4/11/20

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We received a last, best and final offer from the company concerning Covid-19 relief and it included much more.  I am sure that most of you have seen the letter at the plant from Rodger Hoopes.  It explains the company’s proposal for some paid time off that we have been negotiating for a few weeks. The company also wanted to waive the foreman working language, temporary assignment language and some pay language that would allow them to move employees’ crews at no cost to the company.  While we were willing to make some of these allowances with some limiting language, we demanded that in the event of a lay-off the language would go back to the existing CBA. In the companies last counter, they also want to suspend the lay-off clause in the 12-hour letter of agreement.  The entire purpose of this language is to make sure that every available option is looked at before a lay-off is performed.  There is no way that this E-board will ever agree to anything that could possible help lead to one member being laid off much less more.  

The company has said it is going to unilaterally implement these polices starting Monday the 13th. I assure you we will take every course we legally can to try to stop this action, and if it does take place, to make them cease and desist such action.  Now don’t take this the wrong way, we said in our letter to the company and still maintain that we are more than willing to work with the company in any way possible to try to stop or minimize a lay-off.  But all of these changes the company wantsto implement will only increase the number of people affectedby a lay-off and potentially prolong their recall, if it remains in effect during a lay-off.

I hold out hope that there will not be a lay-off, but it my opinion, it seams that the company is positioning itself for one.  These are definitely uncertain times and I am sure that a lot of you are worried about your future, but please try to keep your mind on the task at hand and continue to work safely.  I will continue to do my best to keep the information flowing as quickly as possible.

In solidarity,

Mike Hernandez