CONTRACT RATIFICATION MEETING AND VOTE WILL TAKE PLACE AT 1:00PM ON SUNDAY AUGUST 16, 2020 AT THE HILTON GARDEN INN(11600 W. PARK PL. MILWAUKEE, WI 53224)

FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE BRIGGS & STRATTON UNIT IN GOOD STANDING.

MASKS WILL BE REQUIRED AT THIS MEETING

Contract Ratification Meeting and Vote will take place at 1:00pm on Sunday August 16, 2020 at the Hilton Garden Inn (11600 W. Park Pl. Milwaukee, WI 53224) for all members of the Briggs & Stratton Unit in good standing. Masks will be required at this Meeting

STRATTEC - PREPARING FOR THE 2021 CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS

As we get closer to the expiration of our current contract (September 17th, 2021) your Union wants you to begin preparing for the uncertainty of negotiations. While all parties involved hope negotiations go smoothly and a new contract is ratified by the previous expiration date, that is not always the case. This means several things including preparing your finances, reflecting on what you would like to see changed eliminated or improved and making sure you are communicating and receiving communications with the Local.

Your Bargaining Committee has laid out a “Road Map” for contract preparation starting with this update in August of 2020. It is important to begin this early so our members have time to prepare their finances in the event of a strike or lockout by putting a little away each week from their paychecks. This communication is not to scare our members or to make you think that there is any inside information about the negotiations next year, but so our members can be prepared to take whatever action is needed to secure a fair contract that works for everyone. If our members begin saving small now, the impact of a strike or lockout can be minimized without affecting your current day to day life. Saving $20 a week from now until expiration of our contract will give our members over $1,000 in the event of a work disruption. Once negotiations begin, the Union will put out more information on things to do or consider prior to the expiration of the contract. The message now is simple, save and prepare for the worst and work hard for the best possible outcome. We all understand that these negotiations will be stressful just like every contract expiration before but being prepared and starting that process early will ease a lot of that stress. Hopefully the money you set aside will be used for a vacation or special purchase and not needed for a strike or lockout.

The next item for the Local will be to rebuild and reactivate the Local’s CAT team. These are members, Stewards, or Officers that are in charge of communicating with members on each shift in different departments. During negotiations communication is key and this team is vital for getting and spreading information. We will be looking to add volunteers to the previous CAT team we used in the last contract so keep an eye out for an opportunity to help the Local during negotiations. Once the CAT team is established the Local will begin distributing Membership Surveys. We will give our members the ability to fill out paper forms or submit suggestions digitally. I cannot stress enough how important that these surveys are filled out. Your Bargaining Committee is here to fight for what you want and although we have our ideas we need yours to get the fairest contract for everyone. The Bargaining Committee reviews...

S.S. Arthur M. Anderson of Key Lakes, Inc. underway. The Anderson's unlicensed crew is represented by USW Local 5000. Photo courtesy Nick Stenstrup.

This Wednesday marks Great Lakes Maritime Day, a special holiday commemorating the service and sacrifices made by Great Lakes Mariners to move the raw materials that make up the building blocks of the American Economy. 

USW Local 5000 proudly represents a group of nearly 300 steelworkers who possess a unique skill set that is as vast as the lakes upon which they work. We work aboard 19 different vessels from three different companies and deliver raw to ports across all five Great Lakes. Also unique to our union, is our position as a link between the iron mines of Minnesota, home to USW Local 2705 and USW Local 6860; iron mines of Northern Michigan, home to USW Local 4950, to the steel mills on southern Lake Michigan, home to USW Locals 6787, 1010, 1011,1014, and 1066; and to the mills of Detroit and Cleveland, home to USW Local 979 to name a few. 

Our members occupy the unlicensed ratings across our represented vessels, ranging from Bosuns who oversee the daily activities of the deck department; Deckhands who perform all types of shipboard maintenance and work related to loading, unloading, and mooring of vessels; Wheelsman who steer the massive ships through confined waters; Wipers and QMED's who maintain the massive engines which power the vessel; Conveyormen who maintain and operate the complex unloading systems; and Second Cooks who provide crews with a fully stocked kitchen, fresh linens, and a clean place to enjoy a meal. These men and women work around the clock, from March until January to keep the big ships moving to ensure the timely delivery of raw materials across the region. 

On this day, we recognize the hard work and effort our members put forward in accomplishing their tasks, and the incredible sacrifices that must be made to do so. Our members work in all seasons, in all weather for months at a time away from friends and family. Countless birthdays, holidays, first words, first steps, weddings, and anniversaries have been missed in order to keep the American economy moving forward. 

This year marks one of immense challenges and uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague the global economy. With a large number of ships tied up at the wall due to the weak economy, heavy on our minds is our brothers and sisters who have been unable to work this season and the struggle they face to support...

The 9/1/18 United Steelworkers Basic Labor Agreement (BLA) provides for a profit-sharing pool of 7.5% of the company’s profits, defined as Earnings Before Interest and Taxes (EBIT).  The company reported an unaudited Adjusted EBIT of ($-242,359,718.38). As a result, there is no profit sharing for 2nd Quarter.

PEP payments since 9/1/12 are $28,460,000. This is in excess of the $26,500,000 pre-existing pool which was funded by the 2012 Basic Labor Agreement by $1,960,000 of which $0 was being deducted for Q2 2020. The excess of $1,960,000 will roll forward and may accumulate as future deductions from any existing profit sharing pool.

In Solidarity, 
Pete Trinidad, Sr. 
USW 6787 President