Tuesday, June 7, 2011

We Have Turned The Page: MCC Newburgh Is IBEW 363!



It has finally happened. The union at MCC Newburgh is finally aware of who it is.

It is YOU GUYS.

YOU ARE 363. YOU ARE IBEW!


Wow! Thanks for the support you guys showed the committee today. We couldn't believe the amount of chairs we had to get - lucky I ordered four pies. It was great to have the discussions we had about some of the recent subjects to hit the table. I think it is very clear to most that there surely is a lot to cover and think about when you are putting together a contract.

Today was great to be part of and watch.
Things progressed in a forward motion today and we cleaned up a few items. We still have a few things to hash out before we can say our "language" articles are complete.
We will most likely complete those language issues by the end of this week.

If we get to that point, we will begin to discuss some of the economic issues in general.


I want to acknowledge that people are coming to visit on their days off or even after a long shift sometimes - it is inspiring. Thanks for coming and stop by any day. Between 11:30am and 1pm seems to be the best time if you want a window. Text your reps if you can to let us know you are there.

Stay Strong, Stay Solid, Support each other

40 comments:

  1. I felt like I belonged to something bigger today. I learned alot. Thanks Sam for letting us be there and thank you to all our reps.

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  2. Hi all wedesday very few people on monday as expected but Tuesday appox 24 people in the room. I think people are finally realizing how involved some team members are in this issue.THAT'S A GOOD THING. Now as this week draws to a close , we have Tony and the senior legal advisor for NA INBEV coming to our plant.H-MMMM // As usual thank you reps and stewards , i am grateful for your time and efforts. BE SAFE // BE PROUD // BE 363 // BE RESPECTFUL OF EACH OTHER ... RESPECTFULLY DAKOTA

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  3. All team members are more than welcome to come to the negotiation meetings at noon during lunch. Come on in Thursday and show Sam and your shop stewards your behind them.

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  4. sorry all, i ccould'nt make the meet,BUT, you still have my and others who could'nt be there, full support, thank you for the invite and all the hard work , all will pay off in the end , with a fair written contract, that we need so badly since the takeover/sale of MCC/budwiser, thank you again!

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  5. Can't say enough about our shop stewards that go to the table and put in the work to make my job a better place to work and more beneficial to my family, I raise my beer to you guys, thank you

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  6. thankful in new windsorJune 8, 2011 at 6:50 PM

    thank you reps. regardless of the outcome, you guys deserve a lot of credit for all the time spent away from your families/activities/friends/whatever. thanks for trying to make our lives better at the plant. i cant't even make it to a meeting or to the negotiations so i don't know how you guys are doing it all this time. thank you very much. but don't ever lose faith you have more support than you think. just because some of us don't show up, doesn't mean you are not appreciated. again, thank you.

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  7. Wanted to know if its only at noon that we can show up? I work tomorrow night and I wouldn't mind coming in an hour or so early to meet with Sam and our reps beforehand.

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  8. You could give it a try but there is going to be disruptions tomorrow possible due to communication meetings. Call your shop steward if you can before you go.

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  9. A good day at the table today. We kept working at our mission of completing our contract. All reps,Sam,Steve, and company legal team worked hard the last three days. I feel we have made considerable progress and I feel we are on the right track. Its been great being able to bring all concerns to the table and discuss them and create language that will help both sides reach an agreement. More left to do but I can see the end being closer.
    I would like to take the time to say that the company has worked hard with us and I believe we should continue doing the same. We should keep working hard at making our place of employment and make it the best we possibly can.
    Many of us know that when our plant runs good its easy to stand back and admire the fruits of our labor. Lately, it hasnt been running good and everyone has been working hard to change that. Thats when I feel we are at our best. We face the challenges head on and overcome the obstacles that are in our way. Keep pushing forward and soon we will smooth out the road again and run the hell out this place.

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  10. Thank you to all of you who have left comments of support. I really appeciate the fact that the reps are being recognized for the excellent and dedicated job they are doing for everyone.

    They are surely VERY unselfish people.

    They really are putting in 1000% every minute they are in that negotiation room. Things would probably be very different without the people that you guys at the plant chose to send in with us. Thank you.

    As for tomorrow and visiting. I would say that the noontime / 12:30 slot is probably the best time. I don't want you going out of your way to come just before the night shift tomorrow because I don't know how the afternoon will play out - it depends what subjects we hit onand when and I don't want someone to show up and we are already closed out.

    So please call your reps if you plan on coming later - before you actually drive there.

    Things went well today and as I have said many times before - our goal is two fold - to get the workers a fair contract that they can understand & work under and to help make this plant the most efficient, productive and the greatest place to work in the whole ABINBEV Universe.

    We will do all of that and more.

    Getting closer.

    Stay strong, Stay solid Support your reps and your union - IBEW Local 363.

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  11. Loved Tonys meeting today. I cant understand why He cant see that people dont have the resources to do their jobs properly. We still have superman to contend with. He will never change. Thank God we have 363 to stand with us. He will cause a good lawsuit sooner or later for harassment.

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  12. Lets go team......we need to work harder and show them what an organized work force can do!! Thank you reps for bringing us all together. HERE WE GO!

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  13. Im impressed with all the positive outpouring that people have been showing out on the floor.It finally has sunk in to everyone that we have an opportunity to make our plant what it should be. We have a plan. We have a balance, an equalizer. Local 363.
    When we all came here at different times, we all looked forward to working for the king. We definitely are working for the king now. We are the best and the biggest.This last communication meeting solidified it for me that the fear of working for our combined companies was understandable but derived from the unknown.
    This company has the opportunity to show us that their intentions towards their employees are good, and are looking to the future not just for the shareholder, but to its biggest asset. Us. The people at our plant.Time after time we have proved that we are the biggest resource that our plant has. Its time to show all employees from our can plant to all the breweries, that the company understands that the bedrock of this company will not be left behind. We should grow together,from the CEO to the last cog on the wheel.
    I challenge any manager to tell us different. Tell us we arent the most important part of this company. Our people are the best.All of our employees including local management are part of it and the upper management knows it.Its time to show us all, the entire team. Tell us. Show us.

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  14. We know we are Joe. The problem is if you listened really close they haven't changed one bit. It's still all about saving a penny so they can continue to buy what ever they want.I agree they should show some appreciation. Since the purchaes we are still the red headed step child. Some things never change. But look on the bright side, Tony said they will have celebrations for us . Maybe we can stick some of that in our pockets.I think you and the other reps are doing a great job my biggest thing is that contract. So Dan and Dave can't fuck with us anymore everything in writing not in some assholes head.

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  15. WERE DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS. THE BALLS IN THERE COURT. WHETHER THEY WANT TO REWARD US WITH REAL THINGS INSTEAD OF HATS AND TEE SHIRTS WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN.
    THEY THINK I HAVE A BAD ATTITUDE WHEN I DON'T ACCEPT A HAT OR A TEE SHIRT.
    I'M NOT TRYING TO BE DISRESPECTFUL BUT IT'S DOWN RIGHT INSULTING. I'D RATHER NOT HAVE ANYTHING SAID TO ME AT ALL.
    I RECEIVED HATS AND TEE SHIRTS MY FIRST YEAR. ALMOST TWENTY TWO YEARS AGO. I MAY NOT ALWAYS HAVE THE ATTITUDE THEY WANT ME TO HAVE EVERY TIME, BUT I WORK HARD TO MAKE MY LINE RUN GOOD NO MATTER WHERE I WORK.
    IS THAT ALL THAT THAT IS WORTH?

    DON'T GET ME WRONG ANYONE- GOLF OUTINGS I LOVE AND COOK OUTS ARE NICE.

    BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THOSE EVENTS AND GIFTS DON'T PAY MY BILLS AT THE END OF THE DAY!!!

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  16. well said rick. the pay and benefits, that's what's important, not how I'm treated(of woe is me they hurt my feelings). they can hurt my feelings all they want, some people need to grow up and not be so sensitive, as long as they make it up to me with $$$$$$$$$$$$$$, I'll be fine with it

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  17. They can yell and scream at me all they want as long as I get a few bucks on my pension and wage increase. And stop $@&$$^*)&)@ with our bennifits

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  18. 363 will get us what we've been waiting for. Be patient and let the pros get it done. They are doing great. They will not blink at anything less than the 3% because we have been heard. We need to make sure it's heard by all. Keep your voices out there.

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  19. Maybe If we all wrote Burito a letter

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  20. i agree with 11:45pm, 3% would be great!

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  21. Sam, Can you make some stickers we can wear on our uniforms that state our monetary demands

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  22. I thought Mr Rutledge was a good speaker and was interesting to listen to. He at least told us their intentions and a little history on how we got to where we are today. Now he must come through and prove to me that he meant what he said by calling us World class. You betcha Mr Rutlege we are World Class. The only ones who didn't think so were Dan and Tony.
    Tony , your speeches are running into one another now. They are so predictable and sound just like the one before it. You stressed the importance on how we must step up and help you get to our goals. Funny though you never mentioned how you and mangement were going to help us do that. It was all about us and teams and whatever it took. Just how are we going to do that with the staffing levels we have. Please manage us will ya. I challenge you.

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  23. dont asked them to manage you. cause they sure will give you what you asked for. other then benefits they always give you what you asked for. so be careful what you ask for.

    WE have proven we can manage our selves.
    They the two. have proven failures in managing mcc. newb.

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  24. Sam--Does the hit counter go up to a Million? By the time this is all said and done---we might need it..

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  25. 5:31pm - I think that we will be done way before we hit that number. Believe me, its not something you purposely drag out but it is something you don't want to rush through and have to regret your "hurry up" later when you realize what you missed.

    I think we have a real good chance of wrapping this up by the end of the next session.

    Thanks for the comment and stay tuned - we are almost there.

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  26. go get'em sam. here we go!

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  27. Thank you Sam and the other Reps--for your hard work and support. I know its alot of work. Stay strong and do your best..

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  28. Way to go rick. I agree that we are past the tee shirt phase. I want the money too. I also want some protection from the bullshit. I still dont trust management because of their recent punishment of some people.

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  29. 3% will get the job done. I'm afraid anything short of that will only confuse the issue. Lets put our best foot forward and make this the best can plant in the system so we can make this work for everybody. Remember.....whats the sense in owning a coon dog if he don't hunt?

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  30. Sam--When is the next meeting? I want to come for support..I have a feeling we are coming down to the nitty gritty. I want some bacon on my hard roll....

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  31. Hey Tony, is that what you call a celebration? You realize that these outings can be writin' off on your taxes. It will be a cold day in hell when I write you a check so I can hang with your wonderful management team. Some are ok but there is no way, I'am giving you $36 to play with superman.Let me guess the prizes are going to be the HATS and T-SHIRTS you were going to give for our rise.No thanks. Go back to the drawing board and try again

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  32. Can someone 'splain this to me please? Management says they wanna go to one person and tagging and wants to know our feelings on there wonnerful idea. We tell them why it won't work, and they ignore us. One of the biggys was quality, the managers say is so important.
    Mnagaements robots run like shit, the pattetizers and the wonnerful knew strappers too.
    So the poor GT is running arond like crazy, and can't look at the cans. The GT misses something, just like they said would happen, and the GTs get wrtting up. Management was told it wouldnt wrok. The GTs were right about that. Now the GTs are getting hassled by the managers for something the GTs told them would happen. It's crazy. Are the managers owners too? When do the managers get held for there bad decisions?

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  33. we are a union now. document everything and get your crew reps involved. they are here to help.

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  34. Yes we are a union and have been. That brings up an issue that is just a nuisance to the company and reflects poorly on us as a union. Someone is putting union stickers on the walls in the mens locker room and on other areas in the plant. Whatever the motivation is , please stop. We are proud to be local 363 and the company has been generous to us with bulletin board space in the cafeteria. Thank you all in advance for your cooperation. We are strong and solid.

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  35. I would also like to ask that people don't put our stickers on walls or use them in any manner that would not be seen in a positive light. Please be respectful.

    On another note, I was told today that there is a buzz around that the company is dragging their feet and management is planning and hoping that by August they could get rid of the union.

    That is not true as far as I know. I don't believe that.

    The good news is THAT is IMPOSSIBLE to do now. The people at the plant are not that stupid to throw their voice and rights away for nothing.

    The union has more support than ever at this point and the people know that IBEW Local 363 is in their corner. We have proven that.

    So whoever is passing that one around - nice try and keep dreamin. If it's that bad for you, maybe Walmart is hiring - why dont you check it out?

    We are busy building a partnership between the workers and the new company they work for called ABINBEV.

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  36. Sam--when is the next meeting?

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  37. That is so true Sam.As a rep for all the people at the plant,I've talked to many people in the last 10 months. Even the very strong NO votes are coming to the meeting to show support.I think eveyone sees,the good things WE as a union are doing.Next meetings are the week of July 25-29 hope to see you all there!

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  38. Pete K. Thanks for the update, your time and effort. Keep up the good work...stay strong and safe..

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  39. What kind of wage and benefit package did the other MCC plants receive this year?

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  40. Have you guys considered during the talks to ask to participate in the anheuser-busch employee suggestion program? Some suggestions could earn an employee up to $25,000? just something to consider when the company is talking about innovations. It would be nice if we could participate.
    Anonymous from another MCC Facility.

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