Saturday, January 15, 2011

Power To The People - The Written Contract



Things are moving along in our quest to negotiate a written contract. It is amazing that every subject has so many parts to it. This is an eye opening experience for those who are in the room as reps. WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

Thank you to all of those people across the country from other unions, other International Unions and their officials, Labor Publications, the AFL-CIO, Labor radio stations, other can plants and breweries for your support.

A special thanks to the IBEW Local 363 members at Ball Metal and Tony Russo Chief Steward for meeting with our guys at MCC. It is very much appreciated Tony and crew.


The mix of people that we have on the bargaining committee makes this a great group to work with. They are all really concerned with representing each and every one of you to the fullest extent that they can.

None of this would be possible if the PEOPLE in the plant did not take action to better their situation and contact the IBEW.

IBEW 363 and the MCC workers - We are really a perfect mix.


Get ready to digest a few subjects here on the blog as we go further into negotiations. We may have an open discussion or two coming up at some point.

Power To The People.

Stay solid, stay strong

53 comments:

  1. Yes! Power to the people! All we want is a fair contract!

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  2. Hey Sam, I talk to some people last night.Someone had a concern about the schedule, they would like to go to a 2,3,3,2. Which would give us every other weekend off. Maybe that's one of the subjects the people would like to kick around.

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  3. To Mr. (or Ms.) No Vote; (From the last post)
    You voted no, you didn't attend any meetings after the vote. Now you want to be e-mailed on the progression of the contract. You now want to be involved. Why the big change of heart? Did reality sneak up and kick you in the ass? Saw the light that you swore the majority was blinded by? Welcome to the big show. Most would say you have an alterior motive. I say:
    Sam! Time for a General Meeting; let's fill the hall, give the lowdown, update and where we are going.
    Mr. or Ms. No: SHOW UP! Be involved. If you have dissent, voice it, you'll actually be heard. You have shown that you have at the least curiosity. Be a part of the process, the community. Bring along your other "no-birds". Join the process. It's the only game in town and you could have box seats. You are reaching out and we are reaching back. The greater the support, the greater the return. It's a good thing.

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  4. Yes voter ,no voter, it doesnt matter anymore. We are one plant.one union. There is nothing but a good tomorrow to look forward too. Unless the company refuses to be reasonable.

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  5. I agree with you 7:06. We are trying hard to come up with a fair contract for everybody. What we had was nothing. What we need is something.

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  6. If the contract is in place by the end of Feb., will the pay increase take effect as of the 1st of the year?

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  7. Just a matter of opinion, no fact involved, I'd say doubtful.

    Remember InBev's pay system.

    April 1st to March 31st.

    This way brito can get a bigger bonus, and so can all his managers.

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  8. Negotiations between union members and their employer were at an impasse. The union denied that their workers were flagrantly abusing their contract's sick-leave provisions.

    One morning at the bargaining table, the company's chief negotiator held aloft the morning edition of the newspaper, "This man," he announced, "called in sick yesterday!" There, on the sports page, was a photo of the supposedly ill employee, who had just won a local golf tournament with an excellent score.

    A union negotiator broke the silence in the room. "Wow," he said. "Think of what kind of score he could have had if he hadn't been sick!"

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  9. wow 7:48 sounds like a manager who's crew was short or something and took it personal just like the newburgh management team I'll say it again this is not personal it is about my future !

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  10. 4 salaried staff leaving in such a short time. Why?Im sure there is a reasonable explaination.Lets look at the ones that are staying. They couldnt get a job anywhere else if they tried.

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  11. What does the Titanic and Metal container have in common? Both had rats jumping ship.

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  12. Hey Dale can you take HR and the victory dancer with you PLEASE!

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  13. Is it really true that 4 upper management staffers leaving in under a month or close to it?

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  14. power to the people

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  15. Dale Good Luck we know why you are leaving you don't need to say a word the dancer no one likes working for hin.....

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  16. Lets try to keep it clean and focus on the subject at hand: We are trying to get a written contract for the benefit of the workers in the MCC plant.

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  17. 8:13 - not true. Larger time frame, not all management, and most for reasons other than just quitting. There are a lot of rumors going around, and they're simply not true.

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  18. Why is everyone quitting? Dan K---any ideas? How about some communication? Who is next?

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  19. A professor stood before his philosophy class
    and had some items in front of him.
    When the class began, wordlessly,
    He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
    And proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

    He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
    They agreed that it was.

    The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
    them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
    The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.

    He then asked the students again if the jar was full... They agreed it was.

    The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
    Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
    He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

    The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
    filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

    'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
    'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life...
    The golf balls are the most important things - family,
    children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions –
    Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

    The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

    The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

    'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
    there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
    The same goes for life.

    If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
    You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

    So...

    Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
    Play With your children.
    Take time to get medical checkups.
    Take your partner out to dinner.

    There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

    'Take care of the golf balls first --
    The things that really matter.
    Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

    One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented..

    The professor smiled.
    'I'm glad you asked'.

    It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
    there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

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  20. Good Luck Dale in your future endeavors!

    Now, lets get back to gettin' a contract!

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  21. As an airplane is about to crash, a female passenger jumps up frantically and announces, "If I'm going to die, I want to die feeling like a woman."

    She removes all her clothing and asks, "Is there someone on this plane who is man enough to make me feel like a woman?"

    A man stands up, removes his shirt and says, "Here, iron this!".

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  22. I dont know about all that warm fuzzy stuff about Dale. He tormented me everytime I worked with him. He was a bully too. He is the reason why I voted for yes the union. I always felt afraid for my job when I knew Dale would be around.He has lied and written me up.Im glad we have some protection now.

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  23. Im with 9:01. Dale can you take Jason Owens with you.It will be the best for Metal Container.

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  24. You know, it IS possible to build yourselves up without tearing other people down. Get a grip. Stay strong, but grow up.

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  25. Could use one of the those sick days today. Drank too much last night. The plant is running like shit today. We need the protection of the union from write ups based on lies. Grow up assholes! The contract is to protect us from the company. All of us, even the "NO" votes. I would rather pay the union dues to protect us from company policy than trust the steering team who were FREE!

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  26. 12:17 I guess you never were a target by Dale or Jason Owens.I did my job but was targeted by Dale on more than one occasion. Both him and Jason lie to cover their asses and throw people under the bus to avoid showing how little they understand their processes.Prime example is the flanger line 1. If they knew what they were doing the damage that has been produced and not held would not be going to the customer. Watch, it will come back to haunt us and the operator will get the blame.

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  27. Its a shame Dale and Jason had to be turning a wrench at all. After all we are all getting paid as mechanics. The contract will protect alot of mechanics sitting on the sorter!! Start seeing the trees and not the forest. We need a contract in writing to ensure there is no dead wood. This is about an even playing field for all. Support your crew's reps and share your ideas. What is done is done, start building for a better future. Be constructive!

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  28. Jason,and Dale, and the victory dancer at the helm. Gee, no wonder our plant wont run. I hope Holly can shake off the reputation that those 3 have made.

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  29. Once there were three blind mice who lived in a museum. One evening after the museum had closed and it was very quiet, the first mouse crawled into a huge suit of armor.

    Before he knew it, he was lost.

    "Help!" he shouted to his friends,"Help me make it though the knight!"

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  30. dale Spencer leaving!!!! not a surprise now If we can get rid of Jason Owens because he doesn't know anything about how to make cans "whats the matter warren your military circus breaking up" its about time this is a move that should have never happend Jason never made a can in his life dale was a front ender and look they are running the whole back end funny how the weekend comes and the plant runs all i have to say is good luck dale beware Jason bye warren, Dave, Dan you messed up this plant so bad that you made it so the whole salaried staff is quiting Big Tony is coming to clean house wouldn't want to be in your shoes "oh have a nice day"

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  31. First off I want to say goodbye and good luck to Dale. Next I want to say to all the people out there that the union is no magical fix all for everyone. This will work by all the hard work we put into it and how we conduct ourselves with management. True there are alot of managers leaving but so far the ones they have brought in seem to be working out well and isn't it a coincidence that they have come from union plants. I think you will see alot of new union management coming to our plant and hopefully this will continue to work out for us. This is Tony's way of cleaning house. GO UNION 363. Everyone stay strong and stay union positive. We are all in this together.

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  32. Also I want everyone to remember John F. Kennedy's favorite saying "Don't ask what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country" This applies so much to what is going on with our new union drive to be the best union we can be. Everyone step forward and make a difference!!!

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  33. I agree that union workers have a level of professionalism they have to adhere too. We have a chance to put up or shut up. Im not afraid of working hard as long as our leaders are not running in circles without a clue in which direction to go. No sense in following someone off a cliff. We need to tell the company in a professional manner what our problems are and what needs to be done to correct them. In a professional manner,without emotion. We have to steer this ship in the right direction and then get behind it and row like hell.

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  34. Part of our problem at metal container is that people on the floor run the process all day everyday and see, feel,and live with the problems on the floor.While the managers are so disconnected from the process that they dont experience the issues. They get told what they are and try to make decisions without knowing , or experiencing what they are. How can someone possibly know how hot a frying pan is without feeling it first? The new superintendants come from union facilities and they are definitly better at their jobs than those of their predecessors,maybe because they know how to deal with problems the right way. They are there. Not in an office or on the computer.They are on the floor getting the resources we need. I hope the rest of management put aside egos and learn from our new superintendants.

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  35. 4:06 I couldnt agree more.

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  36. That's why Holly is so good at what she does!! I can work for her. Warren who?

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  37. Glad to finally be having a contract at MCC! Thanks for that opportunity 363!

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  38. One night at Cheers, Cliff Clavin explained the "Buffalo Theory" to his buddy, Norm. "Well ya see, Norm, it's like this. A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine! That's why you always feel smarter after a few beers."

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  39. Oh 7:09 You must drink a lot of beer man. You are a genius dude !!!!!!! Well said

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  40. There was a lot of talk last night at work that there will be a sign on bonus if we get a contract in place by march. Is that true?

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  41. thats first time I heard it.

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  42. How much is it? Do we get it or the union keeps it?

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  43. I see the asswipes are back

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  44. That's a good one, this isn't like being drafted by the Mets in the first round. A sign on bonus? Great rumor.
    So the Dale Spencer era ends next Friday. Good luck Dale. Who's next?
    Does this mean the Dancin' Fool will have to journey out of his lair and actually manage something? or will they load up on another manager that already can't handle what he's already got? Stay tuned..... it should be interesting.

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  45. To quote an anonymous manager regarding the recent exodus, "there's a lot of surfing going on" among the salaried staff. Who can blame them? AB's number one advertising man quit two weeks before the most important ad campaign of the year, the super bowl. Doesn't that tell you something about the morale among salaried folks?

    Yes, we need to do our best every day...and we need to get a contract in place. But long term, the best thing that could happen would be to get sold to a company which still has some respect for it's employees, be they hourly or salaried.

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  46. Wow, Holly's leaving now too.

    She did right by me, and I was hoping that she'd take over the plant when Dan K. leaves.

    Good for her, she's going to Jax, and got a promotion.

    I wish here the best of luck.

    Why do I feel like steerage on the HMS Titanic.

    Sure, there's plenty of lifeboats, trust me I work for InBev.

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  47. Hey Sam,
    Maybe its time to call Lehman and ask why corporate is allowing all these managers to leave. There was a time they wouldnt allow anyone to escape.Maybe we are for sale again.Who knows, but if its true Holly is jumping ship too and they arent stopping anyone. Something is going on.

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  48. I will make a call Monday to see what I can find out.

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  49. Well, unfortunately Warren hasn't and will not leave. The only other job he could do is at Chucky Cheese as you know who.

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  50. wow maybe all these managers are leaving because they don't want to work in a union environment....

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