Thank you to all who participated in the meetings we held this week. I believe there were some great conversations and many ideas were exchanged. I don't know if you guys see it during the meetings but watching the conversation go across the room is amazing to observe. Maybe it's me but it's the raw part of the process in my mind - the ability of the people to openly discuss the issues with each other.
We made a little change and had todays meeting in the lecture room which made the seating closer than it is in the general meeting room. From my view it could have been mistaken as a version of the Hollywood Squares.
Congratulations to everyone in Newburgh for earning your award from ABINBEV for being the most improved plant in the country . I would have to say that I am also proud that you would get that distinction and honor AFTER you voted to become a part of IBEW Local 363.
It says tons about the character of the good people employed there. I saw a lot of light bulbs going off in peoples heads today and I am happy to be working with you guys.
Enjoy the picnic the company is putting on. It is a nice gesture on their part.
IBEW Local 363 is very proud that you all won that award.
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Thank you Sam, Steve and IBEW 363. A very informative meeting. I agree with the light bulbs.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to a pleasant cookout with the opportunity to discuss Newburgh's brighter future with 363!
ReplyDeleteBring on the burgers!
ReplyDeleteThank You Sam & Steve great meeting we had a great brain storming meeting.
ReplyDeleteWE ARE PROUD UNION WORKERS !!!!!!!
Can we have a cook out when we sign the contract? I would like kebabs!Just something to think about MCC.
ReplyDelete8:03, maybe we should throw that cookout ourselves, and invite management....as a sign that the plant will really be a partnership at that point!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sam for a helpful & informative meeting.
ReplyDeleteI learned alot during our meeting and had all my questions answered thank you! Also I must say in all the years working at the plant this is the first time all 160 of us are striving for the same thing and that is making the company even more profitable and hoping that it trickles down to the people that really make this organization work.
ReplyDeleteIt sure was great seeing so many people at our meeting on Friday. Thanks Sam and 363 for bringing us all together as one again. Just like the old days when "We Can" actually meant something.
ReplyDeleteLike the way your thinking 8:03, would love to invite management to a cook out and show them all we have the same goal in mind, to be the best union can plant there is.
ReplyDeleteI am looking at the big picture. With the contract we have a future to build on. Without it we will never know what we have. This will prove to be the smartest thing all of us ever could ever do as a group.
ReplyDeleteI like that idea. Lets get that guy that has that big smoker to do it. Him and his wife are great cooks. How about it Dan let us add to the burgers and we will work with you on it. Get ahold of one of the shop stewards and we will make it happen! Go Mcc Newburgh 363. The most improved plant in our system!
ReplyDeleteDitto 6:40 I fully agree I havent been this happy since my first golf outing at Stony Ford. I sure do miss that. And the christmas parties,and the kids christmas parties,and the picnics, and the spousal luncheons,and the fishing trips, and the trips to atlantic city,and the free tickets to Sea world and busch gardens,and the jackets and shirts and hats and tickets to baseball games, and the turkeys and the beer steins and finally but not least drinking beer with the plant manager in the parking lot. I miss all that. All true!
ReplyDeleteSam and Steve, and all the reps, you helped me understand whats been going on and I learned alot from your meeting. Thank you all for taking time to do this for us. It was well worth the time. Im so glad that we voted 363. Your not the boogeyman they said you would be.
ReplyDeleteTEAM MEMBERS -I think that all of those who attended meeting's this week, really know we have made the right choices.Very informative and instuctive.Also gave Sam and 363 A CHANCE TO inform some new faces about what has happening at other meeting,s they missed.New meeting start June 6, i hope to see all of you there at one time or another. Need an excuse to be there i'm buying pizza.As a contract draws closer , your reps and stewards become more and more important,let them know about issues and concerns , they are your platform. PLEASE [[BE SAFE //BE 363 // BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER ]] RESPECFULLY DAKOTA
ReplyDeleteI miss the old days too 6:57. Inbev hasnt learned yet about how to motivate. If they seriously want to improve in that area, a survey on the computer isnt the way. You have to go amongst the people and walk in their shoes for a moment. That would get more respect than clicking on a screen. It has to start with the contract, people have been going backwards with their incomes and benefits for too long.
ReplyDeleteThe belt was tight before, Inbev is cutting off its own circulation. I hope they can see that. ABInbev needs to take care of its employees, contractors and its vendors. A quality company needs,quality people.
ReplyDeleteBig celebration tomorrow,and a well deserved one. Good job MCC Newburgh on being most improved. Eat, drink and be merry! Keep up the good work, every little effort helps the contract push.
ReplyDeleteI'm really feeling good about this company! Lets do it lets make a difference. Lets all work together making newburgh the lowest spoilage plant in the system!
ReplyDeleteCongrats team Newburgh on a job well done, enjoy your celebration.
ReplyDeleteHappy to be 363. Hope the company will truly join with us and make this the best plant to work in. We have already proved that having the union here has improved our morale and helped us to feel like we have a future again. Only the company can ruin that now. I am betting they will meet us in June and settle our contract and be fair to us once again.
ReplyDeleteC&D crew cookout tomorrow yahoo i'm hungry not only for food but the desire to move forward with 363.Being the best tends to bring out the best in most team members, being 363 only enhances that feeling. June 6th starts new round of talk's and possibilty of dollars and cents entering into discussions. [[BE STRONG // BE SAFE // BE 363 // BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER ]] RESPECTFULLY DAKOTA
ReplyDeleteHope Dan breaks out the brats and adds them to the menu! Come on Dan, I know your reading this, brats and burgers. Go MCC Newburgh
ReplyDeleteWhen we get our first fair contract in place, our FIRST order of business is to step forward and join together with the management team in front of everyone and make a committment to be fair with each other and strive to be the best we possibly can TOGETHER. When those rare times come when we have issues we will work them out and move forward again. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteLike what I'm reading and hearing...stay safe and positive, brothers and sisters....and be fairly compensated for all our efforts on behalf of the company, the plant, and our families!
ReplyDeleteI would like to thank You Sam and everyone that voted yes.When I first start at Mcc they made that promise. Somewhere they lost that committment.It took us 16 years but,we finally stood up for ourselves.We need to do the same in the next few weeks. It's up to all of us come out support OUR UNION like never before.Let's go to the meetings to show MCC that we are together in this UNION
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea to have the union pay for the cookout and invite management!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to a positive and motivated union contracted Newburgh team...
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't long ago this plant seemed doomed to die. With the help of some great team members and The IBEW we now are jelling again. Not only is there a union in place but we feel good about ourselves again as a team. Sam has been our supporter since day one. He not only supports us but supported Dan and Dave as well. I sure hope that they extended an invitation to celebrate with us this week. It would be a great gesture and proof that Sam had a great effect on our achievements.
ReplyDeleteTHE 363 WORKERS REALLY DESERVE THIS COOK OUT. FOR IT HAS BEEN OUR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT AS NEW 363 IBEW BROTHERHOOD WORKERS THAT HAVE COME TOGETHER AS A REAL COLLECTIVE TEAM TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE HAVE THIS YEAR. ENJOY IT THIS TIME WE ALL DESERVE IT.
ReplyDeleteCome on Dan, let there be cake when we come back in tonight! Go 363!!
ReplyDeleteits been a rough week plus. We are not out of the woods yet. Alot of hard work by everyone on the floor, from front to back and the maintenance crew. Looks like the dreaded changeover season is upon us.Be careful and take your time everyone. the heat is already building up in the plant. Do NOT rush and put yourself at risk. Take your time and do it right , and safe. Its easy to get frustrated with all the problems, hang in there we will get it done we always do
ReplyDeleteSo are calling all of us communist? I'am really not offended by that. Communism is not a bad idea. What happened with that culture was the people in charge turn it into a DICKTORSHIP.Kind of like the people in charge at MCC. Just we were smart enough to read between to line in August. Stay solid stay strong. Support YOUR UNION and ,We'll have our own RALLY in the near future.
ReplyDeleteThank you to the company for the cookout, it seemed like everyone enjoyed it. This week has been a tough one for all four crews and the maintenance crew. I can see hope in everyones attitude from management to hourlies. That in itself can be built on.
ReplyDeleteThe struggles that we have faced together and worked through, shows we are capable of so much. We have improved this last year and have the potential for greater gains.
We all feel the anticipation of the finish of the contract,and hope of the future. I have witnessed employees at our plant keep pushing to resolve the difficult issues we are facing.
Our employees deserve a good and fair contract. We have moved this company forward. We have never stopped striving for perfection. The final piece of the puzzle we are missing is the contract. That will be the motivation that decides where we go from here.
Good effort from everyone at the plant. The problems we resolve today make us better tomorrow. Lets keep moving forward.
We are worth the investment. The companies return on investment is consequential. We have invested our lives. Now its time for the company to reciprocate. Dont waste the opportunity.
I believe in our people do you?
I agree "old timer", alot of hard work by all. It's good to see everyone pitching in again. Don't leave your team mate hanging, give a hand whenever possible.
ReplyDeletei agree with joe. dee and old timer. job well done by all. i saw many different people on line -3 over the last few days. from all over the plant helping out where they can. that certainly wasnt like that last year.
ReplyDeleteso thank you sam and steve and IBEW crew for your extra effort to push us back to regrouping and refocusing, that in turn got us to the point where we were able to raise from the bottom of the barrel to most improved.
thank you tony, dan and dave for recognizing that and rewarding us with another cook out.
great job to all of the IBEW.363 WORKERS IN NEWBRUGH METAL CONTAINER.
Proud member,Joe, Old timer,I share your feelings. However I have a healthy level of skepticism about this good feeling. I have seen in the past that the company loves it when you work hard and everybody hugs eachother. Thats fine. For me however I will wait to see what the contract says and what kind of raise we get. If we get the shaft again, I am giving up on ever trusting this company.
ReplyDeleteI see it this way, if the company gives us a supar raise we now have the ability to discuss what we will do in reaction to that. If they give us a good raise we can meet to discuss how we can make Brito even more money. One hand washes the other but no hands should slap the face. Let's have a good fair contract to start with. we will make that payoff a hundred times over.
ReplyDeleteAre you talkin to me?
ReplyDeleteSo true army man. I already have my doubts about the company. They have stuck it in too many times. Only a good contract will show me that they are not just money suckers.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lunch D&D.
ReplyDeletegreat job everyone for getting the most improved plant award.I hope they realize that a good contract is everything to everyone.
ReplyDeleteSpecial thanks to Joe delapitro for the hotdogs out of his own pocketfor the crew cookout. Thank you Joe!!!!
ReplyDeleteShow me the money!! 3% would buy Momma a new pair of shoes.
ReplyDeleteI know If we dont get a decent raise,and some kind of decent contract, the company will be nothing but a sweatshop. I will careless what happens and I dont want to hear about the customer,quality,or anyother bullshit. If they cant commit to me, I will give them the same treatment in return.
ReplyDeleteTo Dan and Dave: You are about to make decisions that will lead to two possible outcomes. If you choose to try to continue the fight from last year to get rid of the union you will have a work force that will react in a very negative way. On the other hand, we voted for representation. Please accept our decision and work with us to creat a work environment that will allow us to be the best in the can industry. People need to know that they are valued for the work they perform. A fair contract is the best way to show that you respect us for the work we do every day under difficult conditions. We will continue to do our jobs to provide our customers with cans that we will all be proud of. You guys are the managers and your decisions will set the course for the future of this plant. Please make the right choice for everyone's benefit.
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ReplyDelete11:19---Well said. You make some good points in your post. I have been saying this all along---One hand washes the other......To all: The temp is rising--stay safe and keep an eye out for each other..Soon we will find out how much the company (which is making money) values the employees.. P.S. Thank you for the cookout.
ReplyDeletea raise in our wages and our pension would mean the world to me. I'm glad we have shown we are still the best plant and we are a union plant too. big deal. just makes it all fair to me having a contract is a win already.plead our case and explain our side Sam.you have our support
ReplyDeleteThank YOU management for the cookout very nice gesture and was good. Fellow team members June 6 is only 10 days away.Have you done the right thing// talked to your stewards and reps // emphasize your concerns to them. // Told them of your wants and needs. // Asked if YOU can do anything to help the process. // Do YOU plan to be at the meeting the week of the 6th.DON'T BE THE ONE WHO WANTS OR WHINES AFTER THE FACT. BE PRO-ACTIVE BE INVOLVED [[///BE SAFE // BE 363 //BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER]] RESPECTFULLY DAKOTA
ReplyDeleteIt does not have to be an adversarial relationship between the company and the union. AB has had a long and sucessful relationship with the unions that represent the brewery employees. Our new superintendents that came from the various breweries seem to know how to manage people properly and also get the work done. A lot can be learned from their example. I work for one of these new guys and I find him reasonable, easy to talk to and someone who actually listens to my point of view. I and I'm sure many others will do whatever it takes to get the job done when things are difficult. We are willing to go the extra mile if the company treats us properly. These guys may not know everything about can making yet but they do know how to treat their workers. A fair contract that addresses our concerns will put this plant at the top of all others. I hope the senior managers take advantage of this golden opportunity and agree on a fair and just contract.
ReplyDeletekeep your composure...stick together,now is the time to think as one
ReplyDeletelets turn our negatives into something positive..their are alot of excellent workers in this plant for us to not be the best... is unacceptable.
ReplyDeleteThis could be the best thing for the company and the union. We are energized and have good atitudes. That is a good combination.
ReplyDeleteToday after a power blip we had a culmination of crew members, maint. people, trainers, sap & storeroom people, floor managers, & front office managers working side by side to get everything up and running and all cleaned up. It reminded me of start up 23yrs ago. Thank you Sam & 363 for reminding us that we're at our best when we work together as a Team (a UNION) not as individuals.
ReplyDelete$$$$$$
ReplyDeleteProemployee Isnt it amazing that years after start up. 363 defines that phrase to the tee. Proemployee. Yes we are proemployee here now that we are members of IBEW local 363. Our union of hourly employees has yearned to work for the the employer that cares about us.Wants our input. Compensates us and motivates us to do the best we can. Pro-employee. For the employee. Who can deny that the companies actions prior to us voting in local 363 was truly the opposite of proemployee. For that reason the the majority of the population decided that the only way forward to secure our future was to come together and bring this ideal back to our plant. Our local 363 has done that. The most improved plant. Proof. The actions of our employees during the last power outage. Proof. We appreciate the little things more now. People were very happy to share the cook out that management supplied for our efforts for the most improved plant. Thank you to management. Thats a big step in the right direction. Whoever makes the call on the next steps in our contract negotiations needs to continue the forward progress that has been made here. Positive motivation for wages,benefits,and pension.If not. Then the lessons of history will have been wasted. We are all solid on the facts for years here in Newburgh, we have been falling behind while the company continues forward. Taking directly from our pockets. I can tell you honestly that every single person who is employed here hourly has that view. Sales down but profits up. It has to come from somewhere. From the breweries to the can plants, we all know where the profits have been coming from. Its time for the company to begin the turn around and bring the employees with them. It has already begun. Walk with us. Here is our hand extended.
ReplyDeletego go, 363 !!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete363 for me!
ReplyDeleteRolling like a freight train.........
ReplyDeleteBritto-----Share the wealth........
ReplyDeleteI better get a good contract. after all we have to do. We deserve a hell of a raise after nothing for so many years.
ReplyDeleteI dont want to hear about any more bullshit excuses from Tony.
ReplyDeleteTony--now is the time to show us how much you really care.................
ReplyDeleteI think the company will do the right thing and treat us fairly. We have been doing everything we can to prove to them that we are a great plant. We even got an award! To shit on us now would not be smart. I think it will work out for all maybe with a few warts. If not, I personally will have a severe attitude change.
ReplyDelete3%-------$$$$$--------$3.00^pension. Thanks to all the crew reps for making this happen. Go IBEW.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone on the floor will agree with all the recent comments. I do. I will be severly pissed off if we get a lousy raise from this company. The is NO reason that can be justified.
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason.
ReplyDeleteTony Who?......Tony it would've been nice to get a video message from you about Newburgh's great accomplishment.......comon big guy bury the axe will ya.......This is still your plant and you have many co-workers still here....Ride the freight train with us....we'll let you drive....our goals are your goals as well.....don't just come around when things are not the way YOU like them.
ReplyDeleteI have been quiet for all this time. I wanted to give the reps the chance to negotiate for us. I hear soon they will be talking for the big three. Its time to tell you reps. Do not allow them to bullshit you at the table. This company has made alot of money and we have done our jobs, we continue to be very profitable here in Newburgh. If the company proposes a lousy raise. let us know. I wont sit silent anymore. Thank you to Sam and all the reps.
ReplyDeleteI agree with silent Bob. I also have been holding my tongue. I want to know what the company says too. We have your back Sam. Let us know what is said across that table.
ReplyDeleteIf I remember right WE had 140% profits. So Barry show us some money. So don't Bullshit us . There is no reason why you can't give great a contract YOU need to remember WE run this plant.
ReplyDelete3% , dues plus 2 right? Need 3 this year plus 2% each year after. $3 pension bump sounds good too. Aim high Sam
ReplyDeleteWe want our piece of the PIE britto....
ReplyDeleteI want to cut into the apple pie with crumbs on it and bite into a 3% raise--2 sick days which if you dont use-you get paid for them--3 bucks towards our pension and medical benefits at the same price we are paying now.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't care if they give me zero. I come here every day because I love the smell of Bodymaker coolant.
ReplyDeleteI agree with silent Bob. Try and screw me again and not give me a good raise or crank up the medical costs so I keep going backwards and see that makes me want to go up and above. Im sure im not the only one who feels that way. By the way. The crap of if you dont like it here you can leave days doesnt work. See what it did for us in the past.
ReplyDeleteAgreed to all of the above. This was and always has been truly about getting our share. But before we start threatening the table let's see what's offered. Our reps won't accept anything less than adequate. And we decide what's adequate, not them. So far they have represented us extremely well. Give the process a chance. I can not see anything but us coming out ahead.
ReplyDeleteIf all of the other plants have the same med costs, even the union plants, should we expect the offer would be different? Silent Bob and others, do you really think there will be 3% offered?. Look for more shared med cost, small raise that will barely cover our costs. Of course you should be motivated. You have a job right?
ReplyDeleteSupport your reps.
Yeah I have a job. My job makes sure that the people above me keeps theirs.I disagree that one should be motivated just because you have a job? All I have to do is what im told to do right? What would motivate me to do better? They know the answer.
ReplyDeleteRealistically, I would settle for 3%, $2 to the pension, and maybe 3 sick days. How about it, anyone feel the same way?
ReplyDelete