United Auto Workers Local 544

The Shop Chairman's Report...

May 9, 2008
       

This is the UAW's response to Management's question and answer publication.         

Relative to questions 1, job bank rules Appendix A and K:

A.)        For area hire placement (Lordstown), once you are in the bank (indefinite Lay-off status)
       1.)        Volunteers will be placed in seniority order
       2.)        If there are no volunteers, employees with the least seniority will be offered the job (inverse seniority order). If you refuse an area hire offer you will be placed on lay-off status.  If you refuse a second area hire offer you then be placed on leave of absence no pay, no benefits.

B.)        For extended area hire placement (everywhere except Lordstown) once you are in the bank (indefinite Lay-off status)
       1.)        Volunteers will be placed in seniority order
               a.        If you have a request in to transfer and receive a job offer and you turn it down, this counts as one of the two offers you can receive

               b.        If you have a request in to transfer and receive a second offer and turn it down this would place you on lay-off status.

               c.        If you have more requests in to transfer, and receive a third and 4th job offers, and turn both of these down, you will then be placed on leave of absence, no pay and benefits

       2.)        If you do not apply for extended area hire placement, you can receive job offers but there is no impact to your job bank status if you refuse any and all offers.
               a.        In no event will a protected employee remain on protected status more than 2 years, if there are job openings in the corporation.  If during the 2 year period no jobs are available and employees remain on protected status (jobs bank) the national parties will develop a plan specific to each location
               b.        This means that it would take an agreement among the national parties to allow the extended area hire placement procedure to be modified
               c.        There is no such agreement at this time, nor has there been any discussions among the parties relative to Pittsburgh plant about this issue

This information is provided to members by the International Union based on our local's inquiry to clarify this question.

Rick Vargesko                                
President                                        
UAW Local 544                                

Rick Mismas
Shop Chairman
UAW Local 544