IAM District 9, Local 822 in Quincy, IL really came through for Jason D. Homer and Michael R. Knutelski recently when the union prevailed in a termination grievance that resulted in reinstatement and back pay for both members.
(from l to r- Greg Bock - Shop Chairman, Grievant - Jason Horner, BR Ross Miller
Grievant - Michael Knutelski, and Don Eperson - Shop Steward
Horner and Knutelski were accused of violating company safety rules and were terminated. According to District 9 Business Representative Ross Miller, the union showed that the safety rules where not being followed by BE&K employees and supervisors. After an investigation, company agreed with the union's position.
In fact as a result of the grievance settlement, our two members were reinstated and received a total of $8,829.00 in back pay and a total of $493.60 in safety and attendance bonuses.
Jason Horner worked hard on the organizing campaign that brought the 38 members at BE&K into the IAM. At a recent union meeting, both men praised the union saying, "We would not have our jobs today if it wasn't for the Machinists Union. Joining the union has paid off 10 times over. This is one reason we wanted an IAM contract. Now the Company can not continue to discriminate against employees."
IAM District 9 organized the maintenance BE&K mainenance group at BASF in Palmyra, MO on June 21, 2007. Their first contract was ratified on August 29, 2008.
BE&K employs thousands of people in the US and this is their first Union Shop.
