Bargaining Digest Weekly Oct. 7, 2006

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/10/07/bargaining-digest-weekly-28/

Bargaining Digest Weekly

by Gordon Pavy, Oct 7, 2006

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 at Work.

A few more follow-ups in the wake of the National Labor Relationse Board (NLRB) ruling this week that potentially takes away the freedom to form unions from up to 8 million workers:

* Working families take action on anti-worker labor board ruling.
* Nurses hit NLRB chief on supervisor ruling.
* Nurses (CNA) vow to strike if Kentucky ruling is used.

In Cleveland, Alcoa made a ‘final’ proposal to the UAW last week, and Alcoa posted its proposal on a company website. The local termed the offer unacceptable but said members would vote later this week.

Some 1,100 UAW members in Indiana authorized a strike at the AM General’s Humvee plant, where negotiations continue. In Wisconsin, The UAW and Oshkosh Truck announced ratification of a new five-year agreement. UAW members in Indiana who make musical instruments are into the sixth month of their strike. Workers have rejected three contract proposals and vow to stay out until management stops plans to modify the manufacturing process and eliminate necessary hand crafting procedures.

As expected, American Axle offers buyouts to 6,000 UAW members at five plants for up to $100,000 each. General Motors (GM) and Nissan/Renault called off alliance talks. Nissan/Renault balked at GM demands for payment from them for participating in the alliance.

Daimler Chrysler and Chery of China are planning a subcompact for the U.S. market. No timeline for export has been set. Two U.S. auto parts suppliers in Indiana, BorgWarner and Metaldyne are laying off workers because of lower U.S. auto production. Meanwhile, Toyota’s U.S. sales surge by 25 percent and General Motors announced more production cuts.

Salaried former Chrysler workers must arrange health care coverage. In a major shift, Chrysler is ending coverage and providing a flat annual dollar allowance toward buying coverage.

The Defense Department funding bill for next year excludes funding for the new Pentagon personnel system.

Members of the United American Nurses (UAN) at Wilcox Hospital in Hawaii have been on the picket lines for more than three months—still no deal.

Verizon and Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 723 ratify new union contracts.

Delta, retirees forge a deal on health care.

Members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) picketed at Verizon buildings in Virginia to protest the company leaning on retail wireless store landlords to boot organizers from Verizon stores.

With GASB rules coming into effect in 2008, newspapers are building a drumbeat for a looming public pension crisis, and a taxpayer revolt from workers who see their traditional pension benefits wither.

High-paying, secure Illinois manufacturing jobs are fading away, according to this report.

No date has been set for Bombardier and the Machinists (IAM) to resume negotiations. Workers are going into the second day of a strike in Wichita. The company still is operating its Learjet production line.

The AK Steel lockout is in its eighth month now, and the company says retirements are climbing. Here’s more on the local fallout felt throughout southwest Ohio.

IUE-CWA members at Pittsburgh Brewing rejected contract concessions from the company, which has filed for bankruptcy, prompting them to again seek termination of their contract in court.

Comair, in its bid for continued business from Delta, says stymied labor talks may lead to layoffs of hundreds of employees. The airline is looking for $42 million from their unions. Unions at Mesaba are offering a pay-cut plan of their own. Mesaba has been granted the right to cancel its labor agreements from the bankruptcy court.

Sacramento County health care workers face uncertainty after their proposed contract was rejected. No negotiation sessions are planned.

Whirlpool says it will cut 500 IUE-CWA jobs in Evansville, Ind., and also cut jobs at a plant with United Steelworkers (USW) workers in Fort Smith, Ark., setting up another round in these two plant’s inter-company struggle for new products to build.

Bus drivers in Nashville, members of the Amalgamated Transit Union, face a Sunday midnight contract deadline and may go on strike if no agreement is reached.

AFGE won a fight to keep 800 employees at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the job. The Bush administration wanted to eliminate positions for workers who are responsible for implementing immigration reform.

Fines upheld against unions involved in last year’s New York transit strike.

Internationally, Arcelor Mittal workers are on strike for a fifth day in Kazakstan. In Germany, IG Metall and VW agreed to increase the work week by four hours, to 33 hours per week, with no pay increase.