October Labor Views  

Service Awards to the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America for the month of October were presented to: 

Medical Concern:  Members have recently expressed concern when the yard hospital has recommended physical therapy after an injury.  Members need to know that that they are entitled to see their own physician if they question whether or not they should go to therapy.  The first and most important thing to do is to go to the yard hospital and have your injury recorded.  If you are not comfortable with the recommendation made by their physician, by all means, get a second opinion.

It is the time of year when we need to repoll our members for the NSSF job at the sub base.  We have polled employees who are more senior to the ones who are presently at the sub base.  There was no need to poll less senior members since working there is based on seniority. 

Shift Change:  Recently our department allowed people to change from second shift to third shift and third shift to second.  There continues to be a lock on movement to first shift. 

Meeting Notice:  No Union meeting will be held in November.  Our meeting date falls on Veteran’s Day (a paid holiday), so the meeting is being cancelled. 

Security/Safety:  Supposedly safety is the number one priority in this shipyard.  Crews were asked to move to the second floor of the machine shop.  Questions arose about whether or not that area was a suitable working environment.   I  have contacted Safety and Industrial Hygiene to report a number of my concerns,  and have received no response.  Have you noticed that pipe above the men’s room that has fiberglass exposed with a fan running two feet from it?  Have you wondered if any of those wires hanging out of the wall that you walk past are live?   The men’s room doesn’t have a door on it, and the women’s room doesn’t have a secure lock.   Safety and Industrial Hygiene needs to address these issues immediately.   Where’s the Safety Department when you need them? 

Chin Array:  A few weeks ago the Company invited four of our members to an awards luncheon.  They were presented with an award for a job well done on the 774 boat.  We always appreciate the Company’s recognition of our accomplishments, however, a number of people in our department worked on that job, and only four were included at the ceremony.  This created discontent among those carpenters and their bosses who were excluded.  Didn’t we all learn when we were kids that, if you can’t invite everyone, don’t invite anyone?  Instead of instilling pride in the workers who completed this job, the favoritism displayed by the Company generated hard feelings.  Hopefully this won’t happen again. 

Road Jobs:   In the months October through February, the department will be asking members to fill road job needs in Portsmouth, Puget, and Virginia.  It seems that we should not have a problem manning these jobs since a number of our members have expressed an interest in going.  It is mandatory that members keep their qualifications current in order to be eligible to go on these jobs.  Some of the financial benefits of going on these road jobs are considerable, and you are encouraged to take advantage of them if possible.  If you are interested in where you stand on the road job list, log onto our website at www.local1302.com. 

If you have a change of address, please contact Dave Comery. 

On November 2, (Election Day) I encourage everyone to wear a Union t-shirt or a Union hat to demonstrate our unity and pride in the work we do for our country.  Remember that t-shirts and hats are available from your Union stewards and by calling the Union Hall.  Let’s all join in on this. 

Mike Malone, President

Carpenters' Local 1302