ZONE 5 REPORT

by Dave Westforth, Griever

        Wow, what a ride! We have definitely been on a roller coaster ride for the past two years. Who would have even begun to think that the company that we worked for for all those years would fold? Who would have even begun to think that we would see over 800 people leave this company to take the buy out? Who would have even begun to think that this new company would send out $30,000 checks on checks that are only good up to $15,000? The list goes on and on of things that have happened over the last two years that are hard to believe or accept.

         I do not believe that the list will end any time soon. We have a long way to go before we can sit back and relax, knowing that we have gotten to a place where we feel safe and secure with this new company. In fact, that time may never come. We will need to be continuously on guard against future abuse of our employees and our contract.

        Mr. Mang has asked us to trust him. Well, Mr. Mang, trust must be earned. Up to this point we are not in a position to trust you. Yes, it is true that many things have gone well so far, but we also see the payroll problems, the TAP check problems, the new absentee policy and conduct code, the displacement of workers and several other things that make it difficult for us to trust you. We have been told over and over again that ISG wants the workers to begin to think of this company as a team and not Union against Management. Well, correct me if I’m wrong, but in order for that to become reality I believe that the Union should have been involved in the creation of the absentee policy and the conduct code.

Teamwork: working “together” to accomplish a common goal. That is my definition. The dictionary defines teamwork as “the quality whereby individuals unselfishly subordinate their own part to the general effort of the group with whom they are working or playing.” To me that means the same as my definition. When we see things like new policies and codes being formulated and implemented without even a hint of Union involvement, that tells me that we are not a team unless it suits Management’s needs.

       Dear ISG, if you truly want to be a “team” then throw out the absentee policy, the conduct code and the lateness and early quit policy and let’s start over with Union involvement in the creation of these documents. Honor the contract that was negotiated that states, “work previously performed by the bargaining unit will continue to be performed by the bargaining unit” and stop having foreman doing ordering that used to be done by members of the O & T units. Return those O & T employees to their units to perform those duties. This would go a long way in the effort to create a team atmosphere and maybe then we could begin to trust you a little.

      Members of Local 6787 – do not think that we are out of the woods yet. We have a lot of work ahead of us to complete the transition from Bethlehem to ISG. Believe me when I say that all of us Union officials need your help to accomplish the difficult tasks that lie ahead. The last thing we need is to be divided at this crucial time in this process. Please support the work of your elected officials. Offer to help them whenever needed.

      Up to this point in Zone 5 I have been extremely pleased with the cooperation and tremendous support from the membership. The shops complex has seen an amazing turnaround and has been complimented by Management and outsiders on the new commitment to working to make the shops a success. None of that would be possible without each of the employees pulling together the way a team is supposed to. I would like to thank all of you for the effort you have put forth to prove to this company that the shops complex can and will add value to the corporation through hard work and commitment. Many of the people who fought to close the shops are now saying that they were wrong. I think more and more people will come to that conclusion as we move forward. Not just in the shops complex either. This Zone and this Union as a whole is a work force that is highly skilled and competent to accomplish anything they put their mind to. We will succeed, because failure is not an option.

Thank you,

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