Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Next Meetings Are Scheduled For 9/14 and 9/16 In Harriman

The next meetings for the IBEW Local 363 MCC Newburgh members will be held on two separate days - Tuesday September 14 and Thursday September 16 in Harriman.

The purpose of these meetings will be to select who each crew believes should be the Shop Steward/Alternate and the Negotiator/Alternate. It is possible that a person can be both the negotator and the Shop Steward or they can be different people. That is up to each Crew.

Here are the times for the meetings and which Crew each meeting is for:

A/B Crew come to Harriman on Tuesday September 14 at 1PM.
C/D Crew come to Harriman on Thursday September 16 at 1PM.
Maintenance Crew come on Thursday September 16 at 5:30PM.
Machinists will cast a vote in each Crew they work under and should come on the same night that their two crews come.


Here are some things that everyone should know BEFORE putting their name in for any of these jobs:

Shop Steward/Alternate - need to be available any day and any time for phone calls from Local 363 and your co-workers, this includes nights, weekends, days off and holidays. You need to be available on short notice for meetings that will most likely be in Harriman. You need to treat everyone fairly - even management. You will need to follow the lead of Local 363 at all times. YOU need to know that you can be removed by the Business Manager at any time. Basically, when you become Shop Steward you are agreeing to devote any and all time it takes - without question - to move the people business forward. Shop Steward/Alternates will also devote whatever time neccessary to read, study, learn and digest whatever contract materials, laws or proposals that are brought to your attention for as long as you hold that position. You need a level head and understanding manner about you. YOU ALSO NEED TO BE A ROLE MODEL TO ALL OTHER MEMBERS AT AND AWAY FROM WORK.

Negotiator/Alternate- need to be available any day and any time for phone calls from Local 363 and your co-workers, this includes nights, weekends, days off and holidays. You need to be available on short notice for MANY meetings that will most likely be in Harriman. You need to treat everyone fairly - even management. You will need to follow the lead of Local 363 at all times. YOU need to know that you can be removed by the Business Manager at any time. Basically, when you become a negotiating committee member you are agreeing to devote any and all time it takes - without question - to move the people business forward. Negotiator/Alternates will also devote whatever time neccessary to read, study, learn and digest whatever contract materials or proposals that are brought to the table for as long as the process takes. You need a level head and understanding manner about you. YOU ALSO NEED TO BE A ROLE MODEL TO ALL OTHER MEMBERS AT AND AWAY FROM WORK.

You probably noticed that both descriptions are very similiar. They both pertain to representing the interests of EVERYONE in our union. It is a HUGE responsibility. It is not a job to take for the "title". It is a lot of hard work and time away from your family.

We have many good people in our group who may not have the time to devote to put their name in for these positions but who will still be available to help. We need to know who you are too! Everyone can help and be part of this and everyone is welcome to be part of it.

See you all on 9/14 aand 9/16 in Harriman.

32 comments:

  1. We will be there and we are ready to move forward. We are following the plan to be the best at making cans and now we are ready to begin to build our part of Local 363 to be the best too.

    Us joining IBEW Local 363 is the best thing I have seen happen in all of the years I have been here.

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  2. what happens if nobody is interested in these positions on our crew? then what do we do?

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  3. Colonel Wilhelm KlinkSeptember 8, 2010 at 3:26 PM

    A union steward or shop steward is an official within the organizational hierarchy of a labor union. Rank-and-file members of the union hold this position voluntarily (through democratic election by fellow workers or sometimes by appointment of a higher union body) while maintaining their role as an employee of the firm. As a result, the Union Steward becomes a significant link and conduit of information between the union leadership and rank-and-file workers.

    The duties of a union steward vary according to each labor union's constitutional mandate for the position. In general, most union stewards perform the following functions:

    * Monitor and enforce the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement (labor contract) to ensure both the firm and union worker are not violating the terms of the agreement.
    * Ensure that the firm is in compliance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations.
    * Represent and defend fellow workers whom the firm believes violated company policy or the terms and conditions of the collective bargaining agreement, often through the grievance process.
    * Communicate and disseminate official union policy, memos and directives to workers in the shop.
    * Popularize and promote union consciousness and values in the workplace.

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  4. Sam I could not make the last meeting caused I worked a swap but I will be there on the 14th. Can you please post the directions again from Newburgh. Thanks Sam.

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  5. So roamer has it that Dan L is being a ass.You were right about one thing he talks so bad about them up front.He was hope in that Warren would lose his job so he would'nt have to deal with him any more.

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  6. 2:05 - that is not a problem - some people cannot devote the time - if that is the case I guarrantee will find someone to do it.

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  7. DIRECTIONS TO HARRIMAN - THRUWAY SOUTH FROM NEWBURGH EXIT - FOLLOW TO EXIT 16 HARRIMAN - GO THROUGH TOLLS - TAKE FIRST RIGHT - STAY IN LEFT LANE - MAKE LEFT ONTO RT17 - FOLLOW TO THE FIFTH LIGHT - MAKE LEFT ONTO COMMERCE DRIVE SOUTH - SEE ANSCAM BUILDING ON CORNER - FOLLOW COMMERCE DRIVE SOUTH BACK TO END - WE ARE ON THE LEFT SIDE ALL THE WAY BACK.

    SEE YOU THERE!

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  8. I want to know of any manager who is not portraying a positive attitude on the production floor - When I see Tony I will let him know all about it.

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  9. Everyone in the country wants to know about the people in MCC Newburgh - unbelieveable!

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  10. Looking forward to the meeting and to feeling at home in the 363 Hall, which I haven't seen yet...keep the ball moving forward, brothers and sisters, knock 'em out with professionalism, and maybe, just maybe, like 'Joe the Farmer', they'll see that change ain't necessarily a bad thing!

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  11. Hmmm...looking around the plant lately, it DOES seem that there's some serious motivation present....and I think it's a better motivation than ol' Care-less Burrito has- it's not greed, it's not profit, it's not even yearly bonuses bigger than our lifetime earnings....it's just the simple fact that we believe WE ARE THE BEST AT WHAT WE DO! And it's damn nice that 363 supports that believin!

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  12. Be careful guys! be careful being alone with a manager. And be careful with the upset team members that still don't believe.

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  13. If they are so stupid that they will take a chance of being recorded breaking the law that is their problem. Maybe if and when it happens we should post the recording right here on the blog.

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  14. we need to stay in contact with team members that are working with any issues at work or any changes so the crews that are off no what to expect.

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  15. Colonel Wilhelm KlinkSeptember 9, 2010 at 1:47 PM

    Napoleon complex is a colloquial term describing an alleged type of inferiority complex which is said to affect some people, especially men, who are short in stature. The term is also used more generally to describe people who are driven by a perceived handicap to overcompensate in other aspects of their lives. This term is also known as Napoleon syndrome,[1] Short Man syndrome,[2] Little Man syndrome and Small Man syndrome.

    We need term limits for team leaders.

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  16. He is the reason I voted YES!

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  17. 5:57 Hes one of the reasons I voted yes too

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  18. Sam are you back yet? We are ready for our meeting things are looking good.

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  19. You guys did it. Good luck I was one that got fired by the kangaroo court I did'nt have a chance you will.The managers at MCC don't have
    a clue how treat people.

    KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOU ROCK !

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  20. These meetings are important to all of us. We will be laying the ground work and getting the people in place to begin what we came here for: A Contract, a collective bargaining agreement between us and MCC management. Some real "one size fits all" ground rules for management and us, the workers to follow, no more kangaroo courts, no more selective discipline. We are all in this together and it is your future. We have had our futures decided for us for a long time by a small group, detached from our situation. Attend these meetings and be a part of the process. Make your voice heard, your concerns, needs. If you can't attend let someone who will be there know what you want voiced on your behalf. Another reason to attend is the election of Stewards, Alternate Stewards and Negotiators and Alternates. All important choices. If voting whether to have a union was the biggest choice you had to make, then this is nearly as large. You will be electing the people who will negotiaite in your name, be your benefactor, your conduit to management, insurance. as well as the conract watchdogs. Yes this is a very, very important meeting for everyone. Do your best to be there. I will.

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  21. By the way from what I can see the attitude is very positive. Keep it up. we now have some 75 million cans to go to the heartland of the Brito, Brazil. Let's make sure we really impress him. Don't worry about the distractions of the ever present watch over your shoulder. We are doing good and if we stay focused we can continue to state our case with cohesion in the ranks and production going out the door. It's hard to be pushed over when you are consistantly overachieving. See you at the meeting.

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  22. Hmm, are we really overachieving? Or just realizing the potential that management kept from us for so long with their de-motivational attitude?
    They had a good thing and made it a bad one. Now, it's our turn to reverse that process.

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  23. Sam, is the "Negotiator" Prime, and Back-Up a temp position?

    Or is it a position that is a position that is used throughout the term of the union.

    How do i expalin this well?

    A negotiator is used for the initial bargaining, or all future bargaining too?

    I'd like to participate, but time is an issue for me as I'm sure it is for everyone.

    We have some good folks who are capable of doing the job, but they're intimidaed by anticipated reprisal by managemnent.

    Any suggestions?

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  24. Sam, you have alot of peoples e-mails,maybe it would be a good idea to use them,some people don"t check this site for whatever reason,i know it would be alot of work,but effective at spreadin the word-thanks

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  25. I call Them As I See ThemSeptember 10, 2010 at 8:27 PM

    We won the vote to have union representation. Now is not the time to be displaying apathy about attending the next series of union meetings. The evolution to a contract is just beginning. Be there. Think of it as the Continental Congress has just declared independence from tyranny. OK let's all go home now we won. No, no, no! The real situation is this: We won the union election, now the real work begins. We all have a stake in it, we all have to be a part in it. Now is not the time to sit back on your ass and think someone else is going to take care of you. think for you, realize what you think you deserve from a contract with this company. The negotiators are not mind readers. YOUR INPUT IS NEEDED! Be there for the meetings or this becomes another small group of people deciding what is best for the whole. Which we as a group denounced and is the reason we are where we're at. So get off your ass and show up, be seen, be heard, be a part of the show. Support what you voted for. The company takes your time (forced OT) when you don't want to be there. Give some time for something you believed in enough to make happen. Go to any meeting you can, A+B, C+D, Maintenance crew. It doesn't matter when, just be there. Thanks for your support.

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  26. You are right,we are all in this together. We have not even got started yet.

    Remember make good quility cans. Don't let your
    guard down they are watching and waiting to fire
    some of us.Only if corp could see what they do all day.

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  27. Newburgh we are getting started maybe we will all Negotiate together.

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  28. Could not have said that better myself. The members who are participating will be the ones everyone will thank later. The fact is that it is very rare that every person helps steer the ship so everybody hang on because we are getting ready to pull out of the port - whether you are in the ship stoking the engine or being pulled forward in a lifeboat.

    The moral of all of this is - in the end we all will get there and some will always be there for the ride.

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  29. we need term limits for shop stewards and negotiators also if they do a good job they
    will probably get reelected if not its open
    to get somebody stronger in!

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  30. Talk to your shop stuarts and negotiaters about your needs whatever they may be, they want your input, you have a voice take advantage of it and take some time and think about what you would like to see in your contract.

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