Local 692 Sees Big Gains
In First Contract
With New Owner
ERIE, Pa.
Last February UE Local 692 members were wondering about the
effects of their plants second change in ownership in nearly a decade and
the first since Ervite workers organized in 1992. What would the change in
ownership mean for negotiations?
As it turned out, the Local 692 membership stuck together,
backed their negotiating committee and achieved one of their best-ever
contracts through negotiations with the new owner, Wisconsin-based Applied
Power Inc. (APW).
The membership, now close to 300 strong, had a list of major
goals going into negotiations that included raising wages, lowering insurance
costs, making upgrades easier and eliminating any sort of mandatory overtime.
They accomplished all these goals and more in the contract ratified on Nov. 2.
CONTRACT IMPROVEMENTS
Wages increase by 45 cents the first year and 40 cents in the
second and third years. Whats more, a shorter progression schedule and
probation period will yield additional increases of up to 60 cents an hour.
New and higher starting rates on three classifications also result in
additional raises.
By revamping employee payments for health insurance, the
company will pay a much larger portion than before resulting in savings
for all employees and more than 50-cents-an-hour in savings for those with
family coverage. The company will be paying a progressively larger portion in
the second and third years of the contract.
The contract sets up a system for allowing employees in
"B" classifications to move into "A" classifications once
trained. The union negotiated more than 30 improvements in contract language
covering job posting, transfers, numbers of union stewards and many other
issues, in addition to improvements in bereavement and safety shoes and
glasses and leave of absence benefits.
The Local 692 negotiating committee, led by Pres. Mark
"Woody" Wlodarczyk, included Tom Migdal, Scott Buterbaugh,
Norm Tousey, Pat Bubash and Bill Warren. They were assisted by
Field Org. Ron Flowers.
UE News - 01/01
