Call to Order - President Shawn Willis called the meeting to order at 4:05 pm.
Roll Call - Roll call of officers was taken. All answered except: Tyron Rias, Bob Wolters, Martin Sandoval, and Tamika Malone.
Minutes of Previous Meeting - Greg Michko made the motion to waive the reading of the July 2019 general membership meeting minutes, and accept them as written.
Communications - President Shawn Willis read flyer from L.U. 1011 announcing their first annual golf outing. This flyer invited our members to participate if they choose.
Officer Reports - The Financial Secretary Report for the month of August 2019 was presented by Financial Secretary Don Taylor. After completion of the reading, Greg Michko moved the Financial Secretary's report for August 2019 be accepted as read.
The lost time and expenses report for the month of August 2019 was presented by Financial Secretary Don Taylor. At the conclusion of the report, Greg Michko moved that all lost time and expenses for the month of August 2019 be accepted, and paid.
The Treasurer's Report for the month of August 2019, was presented by Treasurer Greg Ford. After the completion of the reading, Greg Michko moved the Treasurer's report for the month of August 2019 be accepted as read.
Committee Reports
Grievance Committee - Zone 1 Griever Rob Cleveringa announced that members are complaining about incentives. Chairman Griever Reggie Chandler announced that 2 members got locked out of work because of PPE (safety). PPE (safety) is a cardinal rule of USS. If you get locked out for this safety issue, there is not much we can go in to manager's office and argue for. Chairman Reggie Chandler also announced that their is a new member on the Incentive committee, his name is John Colberson. Curtis Bledsoe has stepped down.
Training Committee - Pete Smith announced that they are 8 new members in the learning program: 6 MTM's & 2 MTE's. Pete Smith also spoke on how members of 5133 needs to make requests to managers for more MTM's and MTE's. Pete said, we have lost 20 MTM's and MTE's over the years for Critical skills (maintenance, electrical & so on). Union officials need to encourage management to create new job postings. Greg Michko announced L.U. 1066 is having a job fair to hire MTM's and MTE's. The fair is on August 20, 2019 at 1 N. Buchanon, Gary, IN.
Safety Committee - Safety Official Charlie stated that we have had no Safety incidents in 20 days, but we did have a incident without injury at the 6-stand. Don Taylor announced, management is sending members for drops for mechanical failures on their mills or mobile equipement failure. Don Taylor is asking all members to fill out all paper work required for your jobs, whether is be mobile equipment reports, reports for production time, and coil checks. Don Taylor also announced that work is slow in the mill, and management is assigning odd jobs to members. If any members are out of date with being qualified on tractor or crane, now is the time to get updated, or go to safety classes. Please ask Andy in safety trailor, he can let you know if you are out of date on anything.
WOS Committee - WOS Coordinator Tamika Malone thanked all members that donated to the Autism Walk. We collected $600.00, which was donated to the organization. Tamika Malone also thanked the membership for allowing us to attend the WOS District 7 Conference. The theme this year was "Unleash the Power of Knowledge." It was very educational. Tamika also thanked Elizabeth Diaz for doing a great job on the planning committee, and representing 5133 professionally.
President Shawn Willis asked for a motion to send 2 women to the Regina Polk School for the Labor Leadrship Education Program. It's October 16-20, 2019 in Champaign Urbana. Pete Smith made the motion on the executive boards recommendation to sponsor 2 women to attend the Polk School for labor.
Rapid Response Committee - Coordinator Liz Diaz announced if any members has not filled out the Petition postcards for the Healthcare workers, please get ahold of her. Liz also thanked Tamika Malone, and Greg Ford for all their help and support.
Civil Rights Committee - No Report
Contracting Out Committee - Cliff announced that they finally finished the floor behind the Tin line. Cliff also announced that their has been complaints from members about ECT contracting out plumbing jobs.
New Business - President Shawn Willis read a letter from member Brett Fry. In this letter, the member asked questions. The first question was "Is progress being made with the incentive?" President Shawn Willis replied to this with answer" Reggie Chandler filed a grievance on behalf of the whole mill." 2 nd question "When can we expect to see changes?" Shawn replied "I'm not sure, it depends on a lot of things. We have to show proof of work on lines." 3rd question "During election, members that were running for office said Incentive was top priority, Is this still to priority?" Shawn replied "Yes it is, we are working on it, we are attending meetings.
President Shawn Willis also announced that him and Reggie Chandler went to District 5 Conference. At the conference, we learned that membership is down in the Unions. Members have to stick together. Don't let management divide us.
President Shawn Willis also announced that the posting got awarded. Labor Relations messed up, and awarded the postings to members with the least seniority, and Labor grade 1 members. All members at ECT are aggrivated, and turning against on another. Shawn asking members to keep your strength up, unity is all we have.
Pete Smith also commented on this, saying members should always try to stick together. Pete Smith also announced that Mike Milsap is putting together a Mentoring program, where Senior members mentor young members on What it means to be in the union, and how we are stronger together, than divided. Pete Smith said there is rumors going around about us moving to L.U. 1014 McBride Hall. Pete Smith suggested to Shawn, as a common courtesy, speak with L.U. President of 1066.
Connie from the QA Department asked "What would be the advantage of joining Local 1014? President Shawn Willis replied, "we are not joining thier local, we are just renting space over at their hall." Connie also stated that we are slowing down, and that she noticed that we are running orders for March of next year. Connie asked "does the local know any details of this?" President Shawn Willis replied, "I had no acknowledgement of us running orders for March of next year."
President Shawn Willis announced that we have plenty of steel to be sold, but the company's are not buying. Company's are waiting for the steel prices to drop to buy, which in return is slowing things down. With all the rain we had at the beginning of the year, it stopped alot of farmers from planting crops. This also hurt the market for steel.
Connie also asked: "Is USS going to lay off, and do they have to give us 45 day notice?" President Shawn replied: "Yes, they have to give us 45 day notice, and he has not heard of the company wanting to lay off."
Pete Smith announced, that there is changes happening on the International Board of Executives. Tim Conway will be are new President of International.
Motion to Adjourn - The motion to adjourn was made by Greg Michko.
Adjourn the Meeting - President Shawn Willis adjourned the meeting at 5:18 pm.