NOVEMBER 2006 LABOR VIEWS

Service awards to members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners for the month of November were presented to:

I extend my apologies to Joseph Talbot (30 yrs.), Sabino Nardone (25 yrs.), and James Munroe (30 yrs.)They were not acknowledged in an earlier anniversary month. Congratulations!

Our department needs ConCon carpenters. Anyone interested in becoming ConCon certified should step up and volunteer for the training. With the nuclear work load coming up, we need people who are able to do these jobs, or we may lose them. The Company and the Union are discussing the possibility of getting more money for employees who are trained to do nuclear work because everyone recognizes the potential hazards. I strongly support increasing the pay of people who do nuclear work since they have to undergo specific training, and their work is potentially more dangerous than that of other jobs. 

Twenty carpenters went to Norfolk, and we just about went through the entire road job list to get the twenty. For the next road job that comes up, I will be polling all active members again, and then we will probably need to ask members who may be involved in the layoff (by seniority) if they would be interested in going. I can’t stress enough how important it is to give the Union and the Company a working contact number so that you will not be overlooked when it’s time to fill these positions. 

TWO BENEFITS THAT PEOPLE AREN’T TAKING ADVANTAGE OF: Only 20% of employees at Electric Boat had physical exams by a physician last year. The Company is considering giving incentives such as waiving the $15 co-pay or giving employees two hours unpaid to go to the doctor’s office for a physical exam. Regardless, employees need to get physicals so that health problems can be detected before they become life threatening. For years I have wondered why so few people take advantage of the $80 shoe voucher that is a negotiated benefit. Only 40% of us used the shoe voucher last year. I would appreciate hearing from anyone who is willing to tell me why he or she doesn’t use the voucher. You can contact me at mmalone58@netzero.com.

NO-SHOWS: No-shows on weekends have become a major issue especially when the Company plans on having a certain number of carpenters in to do the work, and then carpenters who polled to work don’t show up. The bosses feel that THEY have to work to get the jobs done. It is hard for the Union to argue the case that management shouldn’t be working because those of us who SHOULD be working haven’t shown up to the jobs. Those of you who do not plan to work on the weekends should not be polling “Yes.” I’d rather see the Company bring in other trades people to get the work done than have management do the job of an hourly worker. 

Check our website for a current seniority list, road job list, and other pertinent information at www.local1302.com.