IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 PIECEWORK NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE Friday, May 30 2014 The Company and Union met again on Thursday, May 29 2014. The Company rejected Local 201’s proposal for a permanent red circle stating that the union’s proposal does not address the need to reduce shop rate, improve competitiveness or allow for the rebalancing of labor with Lynn. The Union disagreed with the Company’s assessment of our proposal stating the Union proposal would do all of the above, especially if the Company began immediate hiring (following an agreement) of members into Plant IV on daywork rated jobs and brought in large amounts farmed out work. The Union pointed out that acceptance of the Union’s proposed permanent red circle would “greatly simplify” these negotiations. Such acceptance would close out the “compensation” part of the package and allow the parties to concentrate the negotiations on just the job security provisions. The company continued to reject the permanent red circle and presented an adjusted proposal that increased the incentive payment for pieceworkers (age 60 and over) wishing to retire and for pieceworkers staying and transitioning to day work rate at the end of June 2014. The Company proposal continued to provide SERO and SERO 30 opportunities for most pieceworkers under age 60. The company increased their commitments on the number of immediate Plant IV day work postings from 30 to 50 Business Agent Ric Casilli told the Company their proposal did not come close to meeting the needs of our pieceworkers or come close to meeting the needs of our members’ plantwide. Specifically, the Company’s retirement package offer (for those 60 and over) was lower than that even offered in last November 2013’s VRIP that these members did not take. In addition, there is no pension update included and many members will wait to the next Contract for such to hopefully occur. In regards to those under 60 being offered SER0 or SERO 30, there is no bonus, buyout or pension update at all attached to the Company offer. And for those staying and moving to daywork, the bonus being offered is extremely low compared to other past piecework buyout offer agreements that have occurred at the River Works plant. Again, there is no pension update for these individuals. The Union also felt the commitment on jobs, investment and work was very weak, especially after questioning the Company’s provisions in their proposal on these issues. The Union stated that the Company proposal would not come near to the Company’s desire for 50-70 retirements to come out of Plant IV and said we believe you would be lucky to get a handful of retirements under your proposal and be left with a whole lot of disgruntled ex-pieceworkers working in the plant The Union stated we wish you would reconsider your rejection of our simple permanent red circle proposal and if you do let us know. Local 201 then stated to the Company that the Union will give you next Monday a full (now way more complicated) Local 201 counter proposal that will address the major shortcomings in your proposal in the areas of red circling, buyout bonuses, pension protection, and job security. The next meeting with the Company is scheduled for 3:30PM Monday, June 2, 2014.
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 18:28:39 +0000
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