not just the Senior members. Not just the Junior members. We are all brothers and sisters. ACT like it. In Solidarity, Mike
Updated
To all Brothers and
Sisters,
In Solidarity,
Updated
For the latest updates on the IAM Strike
at Boeing, go to:
10-17-2008
I encourage all our members to read the 10-15-2008 update at the IAM website above. There is a letter to the IAM Membership which clearly explains their plight. They are fighting for the jobs and the livelihood of their Brothers and Sisters and deserve our support. It also clearly outlines why unions, the leadership, the membership, EVERY MEMBER, has a responsibility to remain constantly vigilant and militant in protecting work of any Classification belonging to the bargaining unit. In other words... Work that we normally perform...is our work! We must protect, it or risk losing it. Don't be lulled into a false sense of security by those that do not represent your interests! The job you save may be a Brothers, or a Sisters, or your own. In Solidarity, Mike
COLA INCREASE DUE IN OCTOBER Effective October 17, 2008, there will be an increase in the Cost Of Living Allowance or COLA, of $0.31 per hour. This will increase our current COLA float, from $1.71 to $2.02 per hour. The next COLA adjustment, if any, will be in January of 2009. SHORT WORK WEEK: The Company and Union Continue to discuss the issue of Short Work Weeks and are working toward an agreement that best serves the members of Local Unions 952 in Tulsa and 1558 in McAlester. If we are to succeed, we must reach an agreement with the Company that addresses the needs of the members, AND, is in compliance with our Collective Bargaining Agreement. FACT - As of this date, 10-10-2008, no FINAL AGREEMENT has been reached. FACT - An INTERIM AGREEMENT was reached, late Wednesday afternoon to extend the previous Short Work Week provisions only through Tuesday, October 14, 2008. We are scheduled to resume discussions over the issue, again that morning. FACT - ANYONE who informs you a final agreement on the issue has been reached is mistaken and needs to do something else to occupy their time, rather than misinform our members and all the employees at our plant. FACT - ANYONE who informs you that the Company wants to retain everyone, but the UNION wants to see a layoff of the low Seniority employees OR any Member, for that matter, has impure motives, a hidden agenda not in your best interests, and is SADLY mistaken, FIRST about what the UNION IS and SECONDLY, obviously, doesn't have a clue about what the UNION wants. FACT - The UNION consists of the Membership Body as a whole. Each union member has his or her own opinion as to what they would like to see happen and they are entitled to their own opinion. So YOU, the MEMBERSHIP, ARE THE UNION. OPINION - Personally, I would prefer we could all come together as Brothers and Sisters of our union and be of one mind on the issue, in accordance with the Contract. FACT - As for the LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION, we are not the UNION, but we REPRESENT the UNION BODY, the MEMBERSHIP, as a whole, and we can assure you, that we do not want to see anyone laid off, but we work in Aircraft, and unfortunately, if you look at the history of our business, it is a fact of life and we all should do our best to prepare for the possibility. OPINION - IF, there were to be a layoff, we believe it would be very short lived, as history has also shown us, layoffs due to our customers labor disputes have been much more forgiving than business contract completions or cancellations that have had long lasting negative effects on our business. FACT - The unfortunate situation we currently find ourselves in, was not caused by Spirit AeroSystems, or the Leadership of Locals 952 or 1558. We do not want to misinform and confuse. These are stressful and uncertain times for all of us and spreading false rumors and in some cases, outright lies, helps no one. As we have more FACTS to report, we will post updates either here on the web, or on our in-plant Union Bulletin Boards, asap. Please, take care of each other as Brothers and Sisters and bear with us as we work through these issues. In Solidarity, MIke.
Updated
Union Representation - Don't Go Without it! As union members, we are very fortunate to have so many rights and benefits. Rights and benefits that non-union workers can only dream about. What we have as union members can truly be counted as blessings; blessings that we shouldn't forget to count. You may not know that, Our Local, UAW Local 1558, is 39 years old this year and we've progressed a long way and we've come through a lot together. So, having, and getting used to having, so much, can sometimes cause us to be complacent and we may tend to take things for granted. I guess that's the human nature in all of us. But there is one thing we should never be complacent about and never take for granted...your right to union representation! This right was too hard fought and there is just too much at stake, possibly your job; to ever forget it or take it for granted! I can't stress enough... NEVER, and I mean NEVER go unrepresented to any disciplinary or investigatory proceeding with the Company. YOU HAVE THE ABSOLUTE RIGHT TO REQUEST YOUR UNION REPRESENTATIVE BE PRESENT TO REPRESENT YOU, PRIOR TO THE START OF THESE TYPE MEETINGS. Many times in the past UAW Local 1558 members have had their discipline either rescinded or reduced, as a benefit of having their elected union representative present at disciplinary or discharge meetings. On the other hand, we have also lost members, who chose not to have their representative present; or chose not to grieve initial discipline, only later to regret it, when the Company's disciplinary progression increased to discharge! DON'T BECOME A STATISTIC FOR ME OR SOME FUTURE CHAIRPERSON TO WRITE ABOUT... TO FUTURE MEMBERS! As union members, there are a few basics we all need to do CONTINUOUSLY:
WHY? Because:
As I said earlier, we've been through a lot in the past 39 years and whatever we've done, we've done it together, from the original charter members of this local to all the past members that have come and gone over the years...all have given their contribution, their little piece, to build this union. But it's an ongoing process that never ends and we all need to keep giving our little pieces of thought, time and effort to continue to build this local for ours and our childrens future! Mike
Updated
NO COLA CHANGE DUE IN OCTOBER There will be no increase in the Cost Of Living Allowance or COLA for October 2007. According to CPI Index, located at www.bls.gov , there was an increase, but not enough to meet our contractual threshold for an increase in cents per hour. Our COLA float will remain at $1.41 per hour, at least until the next COLA adjustment, due in January of 2008.
Updated It won't be long before we're in Contract Negotiations, so it's not too early to start thinking of the changes you want made to the agreement and to begin planning for negotiations. The best planning involves having your finances in order, by saving money and debt reduction. It can be done, but it's harder to be militant and stand up for yourselves and your families livelihood if you're broke. The more sound we are as a body financially, the stronger we are as a union body, It's as simple as that. Don't wait until we are actually in the negotiations process to put something back; be prepared...START NOW!
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