MARCH 2007 LABOR VIEWS 

I’d like to welcome back the carpenters who are being called back after having been laid off last year.  Starting on Feb.12, 2007, carpenters started getting called back to work thirty at a time.  By May all carpenters who were laid off should be recalled.  If additional carpenters are needed after that, the Company will hire more in June.  Skip Castro informed us that he will be putting all called back carpenters on the shift from which they were laid off.  As a reminder, if anyone wants to change shifts, they need to submit a shift change form.   I have tried to meet with the carpenters as they return to work to inform them about various issues:

*Insurance:  Coverage starts from the first day an employee returns to work.

            *Overtime:  Members will receive the average of all overtime hours

            *Polling:  Members must poll before Wed. for weekend overtime.

              If you don’t poll, and the title is not exhausted, you can’t work.

              If any member shows up uninvited for overtime on Sat. or Sun.,

              he/she will be sent home.

            *Vacation time:  Members will receive all vacation time they have accrued for their 

              years of service.  Vacation time is granted on January first.

            *Payroll:  If anyone had direct deposit of their paychecks, they need to sign

              up again. 

            *Discipline:   Any warning slips and/or suicide notes which were in place when

              the employee left, are still active.   Time spent on the lay-off does not count

              against the removal period. 

            *Raises:  Time spent on the lay-off does not count towards required time for

              progression. 

ROAD WORK:   There is the potential for more road work in the future.  Anyone who would like to be on the road job list should let a steward know so that their name can be added.  Carpenters will not automatically be put back on the active list upon return to work. 

The Company had a problem contacting a number of our members when trying to call them to support road work.  Everyone needs to make sure that their current address and phone number are on file with Human Resources and with the Union. 

New dues withdrawal cards will need to be filled out for payroll deductions.  If any of our members who are returning to work have any questions or problems, please see your steward or call the Union hall at 449-0891.  For members who haven’t paid dues in a while, I want to remind them that our dues are still $20 per month.  We pay the lowest dues of all of the trades who belong to the MTC. 

IMPORTANT:  Members need to make sure that they attend all training classes when they are scheduled.  If a member’s qualifications expire due to lack of attendance, that employee may not be eligible for a road job or for overtime. 

775 Boat:   Work has started in basin one on the 775 boat that is similar to the work we did on the 774 boat.  If anyone has any ideas for improving aspects of the job such as supplying materials, manning the job, or making the job easier, let your boss or steward know.  The Company is willing to supply whatever is needed to facilitate this work. 

SAFETY AWARD BONUS:  A new memo has been signed by the Company and the MTC stating that, if we meet all of the requirements, the award will be $400.  Also, we have an agreement that allows an employee to be reimbursed $85 for safety shoes.  These are two benefits which the Union has negotiated for its members.