DECEMBER 2006 LABOR VIEWS  

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

          Arthur Henderson             30 yrs.

          Mark Oddo                    30 yrs.

          Robert Tardif                  30 yrs.

          James Becker                   30 yrs.

Congratulations!  

Elections were held at last month’s union meeting for a first shift steward.  Paul Vine was elected steward in the graving dock area.  His page number is 425-2711.  We extend best wishes to Paul in this new position.

Bylaw changes were also addressed at November’s union meeting.  Members voted to keep our monthly dues at $20.00 until Dec. 31, 2007. 

Shoe vouchers:   A memo was signed between the Company and the Union for next year’s shoe voucher allowance.  There was a $5.00 increase which brings the amount of the voucher to $85.00.  I need to remind members who haven’t used this year’s voucher that they have until the end of the month to use it.  In last month’s Labor Views article, I asked why so few people used the shoe voucher.  A response which I received leads me to believe that some people think that you have to buy your steel-toed boots from the shoemobile in order to use the voucher.  That is NOT the case.  You can buy steel-toed boots from any store or vendor.  You then bring the boots to the safety department, and they will sign an approval form indicating that your boots meet the requirements.  After you bring that signed form to the Fairwater Store with your receipt, you will be reimbursed $80.00 within the next two weeks. 

Lay-offs:   Our carpenters have worked long and hard to meet the scheduled date for the 774 boat.  Our work has been commendable, and carpenters have made personal sacrifices for the sake of the Company.  Now 104 carpenters are laid off, and other trades people and bosses are doing work which our department should be doing.  If there is that much work available to the Carpentry Department, why are carpenters currently being laid off?  At the time of the lay-off, the float off date was only two weeks away.  Our carpenters who worked hard to meet these schedules were let go, and on their last day of work, their fellow employees (including bosses)  were working ten hours per day.  Again, if there was enough work to keep people on the job ten hours per day, why couldn’t the carpenters who were being laid off stay for those two weeks and continue working until the job was done?  A number of the carpenters who were being laid off asked me, “Why isn’t there work for me if the bosses and others are working ten hours per day?”  My only answer was, “That’s versatility.”  Versatility means that other trades people can do the work of a different trade for up to twelve weeks per year.  Contractually, the Company was allowed to do this work using employees from other trades, but morally, who believes that this is right?  As far as the bosses working, there is nothing in our contract that allows management to do the work of an hourly employee.  At the time of the lay-offs, this was being encouraged by Skip Castro.  When I confronted Castro about the fact that these carpenters should have been kept on for two more weeks until the float off date, his response was that he didn’t determine the number of people who would be laid off.  I feel that the decision making in the last two weeks of that job showed great disrespect for the skilled carpenters who made it possible for that 774 boat to go off on schedule.  I have significant concerns about the fact that Skip Castro will have control over the Carpenter Department as we work on the 775 boat, and I feel his  decision making will only continue to hurt us on the next job.  This practice may be acceptable in Quonsett, but it is not acceptable in Groton. 

     Christmas Shut Down:  In the past (except for last year)  the carpenters had the opportunity to work during the shut down.  Hopefully, we will have that opportunity  this year, but if we don’t, I want to remind members that those who have the first option to work will be picked by seniority.  The overtime list will not be used. 

     We should be receiving vouchers for Christmas turkeys.   If anyone would like to donate his or her turkey, I collect them for the Friends of Assisi Food Pantry in Danielson.  For every donated turkey I will add potatoes, stuffing,  and vegetables.  The Food Pantry has been very appreciative of this in the past, and they serve more and more needy families each year in Northeastern Connecticut.  I ask all of my fellow brothers and sisters to think of those less fortunate than us at this special time of year.