OFS Bargaining Report #16

OFS Bargaining Report – Day 15

Bargaining on Friday, May 26, 2006 opened with the Company reporting on the Intern issue brought to the Company's attention yesterday.  The Company reported the process was one where the Interns, college students, were working with engineers on "value stream mapping", in which the production process is investigated to determine ways of adding value to the production process, and such process is typically engineering responsibility.

Bill Bates asked if maybe the Company's timing for doing such a process might have been misguided.  The Company responded that the timing probably wasn't best and will forego the process until after negotiations are concluded.

The Union questioned the Company on the process they suggest and asked if such a process wouldn't fall under the contract's Joint Company/Union Commitment to Continuous Improvement Efforts.  The Company said they would take the Union's input under advisement.

Bill requested the Company provide the Union with copies of the presentation charts used at Sturbridge in the Company's Pre-Local Bargaining presentation to the Local Bargaining Team.

Clem Johnson made note of clarifications on the Company's proposal for Short Term Disability (STD) and Long Term Disability (LTD) Plans.  The Company adjusted their proposal so that an employee who is out on disability will have 18 months combined STD and LTD time before being rolled off roll, while the current plan puts employees out after 12 months continuous disability absence.

Company passed their counter to Article 7 – Arbitration.  The Company stated they made adjustments to the proposal to reflect their proposal on Grievance Procedure Article for National Step Table inclusion.  They also included benefits in the case of wrongful termination back pay awards and changed the repayment of overpayments to the Company based on net pay.

The Company passed their counter to Article 14 – Excused Work Days.  The Company agreed to allow one (1) Excused Work Day to be used in one-hour increments, but rejected the Union's proposal for one additional unpaid Excused Work Day.

The Union took the Company's counters under advisement.

Bill told the Company the Union would accept the Company's counter to Article 13 – Holidays.  Article 13 was TA'd, the third TA to date.

The Union passed their counter to the Company's proposal for STD and LTD Plans.  Bill advised the Company that the Union countered the STD Plan with adjustments made to the number of weeks of benefits and an increase in the amount of benefits paid.  The Union rejected the Company's proposal in its entirety for LTD Plan.

The Union passed their counter to Retiree Health Care.  Bill advised the Company that the Union reluctantly accepts the Company's retrogressive proposal for an 80/20 Plan from a 90/10 Plan but rejects everything else in the Company's Retiree Health Care proposal, including premium payments, elimination of dental, effective date of plan change, etc.

The Company advised the Union they would take the Union's counters under advisement.

Bill wished all Bargaining Team Members a safe trip home and back, and asked that everyone pause for a moment in memory of those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for all of us in this great country.

The Union Bargaining Team wishes all our Members a safe and happy holiday weekend.