GM CHAIRPERSONS’ REPORT
Feb. 7, 2022
Update: Voluntary Overtime Hours Worked
60 Hour Rule
TO: SKILLED TRADES MEMBERSHIP
Our HFV6 machining areas have experienced a prolonged period of downtime due to various reasons over the last couple of months, and the struggle to get the area back up and running is URGENT. As our customer ramps up production after their re-tooling in January, demand for engines continues to build. However, our ability to produce blocks and heads continues to be impaired. The Union has been engaged in discussions with the Company, pushing them to launch hiring campaigns in November and December of 2021 and January of 2022, in an effort to hire Red Sealed Electricians and Industrial Mechanic’s. Also, for the first time in over 25 years the Union negotiated with the Company an opportunity for Mechanical Apprenticeships to be offered to our members on the Shop floor. Currently, testing is underway for another round of Electrical Apprentices this week. The Union maintains that more Skilled Trades are required, however, it should be noted that there is a shortage of available Mechanical Trades in the Niagara Region.
In an effort to support a recent suggestion from the Skilled Trades members, Ken Naldjieff and myself have been engaged in discussions with the Company about temporarily lifting the 60-hour cap. This would open the available working hours for our GM Skilled Trades who are interested in voluntarily working more hours. After verifying that we are still ESA compliant, we are pleased to announce that the 60-hour cap has been temporarily lifted for the Skilled Trades membership.
This initiative will be reviewed September 6th, 2022 to determine its continued use. Any issues arising from this initiative before September 6th will be discussed and resolved between the parties.
It is understood between the Union and Company that nothing in this agreement changes the overtime provisions of the Collective Agreement. The current scheduling practice of 8 hour shifts per day and up to 48 hours per week as per the ESA remain in effect with no change.
Again -This is voluntary. The only thing that changes is your ability to work more hours if you wish!
You can still volunteer to work an extension of shift to a max of 12 hours per day, now to a max of 84 hours a week. The current practice of voluntarily signing up for the weekend to work more than 48hrs remains in effect.
Note: If you sign up for weekend overtime and are scheduled, then you are committed to work because you made yourself available. This is our current practice.
The Union is in continuing discussions with the Company to extend this to production.
Click here for printable Chairperson’s report
Issued by,
Trevor Longpre, GM Unit Plant Chairperson
On behalf of the Shop Committee, Ken Naldjieff, Glenn Currie, Kevan Anderson, Bill Newburgh
cope343/nw