¢ The Facts on the Vacation Situation
¢ For many months, SHAP management
told employees and this local union that the summer vacation shutdown would be
the week of July 16. In accordance with Letter 69 of the national agreement
between Chrysler and the UAW, Chrysler management notified the International
Union on April 27 that SHAP would be down the week of July 16. Letter 69
requires this notification prior to April 30.
¢ On April 30 Chrysler notified
Local 1700 that they intended to change the date of the summer vacation
shutdown to June 25. No notice of this change was provided to the International
Union prior to April 30. The local union objected, based on the language of
Letter 69, and insisted that a shutdown any other week than July 16 would
simply be a layoff for which employees would receive SUB and unemployment, if
otherwise eligible. Management denied this saying they had the right to change
the down week, and even changed the vacation shutdown week on the computer system
from July 16 to June 25. The local took the issue to the International Union’s
Chrysler Department.
¢ The International took the same
position as your local union and, as a result, the company was forced to agree that employees laid off the week of June 25
will receive SUB and unemployment compensation, provided they are otherwise
eligible to receive those payments. In addition, employees’ vacation
leave of absence entitlements will not be reduced as a result of this week off.
¢ Your local union took the
position that the week of July 16 should still be a vacation shutdown week
because the company had announced that prior to April 30 and did not notify the
International of any change prior to that date, as provided in Letter 69.
Management took the position that they have the right to cancel a summer
vacation shutdown, even after the cut-off date in Letter 69. The local union
labeled the company’s action as “unconscionable, despicable and disrespectful
to the employees.”
¢ For over 25 years, Chrysler management
was able to manage a system whereby they reduced the vacation leave of absence
entitlements for summer shutdowns at many plants and made irrevocable commitments
to employees by March 1. Now, it seems, the company can no longer
manage the business as well.
¢ The International Union took the
position that the contract does not prevent Chrysler from cancelling the
vacation shutdown period. As a result, management cancelled any summer vacation
shutdown week for SHAP this year. This change was again reflected on the
computer system.
¢ Local 1700 has
insisted that management accommodate those employees who have already scheduled
vacation plans for the week of July 16. Management has stated they will
accommodate employees up to the number possible. The local union insisted on
enhancing the accommodations possible; management has agreed to enhance the
number.
¢ Your local union felt it was the
responsibility of SHAP management to explain what happened to the employees in
the plant. We asked for a town hall meeting and we said it was important enough
to cancel the 5 minute meetings for the next week. Management agreed, and that
town hall meeting was held by Plant Manager Tyree Minner on Saturday, May 12.
As in all previous times they have been cancelled, the decision to cancel the 5
minute meetings was made only with the concurrence of Local 1700.
¢ What You Need to Know Now About Your Vacation
¢ There is no summer vacation
shutdown this year at SHAP. As a result, seniority Chrysler employees may
schedule all the weeks of vacation leave that the contract entitles them to
have.
¢ Most employees, therefore, have
an additional week of vacation leave of absence entitlement which you can
schedule to take anytime between now and the end of April, 2013, if available.
¢ Scheduling this week of
vacation, or any other weeks which you
have not already scheduled, must be done directly with your supervisor.
¢ Anyone whose vacation leave – other
than the week of July 16 – has already been approved will
not be changed without the employee’s consent.
¢ Vacation requests submitted on
or before May 30 only will be reviewed in seniority order within your
department and shift. After this period, they will again be considered in order
of first come, first served.
¢ It is strongly recommended that
any changes made with your supervisor be confirmed by having your supervisor
print out a paper from CATS showing the approved week of vacation leave. If you
have any problems, please speak with your Chief Steward.
¢ Payment In Lieu of Vacation (PILV) will be paid, by separate check, on
Friday, May 25, 2012, for all weeks for which you have not already
deferred through the kiosk or DashboardAnywhere.
¢ Changes to the dates for
deferred pay can now be made through the kiosk or DashboardAnywhere, provided
the change is made before the payment is processed for that week.
¢ In order to avoid unnecessary
issues with unemployment or SUB, for employees laid off the week of June 25, it
is strongly suggested that you DO NOT
defer your vacation pay to the Friday after the week of June 25; that is, do
not defer it to Friday, July 6, 2012.
¢ Employees will be canvassed by
management to determine how many have already made plans for the week of July
16 which cannot be moved to either June 25 or to another week of vacation. This
canvass will be done between now and the end of the afternoon shift on Tuesday,
May 22. Once the canvass is done the company will determine how it will handle
the requests for vacations for the week of July 16.
¢ Employees who have not made firm
plans, or whose plans can be changed to either the June 25 layoff or to another
vacation week, are asked to leave the July 16 week available for those whose
plans truly cannot be changed now.
¢ Where Do We Go Next?
¢ Obviously, the language in the
current agreement must be changed to hold the company accountable for what it
says. There is no way that management should be allowed to mess with so many
people’s vacations and family lives.
¢ Between now and 2015, employees
will have to be careful in making summer plans because the company thinks
nothing of disrupting the lives of its employees and their families at the last
minute. This shameful action shows nothing but disrespect for the men and women
who build cars and take care of the building and equipment.
¢ In 2015 negotiations, we must
work to get this corrected so that vacation plans can be made with the
confidence that they will not be changed by Chrysler at the last minute.
¢ We all want Chrysler to succeed,
but that’s a two way street. Success cannot be based on Chrysler’s ability to
step all over its work force.
¢ Next Membership Meeting
The
next meeting of Local 1700 will be held on Sunday, May 20, 2012, at 12:00 noon
at the Local 1700 Hall, 8230 East 8 Mile Road in Detroit. The agenda will
include the regular order of business.
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