June 21, 2005
Local 389 Ratifies Contract
at Solar in San Diego
The following is a letter sent out by the Negotiating Committee to the members in Local 389, just prior to the ratification vote. GVP Pearson stated that he is "very proud of all the hard work that was put into securing this agreement, and hopes it provides a building block for future contracts."
The contract was ratified May 24th it becomes effective June 1, 2005.
Local Lodge 389 negotiating committee would like to thank all of you for your support throughout the recent round of collective bargaining that ended Friday morning May 19, 2005. This was a very tough process and your committee worked diligently throughout the night to get to an agreement. While we do not believe this a great agreement, we do believe it is one we can recommend for ratification with the hope that we can build our membership and accomplish great things in the future.
The following are the highlights of the agreement:
· Five year agreement
· Guaranteed minimum merit wage increases for the life of the agreement.
· Grades 5-10, merit increases shall not be less than 1.5% for each eligible employee
· Grades S1, S2, S3, 1,2,3,4 (which includes A, B&C grade will be 1.5% for the first 3 yrs of the agreement and 2.% for the last 2 yrs of the agreement.
· Master Machinists, Tool and Die Maker, Precision Machine Tool Mechanic, Gas Turbine Mechanic and Sheet Metal Mechanic 2.5% the first 2 yr and 2.0% the last 3 years of the agreement.
· New Classification with upgrades created. (Sheet Metal Experiential Mechanic)
· The Solar Incentive Plan will be maintained for the life of the agreement.
· Remove $1.00 an hour reduction for trainees.
· Limits on amount of temps, 15-month cap.
· 30 day trail period for transfers with option to return to previous department.
· Retiree Supplemental benefit was increased from the current $1800 to $2100 in 2006, $2200 in 2008 and $2300 in 2009, for employees who retire with 30 yrs or more of service and are under age 62.
· Second shift & third shift differential increase to 0.65 and 0.15 respectively.
· You will no longer receive a reduction for the Qualified Pre-retirement Survivors Annuity.
· Vacation Improvements: New hires can borrow up to 40 hours vacation after 90 days on the job, employees at 5yr to10 yrs will get an additional 8 hrs vacation, and employees at 20 yrs and up will receive an additional 8 hrs vacation.
· Employees can now call in for sick leave 30 minutes prior to shift start time up to 10 times per year.
· Improvement in Medical leaves of absence language.
· A new and improved job posting procedure was established.
· Improved language to allow witnesses at 3rd grievance hearings.
· Improved language to include resourcing topics in our Labor/Management quarterly meetings.
· Improvement in time allowed for Chief Shop Stewards to conduct union business.
Lets start signing up our co- workers and let them know, if we are united as one, we can achieve great things. Starting today we should start preparing for the next round of bargaining in 2010.
In Solidarity,
LL389 Negotiating Committee
Richard Sanchez Jeff Fanning
Terri Sessions Erling Warriner
