608                                TABLE TALK                  712

   2009   Issue #2                                                                                                                                                                                                   May

 Here's a reminder to call your legislators to support the Alternative Fuel Mixture tax Credit, if you haven't already. Keeping this credit in play at least through 2009 will be huge in helping our company gain a stronger economic footing leading into our contract year. The capitol switchboard is 202-224-3121. Sen. Risch's local number is 743-0792; Sen. Crapo's, 743-1492 and Rep. Minnick's, 743-1388.

More on Collective Bargaining

Our first priority is to negotiate a fair and equitable agreement on behalf of our membership. Strike action is a last resort.

The use of a successful strike vote empowers our bargaining team with an effective tool for negotiating a fair contract. It is not a vote “for a strike” and it does not necessarily mean a strike will happen immediately or at all.  It tells the employer that the union’s members are unified and support the negotiating team.

It is an unfortunate reality that rarely do workers make substantial gains without the threat of job-action. Often a strike mandate alone is sufficient to get the Employer to take the Union seriously in negotiations but not always. It would be irresponsible for the Executives to recommend strike action until every available option for reaching an agreement has been exhausted.

More on Your Rights

 We know now that we each have the right to union representation in a meeting that may lead to discipline. What can we do to help an employee in that situation? If a member sees another in danger of being wronged; we could make it known to an officer or shop steward, or we could even attend the meeting ourselves. We do not have to wait to be asked.

Management is not required to inform us of our Weingarten rights; it is our responsibility to know. However, it is a requirement for representation to be present in a disciplinary meeting as covered in Section 16c of our contract. It is very important for each member to act in the best interest of our own brothers and sisters.

The Table Talk will be archived at www.usw-608.com. If you have any ideas for future issues, please feel free to send them to our e-mail address: catoffice@cableone.net If you would like the Table Talk sent to your home computer, email the CAT office with your home email address.