2012 Negotiations Update

IAM District 725 and Goodrich Aerostructures

Keep up to date with the latest developments at the bargaining table.

HOTLINES:

Chula Vista: (619) 422-4883

Riverside: (951) 354-2343

"All That Harms Labor Is Treason To America" --- Abraham Lincoln  

Negotiations Update

Sunday February 19, 2012

Brothers and Sisters,

The new three year labor agreement was ratified by a 54% vote of the membership. Everyone is requested to report to work tomorrow, Monday February 20, 2012. Your Negotiating Committees thank you for your support and dedication during this difficult round of negotiations.

in solidarity,

Your Union Negotiating Committees

Negotiations Update

Thursday February 16, 2012

Brothers and Sisters,

We have reached a tentative agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement with the company. Shop Stewards will distribute copies of tentative summary agreement on Friday February 17, 2012. Ratification meetings have been scheduled for both the Chula Vista and Riverside locations:

Local Lodge 755 members will hold their ratification meeting on Sunday February 19, 2012 at the Parkway Gymnasium located at 385 Park Way (Northeast Corner - 4^th and Park Way), Chula Vista, CA  91910 from 9:000 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Bring your identification.

Local Lodge 964 members will hold their ratification meeting on Sunday February 19, 2012 at the Marriott Hotel located 3400 Market St. Riverside, CA (corner of 5th and Market) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Bring your identification.

All Local Lodge 755 & 964 members are encouraged to attend!

Download a pdf copy of the Chula Vista Summary by clicking here.

Download a pdf copy of the Riverside Summary by clicking here.

Negotiations Update

Tuesday February 14, 2012

Brothers and Sisters,

The Federal Mediator, your Union and the company met again today. After much discussion, little progress was made, but a third economic proposal was exchanged. Negotiations are scheduled to resume tomorrow, Wednesday February 15, 2012.

Thank you for your support. We will update as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Your Union Negotiating Committee

Negotiations Update

Saturday February 11, 2012

Brothers and Sisters,

Your Negotiating Committee met with the company today and the parties have agreed to a one week contract extension. Economic proposals were exchanged, and the parties agreed to meet again on Monday February 13, 2012.

Thank you for your support. We will update on Monday as information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Your Union Negotiating Committee

Negotiations Update

Friday February 10, 2012

Brothers and Sisters,

On February 10th you received a communication from the company advising you how well your negotiations are progressing. We felt it necessary to set the record straight since the Company's letter is misleading.

Your contract expires in two days on Sunday February 12th, and as of the writing of this communication, we have not entered into any economic discussions. So far we have met for over a month, and we have not accomplished much concerning major issues we face at both plants. Major issues such as AMQAS, Alternate Workweek, Sub-Contracting, and so on have not been addressed by the Company other than to say, "We want to keep the current language, and we don't see what the problem is"!

When they state that the new agreement is "competitive" for all involved, we don't understand how they can even make that statement when your negotiating committee hasn't even seen any economics from the Company! The Company is presently in both plants meeting with our membership telling them how great the package is.

Due to the Company's total disregard to the negotiation process and disrespect for our members and their representatives, we've had to file another Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge against the Company for direct dealing with our membership. When the Company states that we've made an "unlawful" request to put non-bargaining unit work into the bargaining unit, again, this is not accurate. We have the lawful right to make a demand that work that we believe belongs in the bargaining unit be brought into the bargaining unit. What is unlawful is to make any demands regarding their sub-contractors! There is currently another ULP charge pending against the Company regarding this issue as well.

When the Company states that you will have your ratification meeting this Sunday, they have no say so as to when we will bring anything to a vote with our membership, and are interfering with our legal rights and processes.

Please be advised the reservations for the ratification meeting at the Riverside Marriot have been cancelled. There will be no ratification meeting on Sunday February 12, 2012 for the Riverside or Chula Vista  locations.

We appreciate your patience and support up to this point, but we will not have an agreement shoved down our throats at the last minute just so the Company can try to come off as the "good guys"!

Sincerely,

Your Negotiating Committee

Negotiations Update

Wednesday February 1, 2012

Your Negotiating Committees want to thank you for your support. There was a large turnout for the Strike Sanction that took place on January 26th.

The results of this vote at Chula Vista and Riverside were overwhelmingly in favor of Strike Sanction at 99%. With you help, this sent a clear and unmistaken message through your participation in this process!

We are still discussing Job Study & Contract Language as we try to get into economics. We are currently holding firm on Sub-Contractors, Transfers, AMQAS, KAIZEN & Management performing Bargaining Unit work.

Mantech continues to be an issue at Riverside as salaried and non-Bargaining Unit employees are doing the usual and standard work normally performed by our members.

We have reached tentative agreements on most sections of the contract language.

Once again, the committee thank you for your support and will update you with further information as we progress! 

Negotiations Update

Friday January 31, 2012

The committee from both Chula Vista and Riverside are in full agreement that issues involving non-bargaining unit personnel performing bargaining unit work not resolved during the 2003, 2006 and 2009 negotiation must be resolved during this round of negotiations.

The company is trying to combine 10 Labor Grades into 3, and 10 Classifications into 5. These combinations will totally destroy our seniority system and we cannot agree with those combinations.

It is also the opinion of your negotiation committees that the company is not bargaining in good faith. We have made informational requests involving sub-contractors that have not been addressed by the company as of this date. Because we are within a couple of weeks of the current agreements expiring, we have no alternative but to file Unfair Labor Practice Charges against the company with the National Labor Relations Board in order to get the information that we are legally entitled to.

At this point in time, we have not even begun talking about any economics as the company is only meeting for short periods of time, telling us that they maintain their proposals and not giving the committees anything in writing.

The "Strike Sanction Vote" that took place on Thursday January 26th was a sign that the membership is in full support of our committees and sending the company a s message that they will not be disrespected in this round of negotiations.

We've also requested Strike Sanction from the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council and the Sand Bernardino/Riverside Central Labor Council. This sanction will give us the entire support of all of organized labor in both San Diego and Riverside, California.

As we progress, we will continue to update you on these negotiations. Thank you for your support, and let the company know that we will not tolerate their "Business As Usual" attitude.

UNITED WE BARGAIN, DIVIDED WE BEG!

SUPPORT YOUR UNION, IT'S YOUR FUTURE!

Negotiations Update

Thursday January 26, 2012

STRIKE SANCTION VOTE TODAY!

Local Lodge 964 - 6086 Montgomery Street, Riverside, CA.

Polls Open (back gate open) from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Local Lodge 755 - 590 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA.

Polls Open from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Brothers and sisters, it is absolutely essential that you vote YES for Strike Sanction today to give your negotiating committees the leverage they need to obtain the best possible contract. A YES vote on Strike Sanction does not put you on strike; there must be a second vote at the contract ratification. Your Negotiating Committee must have a good turn out and a resounding YES vote to negotiate from a position of strength. Send the company a message loud and clear; We support our Negotiating Committee! 

To date we see no evidence that the company is here to negotiate seriously or in good faith. The company to this point has summarily dismissed our proposals and has not make any serious counter proposals. The few items that the company has put across the table have been "non starters" such as increasing the population of our members on Alternate Work Week schedules to 50% of the work force, several unacceptable classification combinations and a restructuring and reduction of labor grades that would cost our members money. The company refuses to negotiate major issues and proposals that we have brought tot the table on areas such as AMQAS, Kaizen, improved language on subcontracting and transfers. The company has thrown down the gauntlet and is refusing to negotiate on the most major issue of all, Man-Tech! This strikes at the very core of our existence as a Union Shop, and the delineation of work belonging to the Bargaining Unit.

Beginning with the introduction of the 787 program into Riverside and ongoing with the new programs following the 787, the company has devised a new operating model for Man-Tech that is unprecedented in its disregard for the contract, past practices and how new programs have traditionally been developed and brought into production. With the 787 at fifty ship sets and counting and all the earmarks of a production operation long in place, it is production under the guise of developmental work. Do not listen to the company's words, look at their actions. Their actions show a long term strategy toward transforming Riverside into a non-union R&D/Man-Tech facility. Man-Tech is growing like a cancer and is spreading into the "green field" areas of the production shop in violation of the "Letter of Agreement" and in areas that were supposed to be reserved for new production. At this rate it will not be long before Man-Tech encompasses more people and more area than production! New programs will be developed and readied for production and built elsewhere and as the legacy programs end, production in Riverside will end along with our Union Shop. This is a fight for our future and the future of all of the new generation coming in and hoping to enjoy a good and long career as many of our members have enjoyed.

I would ask you to talk to our members who came to Riverside from Tolo, and them what it was like to work in a non-union shop. One of your negotiating committee is among those who were formerly at Tolo and remembers vividly the much lower quality of work life and compensation. The original owner of Tolo notoriously disregarded employee's rights and when Goodrich took over, members of the management team that came from Riverside behaved very differently at Tolo then they did in our Union environment. Your Union is what stands between you and the arbitrary and capricious actions of management. Your Union and collective bargaining is what has resulted in the best compensation in the Inland Empire.

Brothers and Sisters, send the company a message of strength and unity! Give your Negotiating Committee the power and leverage it needs to negotiate the best possible contract!

Thank you and in Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee.

VOTE YES ON STRIKE SANCTION!

Negotiations Update

Thursday January 19, 2012

NEGOTIATIONS 2012

Your Negotiating Committees from Riverside and Chula Vista are working together to serve the membership to the best of our abilities, and to negotiate the best contract possible. The committees are currently in Job Study and Contract Language and will communicate with membership as NEGOTIATIONS progress.

You are requested to attend a "Strike Sanction Vote" meeting to be held at Local Lodge 964, 6086 Montgomery Street, Riverside, CA from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm and Local Lodge 755, 590 Park Way, Chula Vista, CA from 5:00 am to 5:00 pm on Thursday January 26th 2012.

WILL THIS VOTE PUT ME ON STRIKE???

NO! The Constitution of the IAM requires that a second strike vote be taken at the conclusion of Negotiations. At that time you will be asked to vote to either accept or reject the Company's final offer. In the event you reject the final offer, you will be asked to authorize strike action, by again reaffirming your original strike vote.

Through your attendance and participation on the "Strike Sanction Vote" you will send Goodrich a strong message that you support your Union Negotiators. This will show Goodrich that we our Fair Share. Goodrich will be watching to see the turnout at this meeting. Let's show Goodrich that we are strong with a 100% membership turnout.

Please bring your Goodrich employee badge with you to the Union Hall.

For updates on our current negotiations, please go to www.iam725.org.

Fraternally,

Your Local Lodge 964 and Local Lodge 755 Union Negotiating Committees.

Negotiations Update

Friday January 13, 2012

Your Union Negotiating Committee has given the company your non-economic proposals this week. The has questions regarding these proposals, and presented those questions to your Union Negotiating Committee on Thursday January 12, 2912. They stated that they want a response to their questions next week.

While your committee has worked hard developing your proposals and preparing for these negotiations, it appears as though the company is using this time as a vacation or holiday from their normal responsibilities!

Your Union Negotiating Committee was very disappointed in the company when they came in late to the meeting on Thursday and presented their questions and then left to begin their weekend. They never gave your Union Negotiating Committee an opportunity to respond to their questions and are putting that off until next week.

Your Union Negotiating Committee is working to provide the company with precise and comprehensive answers to their questions, and will be ready to resume negotiations with the company next week or sooner if the company wants.

Your Union Negotiating Committee will continue to update this information as we progress in negotiations, but as of now, it doesn't appear as thought the company is interested in getting this done any time soon. We will also announce when the first Strike Sanction vote will take place. As soon as we have a dedicated web site up and a hotline that members can call, we will get that information to you as well.

Thank you for your support and patience during this negotiation process.

Fraternally,

your Local Lodge 755 and Local Lodge 964 Union Negotiating Committees