Bargaining Digest Weekly by Gordon Pavy, Mar 10, 2007

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/03/10/bargaining-digest-weekly-48/

Bargaining Digest Weekly

by Gordon Pavy, Mar 10, 2007

The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 800 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

After twice rejecting contract offers by Northrup Grumman Ship Systems, members of the Electrical Workers (IBEW) and 11 metal trades unions went on strike Thursday, halting operations at the Ingalls shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

The unions of the Pascagoula Metal Trades Council Shipyards rejected one contract offer from the defense contractor by an 85 percent margin. The IBEW represents about 1,200 workers, and the 11 unions in the Metal Trades Council represent an additional 6,200 workers at the shipyard. The strike halted work at Mississippi’s largest private employer. The shipyard, among other things, builds ships for the Navy.

In a statement, Medal Trades Department President Ron Ault says the strike is the result of the stresses of post-Katrina/Rita hurricane life on the Gulf Coast.

What we are seeing here is something like post-traumatic stress in combat troops. They are fed up with what they see as abandonment and neglect of this region.

Employees at Northrop Grumman plants in Gulfport, New Orleans and Tallulah, La., have approved new labor agreements.

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Manufacturing — Gerdau Ameristeel Corp. in Texas, Minnesota and Iowa has reached agreements with the United Steelworkers (USW) that run through 2010.

USW members also ratified contracts with Allegheny Ludlum to replace those due to expire in June. The contact covers 3,100 workers at plants in Massachusetts, Oregon and New York.

About 870 Boilermakers at the Norfolk BAE Systems shipyards approved a three-year deal that raises wages by 14 percent over the life of the agreement.

Continental Tire won a battle against the USW when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) dismissed charges of unfair labor practices that were filed against them last year.

The Machinists (IAM) says their locked-out members at AK Steel will be voting by mail ballot on the contract that could end the yearlong dispute.

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Auto Industry — UAW locals have been negotiating “competitive operating agreements” modifying work rules at Ford Motor Co. plants over the last year.

DaimlerChrysler met with the private equity firm Cerberus about acquiring the automaker. Chrysler also was scheduled to meet with the equity firm Blackstone Group. The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) is on record as opposing a private-equity deal for Chrysler. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger is using his position as a member of the DaimlerChrysler executive board to register the union’s influence. Last week, the UAW, the CAW and German IG Metall issued a joint statement demanding full disclosure to the unions on company moves to sell Chrysler.

Gettelfinger also writes in the Detroit News “Labor Voices” column that multi-industry and government efforts away from the bargaining table on health care and the energy policy could go a long way to leveling the playing field with our global competitors.

Chrysler workers at a plant in Brampton, Ontario, who refused to accept concessions, including a pay cut of $115 a week and outsourcing janitorial jobs, were told by company officials that they will halt a $700 million investment in the plant unless the workers change their stance.

Ford has agreed to give performance bonuses to its U.S. and Canadian salaried and hourly employees because the company made cost-cutting “improvements”.

Nonunion Nissan in Tennessee has offered employee buyouts. Nissan says they are necessary because productivity gains are moving faster than attrition rates.

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FULL story at link.