DISTRICT W1 OFFICERS AND STAFF
The District W1 Officers are Steve Fluke, President/Directing Business Representative, Bob Wilson, Assistant Directing Business Representative, and Steve Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer. The Business Representatives are: Marvin Abbott, John Hilkey, Marty Demaris, Chip Elliott, Sonny Hamar, Wayne Thompson, Ron Teigen, Noel Willet and Mike Rose. Connie Bays keeps our office books in order and Susan Paul is the Secretary-Receptionist.
ORGANIZING
The District staff has been very active over the past several months with organizing. Every one of the staff has sacrificed time away from home--including some weekends--to make our organizing efforts a success. Mike Rose and Noel Willet have guided our District to three successful organizing campaign elections in a row!
Montesano Health and Rehabilitation
In July of 2009, we were certified as the bargaining agent for the employees at Montesano Health and Rehabilitation in Montesano, Washington. There are approximately 80 members who work at that facility. Wayne Thompson and Marvin Abbott are bargaining that contract and hope to wrap it up in the next couple months.
Wayne Bare Trucking
In late fall of 2009, the staff organized a trucking firm in Arcata, California, called Wayne Bare Trucking. There are 64 members working for Wayne Bare trucking. Bob Wilson and Chip Elliott are in the early stages of bargaining a contract for that group. There have been two rounds of negotiation and another is scheduled for the first week of April.
Logistical Solutions Group
In March we were certified as the bargaining agent for Logistical Solutions Group, a service contractor at Fort Lewis McCord. There are 50 members within that group. Bargaining will start for those members soon.
In and Out Auto Care
Steve Wilson and Bob Wilson also worked out the details for an auto repair group to join our District. In and Out Auto Service in Gladstone, Oregon, brings in an additional two members.
The addition of 194 members and more importantly, the efforts to organize the unorganized are very beneficial to every one of our members. When bargaining time comes around, we always hear from the employers that economic issues, such as wage increases and benefit improvements, make them unable to compete with their industry rivals. Every group of individuals we organize brings the competitiveness closer together. It really does not matter from which industry improved wages and benefits come from, economically we are better off at the bargaining table when everyone around us is getting fair wages and treatment.
Last week I had a member tell me that he did not realize how well he had it within one of our Union shops until he was laid off and had to find employment elsewhere in the interim until his job reopens. Many of us forget what we have when it is a way of life. The Union way of life is clearly more rewarding at the end of the day. Our wages as well as Holidays, Vacation, Pensions and Healthcare are taken for granted in many shops but there are a few of our plants, as well as most non-union operations, where these benefits are not provided.
We have organizing activity going on in nearly every Local Lodge within District W1. If any of you members know of an unorganized shop or industry in your area where there is interest, please contact your District Representative. In May we will be blitzing an operation with nearly 1000 potential members. Many of our Local Lodges have agreed to send assistance in this undertaking and that is deeply appreciated. The International is also providing major assistance to this campaign lead by Bill Street our Administrative Assistant to the IAM President.
INDUSTRY NEWS
Assistance from District W1:
Our Local Lodges have been doing a very good job of handling “day to day” issues at the plants we represent. When assistance is needed a request is made for the District to provide a representative. When a request is made, a representative is assigned and usually is in contact with the Local within twenty-four hours. In handling our business with efficiency, we are able to not only provide representation to our members but can also look for new opportunities as I mentioned above.
Certification of the Trade Act:
We have been certified for the Trade Act in many of the Weyerhaeuser Operations where we represent the members. There are a few places we have not been certified as of yet but are being told the issues are being worked. Warrenton Oregon is one of those areas where not only did the company have a major lay-off in the Spring of 2009, they also ended up closing and selling the plant in the Fall of 2009. We have continued to pursue the applications for Trade Act and will continue until our members get what they rightfully deserve.
Stimson in Clatskanie, Oregon, has been turned down for the Trade Act, and the Union along with the Oregon State Machinists Council is appealing that decision.
Warrenton Weyerhaeuser Lumber Mill has finally been approved for the Trade Act. Your State Labor Council Liaison Mark Warn as well as your Local Lodge President Gary Lokan and Woodworkers District Lodge WI have continued to apply pressure for a ruling. We apologize for the delay but we are grateful that the ruling was positive and will now help our members get on with their lives. You will receive notice for a meeting in the Astoria area as soon as all the parties who need to attend are scheduled.
The Trade Act has been approved for the Weyerhaeuser Company Logging Operation in
Longview Washington. Woodworkers District WI, Local Lodge W536 and the Washington State Labor Council Liaison Bill Messenger have worked very hard to bring this to our members. Congratulations to everyone who will benefit from this opportunity.
Contract Bargaining:
Bargaining will begin at Sierra Pine for a contract that expires at the end of May. We will keep the members informed as developments occur. At Olympic Panel and Plywood in Shelton the contract will be open for Healthcare negotiations. As things develop we will keep the members notified. We have a few contracts that open in 2011 and most of them open in 2012. We are looking forward to a better economy in the years to come.
City of Shelton Public Works, Finance and Customer Service (3 separate contracts are being bargaining. Public Works and Customer Service are moving forward and Finance is going to PERC mediation.
Mason County Prosecutors settled for a 6-month extension of current terms. Mason County Corrections and Support contract is moving to the Commission for ratification of April 8th. It includes a $50.00 per month increase towards H&W and a Salary Survey Wage increase effective in tiered quarterly implementation effective 1/1/10.
