Briefing for 2-14-16
NEGOTIATIONS: Negotiations proceeded this past week with some progress. We were able to t/a a couple more smaller issues. After briefing some break rooms 2weeks ago, I heard some frustrations about the time lines that its going to take. Let me make it clear to all of you. We will get a new contract just as soon and quick as the company wants. Many of you are falling into the same trap that our brothers and sisters at UA did several months ago, and the company is counting on this happening. Many of you, I can tell from the talk and comments, are looking only at the money. Your not even going to notice anything else, because the money will blind you. Everyone needs to understand something that's very important. If you give something up in a contract, it is very difficult if not impossible to get that issue back in a later contract. Yes pay is important, but what about the following issues: Job security, insurance, overtime, sick time, vacation, holidays just to name a few. The company is making more than a BILLION dollars a quarter. We should not be looking to give up any of these issues, just to get higher pay. Like I said before, the company is counting on you doing this. The question is? Will you? Will you get to where the only thing you care about is the money. I would hope we can learn from past contracts, especially the one at UA, and understand that money isn't everything. Your negotiating team is going to stand firm on " NO CONCESSIONS " in this agreement. We can't do that without the memberships support. I ask all of you to focus on all the issues, and understand and demand that we don't give anything up. Only the membership will determine if this happens or not. The more the company hears the membership getting restless on the timelines, and talking about only money, then the more stubborn the company will get on all the other issues. Lets focus on the complete contract. Lets stay focused and determined. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!! For all of you to realize this. We will be meeting again in Dallas the week of February 29th. I will keep you posted.
PENSION: I'm sure by now all of you have heard about the pension issue. I was able to speak to the International President of the IAM this past week. This is the highest person in the IAM. I expressed to him what I thought many of you would want to say, and make sure he understood. I know that we went from schedule A down to schedule B just a few years ago. I know our monthly accrual going forward was cut by some 40%. And now we hear about the DOL filing charges, and it makes us all wonder. This is what all I expressed to him when we were talking. He assured me that the cut we took was completely unrelated to the DOL charges. He also said this was a charge from years before, and the DOL filed due to running out of time. Also all the funds had been put back into the pension fund. He also went into how healthy our pension is, and how its one of the best in the country. Let me say that I am not trying to sale the pension to anyone. I am not trying to change anyones mind out there. I am merely reporting back to you that I talked to the highest authority that we can possibly go to, and I wanted all of you know what he had to say. No one should make a decision on whether you like the pension and want to stay in it or not based on what you read on Facebook. Or based on being pissed off by what you hear. Like I said above. Once you get rid of something in a contract, it is pretty much gone for good. Your negotiating team is there to negotiate what the membership wants. Lets make sure we decide what we want from being as educated on a issue that we can be. Not on hearsay. I will be glad to answer any questions on the pension that I can. I also have some brochures and info on the pension that I will be getting to the committee this week. So hopefully it will help educate everyone that is interested, so we can all decide on how we feel about the pension.
OFFICE HOURS : We will be walking a few break rooms on Tuesday this week. This is the only day we will have to get around, so we probably won't be able to hit all break rooms. Sorry in advance if we miss you.
There should be someone in the grievance office Monday - Friday this coming week. So come on by, or give the committee a call at 704-359-3350.
EVERYONE HAVE A GOOD AND SAFE WEEK
MARK BASKETT
