Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Starting after the shutdown, the overtime lists for all districts will be used from Thursday to the following Wednesday. This should end any confusion between the shifts, and anytime a holiday weekend comes into play.

The Shop Committee has met and clarified demands with management, and it basically took three days. This must be a record. The last time I was in negotiations, it took three months. We also received some of management’s concerns. These are not in the form of demands. They are more like things that cause management problems, which form concerns for them. It isn’t so much that management has asked for anything. It’s more like they have a problem, and they want our help to fix it. Some things we can fix, and some things we can’t; but we will address all of management’s concerns just like they will address all of our demands. Some we have seen before, and I’m sure some other committee will see them again. We won’t be formally opening negotiations until it becomes necessary to do so. Until then, we will continue to work through issues surrounding the agreement. The pre-work of clarification and other things we are doing will speed the process along; getting some of the necessary chores out of the way early.

There is still some work to do with numbers, but it looks like even with OKC coming back online, it will only take one partial shift to run the production management needs to get out the door. It looks like approximately 40-50 Production Techs are going to be needed for the second week of the shutdown. If there aren’t enough first shift people who have agreed to work, then the other two shifts will be gone to by seniority to fill the extra slots.

We have been contacted to do some T Event work for Lansing Regional Stamping. There are some concerns whether or not we would be able to get this work done in the time allotted. In the other plants, TDO is assuming these duties, and we want that work to stay where it belongs in Secondary Tryout. We are attempting to work our way through these problems. This would be a good stroke of business for us to pick up the slack from other GM plants or outside sources. The main question is whether we can get it done with the people we have, and the answer is, "We don’t know, but we are working on it."

A member asked why we wouldn’t write grievances. I asked him what gave him the idea we weren’t. We are trying to address the problems before they become grievances, but we haven’t stopped writing them. We have slowed down, and the reason is because we are fixing more problems as they happen. We haven’t been able to fix them all, and then we do have to reduce them to paper. I still think the best thing for the membership is to fix the problem as it comes, rather than when we get to it in the procedure. One place where we will probably always have problems is in the harassment area. At least until everyone gets the idea that treating each other like they would like to be treated is the best way to act. You know - the Golden Rule. Until that happens we will have harassment claims and will have to deal with them accordingly.

We still need more.

Starting July 1, management has informed the committee that security will institute a common package inspection process that is being implemented throughout the division. This inspection will include checks of women’s purses. The membership must comply with any security request to check packages when entering or leaving the plant.

We have only put 14 A-9’s to work because of reduced volume due to OKC and weak car sales. The other 11 A-9’s we expect won’t be brought in unless the volume increase requires it. It looks like the production vacations submitted for in February have been satisfied at this point.

Management has had meetings with the CAT Team assembled to give input about the R.F. technology. At the last Team Steering Committee meeting, the CAT Team brought in their concerns and input. At this time the TSC is considering what the next step should be and still welcomes any input from the Material Handling group. If you have input for the committee, please either contact your CAT Team Rep or your Committeeperson.

What we are trying to do is maintain and support that an hourly presence needs to be present in the Quality Department. To do that a new classification needs to be developed for the Quality Department. That is the focus of the committee in our attempt to develop a classification that management will transfer people into. There will have to be extensive training to maintain this new group.

If you have a question, ask it. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

In solidarity,

Mike Mansfield, Shop Chairman

Local 730, UAW