General Information
As you know, I've been busy with negotiations, and because of this there has been very little to report locally. I would like to thank all of the Shop Stewards for stepping up and doing a great job.
There is one thing I would like to touch on, and that is Workman's Comp. There have been several recent work related injuries spread among all departments. It is important to note that, especially here in Virginia, Workers Comp law is very complicated. In fact, it is so complicated nationwide, that several years ago the Company hired an outside consultant to manage their claims. For those that don't know, the name of that company is Gallagher Bassett. Knowing the complications involved with these ever changing laws, it is imperative that if injured, you also seek outside help. We have used attorney Kathleen Walsh here for a number of years with great success. Because of the seriousness of this issue a link to her website will remain at the top of the useful links on the blog. In addition, her information is posted on every union bulletin board. The key to protecting your rights is to contact an Attorney prior to making any statements, especially a recorded statement, to Gallagher Bassett. If you are required to make a written statement at work before you are able to reach an attorney, then it would be in your best interest to engage a Shop Steward in the process. Please don't get caught in the trap of believing the supervisor is your buddy and will help you out.
The jackets that were ordered in November have still not arrived. I will not be doing another order until March at the earliest.
Even though I have not been sending weekly reports, I have been updating the blog, including a piece on scope which is about to take center stage in negotiations. There have been some changes made to make the blog a little easier for you to use, as well as the addition of my Twitter account, and a scrolling newsreel to provide timely information. If you have any ideas that you would like to share regarding the dissemination of information, I would appreciate your feedback.
That's all for now,
Bob
