Local 1299
11424 W. Jefferson Ave
River Rouge, MI 48218
USW Local 1299 Griever Newsletter
FEBRUARY
BF-1: Steve Sagert
Blast Furnace, Utilities and Ore Dock areas:
During the month there has been an increase in 5-Day suspensions ranging from alleged threatening employees, un-safe act ,job performance and sleeping on the job that have been given out by Management.
Everyone charged have returned to work with the exception of the one who was charged with threatening another. All are continuing to be dealt with through the Grievance Procedure except for the one that was settled for sleeping.
The Overtime on the Blast furnace and Ore Dock Department hopefully will be resolved with an agreement on move-ups and other recommended changes to the existing procedure shortly. I would like to thank all who took the time to submit recommended changes to this.
Please keep the Contracting out forms coming. However, Do not fax these on Company fax machines. Give these to myself, your Union Safety Representative or drop them off at the Union Hall to Dean Smith or Mike Lahman.
Grievance Chairman: Jim Allen
We are still continuing with classes being offered by WSU for our members during the month. If you haven’t had a chance to sign-up yet the classes have been running around 4 hours and cover a lot of good topics.
We will be having a departmental meeting for the Transportation Dept. on Feb. 7, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. to discuss new F.R.A. rules and how it affects us.
You may have already heard but I’ll repeat this just in case you haven’t. U.S. Steel has sold it’s plant in Serbia and by the time this newsletter comes out it should be official.
Another reminder:
Our Rapid Response Committee meets here at the local on the 3rd Wednesday every month @ 4:00 p.m. They’re always looking for more volunteers to help get news and information out.
Contact me at:
(313) 842-7270 ext. 15
Vice Chairman: Hawley Warren
For those who have not heard, Kevin Mapp has taken a position with the District. We all wish him well. I requested and was given the opportunity to fill in as Vice Chair of the Grievance Committee by all of the voting members at the Hall.
As I leave my Division 2 griever position, I will miss being in the plant working with the people that I have known for years and all of the new people I have met along the way. As I have often mentioned the grievers are in the trenches all day every day; it all starts there. I now have the opportunity to make a difference in my new position.
I would like to remind everyone that verbal and or physical altercations will bring quick discipline. Most of us are working long hours, some of it unwanted; we are tired; even a verbal altercation is considered work place violence per company policy.
As we move towards upcoming contract negotiations it is important that we the Union show Solidarity. The local continues to hold classes that are scheduled through the month of February. Anyone wishing to sign up should contact your griever or the Hall.
I ask that everyone who can, attend and participate in our locals union meetings, get involved, volunteer; we are always looking for help.
To my transportation guys (and girls) as promised, we will be having departmental meetings at the Hall on Tuesday February 07 at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm at the Hall to discuss the new F.R.A. rules. I urge all of you to attend.
Hawley Warren
Vice Chair of the Grievance Committee
Division # 1: Paul Nagorski
Great news for #1 caster employees they finally have a 3rd turn. This has been long overdue and I thank everyone who
helped in the effort to make this happen.
The month of FEB. I will be distributing Training request forms again. Please fill one out and have your foreman sign the
request form. Return a copy of the form to me and keep one for yourself. When the forms are turned in I will create a spread
sheet and post in all the areas.
We will continue training classes at the local
in the month of FEB. as follows Thursday
FEB 23rd 4:30-8:00 and Saturday FEB 26th 9-12:30
Please contact the Union Hall if you would like to sign up, spaces are available.
Time is running out for contract issues, if you have not filled out a contract issue form please
do so soon.
***FEBRUARY GENERAL MEETING***
FEBRUARY 22, 2012 4:30 PM
*** AT LOCAL 1299***
YOURS IN UNION,
PAUL NAGORSKI (749-2885)
Division # 2: Ray Goley
Hello, my name is Ray Goley and I am filling in for Hawley Warren as Division 2 Griever while he is filling in at the union hall. I can be contact directly at (313) 850-0625. I would like to thank Hawley Warren, Bob Kemper, Pat Callahan, Jim Allen, Dawn Miller, Steve Sagert and Ed Manriquez for their encouragement and assistance.
I would like to focus on the 2 classes that Wayne State University has at the union hall. I took both of these classes and must say was very informative and fun. We enjoyed the old pictures of the mill and auto factories. I have a greater appreciation of where the USW has come from and the struggles that union members had to overcome.
If anyone wants to take one or both of these classes, feel free to contact me and I will personally bring you a signup sheet, wait for you to fill it out and take it to the union hall.
Let’s not wait for the local nominations and elections to fill the union hall, let’s fill it this month.
Ray Goley
Contact me at (313)850-0625
Division # 3: Bob Kemper
Thought I would share some Labor History with the membership this month.
Jan. 31st 1940 - Ida M. Fuller is the first retiree to receive an old-age monthly benefit check under the new Social Security law. Her first check was for $22.54
Feb. 1st 1968 - The federal minimum wage increases to $1.60 per hour
Feb. 2nd 1987 - The 170-day lockout (although management called it a strike) of 22,000 steelworkers by USX Corp. ends with a pay cut but greater job security. It was the longest work stoppage in the history of the U.S. steel industry
Feb. 3rd 1941 - U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Wages and Hours (later Fair Labor Standards) Act banning child labor and establishing the 40-hour work week - 1941
Feb. 5th 1993 - President Bill Clinton signs the Family and Medical Leave Act. The law requires most employers of 50 or more workers to grant up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for a family or medical emergency
Knowing our triumphs and battles of the past is important. I would like to again encourage everyone to take advantage of the current “membership training” taking place at the Local. If you are interested, you may obtain more information from your Grievance man or you can contact Jim Allen at the Hall.
Division # 5: Steve Stapleton
HELLO Sisters & Brothers
Another month has come and gone. So that means we’re that much closer to the end of the present contract. Also the start of a new one on 9-1-12. Before you know it we’ll be in Pittsburgh negotiating a new one.
If you missed the classes at the Union hall that were available in the month of January . We have the same classes scheduled for February, so don’t miss them. A lot of GOOD INFO to learn about. Starting with History/ Where are we headed -Thursday-Feb. 9th @ 4:30—8:30pm & Saturday – Feb.11th @ 9 –1pm . Then later in the month Building Our Power 2012/ Contract Negotiations they start on Thursday – Feb. 23rd @ 4:30—8:30pm & Saturday—Feb. 26th @ 9—1pm. These classes are a joint effort presented by the Union hall & Labor Studies Center of Wayne State . And YES the C.D.C Will cover the cost $, so call the hall to sign-up # is (313) 842-7270.
Everyone needs to remember that we don’t have an Absenteeism Policy. So if you’re going to miss a day of work, know the proper number to call. Ask who your speaking to, it always helps to take notes ( Date , Time and who you spoke to ) nothing wrong with a back - up plan. Don’t forget you need Documentation with- in 48 hours after returning to work .Any questions please call me @ 313) 749-3703 Thanks see you next month.
Division # 10: Kirby Mullins
Hi some of you may have already heard that Kevin Mapp has been given a temporary position at the District Office, let’s all wish him well. Hawley Warren is filling as Vice Grievance Chairman and will do a fine job of filling Kevin’s shoes as well.
If you have any contract concerns get them to the safety department or the grievers office, negotiations will start in the spring.
We will be scheduling departmental meetings prior to negotiations.