updates on the Continental Negotiations will be posted on this page
as they become available
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IAM&AW
Brothers and Sisters:
Thanks to our
membership for your support during these tough negotiations,
Committee chair Brother Bernard Banks, Co-Committee Chair
Sister Carla Walston, Brother Wayne Hall, Brother Skip
Clark, Brother George Koch, Grand Lodge HQ Strategic
Resources Assistance Director/Economists Brother David White
and your chief negotiator, Grand Lodge Representatives
Brother Tony Blevins. Furthermore, special thanks to our
International President, Brother T. Buffenbarger, GVP,
Brother B, Martinez their staff for ensuring we had the
tools needed at the negotiating table to be successful
during these negotiations, with No Takeaways!.
Hopefully you have seen the
importance of being United and Strong, with strength in
numbers! We thank each of you for taking the time out
of your demanding schedules to vote. The Machinists Union is
one of the most democratic Unions in this country and voting
is one of the most important rights we as Americans have,
whether it is a city, state, federal or your vote on your
contract, it is your RIGHT!
We extend a
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all, if you are
traveling, please do not drink and drive, wear your seat
belts and most of all, prepare for winter travel conditions.
PLEASE KEEP OUR MILITARY SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN IN YOUR
THOUGHTS
AND PRAYERS
IAM&AW
NEGOTIATIONS
UPDATE
Brothers and Sisters:
Your
negotiating TEAM remains unchanged in our position
concerning regressive bargaining related to the
substantial concessionary takeaways which were
proposed by the company.
After our
comprehensive proposal Monday, the Company returned with a
12 month contract extension. Your team countered with a 15
month contract agreement extension in an effort to get
outside the Holiday period and adverse weather. After
further negotiations, our counter proposal was agreed to.
Furthermore, your committee proposed a ratification bonus
comparable to the bonus given to non-represented employees
of the Company in February of this year, this was agreed to.
Your negotiating team reviewed this proposal, compared
the information request we received from the company’s past
and current financial profile and based on the information,
will recommend this proposal for ratification. Our
concerns throughout these negotiations have been and will
continue to be, what is in the best interest for our
membership while ensuring we keep this plant operational for
future generations.
Ratification: Thursday and Friday, December the 15th and 16th, 2011.
Location: Plumbers and
Pipefitters Hall, 7812 Warwick Blvd, Newport News, VA.
Time: Doors open at 10:00 am,
discussions begin at 10:30 am and voting will take place
thereafter, the voting booth will remain open until 1:00 pm
for both days.
Many thanks to our membership
throughout these negotiations, please come out to VOTE on
You and YOUR family’s future!
Your Negotiating
Committee will
“RECOMMEND”
this
for ratification.
This Special called meeting is
called to discuss and vote on the Contract Agreement
Extension. The meeting is called IAW the IAM constitution
page 114, section 4 and will be held IAW Roberts Rules of
Order
IAM&AW
Brothers and Sisters:
The parties reconvened this morning
to continue negotiations; your committee exchanged a
comprehensive (meaning overall) counter proposal addressing
every proposal from both sides in an effort to move these
negotiations forward to an agreement. We remain unchanged in
our position regarding regressive bargaining around the
substantial concessionary takeaways proposed by the company.
Additionally, your committee discussed several options
available and what is in the best interest of our members,
specifically related to the unstable /uncertain National
Economic State of Affairs which is running concurrent with
high National Unemployment levels.
Your committee is reviewing the
counter proposal received from the company this afternoon.
Our concerns throughout these negotiations are what is in
best of our membership and ensuring we keep this plant
operational for future generations.
We
continue to thank our membership for your support and ask
for your continuing support throughout these very tough
negotiations. Additional updates or information regarding
these negations will be forthcoming.
Your
negotiating committee stands ready and willing to continue
meeting with the company, regarding these negotiations.
Thanking each
of our members and Stay Strong!
From The
Negotiating Committee
IAM&AW and CONTINENTAL Negotiations
Update
Brothers and
Sisters:
In what your negotiating team
perceived at the close of negotiations yesterday between the
parties, this should have been a productive day in
continuing to move forward in reaching an agreement that
your committee could present to you, it was the ABSOLUTE
opposite.
The parties ended the day on a very
sour note and at the request of the assigned Federal
Mediator; both parties have agreed to a cool down period and
will reconvene Monday morning at 0900. There were nineteen
(19) outstanding Substantial Takeaways remaining from
the Company’s proposals this morning as your committee views
them, and eighteen (18) of the said nineteen (19) proposals
currently remain open. This number does not include the
Unions very reasonable proposals to the company, which
continues to be rejected or ignored for discussions in what
your committee perceives as disrespectful!
Please remain strong and focused on
your jobs as we respect the work you perform at Continental,
as a valuable team member. Your committee will continue to
work through the weekend accessing the company’s demands
regarding their current REGRESSIVE proposals. We thank our
membership for your support and ask for your continuing
support throughout these very tough negotiations. Additional
updates or information regarding these negations will be
forthcoming.
Your negotiating committee stands ready and willing to
continue meeting with the company, regarding these
negotiations.
Thanking each of our members and
Stay Strong!
From The Negotiating Committee
IAM&AW and CONTINENTAL Negotiations
Update
Your elected contract negotiating
team, Committee chair Brother Bernard Banks, Co-Committee
Chair Sister Carla Walston, Brother Wayne Hall, Brother Skip
Clark, Brother George Koch, Grand Lodge HQ Strategic
Resources Assistance Director/Economists Brother David White
and your chief negotiator, Grand Lodge Representatives
Brother Tony Blevins met for negotiations again today with
Continental Automotive.
Your Negotiating committee and the
Company team which included, for today only
Continental Plant Manager Mr. David Reville and Continental
Comptroller Mr. Peter Gee, discussions surrounded these
negotiations and the business at large.
The meeting was very productive and
helpful in continuing negotiations until we reach a Fair and
Equitable contract for you and keeping the business doors
open today and in the future. We will reconvene Thursday
morning at 9:00am and continue to negotiate. The parties
will work through the weekend, if needed, to address the
issues most important to our members, their families, and
our community.
We thank our
membership for your support and ask for your continued
support throughout these negotiations. Additionally, updates
will be forthcoming as negotiations move forward.
Thanking each of our members and Stay Strong!
From The Negotiating
Committee
IAM
and Continental Negotiations update
At
this time your negotiating committee representing our
members at the Continental Plant with Local Lodge 10 has
submitted additional in-depth Information Request
surrounding the company's true Financial Portfolio and
position from our Economists at the negotiating table,
Brother D. White is from the IAM Strategic Resources
Department whom has been and will be with your negotiating
team throughout these negotiations.
I remain
Fraternally
yours,
Tony Blevins
Grand Lodge Representative
IAM&AW, Southern Territory
November 23, 2011
Web Update # 2
IAM&AW
Local Lodge 10
Your Negotiating Team
Negotiations are on hold until after the Thanksgiving weekend. The Union has made several written information requests of the Company and our committee is waiting for the response of the Company to these information requests.
David White, our Economist from Strategic Resources continues to be a very valuable resource to our committee and will assist the committee to evaluate the information as it becomes available.
We will continue with negotiations with the Company next
week and will continue until we have an offer to bring to
you, our members to vote on. Stay tuned as updates
will be posted as we continue to negotiate with the Company.
November
16, 2011
Web Update #1
IAM&AW
Local Lodge 10
Your Negotiating
Team
IAM&AW/Continental
Automotive Update
Your elected contract negotiating team,
Bernard Banks, Carla Walston, Skip Clark, Wayne Hall, George
Koch, and Local Lodge 10 Directing Business Representative
Russell Wade continue to meet with the Company negotiators.
Tim Holt, IAM National Pension Plan representative also was
present as we opened negotiations. Joining our
negotiating team this week are Grand Lodge Representative Tony
Blevins and David White from Strategic Resources. A
Federal Mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation
Service also has joined in. The Union and Company have exchanged
and discussed many issues and proposals. The Company is
proposing many changes to our contract and $15 million in cost
savings to come from our members over a five year period.
Among some of these proposals from the Company is a wage
reduction across the board and elimination of the Quality
Operator classification. Please keep in mind that nothing
is final until a “Last, Best, and Final Offer” is presented to
you, our members, for a vote. Your negotiating team has
heard your concerns regarding the desires of our membership.
The parties are continuing to exchange ideas related to
proposals in an effort of reaching resolution to the issues you
brought forward in the membership surveys, meetings, and with
your negotiating team members. We are asking for our members
support throughout these negotiations. Please remember, if we
have not addressed the issues here, they are rumors. If you have
issues you wish to be relayed to your committee, please contact
Gerald Ware in the Union office. As we inform you about
information, please check your Local Lodge No. 10 web site and
link to Continental for future updates.
http://www.iam10.org
Your Negotiating Committee
