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TO: All Union
Members of Local Union 983
FR:
Tyler E. Brown
RE:
January Presidents Message
________________________________________________________________________
01/03/06
Dear Brothers & Sisters,
We start off 2006 at United
Technologies with a lot of exciting changes that promise to be
very rewarding to both the union and company organizations. For
these reasons, I am really looking forward to representing your
interests in regards to labor relations throughout the upcoming
year.
First, as you all know, the
company has finally agreed to re-institute the Work Design
Liaisons. In the fall of 2005, the union randomly surveyed
approximately 100 members of our local union regarding their
feelings towards work design. The results of the survey were not
overwhelmingly favorable regarding the current state of Work
Design at the factory. I took this information to the company and
shared your concerns with them. As a result of doing so, we began
seriously discussing ways we could work on improving the Work
Design Concept. The analysis of the survey results, brainstorming
of the Work Design Steering Committee, and persistent lobbying on
my part for the liaisons has resulted in the company’s decision to
have them reinstated. Personally, I feel that this is proof of
commitment on the part of the current management of United
Technologies to not only insuring the longevity of business, but
also respecting the decisions of their work teams while doing so.
Accordingly, I ask that you please keep an open mind during this
transition period and lets see where we can take this thing
together as a team --- the way a true work design facility should
work.
Secondly, Joel has assured us
that he remains committed to working with his staff and the union
members to develop manufacturing process improvements on the
floor. As you know, maintenance worked exhaustingly over the
holiday shutdown to do some rearranging of the production lines
and floor. This has resulted in freeing up production space in
the back of the facility where GRR used to be, which will be the
future home of the first lead-free solder line we will have in the
factory.
Thirdly, as the production
increases at the facility, it may become necessary later in 2006
for Line FG to start operating again on third shift. If this
happens, we could easily add another 30 members to our local
union, which will put us over 600 members for the first time in
the history of our local union. Although there is no guarantee
obviously that this will happen, the local union remains committed
to working as necessary with the company to innovate new ideas and
initiatives to insure such growth opportunities are within our
reach.
Aside from 2006 initiatives at
the plant, this will be a busy year for your local union leaders
as well. This year, the IBEW will hold its 5-year Constitutional
Convention in September. The convention is going to be in
Cleveland, Ohio. Our local union will get to send two delegates
to the convention, based on our current membership count. The
elected delegates for our local union include Bill Davis and
myself.
In addition to the
convention, as in past years, union officers will be attending the
IBEW State Conference, National Political Conference, Women’s
Conference, Organizing Conference, and our District’s Annual
Progress Meeting.
As 2006 begins to wrap up, we
will begin preparing for contract negotiations, which are
scheduled to start in February of 2007.
In closing, I want to wish
each and every one of you a Happy New Year! If you set
resolutions, try your best to stick to them ---although doing so
is not easy (trust me I know).
As always, I appreciate the
opportunity to serve you as your President & Business Manager, and
remain,
Very truly yours in
Solidarity,
Tyler E. Brown
President & Business Manager
Local Union 983, IBEW
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