Skilled-Trades Language Designed to
Retain, Bring Work Back into Plants
Tool Allowance Adjustment
UAW Ford skilled-trades members will receive a tool allowance adjustment of 20 cents an hour effective Sept. 15, 2007.
Labor Costs to be Defined, Consistent
Our skilled-trades negotiators won language that defines specific methodology to set plant labor costs so that our members have greater ability to retain project work. For decades, ever-changing methods of determining plant labor costs used by management at each location worked against our skilled-trades members when bidding on projects. In some cases, locations counted unnecessary costs for items such as gloves and coveralls when determining our labor costs, putting us at a severe disadvantage when bidding against outside contractors.
The new language sets consistent methodology to determine actual plant labor costs. Each location will have its labor costs determined in the same manner, preventing the company from attempting to force skilled-trades bargaining units in different locations to compete against outside contractors using dissimilar and unfairly burdened labor rates.
The bargainers also won language that requires the company to share information about current and future project work with the local union on a regular basis. Engineering fees will now be excluded from the business case.
Skilled-Trades Governance
A National Joint Skilled-Trades Governance Team (NJSTGT) will be established to ensure that language agreed to in this proposed agreement and past agreements is being implemented and adhered to.
The committee will also make sure that changes and current practices in skilled trades are being done consistently throughout the company to prevent whipsawing. The panel will also benchmark Ford competitors to ensure our skilled-trades model achieves the highest level of performance and best practices.
The NJSTGT will also come up with a strategy to utilize excess skilled-trades workers.
A local skilled-trades governance team will be established at worksites to ensure the directives of the national parties are being carried out.
Skilled Trades Can Bid Against Contractors for Warranty Work
Our skilled-trades workers can now bid on warranty work currently being done by outside contractors for vendors. A mechanism was created to invoice plant labor costs back to the vendor while keeping remaining vendor warranties intact. This language finally breaks the long standing and highly contested loophole that allowed vendors to automatically award warranty work to a subcontractor outside our competitive bidding process.
$20 Million Tool and Die Investment in Dearborn
Due to recent improvements in competitiveness, our negotiators were able to successfully win a commitment from the company to invest $20 million in purchasing new five-axis mills for the Dearborn Tool and Die plant during the term of this agreement.
Minor Maintenance and 'Helping Hands' Defined
Under terms of the proposed agreement, “helping hands” is limited to breakdowns only, when the primary mechanical trade needs assistance and additional trades in the same classification are unavailable. Minor maintenance is defined to maintain appropriate distinction between production and maintenance work.
More Chances for Refurbishment Jobs
The proposed agreement includes language that requires Ford Divisional Manufacturing Engineering to include UAW skilled-trades workers when outside contractors are being considered to rebuild used and surplus equipment. Work that can be performed within cost and timing parameters will be performed by UAW Ford skilled-trades workers.
Project Coordinator Classification to Receive Increase Faster
Our skilled-trades workers in the project coordinator classification will no longer have to wait months for their pay increase, under language that sets a new process for project coordinator pay requests in a template form to expedite rate increase requests efficiently.
Apprenticeship Program Strengthened
Our bargaining team at Ford made significant improvements in our world-class apprenticeship program to ensure that our future journeypersons remain fully trained and versatile to accomplish their expanded tasks in a safe and efficient manner.
It was also agreed that the previously successful “Trouble Shooting Strategies” course originally developed for the electrical and machine repair classifications will be expanded and developed for the plumber/pipe fitter and tool and die classifications.
The bargaining committee won changes in the apprenticeship forecasting methodology to force the company to re-evaluate the forecasting data. Negotiators also won language that revises and expands the task-based apprenticeship to account for the consolidations and includes training concepts such as FTPM, FPS, MOS and QOS as they related to the skilled trades.
Skilled-Trades Classification Consolidation
Our negotiators successfully sustained the integrity of the skilled-trades classification structure. We maintained the apprenticeable trades by consolidating the numerous classifications back into their base trade while also retaining date of entry seniority. Those classifications without a base trade as defined below will be able to maintain their current classification, with no loss of pay, until they attrit.
Classification consolidations will not result in an indefinite layoff or job security action or a loss of seniority.
There will now be 22 base classifications:
• Electrician
• Tool and die maker
• Tool maker and template maker
• Machine repair
• Millwright
• Sheet metal worker
• Plumber/pipe fitter
• Welder, general
• Mechanic, auto
• Industrial truck mechanic
• Refrigeration/AC machine operator
• Refrigeration maintenance and installation
• Powerhouse mechanic
• Stationary steam engineer
• Metal model maker
• Pyrometer (Cleveland)
• Inspector, tooling layout
• Experimental parts and body maker
• Maintenance, general plant skilled
• Machining specialist
• Machinist
• Carpenter, all-around
No Umbrella Combinations
Our negotiating committee resisted attempts to combine trades under the umbrella concept. There are no mechanical or electrical umbrellas for any class-ifications or combinations thereof.
Enhanced Training
In light of skilled-trades classification consolidations and technological advances in tooling and machinery, our bargaining team won language that will empower the National Joint Apprenticeship Committee (NJAC) to identify and establish a training needs matrix specific to each skilled-trades classification by department and plant.
This matrix will then be used to develop a task-based training plan for each skilled trades worker based on individual need. It will include any skill development, including classroom, on-the-job, Web-based or other training necessary to allow the worker to accomplish the tasks with quality and safety being paramount.
This training will be developed and overseen by the NJAC.
Pay for Medical Treatment Beyond Normal Work Hours Improved
Workers who are injured on the job and must go to the hospital will be paid for the time they spend in treatment beyond their normal working hours at time and a half. Workers must provide suitable evidence of time spent in treatment, and the maximum compensation remains at four hours.
Jury Duty Language Improved
Your bargaining team improved the jury duty provisions. Afternoon-shift workers will now be excused on either the shift before jury service or the shift after, at the option of the worker. Workers who are called in and who report for jury duty during a workday that is within the worker’s scheduled vacation shutdown may request equivalent EAA hours for each day served, provided satisfactory evidence of the jury service is provided. At locations where there is an Alternative Work Schedule, the EAA time may be requested in increments of one regular shift for each regular workday served.
Bereavement Pay Expanded
Workers are now eligible for bereavement pay in the event of the death of a
birth parent and an adoptive parent, an improvement over the current provisions. Bereavement pay is currently either a birth parent or the adoptive parent.
National Attendance Program Established; Allows Flexible Use of EAA Days
Your bargaining committee was mindful of the differences and inconsistencies in attendance policies at various Ford locations. Negotiators bargained a national attendance program that ensures consistency and fairness throughout all locations and also provides flexibility so workers can deal with unplanned events. The program will become effective Jan. 7, 2008.
Workers will now be able to use their Excused Absence Allowance (EAA) days after the fact, provided the following conditions are met:
• The worker has EAA time available.
• The EAA time is taken in increments of eight hours, unless under an Alternative Work Schedule, where the day will be taken in the equivalent of one regular shift.
• The worker has no attendance-related discipline on record at the time of the absence.
• There are no adverse effects to production due to the collective level of unplanned absences.
EAA time does not count toward absentee discipline. Workers will still be able to schedule EAA time in advance. Workers are still expected to call in all unplanned absences at least 15 minutes prior to the start of a shift.