Departments

We have begun a new era and a new contract with I. T. E. I would just like to start off by saying a big THANK YOU to our group at International. We spent 8 weeks walking the picket line to protest the unfair labor practices of this company. We made some sacrifices, but maintain our dignity & developed renewed solidarity and friendships that will endear for a lifetime.

A very special thank you goes to the four retirees that assisted us with our strike (Bob, Fink, Freed, & Mike). Hope you guys had a wonderful dinner with your wives.

Special thank you’s to Ron Myrnes, Teamster business agent, which walked the picket line with us at the Concord Road facility, and assisted me with keeping UPS drivers from crossing our picket line there. Thank you to Rona Elliot at Harley that lent us the use of the kerosene heaters, and Alan Vandersloot, Director of Labor for the United Way of York, for assistance with identifying needs of our members, and Clark Ruppert, Jr. President of the York Adams County, Pennsylvania Labor Council, for the monetary assistance and moral support. Thanks to Gary Casteel, Director Region 8, and the entire region 8 memberships that either sent money to the local or moral support when we needed it. And the list goes on.

Our main issue was the healthcare costs, which we diverted fifteen cents of COLA per quarter to offset the cost to our members. We did , unfortunately, initially lose the first fifteen cents, but the management agreed to roll the rest of our COLA into our base wage. This action results in more bonus money when bonuses are in effect.

Our current status is that we have three carryover grievances and three current grievances at different steps, with a least two more to be filed. The carryover grievance will be discussed next week we I go to Chicago, along with the rest of our Policy Committee, for the official signing of the new agreement. Blaine and I will have make arrangements with the local management to discuss the three grievances filed this year.

In Solidarity,
Bill Perkins
Bargaining Chair Local 1872