IAMAWLL15- Fighting Machinists

Breaking News!

2011-08-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

The Contract has been ratified by an overwhelming majority.

Negotiations Flyer #14

2011-08-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

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Tonight at approximately 6:00pm, the Union and Company concluded contract negotiations. Your committee believes we have a package we can present and ratify, but you will have the final vote. Your committee fought very hard and worked many days and many hours for your contract. Please thank them for their hard work and dedication, regardless of your vote!

Ratification will be Sunday, August 14, 2011 at the VFW Post located at 21902 Hempstead Hwy which is the service road between Huffmeister and Telge. Doors will open at 8:00am and the presentation will begin at 9:00am until. The meeting will follow the guide lines as a regular Lodge meeting regarding Roberts Rules of Order.

Negotiations Flyer #13

2011-08-12T16:44:00.001-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Your committee worked through a long and trying day at table, but we have made good progress on your behalf. Although we have worked through some very tough issues, the parties will reconvene tomorrow morning to continue finalizing these negotiations. The parties left on a good note and we understand the criticalness of the remaining issues of Coverage and finalizing the Economic package.

Please refrain from the rumors which circulate about what may be taking place or not taking place at this table. Your committee is working very hard on your behalf and we will have a Last Best and Final Offer this Sunday for you to vote on. Do not forget to show up and do not allow others to make this decision for you and your family without your vote being counted.

Ratification will be Sunday, August 14, 2011 at the VFW Post located at 21902 Hempstead Hwy which is the service road between Huffmeister and Telge. Doors will open at 8:00am and the presentation will begin at 9:00am until. The meeting will follow the guide lines as a regular Lodge meeting regarding Roberts Rules of Order.

Ratification flyer

2011-08-11T21:39:00.001-07:00

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Negotiations Flyer #12

2011-08-11T21:37:00.000-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Your Committee and the company exchanged several proposals and counter proposals and have mutually agreed to break for the day. Your committee will return tomorrow morning to continue negotiating Coverage and Economics to get the best package we can for you and your family. We will continue to negotiate through late tomorrow until the company brings forth their Last Best and Final Offer for us to bring to you.

Please remain professional throughout these negotiations and we look forward to bringing you the Last Best and Final Offer from the company this Sunday.

Negotiations Flyer #11

2011-08-10T19:59:00.001-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

We are continuing to discuss and work through the very tough issues of Coverage and Economics in an effort to have the best overall negotiated contract, prior to receiving the company’s Last Best and Final Offer. Furthermore, we are working to be prepared for ratification by this coming Saturday, but will continue to negotiate as long as we believe there is something left and may ratify this Sunday if need be, the time, location and date will be posted.

With many versions of the Coverage being discussed on the shop floor between managers and our members, brings the issue of overtime rates possibly being changed to accommodate this. Your committee says NO to any overtime changes. This membership over the past years has fought too hard for the current overtime language you enjoy for working beyond 8 hours in a day or 40 hours in a work week. Please relay to the managers undermining your negotiating team when asked about what you would like or not like, “you have an elected Team negotiating you and your families’ best interest”, not the profit margin or bottom line! If supervisors are attempting to discuss coverage with you, remember who they work for and are they telling the full story regarding any changes to overtime language and what affect they have on other articles such as, Vacation, Jury Duty, Bereavement Leave and so forth, just to name a few? We know the answer and it is……….NO they are not!

We understand and we are fighting like he** to protect those negotiated rights as well as all the others. We are working to make the impact of coverage as less evasive as possible with no changes to your current overtime language, which ultimately would affect many other areas of the CBA.

Please remain professional throughout these negotiations and we look forward to bringing you the Last Best and Final Offer from the company this Saturday or possibly Sunday.

Negotiations Flyer #10

2011-08-08T18:08:00.001-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

The parties have discussed and exchanged proposals and counter proposals regarding the Economics package. The Union is working to get you the best overall package we can for you to vote on. Please ensure you come to vote on your future.

We are being told by the company, many of our members are going to the company and discussing what you would like to see in the contract regarding coverage and they are changing their negotiating strategy day to day from what your committee is proposing based on our discussion with you. Negotiations are worked through at the table; anything agreed to on the shop floor with any individual supervisor is Illegal and non-enforceable according to the National Labor Relations Act.

Again, we thank all the members who have stepped forward to man all the committees as requested and continue to get your name to your Executive Board or Sub Committeeman immediately. If you have not completed your application for membership, please contact your sub-committeeman immediately if you wish to attend the ratification meeting, have the right to have a voice on your future and a vote.

Negotiations Flyer #9

2011-08-05T15:53:00.001-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

The parties have exchanged Economic Proposals today; we have worked through the majority of the Non Economic Proposal. As expected and your committee was not shocked by the proposal presented by the company. This Economics proposal was below what the IAM and your committee believes to be less than a Fair and Equitable proposal for the jobs you perform. The parties will meet through the weekend in an effort to negotiate an agreement fair to you and your families. Your committee will respond harshly and will demand a Fair and Equitable Economics proposal.

Negotiations Flyer #8

2011-08-04T16:01:00.001-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Your committee is continuing to work on Job Security language for our members and a means of working towards harnessing mandated overtime. We will continue to work towards the best agreement we can for you, but you will ultimately have the last say “your vote”. Your committee will be transitioning to our Economic proposals and will be working through the weekend. Additionally, a great hurdle was accomplished today with your committee and the company coming to an agreement to freeze our member’s wages to previous levels which were affected by the Maintenance bumping for 60 days, while the parties work through the Work Week Coverage issues.

Your committee thanks members who have stepped forward to man all the committees as requested and continue to get your name to your Executive Board or Sub Committeeman immediately. If you have not completed your application for membership, please contact your sub-committeeman immediately if you wish to attend the ratification meeting, have the right to have a voice on your future and a vote.

Several members have been texting your Committee regarding information from the table, in an effort to keep rumors down as proposals continue to change many times per day and to keep accurate information going forward as we said, we will keep you informed, but will not post proposals to keep rumors at bay.

Negotiations Flyer #7

2011-08-03T16:40:00.001-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Your committee and the company worked through several proposals in an effort to obtain a contract in which we could recommend. We understand the importance of coming to a resolution with these outstanding proposals. Additionally, there are only a few outstanding Non-Economics proposals outstanding and two (2) of theses are major issues, one for each party. We will continue to work towards an agreement on these issues.

If you have not volunteered for one of the committees as requested, contact your Executive Board or Sub Committeeman immediately. We will provide information in the near future regarding the process for a professional ratification meeting IAW Roberts Rules of Order as per the IAM&AW Constitution to be held at a time to be announced, at the VFW Post where your Local Lodge regular meetings are held.

We are asking for our members support throughout these negotiations and also encourage you to make contact with your sub-committeemen with any issues or questions regarding negotiations. For information, please check your Local Lodge No.15 web site for future updates. Additionally, updates will be forthcoming as negotiations move forward, please sign up with your email account to follow automatic updates as they become available.

Negotiations Flyer #6

2011-08-02T14:47:00.000-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Your committee and the company worked through several proposals in an effort to obtain a contract in which we could recommend. The parties have worked through a tough, but productive day and still have several issues outstanding which are important your committee, to you as our members and your families. We understand these issues and continue to negotiate the importance of coming to a resolution with these outstanding proposals. We ask you to be patient with this committee; we have proposals to resolve wage issues for our members reduced, due to scab contractors.

Please continue to volunteer for the committees requested, i.e. the Picket, Hardship, Kitchen, Transportation, Employment and other various committees which will be needed, should you decide to take an action on August 14, 2011.

We are asking for our members support throughout these negotiations and also encourage you to make contact with your sub-committeemen with any issues or questions regarding negotiations. For information, please check your Local Lodge No.15 web site for future updates. Additionally, updates will be forthcoming as negotiations move forward, please sign up with your email account to follow automatic updates as they become available.

Negotiations Flyer #5

2011-07-29T15:33:00.001-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Your committee and the company are continuing to work through two of the toughest sticking points of these negotiations, Coverage for the Company and Article 2 Sub Contracting Rights for the Union. Negotiations went as expected today and we have adjourned for the day to review proposals. We will work through tomorrow and the weekend if needed to address the issues most important to our members. The parties will reconvene Tuesday at 9:00am and continue negotiations.

Your President respectfully requests our members to contact your elected Local Lodge Executive Board members for the following committee duties and volunteer roster. Five volunteers are needed for each of the following committees, Picket, Hardship, Kitchen, Transportation, Employment and other various committees which will be needed, should you decide to take an action on August 14, 2011.

We are asking for our members support throughout these negotiations and also encourage you to make contact with your sub-committeemen with any issues or questions regarding negotiations. For information, please check your Local Lodge No.15 web site for future updates. Additionally, updates will be forthcoming as negotiations move forward, please sign up with your email account to follow automatic updates as they become available.

Negotiations Flyer #4

2011-07-28T15:44:00.001-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Your committee and the IAM Pension Department did a conference call with PowerPoint presentation regarding proposed pension. Our Pension department showed this company where they could have saved approximately 60 million dollars while giving you a better benefit. Although this was a very good presentation, the day has ended on a very sour note on what your committee views as REGRESSIVE bargaining and your committee has adjourned for the day and will reconvene tomorrow. It is the position of your committee, the company corporate representatives who appear to driving the company at the table are continuing to bargain in bad faith and we will not stand for it! Your President respectfully requests our members to contact your elected Local Lodge Executive Board members for the following committee duties and volunteer roster.

Five volunteers are needed for each of the following committees, Picket, Hardship, Kitchen, Transportation, Employment and other various committees which will be needed, should you decide to take an action on August 14, 2011.

We are asking for our members support throughout these negotiations and also encourage you to make contact with your sub-committeemen with any issues or questions regarding negotiations. For information, please check your Local Lodge No.15 web site for future updates. Additionally, updates will be forthcoming as negotiations move forward, please sign up with your email account to follow automatic updates as they become available.

Guide Dogs of America

2011-07-27T05:46:00.000-07:00

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Dear Brothers and Sisters

Would like to thank everyone at District Lodge 37 & Local Lodge 15 for allowing me and my Guide Dog Cambria the opportunity to talk and inform our membership on the significance of Guide Dogs of America at your last Regular Union meeting. Special thanks to your Local Lodge President, Brother Byron Williams for giving me the opportunity to speak on a great organization (GDA) established by an IAM member through support from his Local Lodge in 1948, after he was denied a guide dog by other establishments. The IAM &AW membership is the largest single sponsor to GDA through our contributions. For a bit of information, GDA receives no Federal, State or Local funding, only contributions from corporations and private donations. It cost roughly $42,000.00 to put a single guide team together, about 24 months of extensive training for the guide dog with 28 days in house at our facility in Sylmar CA. GDA fields approximately 40 teams per year.

Guide Dogs of America is dedicated to its mission to provide guide dogs and instruction in their use, free of charge, to blind and visually impaired men and women from the United States and Canada so they may continue to pursue their goals with increased mobility and independence.

As a retired member in good standing of District Lodge 75 & LL 2003 and having served the positions within my Local and District Lodge as the Communicator & Organizing Chairperson for both, before losing my sight about a year and half ago.

Again, thank you very much on behalf of GDA for your generosity and many thanks to your Local Lodge President, Executive Board and Negotiating Committee for their time……….……

Please visit our site!

GuideDogsofAmerica.org

I remain fraternally yours,

Teresa and Cambia

Negotiations Flyer #3

2011-07-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Today your committee addressed the forecasted layoffs of our members and negotiated a reprieve from this action. Layoffs of any of our members should be of the greatest importance and your committee addressed this and the parties successfully reached an agreement to forego this action. The parties exchanged proposals and counter proposals and have ended the day on positive note. We will reconvene tomorrow morning and continue discussions.

We are asking for our members support throughout these negotiations and also encourage you to make contact with your sub-committeemen with any issues or questions regarding negotiations. Please remember, if we have not addressed the issues here, they are rumors and if you have issues you wish to be relayed to your committee, please contact your sub-committeeman. For information, please check your Local Lodge No.15 web site for future updates. Additionally, updates will be forthcoming as negotiations move forward, please sign up with your email account to follow automatic updates as they become available.

Negotiations Flyer

2011-07-25T15:25:00.000-07:00

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Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

The IAM&AW has filed three (3) National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charges to date, including what we consider the arbitrarily diminishing and elimination of our Maintenance Unit, the Un-Just Termination of one of your committee members and what the Union believes to be bargaining in bad faith.

We are asking for our members support throughout these negotiations and also encourage you to make contact with your sub-committeemen with any issues or questions regarding negotiations. Please remember, if we have not addressed the issues here, they are rumors and if you have issues you wish to be relayed to your committee, please contact your sub-committeeman. For further information, please check your Local Lodge No.15 web site for future updates. Additionally, further updates will be forthcoming as negotiations move forward, please sign up with your email account to follow automatic updates as they become available.

Bull-o-meter flyer

2011-07-25T07:49:00.000-07:00

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It’s time to get serious about negotiations. The company is attacking our contract, and your Committee is fighting back. We are filing National Labor Relations Board charges against the company today. The company is not following the law in these negotiations.
Management is wanting to roll over you, and destroy your contract.
They can ONLY do that if you let them. We can get a fair contract, if we all stand together.
Tell your supervisor you aren’t going to put up with their bull. Tell management you demand a good contract.
The attack on working people is here and now. Watch our blog for the latest news.

Follow us by email!

2011-07-24T06:39:00.000-07:00

We've added a new feature - On the left side of the page, enter your email address, and every time we update the blog, you will get an email notification. A nice way to keep up without constantly checking the blog.

Negotiations Flyer - UPDATE

2011-07-23T11:16:00.001-07:00

click on pic for large size, then click on letter in browser to see it big, and you can print the letter out for distribution. We will do this both ways in the future. Here's the text of the letter:

Brothers and Sisters:

Subject: IAM&AW/WYMAN GORDON Update

Your elected contract negotiating team, Keith Stanberry, Ector Ruiz, Jason Calhoun, Able Nuncio, Local Lodge 15 President Byron Williams and your chief negotiators, Grand Lodge Representatives Brothers Dave Porter and Tony Blevins met for negotiations with Wyman Gordon. The Union and Company have exchanged and discussed many issues and proposals. The parties have discussed several issues relating to Article 2.1, Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Recall Rights and Plant Coverage in addition to many grievances and ALL outstanding Memoranda of Understandings (MOU). Your negotiating team has heard your concerns regarding the MOUs and rest assured any outstanding MOUs will be incorporated into the upcoming collective bargaining agreement or will sunset. The parties are continuing to exchange ideals related to proposals in an effort of reaching resolution to the issues you brought forward in the membership surveys, meetings, and with your negotiating team members. We have reviewed your surveys and furthermore your comments from the surveys. As anticipated, the top issues were established and have been formulated into contract proposals. We have formulated your concerns into contract proposal format and are discussing them comprehensively. We are asking for our members support throughout these negotiations and also encourage you to make contact with your sub-committeemen with any issues or questions regarding negotiations. Please remember, if we have not addressed the issues here, they are rumors and if you have issues you wish to be relayed to your committee, please contact your sub-committeeman. As we informed you about information, please check your District Lodge No. 37 web site and link to your Local Lodge 15 web site, for future updates. Additionally, further updates will be forthcoming as negotiations move forward.

Your Negotiating Committee

Your Negotiating Committee

2011-07-23T10:31:00.000-07:00

Front row, l to r: Committee Chair, Keith Stanberry, Grand Lodge Representative Tony Blevins, Committeeman Ector Ruiz, Committeeman Able Nuncio

Back row, l to r: Local Lodge President Byron Williams, Committeeman Jason Calhoun, Retiree Robert Villareal

Not pictured: Grand Lodge Representative Dave Porter

Ratified Contract results

2009-08-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

Your DBR Preston Brown and company managed to take the completely unreasonable proposals offered by the company and work them into a workable, believable, understandable and livable contract proposal that should be acceptable by all.
This is what was brought to the table (if you can believe it), an alternate work week of 4 on, 3 off, 3 on and 4 off. the only reasonable offer was overtime after 40 (Duh!!). No Pay increase for 2 years, only a $400 bonus the 2nd year. and a flurry of other silly proposals that were a bit of an insult.
What We Stood for, Demanded, and you accepted through your ratification vote was a bit different.....
You voted 26 to 14 to accept a $250 signing bonus and 2% the second year Lets face it, it is only a 2 year agreement, not bad. there are 29 of 59 members who are 2 to 3 dollars short of max'n out their pay grade and you will receive a $1.00 increase each year until you reach that Maximum pay!!
and their is the 5 personal/sick paid days that can be used whenever you need them each year. not to mention some improvements in Life Insurance and Disability payouts that came about.

So what do you think, not such a bad deal.

Start preparing now for the next negotiations, have your numbers ready and prepare, prepare, prepare. Things worked out great this time, the next time it could be a little tougher. The key is to be ready, and stick together.
Communications between the ranks is the most important tool you have, exercises it, and use it every day.
Congratulation on a workable, livable contract. there are better things to come if you are ready for them. Way to go!!!

The Contract has been Ratified!!

2009-08-23T10:07:00.000-07:00

More information to come, but you have ratified your Union Contract, Congratulations!!

Last Day for Negotiations-Tomorrow, Thursday,8/20/09

2009-08-19T06:39:00.000-07:00

Word from behind the door is that negotiations are working like they do, trying not to be too vague or to insult anyone's intelligence, but their are several items still on the table that need to get sorted out. I will be posting specific information as it is made available to me, Please make sure that you make the ratification meeting, this is going to be an important one. Stay tuned.

Negotioations are ON!!

2009-08-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

the word from the gallery is that things are getting heated up and Balls are rollin'. Your DBR Preston Brown is putting the fan to the fire and letting things land as they may, the best is yet to come, stay tuned to find out the results as they happen.
you can call me with valid information at 832-283-1648. I will post all valid info for all to read.
Give 'em hell.