Laser Cutter Tentative Agreement Summary

by Business Agent Justin Richards

IUE-CWA Local 201

In January, the Company approached the Union with a proposal regarding the new Laser Cutter they had purchased and placed in building 32. The Laser Cutter would take the place of some of the cutting, punching, and trimming operations that are currently done by the R/M 17 punch press operators. Company and the Union began negotiating a Laser Cutter Agreement. The Union rejected the Company's initial proposal to have the PM classification be the sole operators of the laser cutter in which the company was transitioning work out of the R/M 17 Punch Press classification onto this machine. The Company rejected the Union's proposal on the R/M 25 Tool Maker operating the machine. 

The following is a sunsetting agreement that expires 12 months from the date of ratification, if ratified. A total of 8 punch press operators will be selected on a voluntary basis in line with seniority, these 8 operators upon the start of training will now hold a special rate R/M19 for being qualified on the laser cutter. The process of training will initially start off with 4 operators, 2 on 1st shift, and 2 on 2nd shift trained by the OEM. After training is complete and the operators have run the machine for 80 hours the next operators will start the training process and will hold the R/M 19 special rate. The Company has agreed to always have 8 operators on hand. If one of the S/R operators upgrade or move on, another operator will be selected in line with seniority to train and run the machine. Each operator will be rotated between the Laser Cutter and punch press machines. No layoffs or transfer will occur as a result of the introduction of the machine for the duration of the agreement. For all layoff and transfer purposes the classification will remain under R/M 17.

With this agreement, the punch press classification retains all punch press work that the Company intended to transfer onto the laser cutter machine.

          Memorandum of Agreement Between GE Aviation Lynn MA and IUE CWA Local 201

                                                            (Proposed Language)

Whereas, the General Electric Company – Aviation (hereinafter “Company”) and IUE- CWA Local (hereinafter “the Union”) have been engaged in discussion regarding the addition of a Laser Cutter machine in the Punch Press/Café area:

Whereas, the union expressed concerns regarding the potential impact to the membership as a result of the addition of this machine to the area:

Whereas, the Parties have met to discuss and address the Union’s concerns:

Now therefore, as a result of these discussions, the Parties hereby agree to the following:

1)      Four volunteer Punch Press Operators, 2 on first shift and 2 on second shift, will be trained on the Laser Cutter by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM).

2)      Volunteers shall be selected by seniority, the two most senior volunteers on the first shift and the two most senior volunteers on the second shift.

3)      An additional four more volunteer punch press operators (2 from the 1st shift and 2 from the 2nd shift) shall be trained using on the job training using the skills matrix, once the original four operators are OCP qualified and have run for 80 hours.

4)      The Company shall endeavor to maintain 8 Laser trained Punch Press operators by soliciting volunteer replacements by seniority as Laser Cutter trained operators attrit.

5)      Each operator trained on the Laser Cutter shall receive a special R/M 19 rate effective the start of the training.

6)      All the Punch Press operators shall remain at R/M 17 rate for the purposes of lay off and transfer and upgrading.

7)      Operators trained on the Laser Cutter shall be rotated through assignments on the Laser Cutter and on the Punch Press.

8)      No Layoffs or transfers will occur as a result of the introduction of this Laser Cutter during the term of this agreement.

9)      This agreement shall expire on the last day of the month 12 months from the execution of this agreement or upon the use of another Laser Cutter, whichever comes first.

This agreement will be voted on, at the monthly membership meeting on April 27th. Please attend, ask questions, and get more insight on how the negotiations went.