There is a new partnership in Newburgh now. It is the members of the IBEW Local 363 and ABINBEV. We are going to be the new driving force in the can industry. We are going to set the bar. We are going to set the standards.
We want two things here - production and a contract.
After that we cannot be stopped. Now some in management might fear that second subject but have no fear - we are level headed people.
Let's talk about your health care experience. There is a lot of concern about the plan we have now - why? Which plan was the best? Which plan gave you the best coverage? Why is the plan you have now not cutting it? Are there enough doctors? What plan would you like better? Is this plan now good for you? What are your costs? How do you feel about the company announcing they want to increase your contribution to 35% of the premium? Is that too low? Do you want to pay more maybe?
What about a sick day or two? What about earning them throughout the year? Must be awful when you are on your back on a scheduled work day and you miss a days pay. I know they said that you should get sick on your off days but can you REALLY do that? Do you think that having a sick day or two to use wisely during the year is a good or bad idea?
What about breaks and lunch periods: How can the way it is set up be improved? What do we want to see changed? Is there a way to actually leave the property at lunch? Twelve hours at work everyday is a long time to be in "lockdown".
( Even prisoners get an hour a day out of their cells )
We are collecting the thoughts and ideas of the people to bring in to negotiations. These are a couple that have come up. What's your take on them?
What is it that you would change first? What is the most important issue to you?
Isn't it exciting that after all of these years you are ACTUALLY BEING ASKED WHAT YOU THINK?
Having a VOICE and being able to express your concerns at your place of work is an overwhelming and totally different experience isn't it?
Stay solid, stay strong and we will move forward and show the company that ALL of this will be WELL WORTH THE PAYOFF for them too.
We just want what is fair and we don't want the company being all huffy for nothing like they have been in the past. We are all grown ups with familes, lets hope they cut the bullshit.
ReplyDelete11:47 : Very good points. I want to be treated fairly. Maybe a little more money. The company is making money--spread the wealth..Two sick days would be nice. A little more towards our pension. Also be allowed to go the store to get food.
ReplyDeletefour weeks vacation after 20 years sounds resonable ,earned sick time would be good also,along with uniforms paid for by MCC,Tool and boot replacement/allowance,QUARTLY COLA,(COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENT)Should be considerd,along with disiplin 18 months is to extreem ,that needs to be shortend printer ,operators can run bad product very easy without knowing,everything should be updated in contract,all occances should start at zero when contract is finalized----more to follow,THANKS FOR HEARING MY INPUT!!
ReplyDeleteSeptember 24, 2010 7:30 PM
perfect attendance days and vacation days,we should be able to carry over till we decide to use them,the way it is now,use it or loose it,we earned these day,we should be able to keep them.
ReplyDeleteSeptember 24, 2010 7:16 PM
Lets start with 4% raise 4th week vacation. I want my MVP health coverage! that is just ridiculous cutting MVP's health care option because they wouldn't show corporate their books. I want to see ABINBEV's books! Absolutely no more health care increases! I haven't had a raise in many years because they always increase health care cost (news flash!... its not a raise if you take away in other areas!! Enough already!!! reducing our management fees on our 401k plan ( its just petty for them to charge us .15 a month )also I want paid uniforms and work shoes. Also is there a clause we can put in the contract that prevents management from treating us like little kids? Also I would also like management and corporate to stop telling lies and stop protecting the ones that lie.
ReplyDeleteOk dudes! Better beer in a better world, dude.
The workers slogan is... better pay for a better world.
I agree with 2 sick days a year, the earned part i don't know if you are sick your sick you can't plan that. we have some folks that are there 5 days a week when are they suppose to get sick on the weekend? 4 weeks after 20 year is very much deserved. Why is it more important for management to get 6 weeks? what is up with that. We are the ones out there doing the hard labor and working the crazy hours not sitting up front talking about what kind of car your going to buy or horse playing up in the front office that's why they don't want us up there. They cut people on the floor but look how top heavy the front office is. Rise 2% first year 4th week vacation 2 sick days 2nd year 2% and 3rd year 2% because if you are going to ask for 1 more week and 2 sick days that will cost the company money there for you can't ask for 3 or 4 % remember it's give and take oh and 3.00 dollar in the penison.
ReplyDeleteP.S don't make a big deal about the breaks they are reasonable look at other contracts before you talk to much about our breaks that is one good thing the management did o.k minus the victory dance. Keep up the good work my brothers and sisters we are so happy now that it is scary i just want to do my best now i feel respected.
ReplyDeleteThank you Matt Jackson you are a stand up manager.What would they do without you ?
Very well said ITHINKTHATISFEAR. You had good points we can't be greedy,the break sch is o.k.
ReplyDeleteSam sorry if some of us are not writing right now but we are very busy at work tring to get the plant running again. We want to make a lot of good cans we are ibew 363. talk to you soon buddy ( Sam ).
ReplyDeletelineboy:
ReplyDeleteDo you want them to pay for a dictionary also?
8:51AM - is that what is important to you? Someone elses spelling? Is that "you" again?
ReplyDeleteI have not had any issues with Cigna so far. Everything has been covered. Physical therapy benefit is better than what we had with MVP.
ReplyDeleteMVP was very good insurance. Never had any problems with them.
All of the complaints I've heard so far have been with Aetna. From everything I've heard Aetna is crap. Bring back MVP as an option.
9:22
ReplyDeleteYes, it is me. (Again) I am just saying-it never hurts to proof read what you have typed or writtem. If you are not positive of a spelling-you should spend a few minutes and look it up in a dictionary. No?
writtem? Ok now we are all bad spellers lets move on to something more important like our livelihoods. Spelling is last in the long line of important things to discuss at this point.
ReplyDeleteMVP should be an option or we should at least be able to do a side by side comparison. Before nobody was there to speak up for us and say that so we got what ever the hell we got.
ReplyDeleteLet's check out MVP again.
Worked hard last night.I stood back and watched for a minute at how everyone was busy,doing what they were supposed too. Good job everone. Good discussions too.
ReplyDeleteAll are very good points. Pension is important. Healthcare and wages are also important. An extra week vacation after 20 yrs would be nice. Coming to work sick as a dog, making everybody else sick is nuts!! We need sick days. But not to be abused. As for breaks, I cant afford not to get paid for lunch. Do the math. Its cheaper to plan ahead and bring lunch. We need to have a better way of doing the overtime. There is no reason we cannot train on crew. Gerstel should go to the crew where there is an opening and train someone on that crews schedule. Doing away with the need for overtime from the other crew.
ReplyDeleteline boy here,not a very good speller,so what,you guys get the point!!,now as far as what we should try to get:here goes,maybe consider a shift change where everyone would get a 7 day paycheck and have every other wkend off,like 4 on 3 off,3 on 4 off?,crew to crew transfers may be nice,the way it is now you have to beg/borrow/steal,just to be considerd for a transfer!,senority for everything,vacations,overtime,day jobs,transfer,etc.,keep staffing levels at or above current,more to follow,thanks for hearing my input.OH,no time for a f****** dictionary,thanks
ReplyDeleteall you need to do is refer to the walrus list
ReplyDeleteLine boy it's all right spelling don't count I understand what you are saying.
ReplyDeletei would like to see MVP back as a option. i like sick days.pay raises. 4 weeks vacation after 20 years sounds good. I would like available help when needed on the front end like the past night shift. and schedule down time for painting and leak repair.as far as insurance cost i just want to no what i am paying for. i would like a CHRISTMAS party closer to CHRISTMAS for all crews at1 time. 1 offsite BBQ for crews and their families in the summer and invite SAM. thats all i got. THANKYOU SAM for all your help with MCC and this blog it is a great tool. go 363 team.
ReplyDeleteThe great thing about this is that we all are having conversations like we never had before. We can talk about what we like and don't like. That is a huge change from how it was. Anyone who says there is a down side to us having the opportunity to voice our opinons needs their head examined.
ReplyDeleteJust the suggestions on here so far are all good legitimate ideas. Wait until we have our production meeting after we get our contract, there are tons of ideas that can save the compnay money that we will also talk about.
Can we use the union hall for our Christmas parties?
ReplyDeleteVery good blogs.
ReplyDeleteI agree with those who want MVP back. It was a good plan even after the company diluted the coverage the first time. Cigna is OK but it isn't MVP. A fourth week vacation after 20 years sounds good. I also like the person's idea of being able to carry over a PAD or floating holiday to the next year.
ReplyDeleteHey bad spellers! So what, I suck at math! You get your point accross. Keep typing. This is the kind of input and idea sharing we need.
WOW...alot of great ideas, I like the vacation, a couple of sick days, mvp, more pension and a small raise. A more "normal" night shift pay premium might also help me make it through the night! What else is important is that we are all communicating and taking ownership with our working life...how could that not make us better and more productive!! I want to thank everyone who has laid it on the line to get to this point!...without them and Sam we would still be just putting in the time and waiting til 6:00, every day the same just a different day!!
ReplyDeleteI met some guys from 363 this weekend and they couldn't say enough good things about Sam and the union. Our union is a well respected and we are part of it all now. I felt really good after talking with those guys. We made the right choice.
ReplyDeleteI also spoke to the 363 union workers and you are right they could'nt say enough good things about being union and they respect and like Sam.
ReplyDeleteYou all have great points. Lets keep up the hard work maybe it will pay off.
ReplyDeleteanother hard night of work, trying to achieve excellence while ABINBEV seems fixated on saving money...makes me wish we had old Deming back to scold them about saving pennies to lose dollars...this outage isn't going to be as productive as it could have been, because we've given lots of ideas, and time/ manpower hasn't been committed to doing it right! C'mon, management, doesn't Newburgh deserve to be better than this?
ReplyDeleteCome on 70,000 hits!!! Right around the corner!!! We all have been so productive during this maintenance overhaul. I'm so proud of my union brothers and sisters!!! This plant is really going to humm as soon as we're up and running full strength!!!
ReplyDeleteThe train is moving straight ahead. We have meetings scheduled this week and next week with the crew reps. If you have suggestions, put them in writing if they are more intricate but get them to your reps.
ReplyDeleteA letter was sent to the company asking for information we need for bargaining. Things are happening - keep doing the good job you are doing and make those cans. We want the plant to be the best it can be.
Stay Solid, Stay Strong
Hey 3:40....Got a question.....If Gertsl goes to crew to train whats in it for him? He gets no extra other than a regular schedule. The person he's training is being paid the same. How would he handle the classroom end, he can't leave the floor when he needs to because of staffing which is the real cause isn't it ? There isn't enough staffing to provide proper training.
ReplyDelete10 months of training and the new guys cant run the sprays!!!! At least on the line they can learn more and Gertsel can cover the OT and Training needs at the same time. Net Net.... Win Win!
ReplyDeleteIf Mr. Gerstl is the trainer, let him train. That is what he is supposed to do when there are people to train. If there is no one to teach I see no reason he can't be used to fill a gap. But how about as a floater? But he can't be training someone in the classroom part and be expected to run a printer. That's not teaching any one anything. The OT would have been there anyway. It's all part of the overtime reduction plan.Training on crew has some drawbacks as well, for one the distraction factor is high, you can't really focus on teaching someone something when you have your own tasks to perform.
ReplyDeleteAs Sam asked in his blog entry, get your questions and requests to your reps. In writing if the need be. Every little bit helps. And we're helping ourselves.
do we really start with another team member. we all know mr. gerstl's situation no one really cares he is not an issue we all know he does nothing at all but rat on people who are pro union along with MIke R but we just move on they will never get this movement WE are better then they will ever be in this movement because we are now BROTHERS AND SISTERS of something so great that they have no idea they actually have fear of this movement because they may really have to do something other then violet my first amendment right of freedom of speech because of thier loyalty to people who would screw anybody chance they get
ReplyDeleteWalrus im sorry to say you are wrong about the training on the printer. Thats exactly how to train someone on it.The only way you learn is by doing it. Anyway you are right that it doesnt matter what the company wants that individual to do.WE need tooconcentrate on getting the contract done and fair to all. lets keep together on bringing ideas for the contract.Please dont be offended as friends are honest with eachother.Im not going to waste time anymore on rebutting on specific items that we have no impact on. Go 363 keep the train rolling.
ReplyDeleteWhen are we going to see a rough draft of the contract? Whats going to be the time frame? I have read a lot of great ideas on this blog. I would like to see them in contract form.
ReplyDeleteGo IBEW strong!
Hey all.....I wasn't defending Gerstl just the real cause of OT....STAFFING... no matter who trains......and you 8:37 I agree lets not start with another team member but not before you threw your shots in there....practice what you preach
ReplyDeleteBlack Dog - You are right there are a lot of good ideas here and on paper already. Your reps are gathering all of the ideas from you guys. We are working already at putting that together. At this point, the committee is the group working with the information they have to put together a draft. After that it is directly to the bargaining table. We should be meeting with the company soon with everything. We sent them a request for more information yesterday.
ReplyDeleteThings are going forward and moving ahead as planned.
70,000 hits! Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!
ReplyDeleteSpeaking of committee meetings.More ideas on paper please to the shop stewards. They dont have e.s.p..If you care about whats in the contract,please get to them asap.These ideas have to make it to the table. If you have already written them and submitted them , THANK YOU.We want to get it right. Help yourself by helping us.
ReplyDeleteI have a great way to pay for our increases: Keep Dan we will give him another chance to learn. Let Warren go and move Holly up. Let Dave go and put in a private phone booth with a direct line to corporate HR. I figure that’s about a half a million with benefits.
ReplyDeleteWow I never thought about that! Hmmmmmmmmmmmm
ReplyDeleteThank you
Tony
For us to form a rough draft of a contract we need your input, not just here on the blog, but communicated to your Shop Stewards, their Assistant Stewards, the Negotiators and their Alternates. We start our meetings this Week and if you have some ideas share them, preferably in writing, (hard copy beats human memory any day). We are your spokesman, when we have an idea of what we are doing, where we're going, etc, we'll share the information. But right now we aren't even on square 1. So, let us know what you want, and we'll make sure it's voiced.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
10:41: I agree hands-on training is the probably the best way to learn. For some people it may not be, but , that's not the point I was trying to make. The trainer is chosen by management to train a candidate using their rules and material. So basically he is doing what he was directed to do. His presence covering a crew to cover space is OK, but he's off the clock at 5PM, the crew needs the slot filled to 6PM. When there is no one to train he should go back to the neediest crew. OJT is kind of a joke because it can't teach experience, doesn't cover everything that can happen or go wrong. I think the original training method, you started by learning the sprays on crew, you "graduated" to the printer. A kind of apprenticeship was the practice, and there was no time frame attached to the learning process. Some people learn at a different pace than others.
ReplyDeleteSo, I couldn't agree with you more, but it's their (management's) program. No offense taken.
Think contract. And all this other by-play will take care of itself.
I know one thing for sure, things are alot quieter now that we are represented by 363 than they have been in alot of years.I know that our stewards and negotiars are going to represent our interests while putting together our contract. go 363
ReplyDeleteYour right! It seems like some of the sector leaders are progressing with the evolution of this process.I am grateful for their efforts in changing the way they treat their workers. However there are some that cant quite accept the fact that they need our input to make proper decisions and have to treat us with professionalism and respect.
ReplyDeleteIts also good to hear that more cans will be going to south america.That wont be a permanent thing Im sure but it cant hurt us.
You know that when we start having some formal production meetings with the team members, the company will see just how serious we are about making sure we address issues at Newburgh.We want to bring good things to the plant while making sure our rights are being protected and a commitment by the company to its employees.
We have a chance to do something here that hasnt been done at ABINBEV before. Unionization is done, but we can do things that could set examles for the rest of the country.We need to be flexible,intelligent,dilligent,and resolute.
At the same time making this partnership the best in our industry.Its going to take work from management and the union team members to balance out things so its fair to all while optimizing production and quality, which here at Newburgh is what we have done in the past very well when properly motivated.
I am giving my commitment to making this happen. I said MAKING not trying. If the company gives us a contract that we think is fair, this plant can achieve things we have never done yet.Im sure that the union team members are ready to help build our futures.Is the company? Go 363, Go Newburgh.
heres my first blog guys and u might not like it but if u were here as long as i your #1 priority in this contract would be PENSION. how can anybody say anything good about our current pension when after 22 years it doesnt meet the criteria for POVERTY LEVEL IN THE US?? i mean really after 22 years this company thinks that much of us that they are going to give us a monthly check that doesnt cut it. my name is on that banner in the lobby for the start up crew, we deserve a pension that recognizes the time, work, and commitment to this company that is fair. many want money but if we can get this pension up to a more realistic level EVERYONE is better off. yeah you might not need it now but when u do its nice to know its there.
ReplyDeletehey shop stwert at 2:43,lets get it right,YOU do not have a assistant shop stwert,they are alternates,if you are away/sick/vacation, etc.,but they are not your assistant or your secratary,get off the high horse,lets work together,thanks
ReplyDeleteVery well said iamaunionman. I believe we will be better then ever. Do you notice how different people are now they are happy and want to do the best job they can, we even talk about how we can make things better..
ReplyDeleteI'm with you 4:40 I agree the pension is very important,I like to see 3:00 dollars added to the pension.
ReplyDeleteHey everyone good blogging so far!! I agree with almost everything said except the health care with MVP. Near the end there we were paying outrageous copays with them but of course that was because the company dropped us down so many tiers so they had to pay less for our healthcare. We want the MVP of about 5 years ago where coverage was good and copays were lower. I also agree with everyone talking to their stewards and alternates about what you want in this contract. Our first one is very important because it will be our baseline for all future contracts. Think of sick days or more pension or a pay increment over the course of the contract. Lets all get active now that the washer maint. is over and start thinking about our future which is as bright as it has ever been. Everyone knows we mean business so lets get it done. GO 363 WE ARE UNION STRONG!!!!!
ReplyDelete22 years and counting,
ReplyDeleteI am also on the wall, (22 yrs vet myself). I agree completely with you about the pension. $58.00/mnth per year of service is sad. For you younger guys, it goes by quick! What is Newark getting for their pension? Don't think SS is going to be there for us. At least my Dad and Mom are collecting SS. That makes me feel a little better but not much. We don't have life time medical and was counting on that money to help off set health care expenses. We are going to need health care the most when we retire. These are real concerns and I hope Britto and Tony (North American Zone) are reading these blogs. Thank you Sam and the IBEW for giving me a voice.
most of you guys crying about training and gerstl have been here forever and you still cant run a printer so why do you expext someone new to learn it in 12 weeks? stop crying about other people and do your jobs. christ what a bunch of whiners... if we all did our jobs it would be so damn easy...
ReplyDeleteDITTO 10:26
ReplyDeleteHow much of an increase in wages should we ask for in the contract? 2%? 3%? Is 4% too much? How do you guys feel about this?
ReplyDelete2.00 per hour across the board to help pay for the health premiums they screwed us on
ReplyDeleteMaintenance is over. Thank God. That was alot of work.Great work evryone.
ReplyDeleteNow all the debugging. Thats just as hard as the maintenance.Keep it going get it going.
Soon a contract will be completed. I hope that the company remembers all the hard work we have done, how many cans we have made.
We have woked in good faith, hard and continuous to keep this plant stroking.Im hoping that the company does the same.
Hey anonymous at 4:48 PM, what's in a word? The "Alternate" shop steward on this crew is in on everything that's happening. We are assisting each other figure out this whole Shop Steward gig. If you want to argue over what's in a title go ahead. Alternate or assistant, Sam has used both terms, take it up with him. By the way, we don't get paid extra to do this, we're doing it to be able to help our fellow team members, if they need it. Did you step up?
ReplyDeleteThink about what you want in your contract, OK?
ok lets move on and stop this useless and worthless bickering.Its probably someone who is trying to disrupt our focus.if its not lets please remain focused. Lets support eachother, get creative with our ideas and move forward for the betterment of our cause. Imsure that anyone of our members has enough intelligence to realize whats important and whats not. We need to set the example. This blog is being seen by alot of people show them how professional we can be. go 363
ReplyDeleteEnough already, with the arguing over stupid shit! Why do some people have to initiate an argument over what name someone called someone else, accuse them of something they aren't, worry about what someone else in the plant is doing, etc. Which usually seems to elicit an equally counterproductive and sometimes degrading response. I know, I have responded the same way a couple of times. What really cracks me up is the same persons who seem to like creating these argumentive fights are doing it in the spirit of "working together". "Let me attack you personally and call you names so we can be better co-workers." Can someone explain that logic to me? I'm not talking about dissenters of another opinion. We can't lose our focus, we are entering a contract negotiation, with a company that is probably not too thrilled to have us unionized. We should be focused on that, while continuing to do our jobs the best we can. Respond to the points being made, not the way it was said.
ReplyDeleteAll this B.S. about trivial crap probably gives management the impression that we are in a union but we aren't organized. That we're still the same scattershot group that can't stand together on anything. It probably won't make the negotiators job any easier.
Most of what is posted on this blog is very helpful information. Aimed at and read by the people who can try to do something about it. Let's continue to express our ideas, what we think we need in our contract. There are some really great ones out there. And probably some more that will be thought up.
We are one!
Kiss and make up! OK kiddies? We've all been stressed out for the last week or so.
ReplyDeleteWhat do we want? An increase to the pension.
An increase in wages. A better, yet less costly to the employee health plan, medical, dental, eyeglass. More health plan options. More vacation time. Some sick days. Another floating holiday (or personal day). A functional dispute resolution plan. A better training program than is being utilized now, (we might not have any say in that one). A reinvention of the "team leader" role. Continued security of the pension plan type as it is now. A copy of the "union employees bill of rights", you know, what management can and can't do or say to you. Did I hit just about everything? Please fill in the blanks I might have left.
Focus on contact, focus on production, teamwork.
Thank you.
I would like to have the company pay for my uniforms and my shoes.
ReplyDeleteBoth need replacing frequently because of the environment we work in. I pay out hundreds every year for these items. I know that they are tax deductable but the company can deduct them too. why should we have to pay for things that the company destroys everyday?.Whats that doing to our bodies?
I would like to see at least $3.00 to $4.00 added to the pension.
ReplyDeletethats a good question for Sam,how do we address safety issues now?
ReplyDeleteYou may be rich but im not.I have to watch every penny because I havent gotten ahead in years here.
ReplyDeletemy 401k has been stagnant. nothing in my pension.your dam right I care about my feet. Those are the only ones I have, and my job causes me to walk miles per day. my feet are screaming
ReplyDeleteOK, but put shoes at the bottom of the list. You have to agree that pension is more important. Healthcare and wages!
ReplyDeletewhy cant we have more options in our 401k? Because the company only wants us to put our money back into the company. the more the market stagnates the more people will put it into the only fund that moves at least alittle. even though all the analysts say hold on AB stock no buys suggested
ReplyDeleteHow about night time differential? A 4th week after 20yrs? Sick days? Promote from within? Fair treatment? Respect? An OT policy that works and is fair to everybody?................................................................................shoes.
ReplyDeleteHow about a production tech exchange program to work inside our sister plants to share ideas to improve the process?
ReplyDeleteshoes are important to me.are you like management who never gets off their asses like warren? Thats why they have good chairs up there.The callouses on their asses are getting bad, thats what steve G. said.
ReplyDeleteThis blog needs to be about the contract and not personal attacks!!! I know shoes are important to you but pension needs to be at the top followed by health care and then wages. I dont care what Gerstel thinks about Warren. This is not the place. Stay focused people. At least we wont see those guys for another 6 weeks! Take comfort in knowing that. Try those inserts, they work well on my feet!
ReplyDeleteLet me cover some items here for everyone:
ReplyDeleteIdeas - This is the first time that everybody at MCC Newburgh has had the chance to OPENLY voice their opinion and ideas. Everybodys idea makes sense to them. Don't question them or pick on it. Let it all flow out. I haven't commented that an idea wouldn't work or it would work. I am watching this as a whole of itself. I am paying close attention.
Stewards - I have a shop steward and an assistant/alternate in each crew. Titles don't mean anything. Call them asst or alt - I don't care. When they stepped up to take the position they did everybody who didn't step up a favor. They are all to be respected for their efforts to help all who work at MCC. Any relationship that they have and they have with me will be handled by us. No one needs to worry about who thinks they think they are - we are all WORKING TOGETHER.
Safety - Unless there is something that is unusual or extremely dangerous you need to follow the procedures that are normally followed for each instance that you face. Becoming IBEW union members did not mean that everything that exists ceases to be gets rejected or even changed. If you have an unusual or extremely dangerous issue - I would want to know that asap - STILL FOLLOW YOUR PROCEDURE and also inform your shop steward so they can inform me about it right away.
Plants, blog plants, work plants - Lets face it, there are some who come on here to egg people on. Some just do it at work. Ignore it. If there is NOTHING POSITIVE EVER, its a plant. They are sent by the company to disrupt the flow of ideas and more importantly, to disrupt the harmony of the people. Their goal is to form a split. But it is too late for that. WE ARE IBEW LOCAL 363. The people are committed. The few cannot sway the many. Lets keep our integrity, KEEP OUR COOLS and our eyes and minds on the goal - a contract.
That plant stuff will dwindle over time.
We (the committee and I) have meetings this week and next and we will be busy, busy, busy. Or busier, busier, busier is more like it.
So, in closing, let's all appreciate each other, support each other, ignore the plants, encourage ideas and PARTICIPATION and just keep up the fantastic job you guys are doing PUMPING THOSE CANS OUT.
I agree with that 100% stop fighting and name calling we have come a long way. Lets talk contract. 2% rise 3 dollars in pension & 2 sick days and 4 weeks after 20 years.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the company will do good by us we are showing them what we are made of and we want to be #1.
ReplyDeletei would like to thank A crew frontend for all there help this week it was another kick ass week and we all worked together with no question weather you were pro or non union. i just wish other crews would look at it that way and put aside there differences for 12 hours and get there job done. i myself just cant sit there and watch someone get there as kicked. so please think about this all crews we are a team ABCD CREWS BACKEND OR FRONTEND WE ARE A TEAM FOR 12 HOURS. DO A CAN CHECK. DUMP A FULL GARBAGE CAN EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS WE ALL NEED TO GET ALONG FOR 12 HOURS PLEASE. IT WILL HELP MY JOB AND YOURS THANKYOU.
ReplyDeleteThere are no errelevent concerns from anyone, respect each other, you don't have to agree about everything. We need to learn to work together for ourselves. This has never been promoted by the mgt. team here since the beginning. The working enviroment can change but it is up to us to do it, write your concerns down and give them to your crew reps, and be proud, you have a say now use it wisely.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see the 10 years requirement to be vested dropped to 5 years. That is a more common industry standard timeframe. 10 years is ridiculous!!!
ReplyDeleteLets keep moving forward. Alot of good ideas for our new contract. Lets do our best and hope the company is fair with us. I don't think we are asking for too much. Help each other when you can and be respectfull. Rolling like a freight train,,,,,I would also like to thank all involved.
ReplyDeleteI cant wait to get back to work.This place is starting to take off. its nice knowing that im somewhat protected.
ReplyDeleteSam, you are so right,the company/management loves to put a wedge between each eemployee and disrupt the harmony between us,split us,cause us to work against each other,rat each other out!!!,that,as I have said ,is the whole concept behind PRO-EMPLOYEE,for decades its been like this,it will take time for a few to realize that we are together now,as one IBEW-ONE,strong and organized,let's keep focused on the contract.Sam ,thanks for the time consuming hard work , it will pay off in the end.
ReplyDelete2:26 AM - We will be looking into that issue. That may be coverd by recent Federal Law. Thanks for bringing that up.
ReplyDelete71,000 hits wowwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
ReplyDeleteI would like to wish the Stewards and Alternates, Negotiators and Alternates, a fruitful first meeting, I'm sure that progress will be made. It's going to be a long haul,incorporating everyone's ideas and wish lists into a document that we can all agree to and promote our security and well being in a new partnership with MCC. We need to continue to support their efforts and continue to offer ideas. Good luck.
ReplyDelete71000....The world is watching. Good job Sam. Proud to be part of a team, an IBEW team.
ReplyDeleteUnion made, union strong.
I like to see 4 weeks after 20 years and 2 sick days 2% rise for each year. One last rise in the pension before it goes bye bye make it a even 60
ReplyDeletedollars for ever year served.
I heard someone mention about formalizing how who gets trained on what in the plant?Does anyone feel like they have been left out in the cold and havent received opportunities to learn and grow? The OJT program hasnt really been benefitial to the majority, and I havent seen anyone talk about it yet. Is this something that should be addressed at this time? Food for thought at meetings.
ReplyDeleteWhy cant the union members have a say in how it gets evenly distibuted?
ReplyDeleteOJT replaced Skills Mastery that replaced Pay For Knowledge not to make it easier for you to increase your skills and pay but to allow full control back to the company on how they can allow you to progress or not.
ReplyDeleteNot an upgrade of progression but a 100 % control. Very simple.
We were able to progress at our own will and rate and increase our pay and skills. No more. The company decides if and when you can progress based on a gap analysis (the justification). This will not change, they will not give that up. It's money they do not want to spend. So focus your energy on issues that are achievable.
There is a plan but we need to hear from any and all so that we can fit the best and most relevant issues in a contract.
Keep those ideas coming.
Be positive.
Do not get distracted.
Keep your eye on the prize.
Make cans.
This is our leverage.
Sam is leading but we are the enablers.
We need to make things happen.
We are now.
Keep at it.
Reward is going to be our measure of success.
Let's go for it.
having fun at the meeting? I know you guys are lookin at me. Stop playin around and get back to work this is important!Put down the donuts for a second. Try the poppy seed bagels they're good!I just want you guys to know that im way too serious!This is funny shit man. Come on Sam you gotta laugh at this. Stay focused.Guess who I am? I will text you guys the answer.Imagine the jingle from the tv show jeopardy.
ReplyDeleteSam, did you know that the overhaul project was two days ahead of the due date? Two days out of ten is 20%! Some effort.
ReplyDeleteThey are buying pizza! Like the old days when they knew to appreciate an effort and reward it so that it gets repeated.
Spreading the wealth, baby!
A few hundred thou for the company and a few hundred $$ for the pizza. Not even but something. Well that had been taken away. Now it's back. Not sure how to read that.
Keep going baby, like the Energizer Bunny!!!
How do you think we did?
1:35am - You guys kicked ass on that one. Hey just keep up the great work. The company DOES KNOW that they have good people here in Newburgh. We are going to keep this going - all of it. We are going to make cans and we are going to get a contract to make those cans under.
ReplyDeleteGlad they got the pizzas. It is a nice gesture that makes good business sense and it is just a smart thing to do. It promotes the true team concept. We are all in favor of working together and getting the job done.
Like I said before, this WILL turn out to be a positive for everyone involved - the people and the company.
We will not sway from that - we will work together and we will continue with a GOOD ATTITUDE. We just want that same attitude reflected back at us.
Well said, Eagle Eye! Does this confirm your concerns, frenchfry? Is the training program a negotiable item? Can the training program can be put on the table? I don't know. It hasn't exactly been a good program or an advertisement for their claim that they wanted to eliminate the General Tech position by training everyone to be production techs. It also seems it isn't a good replacemant for our old "apprentice" type of traing, which did make operators who could run and maintain all the equipment in their area. It takes years to really learn it. The training can't be measured in hours. No offense trainers, you work with what you are given.
ReplyDeleteThe overhaul was a success! 2 days ahead of schedule, respectable production during multiple line repairs, a washer overhaul and a second washer retrofit and regular maintenance.
Rumor control has it we're in to get more South America action because they are very happy with our product.
Keep it going!
It was all about the dollar when Britto bought us. It was all about the dollar when he tried to sell us to Ball. Now that we have the IBEW it needs to be all about the dollar again. But this time we have a voice. There is power in numbers. We need to work together to make sure we get the best contract we can. It needs to be all about the dollar, IN THE CONTRACT!!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat meeting today, everyone worked hard for for there crews. It's good to see discussion on what concerns the workers on the floor, anyone that has not talked with there crew reps yet I encourage you to do so, your concerns will be discussed. Thanks for all the help during the washer shutdown, all involved did a great job.
ReplyDeleteCome on now lets get ready to make 6 millon again
ReplyDeletekinks almost gone. JOB WELL DONE TEAM !
I hope corp can see that with a real leader we can work together. We can thank Sam for that.
ReplyDeleteNo more lies.
10:30 pm. I second that. I hope corp. takes care of us, because we take care of them. We do our best every day. We work safe and have the best quality. We work hard for every can we make. Rolling like a freight train. I have more oil and grease on me than a Dodge pickup truck has when i get home from work. Lets go Team.......
ReplyDeleteI again feel empowered not only for myself but for the good of all! We are all can makers in a commodity market making good use of our experience and talent. Everyone now has a voice, we are that voice! We are that echo that resounds such tenor notes that makes this company profitable, we are one! we are 363, and we will accomplish our task in both making this company strong! We will have all of our tongues out waiting for that trickle of compensation that makes all of us happy.
ReplyDeleteWe are now that strong effective team!!!!!