United States Infrastructure Corporation
2009 Bargaining Update – Report # 1
Friday, September 11, 2009
The Union and the Company met on Tuesday, September 8th, Wednesday, September 9th and Thursday, September 10th in Bridgeville, PA to exchange initial proposals. Our next scheduled bargaining session October 13th – 16th, 2009.
The Company's proposal consisted of the following demands:
· Elimination of holiday, vacation, personal time and excused paid time for computing overtime.
· Elimination of overtime after 8 hours.
· The ability to fire an employee for not crossing a lawful picket line.
· Management wants the right to be able to do anything they want as long as it is not specifically prohibited by the contract.
· To get rid of every past practice if it is not included in the contract.
· The Company does not want to utilize the grievance/ arbitration process to handle disputes they may have with the Union.
· The Company wants a neutral arbitrator to resolve disputes based on a very narrow scope and with almost no authority to make a judgment call, which would basically render a decision in their favor most of the time. In addition they want the Union to pay for the total cost of the arbitration if we should lose.
· The Company wants to extend your probationary period if you are absent during your probationary period.
· Proposed changing the normal work week and call out rotation to Friday through Thursday.
· Requiring employees to secure laptops, cell phones and electronic locating equipment in their homes instead of in the trucks.
· They will allow you off to attend jury duty.
· Employee is required to pay for driving or parking violations or fines while in the Company vehicle.
· Not allowed to transport weapons in Company vehicles, yet they can define a weapon. For example a baseball bat that you pick up for your kid.
· Required to present a business like image and if uniforms are provided employees must wear them.
· Ability to layoff a more senior locator if they are not meeting or exceeding USIC standards with respect to job performance, safety, and attendance.
· Changes to the High Profile damage to include anything covered in the internet news, pictures of the 2nd access point and the ability to suspend for three to five days for the 1st High Profile damage; however the Company wants the right to Discharge and employee for the 1st High Profile damage when warranted by specific circumstances.
· Change contract to reflect that high profile damages will subject an employee to immediate termination of employment. The Company stated that we will not reach an agreement if we don't reach agreement on something other than progressive discipline with high profile damages.
· The Company has not presented a wage or economic proposal as of yet.
The Union continues to seek improvements across the board including:
· Annual wage increases
· 90 day probationary period
· Vacation allotment for two week and three weeks received earlier.
· The return of 5 vacation days or personal days used for the qualifying period for approved STD, once per year.
· Increases in the STD benefit amount as follows
o Five years or less- $250.00 per week
o More than five but less than 10 years- $350.00 per week
o 10 Years but less than 15 years- $450.00 per week
o 15 Years or more- $550.00
· Capping healthcare premiums at the 2008 rates for the life of the contract.
· Company to pay 50% of the full cost of vision and dental coverage.
· Increasing the Company contribution in the 401K plan to $0.75 for every $1.00, up to 10% of the gross salary
· Three year agreement
The Union requested information from the company related to their proposals. The Union bargaining team will be meeting again prior to our next negotiating session to prepare a proper response to the Company's proposal. The committee wants to remind the members that there will be a conference call to discuss the status of bargaining on Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 7pm. Please try to participate of the very important call as everyone input is going to be needed and we will need to develop strategies on how to handle bargaining with the new company. The bargaining committee is continues to be committed to getting a fair and equitable contract but we can NOT do it alone. We need everyone's help and commitment.
Submitted by:
Unit 112 Bargaining Committee
