REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETING JANUARY 24, 2002        4:00 P.M.

 

The regular 1st  Shift membership meeting was held on Thursday, January 24 at 4:00 p.m. with Keith Hammond presiding.

 

The 74 members present paid their respects to the flag.

 

Prayer was held for the membership and for the local.

 

Roll call was taken with Gary Reagan on sick leave, Latrice Dewitt excused and the following absent: Chris Algren, Jeff Anderson, Kathy Coleman, Jerry Fyffe, Brian Lyons, Dan Palmer, Pat Rickman, Dale Shafner, Bonnie Sturgill, Ken Luneke, Keith Bailey.

 

Motion made and seconded to dispense with the reading of the November membership minutes, subject to question.

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion made and seconded to approve the January executive board minutes subject to question.

 

Executive Board Recommendations:

 

Recommended purchasing MUMS software for tracking dues, cope and membership information, per the auditor’s suggestions, from Union Friendly systems. The cost would be $1,000 for the software and the monthly fee for the information updates will be between $50 and $75.

 

Motion seconded and carried unanimously.

 

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN, DAVE HEIZER:

 

Reported on the status of the grievance procedure.

 

Active last month at 3^rd:   307

 

This month at 3^rd:    281

 

Appeal Step:   4

 

Paragraph 99 – 3

 

Zone 1 – 30

Zone 2- 83

Zone 3 - 85

Zone 4 – 83

 

Reported on Employment Status level.

 

Active Employment   1972

Leaves  - 79

Lay offs – 1

 

Reported on Steve Daughtery resigning as co-chairman of the apprentice committee.  Reported that he appointed Dwayne Meyers to take his place.

 

Reported on the third shift representation issue being resolved.

 

Reported that there are no new layoff plans for the new future.

 

Reported that the attendance bonus for the new hires will continue.

 

Reported on the retirement with no replacements.

 

Reported that he will not talk with management about lowering our employment level below 1,500 members.

 

Reported that there are new non-core products that are being looked at right now and could be brought into our plant in the near future.

 

Reported on the IUE cards for journeymen.  Upon request, cards will be issued for IUE and CWA.

 

Reported on the hiring of 30 new employees.

 

Reported that pre-arbitration on Full Utilization is set for February 26 and 27 and arbitration is tentatively set for June 26 and 27, to be held at the Holiday Inn on Dryden Rd.  Also reported that the company has made some offers to settle the case.

 

Motion made and seconded to approve the chairman’s report subject to question.

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

A number of questions were asked and answered on the arbitration of Skilled Trades Full Utilization grievances.

 

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, DAVID HILL:

 

Reported that the new United Health Care cards are currently being mailed out to our members.  There is an error on the back of the cards. The customer service number printed there is incorrect. The correct number should start with 1-800 and not 1-888.  The card is still good and can be used, but United Health Care is sending out a letter with a corrected card.

 

Reported on the astronomical health care costs which have been in the news. Read a few articles from the local newspaper.

 

Motion made and seconded to approve the executive secretary’s report, subject to question.

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, KEITH HAMMOND:

 

Reported that Rhine Mclin would not be here at the day shift Union meeting this month.  We will try to reschedule her for February 21^st.

 

Reported on John Chambers, one of our cleaners, who was involved in a very serious automobile accident.  Please keep him in your prayers.

 

Reported on the re-designed website for the Local.  We have made it more user friendly and added more information, including membership meeting minutes for people unable to attend meetings. The address is www.iuelocal755.com.

 

Reported that he had received a letter from Jim Sessions, the Executive Director of the Union Community fund, thanking our Local for the $3,385 contribution we made after the events of September 11^th.

 

Reported that COPE tickets are ready to be distributed. The Local drawing will be at the February 21^st day shift meeting.

 

Reported that the CWA is supposed to be issuing new membership cards for our members. We have no specific date as to when to expect them.

 

Reported that we bought a storage shed through the 20 Madison St. fund.

 

Reported that the kitchen and back hallway were painted and new range hoods were installed and the carpet cleaned.  All costs paid for by 20 Madison st.

 

Motion was made and seconded to approve the President’s report.

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

Don Brewer reported for the COPE committee that the COPE drawing will be held at the February 21 day shift meeting. Tickets will be passed out by committeepersons after January 24^th.  We are still waiting on incentive gifts from September 1^st sign up.

 

Sue Bostwick reported that the women’s committee will have a fundraiser rally in February with the proceeds going to the Easter program in March.

 

Jeff Jett reported that the next fish fry will be on March 8^th and will benefit the American Cancer Society, Breast Cancer Research.  Urged everyone to come and get involved.

 

NO GOOD AND WELFARE: 

 

 

OLD BUSINESS: 

 

Cost of living was brought up and Dave Heizer reported that it was his understanding that COLA would go into effect in February 2002 for tier one employees only.

 

NEW BUSINESS:   

 

Delmar Finch requested that all of skilled trades meet with either Ed Fire or Bob Sutton from the conference board to discuss arbitration of Full Utilization.

 

Meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m.

 

Dave Hill

Executive Secretary