Machinists Union Local Lodge 2061

We Have a New Home on the Web.

2009-07-19T13:40:00.004-04:00

Last night we went live with LL2061.org . Currently all of the pages are not updated but should be within the next few weeks. For news, there is a link from LL2061.org to this blog (for the time being). As soon as possible, we will migrate over to the main site for future postings, and will post here when that time comes.

The new site will offer us options the blog does not have, so that we may communicate with each other in the best possible manner. If you find any errors on LL2061.org, feel free to email iamwebsteward@gmail.com and let us know.

Please Contact Bill Nelson and let him know F-22's should not be cut.

2009-07-15T03:56:00.002-04:00

Early next week the Senate is expected to vote on an amendment that will strip funding for seven additional F-22s from the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization, S 1390. We are asking that Senators vote against the amendment--a NO vote on the amendment.

Yes means in favor of the amendment to strip funding and ? means undecided.

Brownback, Sam (KS) ?
Cochran, Thad (MS) ?
Graham, Lindsey (SC) ?
Hagan,Kay (NC) Yes
Landrieu, Mary (LA) ?
Lincoln, Blanche (AR) ?
Nelson, Bill (FL) Yes
Pryor, Mark (AR) ?
Roberts, Pat (KS) ?
Shelby, Richard (AL) ?
Warner, Mark (VA) Yes
Webb, Jim (VA) Yes

If these planes get cut, our Brothers and Sisters on the assembly line will be the first to feel it. Second in line will be the Armed Forces, who have our backs everyday. Our Senator Bill Nelson is voting to cut the funding needed to produce these jets. It is our duty to call or email the Senator and let him know we wish for the funding, so these jets can be built.

Washington, D.C. Office
United States Senate
716 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-5274
Fax: 202-228-2183

For electronic contact (Email Form) visit this website:
http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/legislation.cfm#

Jerry Copeland

2009-07-13T13:09:00.002-04:00

Jerry Copeland, Roads and Grounds, passed away Saturday morning. Details of service arrangements will be posted when determined. Our thought and prayers go out in Jerry's memory and for his family.

Services for Jeff Simmons

2009-07-13T13:03:00.002-04:00

Services for Jeff Simmons, EG&G plumber, will be held Saturday, July 18 at 1 pm at Volusia Memorial of Port Orange, 4815 Clyde Morris Blvd. Port Orange. Our thought and prayers go out in Jeff's memory and for his family.

New Feature, Calendar for LL2061 Events.

2009-06-03T13:27:00.002-04:00

Added a calendar to the page, located below the Feedblitz sign-up. Currently it has the dates of the Membership meetings added. If you have an event that needs to be added, feel free to email me at iamwebsteward@gmail.com and I'll get it added.

Joe Tidwell

2009-05-30T21:20:00.002-04:00

Brother Joe Tidwell is in the critical care unit at Wuesthoff Hospital. Visiting hours are; 10-12 am, 3-5 pm and 8-9:30 pm.

Regular Membership Meeting June 2nd 2009

2009-05-28T21:42:00.001-04:00

Regular Membership meeting June 2nd 2009 at the District Hall. Meeting starts at 4:30PM.

Hall is located at 271 Taylor Avenue Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.

Regular Membership Meeting Tuesday May 5th 2009

2009-05-02T14:16:00.001-04:00

Regular meeting starts at 4:30pm at the District Hall.

Hall is located at 271 Taylor Avenue Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.

Dues Increase Approved

2009-04-10T10:32:00.003-04:00

The membership at Tuesday's Local Lodge meeting voted overwhelmingly to accept an Executive Board proposal that would increase dues for LL 2061. This action was viewed as a necessary action to maintain the viability and existence of the Local. The proposal was in response to an increase in monies paid to the International and the depletion of the treasury due to expenses incurred during the USA strike. The increase in payments to the International coupled with a decrease in membership in LL 2061 made it necessary for your Executive Board to take action.

The increase is pegged at eight dollars ($8.00) per month. This computes to two dollars ($2.00) per week - five cents ($.05) per hour. Three dollars ($3.00) of this increase will go directly to the Lodge's treasury. The Executive Board has been gravely concerned that our ability to provide necessary services to the membership was being restricted and some services would have to be eliminated if this increase was not approved. Our ability to fund contract negotiations, grievance processing and arbitration of grievances, training (Safety and Health, communications, EAP and Leadership training, and community service), were some of the services that were being curtailed or eliminated.

The dues increase was determined after extensive research and exhaustive debate by the Executive Board. Many proposals were considered. The Board attempted to produce a proposal that would have the least economic impact on our membership and still allow the Local to maintain and increase the level of service to our members. The Executive Board feels strongly this is a fair and reasonable increase in view of the fact the dues formula has not increased since 1976. We are confident this increase will carry the Local through the foreseeable future.

Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me at 321 446-7092 or contact an Executive Board member.

Lew

Contract Ratification Results

2009-04-05T14:27:00.002-04:00

IAM 2061 membership ratified contract proposals today with the following companies;

EG&G
Sierra Lobo
Yang
SC Jones
Indyne
IHA
GCR/CMT

Voting was heavy at ratification meetings held at the Radisson Hotel and the IAM Hall in Cape Canaveral. Your negotiating committees are grateful to the membership for the support and encouragement the membership has offered during these negotiations.

Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committees

FINAL NEGOTIATIONS BLOG

2009-04-03T16:37:00.003-04:00

Your Negotiating Committee for EG&G/Yang/Sierra Lobo met again today to make final arrangements for Sundays upcoming ratification meeting. To quell recent rumors we wish to announce proposed pay increases of 4%, 3.5% and 3.5% over a 3 year contract and increases of $.25 per year for the duration of the contract added to our pension. We wish to stress that there are approximately 14 pages of proposed changes to our existing contract, including changes to the maximum work time policy, substance abuse policy, vacation annual accrual carryover and group insurance to name a few. Therefore we, as YOUR negotiating committee , strongly urge each and every member to not only review these significant changes but to also vote! Once again, if you would like to get a copy of the proposed changes, we will be handing them out early at the union hall at 8:30 a.m. til 9:30 before the ratification meeting. The meeting will start at 10 am at the Radission in Cape Canaveral. Voting will end at 2 pm.

For the proposed changes, to the InDyne, IHA, GCR/CMT and S C Jones contracts, there will be a presentation at the union hall April 5, 2009 at 11:30 am with voting immediately following. The contracts are similiar in nature, but have different details in relation to each companies. Voting will end at 2 pm.

Loss of our Brother, Glenn Exline

2009-04-03T16:18:00.004-04:00

On Tuesday March 31st Brother Glenn Exline passed away.

He will be missed greatly by all of us who have grown to know the strong man that he was. Though Glenn had retired last February, he was still a regular at the monthly meetings where we will miss his friendship and experience dearly.

His family will receive visitors at North Brevard Funeral Home tonight from 6 to 8pm. Funeral services will also be held tomorrow, Saturday April 4th at North Brevard Funeral Home at 10am. The address is 1450 Norwood Avenue Titusville, FL 32796.

http://www.northbrevardfuneralhome.com/

You can also leave condolences at North Brevard Funeral Home's website.
Here is a direct link to Glenn's page :
http://www.northbrevardfuneralhome.com/obit-service-schedule.jsp?site=0166&id=42963

Regular Membership Meeting April 7th 2009

2009-04-03T16:13:00.002-04:00

Regular meeting at the District hall starts at 4:30pm on Tuesday April 7th. There is also a dues rate presentation and vote on the proposal scheduled for the meeting. Please attend and cast your vote.

Hall is located at 271 Taylor Avenue Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.

NEGOTIATIONS CLARIFICATION

2009-04-01T14:06:00.002-04:00

The Negotiating Committee has completed proof reading our new proposed contract. We have also completed a summary of all the significant changes. If you wish to get a copy early, to review, we will be handing them out early at the union hall April 5, 2009 at 830 am. The reason we are doing this is the meeting hall was not available any earlier than 930 and we need time to set up the meeting. Once again the meeting is scheduled for April 5, 2009 at the Radisson in Cape Canaveral located at 8701 Astronaut Blvd (A1A). The meeting will start at 10 am. sharp. Voting will start after our presentation and Q&A. Polls will close at 2 pm. Copies of the summary will also be available at the Radisson. We urge EVERYONE to attend, don't let someone else decide YOUR future.

Note: S C Jones, InDyne, IHA and CMT/GCR will tentatively be scheduled to vote April 5, 2009 at the union hall. Times to be announced.

Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

2009-03-31T15:41:00.002-04:00

Your Negotiating Committee is still revising our existing contract to reflect proposed changes. We hope to complete it in the coming days. In an effort for transparency, the committee will be at the union hall sunday April 5, 2009 between the hours of 8:30 to 9:30am to hand out copies of ALL significant changes. Please note, for cost containment purposes, we will not included typos or normal replacement language (i.e. JBOSC to ISC) We will then go to the Radisson to set up for the ratification vote.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 3/30/09

2009-03-30T17:58:00.006-04:00

Your Negotiating Committee met with representatives of EG&G, Yang and Sierra Lobo this morning. After several rounds of intense negotiating we have tentatively agreed on a contract we feel is fair and just for all our members. We will meet again tomorrow to assemble a revised contract for members consideration. The ratification meeting will be April 5, 2009 at the Radisson in Cape Canaveral at 10 am. More information will be posted on tomorrows blog.

Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 3/27/09

2009-03-27T17:04:00.002-04:00

Your committee met again with company representatives. A lot of progress has been achieved through mutual agreement and difficult negotiating. We feel we are close to reaching a contract for your consideration. Have a great weekend!

Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 3/26/09

2009-03-26T14:36:00.003-04:00

Your negotiating committee met again today with company representatives. We are currently engaged in economic issues which are moving slowly. Due to difficulties finding a meeting place large enough for our group, contract ratification is scheduled for sunday April 5, 2009 at the Raddison in Cape Canaveral. The meeting will commence at 10a.m. sharp! The polls will open immediately after discussion ceases. Voting will continue until the last member present has voted. ONLY MEMBERS WILL BE ADMITTED. Please share this information with all your coworkers so everyone will have a voice in this vote!

S C Jones, Gov't Contracting Resources/CMT, InDyne Inc. and IHA negotiations are in progress and on time. Contract ratifications for these groups will be held at the union hall on April 5 at a time yet to be announced.

Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 3/24/09

2009-03-24T16:47:00.002-04:00

Your Negotiations Committee met again with company representatives this morning. We have had extended conversations over our proposals and theirs. Further review is needed to reach an agreement on several issues. Trust in your committee for we have the greater good for ALL our members in our hearts and minds.

Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 3/23/09

2009-03-23T15:19:00.002-04:00

Your negotiations committee reconvened meetings with management early this morning. Management presented their economic counter proposals. Although we found common ground on several proposals and tentatively agreed upon them, we are miles apart on significant issues important to our members according to our surveys. It is our sincere hope that we are able to close the gap soon so that each side feels they have accomplished their mission. Stay United! Together we can go to the moon and beyond....

Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 3/17/09

2009-03-17T14:19:00.002-04:00

Happy St Pattys Day to all our brothers and sisters! Your Negotiating Committee met again with representatives of signatory companies today. We were successful in whittling down to just a couple of remaining language issues. The Union presented our economic proposals to management. After a brief rundown by DBR Johnny Walker we concluded for the day. We will reconvene next monday March 23, 2009

In Solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 3/16/09

2009-03-16T16:37:00.002-04:00

Your Negotiating Committee reconvened today to attempt to resolve final contract language issues. Unfortunately a couple of issues have been bantered back and forth, language added and deleted, without successful resolution. We will reconvened tomorrow morning and hope to agree on remaining non economic issues so that we can move forward in the negotiations process. Keep the faith brothers and sisters! GO DISCOVERY!

Godspeed and Good Luck to Discovery!

2009-03-15T17:37:00.002-04:00

Launch is set for 7:43PM EST and so far everthing is running smooth. LL2061 would like to wish the crew of Discovery a safe and happy journey to the I.S.S.

For updates visit www.floridatoday.com.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE 3/13/09

2009-03-13T15:37:00.002-04:00

Your negotiations committee met with management representatives again today. We are whittling down to the final few stumbling blocks, inclusive of the maximum work time policy and addressing current workplace issues. We hope to wrap up in the coming week all non economic issues. Negotiations will resume next monday March 16, 2009.

Fraternally,

Your Negotiating Committee

Negotiations Update 3/12/09

2009-03-12T16:37:00.001-04:00

Your negotiations committee, along with DBR Johnny Walker and Nick Mrdjenovich, met again for yet another full day with management. We are very close to resolving all non economic issues. We will meet again tomorrow and hope to resolve all remaining contractual language. Show your strength…….show your UNITY! GO I.A.M!

Fraternally,
Your Negotiations Committee