1st row (from left): IAM Midwest Territory SR Rick Mickschl, International President Tom Buffenbarger, District 66 DBR Marty Gaul, LL 21 Shop Chairman Rich Hauser, Rod Perry (LL 1115 Shop Committee), LL 21 President Brad King; 2nd row: Tony Diersen (LL 21 Shop Committee), John Davis (LL21 Shop Committee), LL 1115 Shop Chair Dennis Leis; 3rd row: Retiring LL 21 President Mike Olsey, Steve Jacobson (LL 21 Shop Committee), IAM HPWO Director Don Kennedy. |
Trane Company celebrated its 100th anniversary this week, and along with IAM Locals 21 and 1115 of District 66, signed a new High Performance Work Organization (HPWO) agreement in La Crosse, WI.
“We have shared the good times and we’ve endured the bad times,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger, who attended the events and said he envisioned a strong future between the union and the company.
Buffenbarger toured the Trane facilities, met IAM members, participated in the signing ceremony and attended the 100th anniversary celebration as a guest speaker.
Local Lodge 21 members at Trane work in production and maintenance. Local Lodge 1115 members are tool and die makers.
“I would give full credit to Rich Hauser, Shop Chair of Local Lodge 21, Mike Osley, Past President of Local Lodge 21, and Rod Perry, Committeeman of Local Lodge 1115 Toolroom, all of whom were on the HPWO steering committee,” said District 66 Directing Business Representative Martin Gaul. “They were instrumental in reaching the HPWO agreement that was signed by the union and company.”
The HPWO program is currently working on a trial basis in a portion of the facility with the parties working out the possibilities for a wider implementation in the other La Crosse plants.