The company has announced 2 more weeks of layoffs for the weeks of March 3 and March 10.
The company has also informed us that the battery department is only required to run 1 shift upon our return-to-work, March 17.
Two weeks ago, the company laid off 79 members. They have refused every offer we have made to help mitigate these layoffs. We have worked together over the past 4 years on programs designed to avoid long term layoffs for any individuals and now all of our offers have been rejected, and 79 members are laid off long term.
On top of that, GM head office is refusing to recognize items that we bargained in September. We have filed grievances and are working our way through those issues, but it is extremely frustrating and a total ignorant move on their part.
Due to GM refusing to work with us we have informed them that if battery returns on one shift only, we will have to follow the language and purify battery as per letter 86 of our collective agreement.
The language states that if a layoff extends beyond 45 days battery will purify. We will be meeting with the battery department this week and they will need to give us a number of members needed to run. If that number is 75 (just an example) then the top 75 members in battery will work full-time while the remaining members are laid off. There will be no options to remain off work. If the layoff extends beyond 85 days those junior members in battery will bump into the main plant. Those senior members retained in battery will have to be retained on jobs throughout the department.
The Union will be making a video on Wednesday, February 26 to explain recent events.