You are being represented very well in the negotiations by your reps. They are helping IBEW Local 363 to cover every issue - looking through your eyes. You should feel proud to have these people there for you. IBEW Local 363 is also proud of them and the way they handle themselves during discussions and bargaining back and forth. We have had some enlightening and great discussions and ALL are with your benefit and welfare in mind.
Thank you to EVERYONE for your support and for your interest in bargaining. There is an understandable question by some about the time it takes to come to an agreement. Through collective bargaining, we are going over EACH SIDES concerns on every subject. It is a thorough and technical process but it pays off later to cover and discuss issues now.
We are there to voice YOUR side of the coin. Let me provide the following information in regard to our bargaining in an attempt to answer some of your concerns and questions.
WE HAVEN'T covered wages, pension or health coverage at all.
WE HAVE discussed holidays, shutdowns, vacation pay, scheduling, shifts and shift pay, hours of work, seniority, call ins, call backs, injuries on job and off, show up pay, time off between shifts, overtime, tools, breaks, lunch, team leaders, temporary assignments, overtime pay, overtime procedure, disciplinary procedures, company doctors, Supervisors doing your work, safety, emergencies, employee doctors, return to work, grievance procedure, arbitration rules, transfers, pay issues, personal issues, leaves of absence, length of contract, renewing the contract, modifying the contract, who is covered, what is covered, workers rights, management rights, time clocks.
There is so much to cover with each and every subject.
Most of those subjects listed above still have unanswered parts but we have made some progress. We try to understand each others point of view and it works pretty good in most cases.
We don't agree on everything yet and we probably will never both agree on every single separate thing. But when we are done we will agree that as a whole it is a fair contract. That is when we will be done. IBEW Local 363 won't stop negotiating for you until that happens either.
When we are done you will have the fairest contract we can negotiate. We will bring it back to you with every detail when we reach that point.
My best guess of when that will be is May or June. We want it closer to May. The fact is that only time and discussion will tell.
Stay Strong Stay Solid
Thanks Sam for the update. Thank you reps for the job that your doing. I dont care if its may or june just make a good one.whats another months or two.
ReplyDeleteGo Reps! Go IBEW! Thank you guys for doing what it takes to get us our contract. Thank you Sam for letting us know where we are so far. I agree with Night Owl, whatever month we get our contract is not important. Paying attention to detail like you guys are is more important.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam for the update. Give'em hell!
ReplyDeleteDitto! The entire plant is with you guys. Don't listen to the one guy who keeps posting negative, he is way outnumbered and just wants to throw you off course. Don't waste any time on management pets. Go 363
ReplyDeleteAnother week of negotiations are finished and we did accomplish alot at the table and we continue to explain to Mike Forte about our concerns and needs as a whole plant. Mike is a good guy who voices his concerns but also listens very well to what we have to say. I know people are wondering whats taking so long and wondering why we didn't just whip this out. People need to understand we are going word for word and sometimes one word can cause an hour of discussion between both sides. We as your reps are commited to bringing the best and fairest contract we can back to our brothers and sisters at the plant. We are hoping to wrap this up by May or June but please everyone just be patient because believe me this is not as easy as people may seem to think it is. When the contract is done it will be one that we can all be proud of and move forward as a team with help from Sam and local 363. Everything will be in writing and nothing will be guess work anymore. Believe me when I say you will be happy with the wording and you will see what has taken us a very long time with alot of committment from all your reps. We were at the negotiating table very late last night to try to help speed this up and we are sacrificing much time away from our families to make this happen. and believe me I am happy to be part of this. Sam and Steve have been great in our best interests and I truly believe we could not have found two better people to represent our plant. In my final statement I just ask everyone to please be patient and we all promise we will deliver a great contract for Mcc Newburgh because we are a great plant with the best workforce around. Stay strong all my friends.
ReplyDeleteThank you to all the reps that are there at the table representing all of us
ReplyDeleteBob U. (and all the othr reps) Thank you for your hard work and the updates. I know it's a long process but seems to be moving along. Keep plugging away and your hard work will pay off for the Newburgh Team. Have a good weekend. Go Team.....
ReplyDeleteIts good to hear that things are getting there.Its been great at work since the union vote and I am glad I voted yes.I havent been really watching this blog much but I was curious on how it was going.Going back a few days it sounds like we are getting close.when are the details of the contract going to be given to us?Im not rushing, just was wondering how it works. Keep up the good work. By the way our shop stewarts have been helpful in giving us what they can.
ReplyDelete4:17 PM - The time frame for bringing forth all of the details will be after we are done and are satisfied with every issue as best as we can be.
ReplyDeleteRight after that we will present the entire contract to the members.
Thank you everyone for the phone calls, support, emails and comments on this blog. You are all a great group to work with.
Great job Sam, Steve & all our reps. Thanks for all the time spent on something so important to us all.
ReplyDeleteYup we have needed this for a long time. Good to have a union.
ReplyDeleteanother good week again. Our plant seems to be on a sustained run of good quality,production and low spoilage.
ReplyDeleteWatch when Tony shows up his biggest concern will be how dirty the plant is.that will be his biggest complaint. Well if thats all he can complain about. That aint bad.Im sure he still feels uncomfortable coming to Newburgh.
I guess the boogieman wasnt all that scary after all was he?The union has actually helped people feel at ease again and let them concentrate on them doing their jobs instead of all that changing nonsense that ensued.
I agree with what the previous person wrote. Look back at when we were having all of our meetings against the union. funny , where did all that extra time go? It is amazing when you look back and rememebr what they told us it would be like. None of it came true. It actualy has improved our work relationship with each other and brought calm to the plant. The union is a winner for us already. Can't wait to get our contract and to work like adults. A big thank you to my coworkers who called in Sam and 363.
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome. We needed it more than we knew at the time.
ReplyDeleteIsnt it amazing how quiet things have gotten with the exception of the temporary superintendant on D crew.I dont think he is capable of understanding that his behavior is wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe above blogs are correct in saying the how people are interacting on the floor.Everything is quiet and it seems to me we are working together better than before. More people are eager to work to make things right.
When Dan asked people to go to extrameetings to help come up with ideas on how to correct problems in the plant, people on the floor responded and the results are higher production and lower spoilage.
This proves if you treat people with respect and give them hope of a brighter future, they will respond in a positive manner.
See what happens when you keep the victory dancer off the floor and some of the problem managers gone. We arent all the way there but we are getting better.There is more available as long as the company keeps the positive things coming.
I hope that our upper management understands this response and wants things to get even better.Motivation for people to perform is hinged directly on how they are treated and compensated.Its that simple.
the best asset of MCC Newburgh are the people there with an average of 18-19 years experiance in everything that has to do with can making and all with good attitudes. be a shame if they lost all that extra effort we give over not treating us fairly at the negotiations. lets work together and that means take care of us a little and we will take care of you. dont forget that 114% increase that you got off of my sweat
ReplyDeleteI would say all workers (not just ones with 18-19 years experience) with good attitudes, good work ethic, and willing to put in a honest days work are an asset to the company. Also sweating is an average days work sometimes. Unless you think you can hang out in an air conditioned office all day.. Anything else?
ReplyDelete7:40 pm. You sound pretty arrogant to me. What makes somebody with 18-19 years experience (you spelled that wrong) better than anyone else? Get a grip..We all work there together and we all want to make it better for us and families. Tell me--What makes you so much better?
ReplyDelete8:50--I agree. It sounds like 7:40 is either part of managememt or a little kid. (with the way the spell, lack of capital letters, and punctuation marks) The last i looked--we all work at the same place. I would think you get a paycheck every 2 weeks like the rest of us do. Regarding your last sentence-(whatever that meant--off my sweat)
ReplyDeleteWell the good news is that we are negotiating our contract with everyone in mind, old timers and not so old timers. We are all part of the IBEW now. No need to split ourselves up by age or anything else. We are one.
ReplyDeleteWe need a contract in writing.
ReplyDeleteWe are all good workers, we wouldn't have been hired if we hadn't displayed some skill or special talent that was required at the time. 7:40 isn't really so wrong, who taught everyone else who followed the ins and outs, the little things that made it better or worse in how you did your job. Regardless of when you were hired here someone had to teach you your job. Without the first management group here, all veteran can and beer pro's, we wouldn't be the "World Class" facility we are now. Never the less we are all excellent employees. Deserving of a just contract. We are all united under one banner, one common theme. A Union contract to protect all our best interests.
ReplyDelete7:40: It was 141% for the 4th business quarter, USA. This company seems to work on 2 different schedules when it suits them. European schedule for raises, budgets, etc. (May 1 to April 30) Then USA schedule when they want to grease you (Jan 1 to Dec 31) for your extra health care $$ etc.
Keep it going strong.
Getting ready for another night at the grind stone, thank God we are on our way to working under a contract. Proud to be union!
ReplyDeleteI am proud of my friends at MCC for finally being able to turn things around.
ReplyDeleteWhat would be the purpose of the company sand bag'in until Oct. or Nov.? Keep the pressure up IBEW and reps! We need a contract.
ReplyDeleteNo sand bag'in going on. just lots of work at the table. The contract she is coming soon.
ReplyDeleteI raise my beer to all the reps putting in the extra effort to make my job a better place to work. Thank you and cheers
ReplyDeleteyour welcome and im having one for all of you.
ReplyDeletelast week we had a great week.Great job everyone. We did our job. Now its time for corporate to do theirs. I think we need to hire a door to door can salesman. Isnt it amazing we can produce so many cans with such low spoilage, so cheap. ABINBEV should be glad they couldnt sell us. Keep the cans coming.
ReplyDeletehey, reps., your job is very hard and time consuming,for that, we all thank you, and thanks to sam and company, also! please take your time, as you said, in the end, a written contract will pay off so nicely,again, a big thank-you!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt is a wonderful thing to have such caring people who have spent their time off representing us all. Im sure that you are doing a fine job. I appreciate it, thank you all so much.
ReplyDeleteLets keep up the good work with quality, I like a few days off as much as the next guy, but closing the plant a few days in April worries me a little. We all need to keep up the good work so they can get more business for us.
ReplyDeleteDont worry. Be happy!
ReplyDeleteWorried in Newburgh. Keep doing the best you can at work. The only way we can help ourselves is for us to be the lowest cost highest quality can manufacturer in the business.All the other union plants do not operate like us.We are not going to hurt this company one bit. Instead we are going to continue being the best and set the standard for others to follow.If we continue the tradition of excellant work in Newburgh and continue the on going process of statistical controls then we will be succesful.The good weather is coming and sales will pick up.Believe and have confidence.Isnt work a better place now than before.This is proof that Our union is strong. Our union is being looked at by different industries in the U.S.. Ask Sam and he will direct you to all the agencies contacting the union about us!Go Newburgh 363.
ReplyDeleteMore talk this week that the retirement is going away in 2012. Scary, because that's what some of us are working for. Preparing fr old age.
ReplyDeleteThat is because management needs the money that goes to fund our pension. That is why we called in the IBEW and what a great decision that was.
ReplyDeleteall you reps, a big thank you, you have a hard job, but you are doing well, thank you, and keep up the good work, that goes out to the IBEW, also, big thanks, yup, we shutten down again!, more money saving tricks !!
ReplyDeleteThe union and reps are not going to let the company take our retirement away. Thats why we voted in the union. To protect our pension and wages. It will all be covered in the written contract. Cant wait to see how much we are getting added to our pension and wages. Support the reps and union. Give em hell IBEW and reps. Union made! I have faith you guys will not let us down.
ReplyDelete10:36 pm seems to me that you are baiting instead of waiting. Haven't you heard prior to the union coming in what the ABINBEV plans were for us and understand that is what caused us all to organize? Like I said, either you are bustin chops or very nieve about who we work for now. Also that is the second time you cut and pasted that comment.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I say we walk out if they screw us.
No walk, just continue to talk. We'll deal with what the Boys From Brazil and Company try to do to our pension when we get to that bridge. Right now let's focus on what we need now. Our first conract. This is the most impotrtant task at hand right now and it is proceding rather well. And remember MONEY hasn't entered the negotiation equation yet. Stay tuned, bulletins when they happen............
ReplyDeletekookoo kachoo walrus man. I say if they mess with our pension the price for them will be more than they can calculate.We are the eggmen.
ReplyDeleteIsnt there laws that prohibit the company from taking away our money that they told us we would have?
ReplyDeleteYes, they cannot take away what you have earned already.
ReplyDeleteWhy would the company want to take away something that everyone that works for them feels so strongly about? Do they want to take it away from the breweries too when they negotiate their contract? They did it to their own management staff through out the corporation while netting billions for the company. Cant anyone talk some sense into the top level managers. I would hate to see quality or production suffer due to a demotivated work force. ABINBEV has earned recently a number one status in being the best beverage company.This has to be a reflection of the workers that work for the company. If the brewery sees how the hourlies are treated in our contract, does the company understand that it reflects how the hourlies at the brewery will be treated? I hope so because I am sure that a demotivated work force wont sustain the number one status very long. I can only hope they understand how big our contract is to all the hourly employees through out the company.
ReplyDeleteHi. Seems quiet lately? Any new developments? Were there mettings this week? How is the new contract looking?
ReplyDeleteHey Cliffy - thanks for checking in. So far we look pretty good actually. There were no meetings this week ( we met last week ) - we meet in April next and are working on a date. The update above is still current and in case you skipped over it:
ReplyDeleteWE HAVEN'T covered wages, pension or health coverage at all.
WE HAVE discussed holidays, shutdowns, vacation pay, scheduling, shifts and shift pay, hours of work, seniority, call ins, call backs, injuries on job and off, show up pay, time off between shifts, overtime, tools, breaks, lunch, team leaders, temporary assignments, overtime pay, overtime procedure, disciplinary procedures, company doctors, Supervisors doing your work, safety, emergencies, employee doctors, return to work, grievance procedure, arbitration rules, transfers, pay issues, personal issues, leaves of absence, length of contract, renewing the contract, modifying the contract, who is covered, what is covered, workers rights, management rights, time clocks.
Sam, Thank you for the updates. Keep up the good work. So much going on and still so much to do. No rush. I just hope it it better for us in the long run. I would also like to thank all the reps for their hard work. To all the workers at the plant--Be safe and kick some ass..
ReplyDeleteHey has anybody had problems loggin on to the wellness program. I heard there are difficulties in accessing what was promised by the company.
ReplyDelete10:18 pm No one has said that to my knowledge. If your computer works elsewhere, you should go see Dave Lehman and tell him you are having an issue. I am sure he will be able to give you the answers you need. If there is a problem that you need help with, contact your steward and he will contact me.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam will do.
ReplyDeleteWhat happens if you can no longer do the job you have the module for but haven't done in a long time. Will you lose money? How about an answer Jason Dave or Dan?? Maybe tony knows.
ReplyDeleteAsk for update training.
ReplyDeleteYou will lose your job.
ReplyDeleteI heard the comments that a certain sector leader has been making about everyone is going to be retested to see if they can still do their job.Also that if they cant remember how to do certain things they will be reclassified.
ReplyDeleteWell if they are going to do that I certainly hope that they start with that certain sector leader first, because that idiot doesnt know much about the area he works in and maybe they will put someone else in there that does know what they are doing. That sector leader depends on others to explain everything to him and still he cant make the proper decisions.
Right now with negotiations going on ,they are not allowed to do anything with your pay. They can't take way anything. That would be a labor violation. Which the UNION would certainly file on your behalf.
ReplyDeleteYeah dont listen to the mumblings of Jason Owens.He keeps babbling about nothing. If Jason continues his abuse of the employees on D crew the company will be held liable for the harassment charges that are going to be filed.He is on the edge and something should be done before something bad happens.By the way. We know management is watching this blog. Please restrain your animal before he bites somebody and you get sued.
ReplyDeleteagreed! trying to get him up to speed is like trying to explain calculus to a pile of bricks...
ReplyDeleteit just doesn't go well....
Please get us a real supervisor soon? thx, the d-crew dog.
Jason is so into everyone else he doesn't realize he's being used by management. He keeps the drink stirred just enough to try and keep us off balance. When the contract is finished he will be the first one shipped out by management themselves. Do you realize the amount of grievences he'll produce himself. That cost the company money in which they are not willing to pay. Hang in there folks and it'll pass. Just remember saying "I'm doing the best I can" will never get you fired at Metal Container. Superman will be up up and away for good
ReplyDeleteYou know thats a great point,but I still think that he has recently been outdoing his self as a super villian. Soon he will be charged, because the next time he starts we are not putting up with his sarcastic and degrading remarks, and his actions are legally defined as harassment. If the company wants to waste money on his defense then they can waste more on grievances that will certainly follow.Either way, the days of having to submit ourselves to harassment are coming to an end.
ReplyDeleteDont worry about Jason.Just keep doing your job he cant bother you. They are already aware of his behavior. They cant afford to have any charges filed against them. His actions are not legal.
ReplyDeleteIs management aware of what Jason is doing? Do they support him? I've heard of the complaints from the guys on D crew, but I don't know of any other crew supervisors acting that way. Hang in there guys, hopefully a new supervisor is on its way and we can all say good bye to the man of steel.
ReplyDeleteOf course they are aware! He's the big spoon! Stirring everyone up, trying to get a rise out his target. And I agree with 3/20, 4:40 AM. If there is retesting for job knowledge they should start with the area managers. If they don't know their area inside and out why should I? How can they fairly rate someone's performance if they aren't able to understand the job? God forbid maybe even be able to do the job! Leadership at it's best. They should be lucky that most hourlies give a honest answer and don't feed bogus info to make them look as dumb as they can be. If you remeber when they had the first mangement bloodletting he was a man without a job. They made room for him, so, it's pucker up time, chapstick please, and if that means borderline harrassment he'll do it. He will eventually cross the line into grievance land. Be patient, continue the great job we are doing.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 3:32 but which Sector Leader are you talking about? In my mind at least 2 are clueless and one actually "worked" in his area for over 20 years. I hear there aren't as many "leaders" to chose from.
ReplyDeleteI wouldnt use the term leaders but thats their titl. Make sure that when Jason Owens harasses anyone ,make sure you document what happens and pass along the info to the union.This is just getting way out of hand.
ReplyDeleteOWENS---back off
ReplyDeleteNah,
ReplyDeleteLet him keep doing what he is doing. Its the only way he will get fired and hopefully sued.
Getting testy here again. Just bring home the bacon from the table and ignore the bad boys. They're just a diversion. The real issues haven't been discu$$ed yet.
ReplyDeleteProud to be IBEW 363! Sam will wipe the floor with Jason if he gets in his way.
ReplyDeleteIt's Process Superintendent. Get it right! Not a leader of anything. Do you think?
ReplyDeleteAs we draw closer to our goal, certain people are either becoming jealous or just plain rude.Forget [JASON] AND ANYONE THAT WOULD TRY TO INTIMADATE YOU. This IS drawing to a conclusion and we are the draw card to the world.OUR CONCLUSION OF OUR TRIP WILL SHOW THE WORLD THAT WE, THE AMERICAN WORKERS CAN STILL BATTLE STRIFE AND OVER BEARING OWNERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT. SO , TEAM MEMBERS AND FRIENDS // BE COOL // BE POLITE //BE UNION // BE 363 // BE RESPECTFUL [AS USUAL] DAKOTA P.S. WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE YOU CAN ALL LINEUP BEHIND ME TO HELP JASON TO WHERE EVER JASON WANTS TO GO RESPECTFULLY AGAIN DAKOTA
ReplyDeleteYa know what? I cant wait until the day we can walk into work with a fair and reasonable contract. I want to Hold my head high and extend to the company a handshake to seal the start of a new era. Not only for me and my brothers and sisters of Newburgh Mcc IBEW members, but for the rest of the United States and all the average middleclass workers. I want us to be a beacon of hope to those who are struggling in this country. We have endured a long road,but a roed that needs to be driven to get where we all want to be.Go 363
ReplyDeleteroad sorry.
ReplyDeleteAs I was growing up, the old adage was pressed into my persona. "If you have nothing good to say, it's best to say nothing at all." It stuck.
ReplyDeleteI have participated in a number of Climate Studies since my employ at MCC. I've seen the results get perverted, I've seen safety ignored, working conditions degrade, and morale completely demolished. On each survey I've watched MCC Newburgh diminish. It's sad to see what could be a good place to work sabotaged by the Management Team. On the last survey I recalled a line from the movie "War Games", which stated, "The best way to win is not to play." This time I decided not to play, I guess that means no pizza for me. The survey results, which are best described as dismal, are not a reflection of the entire plant as our leadership would like us to believe. It is a true representation of the failure of the Management Team at Newburgh MCC. The failure is Management's alone. The true measure of Managements complete failure is that when we could no longer trust them, when we could no longer rely on their decision making capabilities, and we grew tired of their lies, we were forced to find representation. Thank you IBEW 363 for being there in our darkest hour, when we needed you most.
Where are those result of their very important survey?
ReplyDeleteOn a scale of 1 - 5. 1=strongly agree, 5=strongly disagree
ReplyDeleteI would be a happier employee if I got the pay raise I haven't had in 2 years, was not asked to pay more than what I am currently paying for healthcare benefits and was not forced to pay for a 4o1k plan custodian that is substandard to the one I used to get at no cost.
In response to the question about the Wellness Program. There is a posting in the cafeteria that explains what is going on.
ReplyDeleteThere are upgrades being made - in plant checks for blood pressure, sugar levels -we had that service a few years ago but this time there will be a monetary incentive to participate.
The post is in the cabinet by the sink. It's supposed to rollout the beginning of May.
ok thanks Diane, but is the program not functioning until may?
ReplyDeleteYes, that's the way I read the notice.
ReplyDelete