I have just been informed that a tentative agreement has been reached on the national level. The agreement is a 3% raise, each year for the next three years, along with a 2,500 dollar signing bonus. There was a good deal of discussion about a "fatigue" policy, but at the end of the day all "fatigue" language was removed from the agreement.
We still have local issues to deal with here, and those discussions won't begin for a few months. We need to keep that in mind as we do our job. Let's all do our best work as best we can and remember the best way to protect our jobs is to be the best at what we do.
Bloomberg's report on the agreement is here
Later,
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
I work at the baton rouge plant and I would say we would have to STUPID to take this offer. 3% each year and $2500 I hope this is a joke!
No joke that is the tentative agreement. Now it comes down to ratification.
We have the power to accept or reject the offer.
What about the 100% paid health care benefits?
^^Everytime we get a raise, the company increases the cost of our benefits and essentially takes the raise back.
I had understood we were bargaining for 100% medical, what is the end result of the medical costs, are they just going to continue to give us 3% on the front, and take it out of our back pocket with the rising costs of insurance? One other question, the non-union members also receive the $2500 sign on bonus, don't they? They received the last signing bonus, just curious as to why they receive this, when they aren't part of the bargaining group.
I wish I could answer all your questions, but I don't have the answers. I assume much of it has to do with the fact that our nation's economy has crashed and burned since we approved the union's proposal.
I believe the economy's collapse hurt our bargaining position a great deal.
Those are my thoughts.
3% is an insult. Economy collapse? For who? Every single time Exxon comes up for a contract they poor mouth as does all the other "big oil" companies, EVERY TIME! Then they have a "recovery" and make record profits. Maybe big oil needs a bail out and USW feels sorry for them..... THEY HAVE BEEN MAKING A KILLING!!!! All while cutting jobs and cutting every aspect of daily operations, making our workload increase and an unsafe workplace. Management wage increases are more than double this amount at the first level. I will not vote for this ridiculous contact. Come on USW you can do better than this.
I agree that the Oil Companies have made Tons of money over the last several years. They were making more per quater than they used to make in a year. I have NO sympathy for the multi-millionairw, blood suckers who run those companies.
Still, I do believe the economy has hurt the union's ability to get the contract we deserve.
I strike would mean heating oil would go through the roof, and the American people, who are already hurting would turn against us as well as the companies.
We need the good will of the American people, the oil companies can care less. As usual the little guy pays the price!
OK, Local issues, why not have the local issures of the other sites posted on this site? the Westlake site has lost every contract over the last 30 years! We give back every contract and have the company install what they want every contract! Are we just members of a LOSEING team?????????
Please feel free to express your thoughts about the agreement, whether they be Positive and negative. Thoughtful criticism is always welcome.
Insulting and less than civil comments will be deleted.
Thanks,
Well, I see all of ya'lls complaints. But damn, aren't we lucky to have a job and be getting raises. How spoiled are we? Many companies are cutting wages and benefits and we're griping because we think out increase is not enough. I'm glad that we're getting any raises at all.
Post a Comment