Negotiations Update: 8/8/20 Tentative Agreement

Leadership Alert

First and foremost, Local S6 was very apprehensive about entering the federal mediation process. President Donald Trump appointed Director of FMCS Richard Giacolone and Commissioner Martin Callaghan to run the mediation process. They proved to be valuable tools in pushing both parties to move in the right direction and get our members off the picket lines and back to work. General Dynamics Executive Vice President Robert Smith was present for the entire process, alongside Bath Iron Works President Dirk Lesko, which allowed Local S6 to engage in valuable dialogue.

This process was emotional, difficult, and frustrating for both parties. Being able to reach a tentative agreement to bring back to our membership that keeps our subcontracting language unchanged, continues to protect seniority, and attain a modest economic package is what we were able to do.

We believe this agreement gives BIW the tools they need to have, and the ability to respond to the unpredictability of their day to day needs. This was a testament to the power of collective bargaining and a strong educated unit that backed the Local S6 Negotiating Committee. Solidarity, hard work, and dedication gave us the ability to push forward in a seemingly unwinnable fight. We are proud of our members who stood strong.

The Local S6 Negotiating Committee unanimously endorses this proposal to bring back to the membership for a vote. Bath Iron Works is printing copies of the proposal and will be mailing it out ASAP, allowing everyone to read it and ask questions so you can accurately vote.

Local S6 would like to give a special thank you to IAMAW International President Robert Martinez Jr, General Vice President Bryan Bryant, and their staff, for the immense amount of support and effort given to Local S6 during this challenging process.

We will be using Ballot Point to vote once again. Everyone will be sent a new PIN number. We will provide the information as soon as it’s available. The Company and Union are finalizing details about the process for returning to work following the ratification vote, details of which will be released in the next coming days.

 

The following is a comparison from the Last Best Final = (LBF) and the new tentative agreement.

Article 3 Roles and Responsibilities

  • We will be jointly developing merit raise criteria.

Article 7 Classifications

  • The versatility language will stand at for your job only, the LBF would have expanded it to your entire trade, the only task added was, for any classification that had safe use of come-alongs- it has now added: “including straps and attachments.”
  • Short Term Loans: The company wanted to go to unlimited occurrence (LBF), in the prior contract they had the ability to do roughly 1000 per year if fully utilized. The new language allows for 300 per year, with language that assures no more than 10 consecutive days for an employee.
  • Long Term Loans: Were proposed to be done with minimal responsibility for consideration of seniority. They will now be done by seniority unless skill and ability is necessary. The Union will be involved in any of these types of decisions, if the parties can not reach an agreement, FMCS will assist the parties in reaching a resolution.

Article 10 Shift Changes

  • Shift Changes are still seniority-based, after the first 6 months of employment.

Article 11 Overtime

  • The OT selection criteria went back to previous language and now continues to protect seniority. The polling/assignment process is being modified so that everyone is asked on Wednesday and then assignments start on Thursday.
  • Missed OT will still be a no-fault and not a PB as proposed in the (LBF).
  • Canceling for OT will still be allowed through a hotline (LBF stopped any cancellations).

Article 18 Compensated Time Off

  • The Company got off the scheduling of all vacation for four classifications, it is now C70, S18, Y02 only for Fridays, notice must be Thursday by lunch. There will be allowed up to 5 times per year as an exception. The three classifications will be compensated $2.00/hr for any Fridays that they work.

Article 19 Compensation

  • Compensation matches the previous offer, 3%, 3%, 3% and $1,200 ratification bonus.
  • There will be retro pay for any hours worked May 17th– June 21st.
  • Consistent with the LBF the MO3’s get a raise for the first time in 12 years!

Article 21 Employee Benefits

  • There is a reduction in all the plans from the (LBF) in weekly contributions.
  • Previously there was an annual 5% increase in cost. That is now 4%, 3%, 3%.
  • The increase in prescriptions has also been reduced.

 Article 30 Subcontracting

  • WE WERE ABLE TO MAINTAIN THE CURRENT CONTRACT LANGUAGE.
  • An MOA was agreed to that allows for a temporary catchup phase though the end of the year, subcontracting will be phased out at the end of the year and we return to the prior language. As part of this agreement, Christmas shutdown will be a work week with code 14 options, OT will be offered to 25% of any classification with subcontractors in here, BIW will hire at a 2:1 ratio for any sub.
  • NO LAYOFF CLAUSE for 2020.
  • Hiring requisitions will go back to Grade 1-9.
  • There is a commitment to form a joint Union/Company committee to help get Bath Iron Works back on schedule, secure our future, and meet weekly to collectively move forward.

Article 31 Special Events

  • Improvement was made to the vague language in the LBF.

Article 32 At Sea Assignments

  • Seniority was protected, there will be no handpicking of 30 riders.
  • The Union will assist in identifying the correct people.

Article 38 Transfers/ Job Opening Process

  • The LBF required trade superintendent approval to transfer between departments. The new language only requires that you have at least one year in your current department.
  • The company can hold you back on a transfer for up to 120 days but will compensate you $4.00/hr if they do after the first 15 days.

Article 39 Joint Agreement Process

  • The timeframes have been streamlined to help with expediting issues.

Article 43 Supervisor Regression

  • Under Supervisor regression, Backup Supervisors were brought back at a rate of $5.00/hr.

Article 44 Manning/Demanning

  • Manning/Demanning was proposed to be done with minimal responsibility for consideration of seniority. They will now be done by seniority unless skill and ability is necessary.
  • The Union will be involved in any of these types of decisions.
  • If the parties cannot reach an agreement, FMCS will assist the parties in reaching a resolution.

Article 49 Attendance At Work

  • In the LBF the requirement was to call in prior to shift. You now have up to 1 hour into your shift.

Article 50 Rules of Conduct

  • IS the same as LBF, but now has the old no-fault language back in it.
  • PLEASE NOTE: DISCIPLINE DID NOT GO AWAY; the Company was steadfast on this issue.

Article 51 Duration of Agreement

  • The duration of the contract is 3 years August 24, 2020 -August 20, 2023.

Schedule B Hours of Work

  • The TA is the same as the LBF, all facilities will be on the same hours starting January 4, 2021.

Schedule C Weekend Overtime Hours

  • The TA is the same as the LBF, all facilities will be on the same hours starting January 4, 2021.

Schedule D Subcontracting Standing List

  • We were able to remove, fuel deliveries, machinery breakdown language and define tree cutting, from the LBF.

TASK LISTS

  • Made several improvements to the proposed LBF task list, including keeping temp vent in T04, maintaining the prior split of work on TTS beams, kept weight test with C70’s etc.

Tell BIW to Return Maine IAM Local S6 Shipbuilders Back to Work

More than 4,300 shipbuilders of IAM Local S6 are on strike at Bath Iron Works (BIW), in what is currently the largest strike in the United States. The shipbuilders have been on strike for more than seven weeks to preserve good Maine jobs. Thanks to pressure from the IAM and elected officials, the company has returned to the bargaining table.

Sign the petition for a fair contract.

Progress is being made but we must keep up our support for these members.

Please join us in telling BIW CEO Dirk Lesko to get the best shipbuilders in the world back to work so they can provide the U.S. Navy with the best destroyers in the world.

Sign the petition now.

The post Tell BIW to Return Maine IAM Local S6 Shipbuilders Back to Work appeared first on IAMAW.

No, Companies are Not Coming Back to the U.S. After Years of Offshoring

According to the Economic Policy Institute, the U.S. lost over 700,000 jobs to China in the first two years of the current administration, and more than 3.7 million jobs over the past several years. The administration would like you to believe that trend is changing and companies are bringing jobs back, but that simply isn’t true.

A policy paper penned by Owen Herrnstadt, the IAM’s Chief of Staff to the International President and Director of Trade and Globalization, explains why the current trade and manufacturing policy isn’t bringing good paying jobs back to our country.

The white paper explains how the lack of a comprehensive plan has failed to bring the jobs home and how the Biden Plan, while not perfect, is a strong start to rebuilding the U.S. manufacturing industry.

Read the policy paper here.

The post No, Companies are Not Coming Back to the U.S. After Years of Offshoring appeared first on IAMAW.

Negotiations Update: 8/6/20

Brothers and Sisters,

Negotiations Update: Day 3 of Mediation

Another long night at the bargaining table resulted in some additional movement by both parties. There were three additional articles TA’d (tentative agreement) resulting in a total of eight since the beginning of the mediation process.

The FMCS mediation seems to be a decisive influence, resulting in one of our main issues coming to a positive outcome.

The Negotiating Committee understands that it is very frustrating for our brothers and sisters to receive vague information. However, in following the FMCS mediation guidelines, that’s all the Negotiating Committee is at liberty to say. We plan to provide a fully comprehensive report, as soon as possible, in keeping with those guidelines.

The Union Negotiating Committee is hopeful that the forward progress between the parties will continue, resulting in a fair contract, and bringing all of our members back to work.

This is an incredibly frustrating, challenging, and emotional process. We recognize the future of over 4400 of our brothers and sisters is in the balance. Our committee is dedicated to a resolution that benefits all.

United We’re One. Divided We’re Done.

In Solidarity,

Local S6 Negotiating Committee

Attention LS6 Food Bank Brought to us by The Bath Area Food Bank And Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program

We are blessed by the community programs who have reached out to help Local S6 families as the strike continues. On Monday August 10, 2020 from 12 noon – 3pm at the Bath Senior Center located at 45 Floral St. Bath (same place as check distribution). The Bath Area Food Bank and Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program will be bringing the food bank to us.

Food for up to 400 LS6 families!
Local farm fresh produce, box foods and more …

Please come get this generous offer and say thank you, to those who are lending support during this time.

Please remember to practice social distancing and wear your face masks, Thank you