APRIL LABOR VIEWS

A service award to a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners for the month of April was presented to: 
Richard Miller 35 years
Congratulations. We also congratulate William Mayhew who had been at Electric Boat since 1968. We wish him good luck and good health in his retirement which became effective in March.

I would like to welcome back our brothers and sisters who have been recalled from layoffs. Carpenters began getting lay off slips in Sept., Oct., and again in Nov. Everyone in our department was given the opportunity to return to work by March. We had originally been told by the Company that all carpenters would be recalled by May so we are pleased that it has happened by March. Out of the 106 carpenters laid off, 86 have returned back to work. Twenty have chosen not to return because they have found employment opportunities elsewhere. 

The majority of Electric Boat work is either at the sub base or on the road. Repair work is keeping us afloat at this point. The work on the 775 boat has helped our department enormously. In fact, twenty boilermakers who were going to be laid off will be given the opportunity to transfer into the carpenter department rather than take the layoff.

Last month the Union (Ken Delacruz), the Company (John Casey), and Congressman Joe Courtney went to Washington, D.C. to fight for the manufacture of two subs per year. They felt a lot of positive came out of the meeting. This is probably the first time since they have been lobbying for two subs a year that they came away from the meeting feeling good about the prospects of getting two subs a year funded. We can only hope….

At the beginning of April, sixteen carpenters went to Norfolk, VA for three months. Our department already had thirty carpenters at that shipyard. Traditionally, carpenters have done an excellent job of supporting road work, and it is important that we continue. Recently the road job list was updated on our bulletin boards throughout the shipyard. Please check the current list to make sure your name is on it if you had requested that. This is especially important for members who have been recalled. If your name is not on the list, let me or any steward know that you would like to be added. Again, it is important that everyone keeps his or her qualifications up because that could affect the opportunity for you to go on the road.

Cafeteria: The Union has been addressing with the Company the fact that the vending machines are not full for second and third shifts. Since the cafeteria has been closed on the back shifts, this has been an important issue. People who want to purchase something to eat are left to go without food because the vending machines are empty most of the time. Perhaps vending trucks from the outside could help serve second and third shift employees. 

Weekend Overtime: We normally have a number of changes before the final revision of the weekend overtime list on Friday. It is important that, if you poll to work Sat. and Sun., you make an effort before you leave on Friday to check the most current overtime list. You may not think that you were chosen to work overtime because your name was not on an earlier list, but it may have been added later in the day.

Shoes: Everyone should be aware that the shoe voucher has been increased from $80 to $85. Please take advantage of this opportunity to get a new pair of steel toed boots.

The Workers’ Memorial is Saturday, April 28, at 8am at Washington Park in Groton. There is usually a short ceremony in honor of our deceased co-workers. 

Check out what’s new on our website at www.local1302.com. John Algiere does a good job of providing information to our members here.