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Brothers & Sisters,
At the Local 892 Union meeting on January 29, 2011 the
membership voted District Committee person Jason Heath to
represent our local at National Ford.
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This position will be an
advantage to the team when negotiations start rolling. As you know our
Plant Chairperson, Tom Kanitz, has been voted National Negotiator and
will be at the table for the next round of negotiations. Bargaining Rep,
Brandon Keatts will move up to the Chairperson’s spot while Jason
Schiffman will take the lead with the Bargaining Unit. Jason Heath will
then move from district to bargaining. The leadership will have a nice
network of communications during this round of National and Local
negotiations.
A few companies have claimed to be interested in the Saline plant. Let
us not forget the last interested buyer that was conveniently announced
just before the negotiation of the last National contract. It is clear
that Ford Motor Company has their own strategy for Saline. We need to
stay focused on our goal to get the blue oval back out front where it
belongs and pull our ACH workers into the fold. We must stop Ford Motor
Company from selling off our jobs to companies that pay their workers
non-living wages. Regardless of the outcome we will always fight for
workers’ rights.
Congrats to the Bargaining unit along with the QOSC, FPS Coordinator and
Quality who have identified huge opportunities to save cost here at the
Saline plant. These savings will increase the long term violability of
the Saline plant and allow us to compete in this competitive market. The
team has identified over 3 million dollars in savings. However the
company has only addressed 300K of the 3 million costs saves. These cost
savings could play in our favor during this negotiation. We are
currently addressing the company on their lack of progress.
ACH Workers
We have been meeting with ACH members after the general membership
meeting. These strategy meetings set the tone for us, “the leadership,”
as we approach negotiations. Ford workers are also rallying behind the
ACH workers to put an end to the unequal treatment.
Snow Day Wednesday February 2, 2011
Our In-Plant Committee has wrote a grievance stating that the
company violated the Letters of Understanding regarding "Act of God
Determination," this grievance was wrote because the company only
recognized the midnight and day shifts as a "Snow Day" and excluded the
afternoon shift. Because this was a Ford Corporate decision and not a
Local decision the grievance has been denied at the Local level and has
been moved to 3rd stage as of Monday February 7, 2011.
Transition for Janitorial Workers
Devon
The ratification of the 2007
agreement allowed Ford to exit specific janitorial functions. Saline has
held off on the implementation of this for several years. However by the
end of February 2011 a company called Devon will be taking over the
janitorial work at Saline. The new cleaners have eagerly signed card
check to become Union workers and part of UAW Local 892. The Devon
cleaners will be a separate unit within Local 892 much like our Union
operated Fitness Center. Please support these dues paying Union workers
so that we may all build together.
In Solidarity,
Mark Caruso, President Local 892
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