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From the Editor I have heard that some of you disagree with some of the items that I print in my editorials. Most of what I put in my editorials is just my opinion. I would like to hear from anyone that disagrees with me. If you would like to write a rebuttal to any thing that I have put in any of my editorials, and you are an hourly union person I will print it in the next issue. The only thing that I will not print is anything from an anonymous source. If you write something you need to sign your name. I am waiting to hear from you. Some of our laid off members have asked if they can pay ahead for more then three months of union dues while they are laid off. The answer is yes. Check with our Secretary/Treasurer during his normal office hours on Fridays at the labor hall. If you know someone that is laid off please see that they get this information. Remember extra copies of the complete newsletter are now kept at the labor hall in the literature rack in the hallway. If you are thinking about retiring you should call Brunswick Pension Center approximately one year prior to your proposed retire date to check to make sure that your years of creditable service are correct. Some of our members have found mistakes in their years of service. Remember to invoke your Weingarten rights when called to a meeting with management to investigate any alleged misconduct. Complete copies of our pension plan are available in your local H.R. office. Click on causecast.org to find ways to protect your self from getting the swine flu. Our union attorney is at the labor hall every second and fourth Wednesday of the month from 1 P.M. till 4:30 P.M.
What Happened Without any discussion with our local lodge or myself I was informed by the National Labor Relations Board that the company and the union had settled the board charges against the company for intimidating a witness before an arbitration hearing. When I was notified of this settlement I was surprised to hear that District 10 claims that they did not know or have a say in it. District 10 claims that the settlement came from Midwest territory and they are the ones who owned the charges. The company in my opinion was just plain guilty, our own attorney was the first person to point out the companies threat , and at that time everyone was on board to proceed with the board charges, the lodge, District 10, and Midwest territory. After a long process of interviews and statements by me and others this was finally going to trial on May 27, 2009 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Federal Building. Well on May 19, 2009 I was informed that there would be no court hearing that things had been settled between the union and Mercury. Yes, I am disappointed about this. I can not believe our union settled this charge; this sets a very nasty precedence for the future for our members. Now I wonder who is going to trust the union with pressing charges on their behalf if the union just settles them before they have their day in court. Now it would appear that the company may violate your rights to scare you or your witness into agreeing with them, and if you file charges they are not concerned because your union may just drop them or settle them without your knowledge and they win all the way around. In the future if it were me filing charges, I suggest doing it on your own with out the lodge or District 10, or Midwest being involved at least you may feel that everything that could be done was done and you may have a say in the final out come. Not Happy, Dan Longsine, Plant Coodinator
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