MOVES

Transfers are here from 96 Grand Blanc.  There were 22 Production in this move, and I am being told there will be 10 Skilled sometime in February.  I know the committee and myself have been getting hit on the floor about these moves.  Let me say that between Steel Stores and the Press Room, we received 19 jobs from Grand Blanc.  Now let me explain what Paragraph 96 says:

“When there is a transfer of major operations between plants, the case may be presented to the corporation, and after investigation, it will be reviewed with the International Union in an effort to negotiate an equitable solution.” 

I put that in here to let you know that no one in this plant makes a determination on how many people we receive in a 96 Move.  That belongs to the corporation and International Union.  I’ve been called out on this and have told employees I’d follow up on it.  One employee told me he wanted to write a grievance.  Understand brothers and sisters, if it happens inside this plant, I have some control over it.  But I have very little control, if any, on the decisions the corporation or International Union make on 96 Moves.  This cannot be a grievable issue, because I don’t have the power to override the International Union.

TROUBLE IN PARADISE

No one knows better than this committee that we are experiencing trouble with many areas in the plant.  In return, this is affecting our joint relationship with management.  To name a few, some of the areas are:   Maintenance, Die Movement Team, R.F. Technology on Hi-Lo’s, and Teams.  We had a heart-to-heart with management Tuesday, January 11, and we have a commitment from the plant manager to work on our relationship.  Brothers and sisters, if the people on the floor are not happy, then this committee is not happy. 

Most relationships can be fixed with communication and commitment to make it work on both sides. 

We do need to make changes to keep up with other car manufacturers; or should I say, stay in front of them.  But we need to have it fed to us in amounts we can digest.  If we can’t digest it, we get heartburn and everything gets crazy.  I had another good talk with the plant manager this morning, (Thursday, January 13), and I believe we are back on the right road.

CONTRACTORS

Contractors are scheduled to be in the plant Monday, January 24, to work in 24 Bay in order to prepare the pit for the second press.  I fully expect we are going to be okay while the contractors are in the building, and everyone can do the job we know they are capable of performing.

MISSING IN ACTION

We know we haven’t been on the floor as much as we would like to be lately.  And believe me, we would rather be on the floor than in meetings with management.  Having said that, I am explaining - not complaining to you, that this is part of the job you elected us to do.  It’s been extremely busy lately with meetings and training, and that’s where we’ve been.  We are working on many of your concerns and trying our best to get them right.  To do that, we have to be at these meetings to represent you.

TEAMS

There’s been a lot of discussion about only the union attending Team Training.  I plan on addressing this with management because this is suppose to be a joint process, and a member of management should also be in attendance at these meetings to answer questions.

In solidarity,

Louie Schreuder

Shop Chairman

Local 730, UAW