Next IP Union Conference Call Scheduled
A date has been set for the next national conference call to discuss the latest from International Paper plants, as well as the paper industry as a whole. The date for this second national call is Thursday, April 23, 2009 4:00 PM (Eastern). Details about getting on this call have been sent to local union officers by mail and email. As in the previous call, locals can submit question or comments on topics of importance to union members. Based on concerns voiced by members, we want to report that these calls are not to replace conference meetings, but in the time between meetings to enhance communications between locals and leadership.
More feedback from the Jan. 22 call
Local union leaders were surveyed after the last conference call, and here are a few of the points raised:
• Many feel the call went well, but want to refine the Question & Answer section.
• There was some confusion about the forms for submitting questions, and suggestions for improvements.
• Members wanted more information before calls so that they can be more prepared.
• Some wanted a list of the questions that were to be addressed sent to them as well as an agenda.
• The minutes were welcome as follow up; some said copies of the minutes were given to other officers.
• Some wanted the council contact list so that they could continue discussions after the calls.
‘Weingarten Rights’
A WORKER’S RIGHT TO UNION REPRESENTATION
There is no time like the present to educate ourselves on where we stand as workers at this large company. USW members should be aware of an important legal safeguard that union-represented workers have that non-union workers do not.
The right of employees to have union representation at investigatory interviews was announced by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 1975 case (NLRB vs. Weingarten, Inc.) These are known as the Weingarten rights. Employees have Weingarten rights only during investigatory interviews, when a supervisor questions an employee to get information which could be used as a basis for discipline or asks an employee to defend his or her conduct.
If a union worker has a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse consequences may result from what he or she says, they have the right to request union representation. Management is not required to inform the employee of his/her Weingarten rights; it is the employee’s responsibility to know and request.
When an employee makes the request for a union representative to be present management has three options: (1) stop questioning until the representative arrives, (2) call off the interview or, (3) tell the employee that it will call off the interview unless they voluntarily gives up his/her rights to a union representative (an option employees should refuse.)
Management often tries to say that the only role a union representative has in an investigatory interview is to observe the discussion. The Supreme Court, however, clearly says a representative can assist and counsel workers during the interview.
The Supreme Court also ruled that during an investigatory interview management must inform the union representative of the subject of the interrogation. The representative must also be allowed to speak privately with the employee before the interview. During the questioning, the representative can interrupt to clarify a question or to object to confusing or intimidating tactics.
While the interview is in progress the representative can not tell the employee what to say but he may advise them on how to answer a question. At the end of the interview the union representative can add information to support the employee's case.
Right now, employees who work in a non-union workplace are not entitled to have a coworker accompany them to an interview with their employer, even if theythinks that the interview might result in discipline.
Our Weingarten rights are one more important reason why it pays to be a union member!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
IP Union News February 2009
IP Locals, USW Leaders Hold National Conference Call, Discuss Key Issues at IP Facilities
On Thursday January 22, local union leaders from dozens of IP mills and converters joined USW Vice President Jon Geenen, District 9 Director Stan Johnson, Assistant to the President Leeann Anderson and Strategic Campaigns staff on a national conference call, utilizing the latest technology to improve union communications.
Johnson started the call by talking about the impact of these difficult economic times, difficulties experienced by union members in paper and other industries and the importance of using improved communications tools to increase union effectiveness. He said, “What’s happening in paper is a microcosm of what’s happening in the bigger economy,” but that within current economic and political events “lies opportunity for us to change the direction our nation has taken over the last decade.”
Geenen gave details about the emerging crises, reporting that though IP’s stock is down, the company is in a good cash situation right now. He discussed the specter of bankruptcies at Smurfit-Stone, Abitibi/Bowater and elsewhere, and how the union’s strategy is to preserve and protect jobs. The good news is that IP and GP mill and converter agreements have provided union workers with the best contract protection ever in the face of this downturn. Geenen said, “Collective bargaining with IP became the benchmark for new practices to collective bargaining.” For example, a Temple Inland company-wide agreement is up for consideration now. These Master Agreements minimize the chances for a race to the bottom in the industry.
USW staff reviewed the Building Power program underway at IP local unions since the June 2007 National Paper Bargaining Conference in Pittsburgh, the mill Master Agreement that was reached and the members’ demands for a national deal for converters. Also discussed were the three phases in the timeline created by the IP Working Group and adopted by the conference
membership, stressing education, mobilization & visibility, bargaining support, communications and conference wide activity. Communications Action Teams (CATs) are being created local by local, and conference newsletters are being circulated. Locals with pictures or stories for the newsletter should send them to the Strategic Campaigns Dept. (hscott@usw.org) or get them to staff reps who can send them to us.
Locals brought up problems with healthcare insurance and ways members have been denied benefits due to enrolment issues. A member going in for open heart surgery was told by management he must call off from work every day. Another member off work due to a heart attack was told he did not qualify for S&A benefits. Members who have problems like this are encouraged to contact Deb Edwards (dedwards@usw.org) at the Nashville office so she can create a database of complaints in order to address every one of them.
There is some confusion regarding the maintenance salaries in the Master Agreement. Geenen and Johnson urged locals with these problems to send them specifics so they can address them with the company. Converter locals said some members need a better explanation of when the Master Agreement’s $33 and $34 for pensions kicks in. Johnson said an email message will
go to locals explaining it.
Locals also urged that IP workers not forget about the laid off people as it relates for signing up for excessive amounts of overtime. Johnson said union workers should not allow themselves to be overworked to the point of endangering themselves and others. Leeann Anderson said the USW has been working to create a website for laid off members particular for each state. Information will be available through http://www.makeourfuturework.org/.
Locals from Savannah reported that the plant went down for a shutdown and inspection. They found 700 bad welds in the boiler. The company kept getting extensions on the inspection. This is a serious safety issue. Geenen said if the company is trying to get extensions on inspections, send information about it to him immediately. Other issues discussed include availability
of TARP money, retiree medical savings, the IP CEO’s big bonus and stock values. Plans are underway for more conference-wide calls to discuss these and other important issues in the future.
On Thursday January 22, local union leaders from dozens of IP mills and converters joined USW Vice President Jon Geenen, District 9 Director Stan Johnson, Assistant to the President Leeann Anderson and Strategic Campaigns staff on a national conference call, utilizing the latest technology to improve union communications.
Johnson started the call by talking about the impact of these difficult economic times, difficulties experienced by union members in paper and other industries and the importance of using improved communications tools to increase union effectiveness. He said, “What’s happening in paper is a microcosm of what’s happening in the bigger economy,” but that within current economic and political events “lies opportunity for us to change the direction our nation has taken over the last decade.”
Geenen gave details about the emerging crises, reporting that though IP’s stock is down, the company is in a good cash situation right now. He discussed the specter of bankruptcies at Smurfit-Stone, Abitibi/Bowater and elsewhere, and how the union’s strategy is to preserve and protect jobs. The good news is that IP and GP mill and converter agreements have provided union workers with the best contract protection ever in the face of this downturn. Geenen said, “Collective bargaining with IP became the benchmark for new practices to collective bargaining.” For example, a Temple Inland company-wide agreement is up for consideration now. These Master Agreements minimize the chances for a race to the bottom in the industry.
USW staff reviewed the Building Power program underway at IP local unions since the June 2007 National Paper Bargaining Conference in Pittsburgh, the mill Master Agreement that was reached and the members’ demands for a national deal for converters. Also discussed were the three phases in the timeline created by the IP Working Group and adopted by the conference
membership, stressing education, mobilization & visibility, bargaining support, communications and conference wide activity. Communications Action Teams (CATs) are being created local by local, and conference newsletters are being circulated. Locals with pictures or stories for the newsletter should send them to the Strategic Campaigns Dept. (hscott@usw.org) or get them to staff reps who can send them to us.
Locals brought up problems with healthcare insurance and ways members have been denied benefits due to enrolment issues. A member going in for open heart surgery was told by management he must call off from work every day. Another member off work due to a heart attack was told he did not qualify for S&A benefits. Members who have problems like this are encouraged to contact Deb Edwards (dedwards@usw.org) at the Nashville office so she can create a database of complaints in order to address every one of them.
There is some confusion regarding the maintenance salaries in the Master Agreement. Geenen and Johnson urged locals with these problems to send them specifics so they can address them with the company. Converter locals said some members need a better explanation of when the Master Agreement’s $33 and $34 for pensions kicks in. Johnson said an email message will
go to locals explaining it.
Locals also urged that IP workers not forget about the laid off people as it relates for signing up for excessive amounts of overtime. Johnson said union workers should not allow themselves to be overworked to the point of endangering themselves and others. Leeann Anderson said the USW has been working to create a website for laid off members particular for each state. Information will be available through http://www.makeourfuturework.org/.
Locals from Savannah reported that the plant went down for a shutdown and inspection. They found 700 bad welds in the boiler. The company kept getting extensions on the inspection. This is a serious safety issue. Geenen said if the company is trying to get extensions on inspections, send information about it to him immediately. Other issues discussed include availability
of TARP money, retiree medical savings, the IP CEO’s big bonus and stock values. Plans are underway for more conference-wide calls to discuss these and other important issues in the future.
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