2027 Contract Negotiations Member Survey You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Leave this field blank Your Voice. Your Contract.USW Local 983 is preparing for the next round of collective bargaining. This survey is intended to identify membership priorities and potential bargaining issues. Submitting an issue does not guarantee that it will become a bargaining proposal. Survey results will be evaluated with the current CBA, grievances, workplace experience, available information, and bargaining considerations.Before you begin: Complete every field marked with an asterisk (*). For priority ratings, 1 means Not a Priority and 5 means Critical. SECTION 1 - ABOUT YOU First and Last Name First Name Last Name Suffix Email (optional) Current Department (Check One) Power & Recovery Shipping / Finishing Shipping / Driver Side Paper Machine 1 Paper Machine 3 Pulp Mill - Stock Side Pulp Mill - Chemical Side Woodyard Coating & Additives Storeroom Quality Other Current job classification Current Crew Crew 1 Crew 2 Crew 3 Crew 4 Crew 5 Other Augusta Mill service Less than 5 years 5-9 years 10-14 years 15-19 years 20-24 years 25-29 years 30+ years Section 2 - OVERALL CONTRACT PRIORITIES Rate each issue: 1 = Not a Priority, 2 = Low, 3 = Moderate, 4 = High, 5 = Critical. General wage increases 1 2 3 4 5 Job/classification wage rates 1 2 3 4 5 Shift premiums/differentials 1 2 3 4 5 Overtime opportunities 1 2 3 4 5 Forced overtime / fatigue limits 1 2 3 4 5 Vacation 1 2 3 4 5 Holidays / holiday pay 1 2 3 4 5 Healthcare costs / coverage. 1 2 3 4 5 Pension / retirement 1 2 3 4 5 401(k) / savings 1 2 3 4 5 Attendance policy 1 2 3 4 5 Seniority rights 1 2 3 4 5 Job security / staffing 1 2 3 4 5 Lines of progression 1 2 3 4 5 Training / qualification 1 2 3 4 5 Layoff / recall protections 1 2 3 4 5 Subcontracting / bargaining-unit work 1 2 3 4 5 Work schedules 1 2 3 4 5 Safety & health 1 2 3 4 5 Discipline / progressive discipline 1 2 3 4 5 Grievance procedure 1 2 3 4 5 Management performing unit work 1 2 3 4 5 Department/job restructuring 1 2 3 4 5 Successorship / ownership-change protection 1 2 3 4 5 List your TOP FIVE bargaining priorities List five priorities in order from highest to lowest. Number them 1 through 5, with 1 as your highest priority. Your NUMBER ONE bargaining priority: SECTION 3 - WAGES, BENEFITS & TIME OFF Select the items below that are most important to you for the upcoming contract negotiations. Please focus on the issues you believe should be the Union’s highest priorities at the bargaining table. Wage issues the Union should consider (check all that apply) Larger general wage increases Higher classification rates Increased shift differential Additional premium pay Improved overtime premiums Improved training/progression pay Wage protection after restructuring Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) Other Holiday / vacation improvements: Additional paid holidays 12-hour holiday pay for 12-hour employees Improved vacation eligibility Additional premium pay Easier vacation scheduling More vacation slots Stronger seniority protection in vacation selection Improved vacation pay Other No change needed None of the above SECTION 4 - HOURS, OVERTIME & SCHEDULING Select the items below that are most important to you for the upcoming contract negotiations. Please focus on the issues you believe should be the Union’s highest priorities at the bargaining table. Overtime / scheduling issues to address Better notice of scheduled overtime Stronger forced-overtime rules Maximum consecutive hours Ability to refuse excessive overtime Better overtime equalization Stronger seniority rights for overtime Protect line-of-progression overtime More rest between shifts Better vacancy coverage Schedule-change notice Maintain current 12-hour schedule Alternative schedule options Other Firm maximum on consecutive hours worked Critical High priority Moderate priority Low priority Not a priority Select the level of priority it should have in contract negotiations, ranging from Critical to Not a Priority. SECTION 5 - SENIORITY, STAFFING & JOB SECURITY Select the items below that are most important to you for the upcoming contract negotiations. Please focus on the issues you believe should be the Union’s highest priorities at the bargaining table. Job-security protections that matter most Protect original Augusta Mill hire date / plant seniority Stronger layoff protections Stronger recall rights Protect department seniority Protect lines of progression Bargaining before job elimination/restructuring Protect bargaining-unit work Restrict supervisors performing unit work Restrict subcontracting Minimum staffing protections Wage protection after displacement Training rights when jobs change Other SECTION 6 - ATTENDANCE, DISCIPLINE & GRIEVANCES Select the items below that are most important to you for the upcoming contract negotiations. Please focus on the issues you believe should be the Union’s highest priorities at the bargaining table. Attendance / discipline changes to consider Clearer attendance rules Fairer tardiness rules Fairer leaving-early rules Protection for legitimate emergencies Clearer call-in requirements Stronger progressive discipline Discipline expiration / sunset Consistent discipline across departments Stronger just-cause language Better information access before discipline Other Grievance-procedure changes to consider Longer filing deadlines Working-day instead of calendar-day deadlines Electronic grievance filing Information-request protections Longer appeal deadlines Full make-whole / back-pay remedies Stronger arbitration rights Faster grievance meetings/responses Consequences for missed contractual deadlines No change needed Other SECTION 7 - SAFETY & WORKING CONDITIONS Select the items below that are most important to you for the upcoming contract negotiations. Please focus on the issues you believe should be the Union’s highest priorities at the bargaining table. Safety / working-condition issues bargaining should address: Heat stress Fatigue / excessive hours PPE Safety footwear allowance Safe staffing Equipment condition Training Emergency response Right to raise safety concerns Safety committee / employee involvement Workplace violence / harassment protections Environmental exposure Other Safety or working-condition problem that should be addressed in the contract: SECTION 8 - WHAT ARE WE MISSING Is there a single most important change you want to see in the next contract? Is there current contract language that should be changed, clarified, or removed? Explain. Is there a protection, benefit, premium, or working condition not currently in the contract that should be added? Describe a recurring problem in your department that contract language could help correct. Anything else you want the bargaining committee to know before proposals are developed? Stay connected: Contract surveys and important bargaining updates will also be sent by email. Make sure you are subscribed to USW Local 983 communications. SUBMIT CONTRACT SURVEY
