Wheel Plant Report

Plant Chairman: Al Castillo,

Vice –Chairman Charles Radford,

Chief Stewards: Eric Knuckles, Coy Arnold, and Tim Farrell.

     Continuation from the Wheel Plant Committee’s last written article; the most frequently asked questions;

Question. Has the Automation project in S-Plant generated a wage rate increase?

Answer. Yes, because of the added operational changes, related knowledge, and all the additional responsibility that was added to our job duties, a wage increase was obtained. The job evaluation process was inevitable and a matter of time.

The Committee pulled the trigger in mid-July and demanded a job evaluation under the Wage Study Manual. The end results, the Wheel Plant Committee along with the Bargaining Committee demanded that the Company set a temporary wage rate, and reach an agreement for lost wages. There was also an additional commitment made by the Company to revisit, and reevaluate a factor level before the end of this year, for the sole purpose of determining a factor level weight within the Wage Study Manual.

Question. Has the Company repaired the hot water tank in S-Plant?

Answer. The hot water tank was replaced, but not without a debate. The project went into the repair mode only after the Plant Committee placed the Company on notice. How's that for handling small issues. Hell, just listening to the Company’s perception of the problem, their impression is that the plant employees should feel somewhat blessed. They do not have to walk all the way down to A-Plant, hop the fence, and then skip down to the Cuyahoga River, just to find warm water in order to wash their hands. 

Question. With winter rapidly approaching, has the heat issue been resolved in S- Plant?

Answer. The UAW Safety and S-Plant Committees have held high level discussions with the Company, up to and including the Business Managers of CVW. Commitments were made to service, repair and replace the heating units throughout S-Plant. Repairs are in progress, a new heating unit has been purchased and delivered, but it has not been installed at this time.