Weekly Report 2-7-09

This week a problem was reported with continuing insurance while on lay-off. According to ADP members need to fill out the paperwork and make payment prior to the end of the month in which laid off for insurance to continue. This issue was reported with an earlier group of furloughees but I thought it had been resolved. I contacted Bob Luciano as well as Labor Relations and we are working on a resolution. The important thing for furloughed members is that you get your paperwork in quickly while we work through this.

A Station wide grievance on physicians certification has been filed in the first step. Essentially the company, through Corvel, is asking your doctor to certify that he or she will comply with the law prior to allowing you to use your personal physician instead of the Workers Comp panel doctor.

As for the rest of the grievance report the committee has the following outstanding and resolved through this week,
1 second step PV on a lead vacancy waiting hearing
1 grievance pending appeal to second step in GQ regarding bidding procedures
1 grievance for discipline in MM pending appeal to second step
2 second steps in MM for discipline
1 OT 2nd step resolved this week in MM
1 pending IRH for a Level 4 in MM
1 third step waiting on possible resolution in MM

I received notice that our TAA case was denied. It is case #64524 and I received forms from DOL to appeal that decision. I believe we will need some legislative help to get this through as I have previously reported.
 
Monday I went through the shakedown with Nina and Dave Nash. There were several errors and I believe we have now corrected most of them. I say most because I know of a couple outstanding RDO issues that I will address tomorrow.
 
There were many questions from the new arrivals regarding vacation and the one over rule in Art XIII H. When the planned vacation board is exceeded for employees entering a new work group they are required to add one extra slot by seniority to accommodate previous vacation awards. As usual the company severely limited the number of slots which did not help matters.

I continued work on non- economic proposals for the upcoming steering committee meeting. If you see an area that you feel needs addressed there is still some time.
 
As for the conference call update we discussed several issues including the upcoming steering committee meeting, future lobbying efforts and current organizing campaigns.

For those that do not believe we should be involved in lobbying efforts here is an interesting article.

And for those that would like more information on the Employee Free Choice Act here is a good website.

Seattle has started a blog and it can be found here.
It has now been added to the useful links.

That's all for this week,
Bob