FULL UTILIZATION

As you know by now the Millwrights are working full utilization, and it turns out to be five days/twelve hours.  Full Utilization is whatever you work out with management and can be agreed upon.  We sat down with management, and the committee agreed to five days/twelve hours rather than seven days/eight hours.  As I said at last month’s union meetings we know not everyone is happy with this, but you elected this committee to bargain for you, and that’s what we did.  As long as we made that decision as a committee and the people this will affect in their districts were making this decision with us, I can stand behind it.

DIE MOVEMENT TEAM

The committee knows the problems on the floor and what we need to change to make this work.  We have been meeting with management on this issue, and as I write this report, we are very close to changing some things to correct these problems.  Once again, we will not make everyone happy with the changes that we do, but I think that most of you will be.  We just can’t stand still and think it will correct itself.  Remember this part of the agreement is a Living Agreement (Team Agreement), so when we need to we can change some things to get it right.  As soon as we are done with this we will let  you know, and I will tell you that the committee has been listening to the input you have been giving us on the floor.

TOOL & DIE OPERATIONS

We have had some Die Building Programs delayed as you well know by now.  This will effect in one way or another all areas of TDO sooner or later.  They are cutting hours in some areas and in other areas it will not impact as much.  Remember I said “delayed” folks.  This has happened before and it will happen again.  We are double checking to make sure all our work is back in-house; and if it isn’t, we will take the action that is needed to make us whole.  Having said that, if in deed all out-sourced work is back in-house, this committee cannot contractually make them work you more than 40 hours.  Remember how GM changes its mind from day-to-day, which means some areas might not be impacted at all.  We will keep you up-to-date.

PRODUCTION PULL SYSTEM COMPONENTS

(PPSC)  Just a note to let you know we have not forgotten about the hi lo’s.  The committee is meeting every week with management to make sure they are running this the same on all three shifts.  We tell them every week, “You are confusing the drivers if you are not doing it the way it is suppose to run”.  We also have had a lot of discussion with management regarding Demand 33, and have made some headway with this issue.  As long as we are making headway, we will continue to discuss this issue with management.  Contractually, they have the right to combine jobs, but the Shop Committee does not believe they can do away with our Demand 33 jobs.  So we will continue to work on this issue as long as we are making headway.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

Two people are going to retiree in the next two months that have given this union a lot of service over the past years, and I would like to thank them for their time and wish them well.  Brothers and Sisters, you have heard me say before that the union is not perfect.  But if you stop and think in this cost-cutting world what the company would be doing to you if not for a  union, I’m sure you would not like it.  I believe in the union, and I know both of these people do to.  So God bless you Stu Wilson and Roger Dietz and good luck to you both!

VACATION

This week I will be vacationing with my family; (it’s time to get to know them again).  I would like to thank Steve, Mike, and Marty for filling in for me while I’m gone.  We are still sticking together brothers and sisters, and working together as a committee.  That’s what you elected us to do and we are doing it together.  Management will not divide us.

In solidarity,

Louie Schreuder

Shop Chairman