REGULAR MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOVEMBER 14, 2002      4:00 P.M.

 

The regular 3rd shift membership meeting was held on Thursday, November 14 at 4:00 p.m. with Keith Hammond presiding.

 

The 45  members present paid their respects to the flag.

 

Prayer was held for the membership and for the local.

 

Roll call was taken with Darren Booth, Jim Bonner, Kathy Coleman, Tim Stuck, Dwayne Meyers, Ken Luneke, Mark Shinkle, Rick Inman absent and Mike Mckenna on vacation.

 

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

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

Motion made and seconded to approve the November executive board minutes as read, subject to question.

 

Executive Board Recommendations:

 

Recommend cancel the Executive Board and membership meeting for December.

 

Recommend sending the shop committee to the Conference Board in February, 24th-28th 2003.

 

Recommend sending the next rotation plus the COPE Chairman to the next District 7 meeting March 20-22, 2003.

 

Don Brewer recommended that the local pay for the basic cell phone plan for each of the top 3 officers, not to exceed $50 per month.

 

Motion was made and seconded to vote as a whole.

 

Motion approved. 

 

Motion made and seconded to approve the recommendations.

 

Motion approved unanimously.

 

REPORT OF THE CHAIRMAN, DAVE HEIZER:

 

Reported on the status of the grievance procedure.

 

Active last month at 3rd:   12

 

This month at 3rd:    11

 

Appeal Step:   0

 

Paragraph 99 – 0

 

Umpire Step -  0

 

Zone 1 – 1

Zone 2- 2

Zone 3 -5

Zone 4 –3

 

Reported on Employment Status level.

 

Active Employment   1862

Leaves  - 111

Lay offs – 0

 

Reported that at 3rd step, Joe Campell advised the bargaining committing that there could be layoffs as early as December 23rd (40), January 15th, 2003 (60) and January 30 (80) for a grand total of 180 layoffs. This would be a plant leveling layoff.

 

Reported on the upcoming conference board meeting.  We will be discussing incentive retirements.

 

Reported on the status of the skilled trades grievances.

 

Reported on how local management is trying to back their way out of the Local agreement and that we will be discussing this at the conference board meeting.

 

Questions were asked about layoffs.  Steve Shope brought up the point that employees who are laid off can take classes in any field while they are laid off.

 

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

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, DAVID HILL:

 

Reported on Open Enrollment and all of the health care changes that members and retirees are going to be facing starting January 1, 2003.   No one can opt into United Health Care. It has been frozen for the year 2003.  Also, anyone on Medicare part B can no longer be on United Health Care. They will have to go back to Traditional.

 

Dave read newpaper articles on the rising cost of health care for General Motors, Delphi, and Chrysler.

 

Reported on GE’s teleconference on Friday, December 15th at 1 p.m.  It will be nationwide and it is serious because GE is targeting their retirees and wanting their retirees to pay 30% of all health care costs.

 

Dave mentioned that if we do not stand behind and support the GE retirees, they will be coming after us next.

 

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

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, KEITH HAMMOND:

 

Keith thanked everyone for helping out during the recent political campaigns.

 

Reported on “Union Dues” magazines being handed out the first or second week of January, 2003.  Deadline for submitting stories/ads is December 16th.

 

Reported on the Christmas Party on December 15th from 2-5 p.m.  Postings are in the plant.

 

Reported that the women’s committee is having a raffle, to be drawn at the Christmas party. The proceeds will help pay for the children’s Easter party.

 

Reported on the people’s campaign for justice at Walmart. A national day for action will be November 21st, 2002.  Buses will meet at the AFL-CIO on 2nd St. at 5 p.m., departing at 5:30 for a rally.

 

Keith reported on Veterans Day and urged the membership to not forget the real meaning of Veteran’s Day as we enjoy our day off on Friday.

 

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

 

Motion carried unanimously.

 

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

 

Jeff Jett reported that a Harley Davidson Motorcycle will be raffled off in conjunction with the American Cancer Society Fish Fry in March.

 

Al Phillips mentioned that the Toys for Tots kickoff will be at the Fairgrounds and that flyers will be put up in the plant about the sign-up, which starts November 25th, 2002.

 

NO GOOD AND WELFARE: 

 

NO OLD BUSINESS: 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

A member of the fire brigade mentioned that the corporation is close to buying a small defibulator to revive employees in case of a heart attack.

 

Meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m.

 

Dave Hill

Executive Secretary