Jun 3, 2020 | LL S6 Leadership Alerts, Negotiations
Brothers and Sisters,
This is a friendly update to some of our senior members. We currently have roughly 1269 members who would be eligible to apply for your Union Pension without a reduction in benefits prior to December of 2021. Many of our members would probably prefer to work to full retirement in lieu of leaving before 2021. As we are halfway through negotiations, your elected negotiating committee believes that each member of this group should reassess their future plans to make an informed decision that best suits you and your family. 7 out of 8 members of this committee happen to fall into this category. We all have a new perspective on our future. The Company will not survive with their plans for the future. We have continued to fail as a Shipyard as a result of decisions made by disconnected engineers. We do not want members to plan for a future at BIW that will not exist. If this group waits beyond 2021 and something happens at BIW prior to their full retirement age they will take a significant financial loss. All 8 committee members are concerned with BIWs future. Fortunately, 7 of us can reassess and make an informed decision prior to 2021. We will all certainly do that based on what the Company has proposed. Please take the opportunity to reassess your future. We suggest that you complete your retirement paperwork to assure you are protected. Remember, if something changes after your paperwork has been submitted you can withdraw that paperwork up until your actual retirement date. Don’t allow managements horrendous decisions to financially impact you and your family.
In Solidarity, Local Lodge S6 Negotiating Committee
Chris Wiers Rock Grenier Ray Gauthier Rob Jacobs
Bill Barrows Marc Bubar Andy James Doug Hall
Jun 3, 2020 | LL S6 Leadership Alerts, Negotiations
YOUR SENIORITY IS UNDER ATTACK!!!
- Code 10 MOA- 8/28/2002
- Article 3 – Hardships; Company picks and chooses who gets one and who doesn’t
- Article 7- Loans; Company wants to select who goes on loan and who doesn’t regardless.
- Article 8- Apprentice two-year program; lower seniority by two years
- Article 10- Shift changes = move to off shifts/new hires
- Article 11- Pick who they want after crew
- Article 18- CTO Company can regulate
- Article 32- picking who goes up to 50 people
- Article 38- Transfer; Company can prevent you from going to a different trade regardless of seniority
- Article 44- Manning/Demanning; Company can move you between facilities as they wish
SENIORITY IS THE UNIONS SACRED COW. PLEASE PRESERVE IT!
Jun 2, 2020 | LL S6 Leadership Alerts, Negotiations
Brothers and Sisters,
The Company passed across Article 7; Classifications, in conjunction with the Classifications Task List.
The conception of this nightmare was drafted up by BIW’s Director of Trades Evan Gilman. The evident lack of true production knowledge presented itself as soon as we opened the packet. How this man still possesses employment at BIW after having access to arguably the most versatile contract in recent memory is staggering.
The Company is now wanting to increase the list of flexibility, stealing from almost every trade, all in an effort to reduce management responsibility.
Clearly, from the Unions perspective, there should be a job opening for the Director of Trades in the near future for lending a helping hand to Dirk and his band of engineers to cripple this shipyard.
Remember, Dirk Lesko is trying to follow in his father Newland Lesko’s footsteps who was involved in forcing the Union out of International Paper. Apparently, he’s trying to keep the family tradition alive. International Paper went on strike in 1987 and the rest is history.
We don’t want to be part of history; we want to be part of the future.
Company Proposed Article 7 Changes
- Long term loans are picked by management and will prefer senior qualified volunteers where business needs can accommodate (management decides)
- Loans longer than four weeks: non-volunteers may take a voluntary layoff in place of a loan (no unemployment)
- Notification can be sent to Local S6 up to one day late
- Loans may be between facilities
- No loans into a classification on involuntary layoff (voluntary no longer counts)
- The Company can loan into a classification with employees loaned out
- The Company can have long term loans out of a classification that is hiring
- Long term loans can begin on any day of the week
- Employees on loan are now eligible to be loaned
- Versatility is now for your entire trade not just for your job
- No limit on short term loans
All these updates that have been written and will continue to be written are by the committee and posted on our LS6 Facebook page. We appreciate all the members sharing and supporting us. More updates will come tomorrow….
In Solidarity, Local Lodge S6 Negotiating Committee
Jun 2, 2020 | iMail
A new era in manned space flight began after last week’s successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon from the historic Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, FL. For the first time in almost a decade, American astronauts launched from American soil in an American spacecraft. The Machinists of Local 2061 played a large part in making this a reality and couldn’t have been prouder when lift off took place on Saturday, March 30, 2020 and once again, the IAM became a part of space history.
“Without a doubt, the machinist members of 2061 are so proud and excited to be part of this launch, as we have since the beginning,” said Ed Grabowski, President of Local 2061 which has nearly 600 machinist members who support the space program. “Our local has supported every manned space flight until now and this just takes it to another level. We are excited for the future and you can bet Local 2061 will continue to be here for the duration of manned spaceflight.”
“There is no better group than the Machinists to put Americans safely back in orbit. Our members have left their mark on NASA and space exploration since the 1950s and continue to do so today. These strong union jobs have helped to create a community of expertise rarely found. It is an honor to see the men and women of our union helping to once again write the history of our space program,” said Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace.
“Thousands of IAM members have proudly dedicated their talent and skill to helping our space program push the boundaries of exploration,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “We are honored to a part of this latest milestone, and look forward to many more in the years and decades to come.”
Coined NASA’s SpaceX Demo-2, this mission is an end to end test flight of a new transportation system manned by NASA astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley. The goal is for this to be a major step in the right direction for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.
“This is a new opportunity for a new future in the space industry. And the best part is that it’s happening right here, on American soil, in our county, creating and supporting good machinist jobs that help this community,” explains Grabowski.
From life support technicians to fuel handlers to machine shop workers, the expertise of the Machinists can be found at almost every level of this mission. It makes sense since IAM members have been assisting in the success of this country’s space program since its beginning.
“To paraphrase one of the most notable astronauts in history, this is just another giant step for mankind in opening gateways to bigger things, such as extensive exploration of the Moon and Mars. It is a momentous point of pride with our members. This launch puts the U.S.A. back on the map when it comes to the space industry,” said IAM District 166 Assistant Directing Business Representative Kevin DiMeco.
Although it has been a much more muted affair happening in this new world of social distancing and COVID-19, when the countdown clock reached its destination and a successful launch was had, IAM members were proud.
“I’ve got about thirty years working for the space program and let me say, there’s something special about manned space flights. There’s just no equal to the way it pumps you up, the excitement it brings,” said Grabowski.
With a successful docking to the International Space Station and safe return back to Earth, this mission will ensure that SpaceX’s transportation system can be used for regular crew flights in the future. A future that promises to involve the hearts and hands of IAM members along the Space Coast.
The post Making Space History Again appeared first on IAMAW.
Jun 2, 2020 | iMail
The IAM and NFFE-IAM Federal District 1 have joined with nearly two dozen other unions of the Federal Workers Alliance (FWA) to send a letter to the White House demanding workplace safety for the more than 300,000 civil service professionals they represent.
The letter details specific procedures and accommodations to be implemented by qualified public health professionals before worksites can be deemed “safe to return.”
Considerations for employees more susceptible to COVID-19, ensuring appropriate PPE, enhanced sanitizing for common or shared work areas and administrative leave for anyone who suspect they have been exposed to the virus are among the demands listed.
“The safety of federal workers directly impacts the safety of all Americans,” the unions wrote in the letter. “We hope you recognize that it is paramount that workers be protected while performing their duties. We must insist that you take these reasonable actions to ensure their safety. Anything less will put hundreds of thousands of dedicated federal employees, their families, and the Americans they serve, in unnecessary danger.”
The post Machinists, NFFE-IAM Demand Safety for Federal Workers appeared first on IAMAW.
