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| UAW Local 2069 President Talks About The Strike, Congressman Boucher's Visit And Other Issues |
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| Written by David Grimes | |
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As the strike enters its third week, a wealth of information has been released, some official from Volvo and UAW, and some unreliable from various sources, such as message boards, etc. Friday afternoon, UAW Local 2069 President Lester Hancock sat down with EverythingNRV and talked about the strike in detail, as well as responding to a letter that Volvo’s lead negotiator had sent to the UAW Vice President and Director concerning the talks.
This past Wednesday, Feb. 13, EverythingNRV ran a story (Volvo Responds to UAW Allegations) concerning a letter, which was written on Feb.12 by William Waters, Jr. (Director, Workforce Performance and Lead Negotiator for Volvo) and sent to General Holiefield, Vice President and Director of the UAW Heavy Truck Department in Detroit. The letter addresses Union allegations "regarding the conduct of the New River Valley negotiations" which were addressed in a letter from Holiefield to Waters on January 31st.
Friday afternoon, UAW Local 2069 President Lester Hancock responded to some of the allegations outlined in the letter.
One of the issues in the letter dealt with benefits and economic packages.
“We never have completed any negotiations on any benefits or proposals on any type of economic package,” said Hancock. “We had two proposals as far as benefits and stuff which were never discussed. They [Volvo] did bring some ridiculous proposals to the table to start with.”
As for certain health and safety related information. The UAW had asked Volvo for certain health and safety information three months prior to the contract deadline.
“Mr. Waters wants to a lot of talking and not do any resolving of any issues,” said Hancock.
A letter concerning this issue and dated Feb. 13, 2008 was sent out to the UAW Local 2069 workers, which stated, “The Assistant Director of the UAW Heavy Truck Department, Tim Bressler, has contacted the company regarding health and safety information. During the conversation on Feb. 7, 2008, Roger Susanin (chief spokesman for Volvo) committed to providing the health and safety information to the Union. At that time, Mr. Bressler indicated to Mr. Susanin that once the UAW obtains the requested information, future bargaining sessions will be scheduled. To date, Feb. 13, 2008, the UAW has received nothing from Volvo.
The company has never attempted to contact the union bargaining committee or the International Union to discuss getting back to the bargaining table, in fact, there have been three conversations with the company, all initiated by the Union.”
Hancock and nine other members of the Local 2069 Bargaining Team signed the letter.
Hancock also provided EverythingNRV a letter, which was dated Thursday, Feb. 14, 2008, and was also sent to the Local Union membership. The letter, which was also signed by Hancock, said “The Company is starting to supply us with the date we have requested for health and safety. There is still a lot of outstanding data that needs to be received. The Company has every intention to get us the rest of the data by next week. Meanwhile, the Health and Safety Department is currently reviewing the information that has been submitted. Also, the International Heavy Truck Department is reviewing the information.”
Hancock went on to say in closing, “We’re not going to hold this company back from trying to be competitive with other companies. However, we cannot afford to lose things that we already have. This is not a greed issue. The issue here is to make sure that our families are safe, our children are safe and they grow up into a position were they will be able to work in this factory safely and their children may work here also.”
When asked about Congressman Rick Boucher's visit to Union headquarters on Monday, Hancock said. "Everyone knows when someone like him come's to talk, It's very serious."
When Hancock was asked how the meeting went, he replied, "Congressman Boucher was very supportive of us and pledged to go to the company and get the talks going again."
Photos by David Grimes
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Comments (3)
  written by Marshall, February 18, 2008
I just want to compliment your web site and reporter David Grimes for covering both sides of this unfortunate strike. Unlike some other web sites and news agencies, which has yet to do any follow-up stories or even visit and talk to the strikers, but yet want to rely on rumers from a message boards and other sources for their stories. As a union member, I do appreciate a trust worthy news source like yours for visiting our strikers, talking to our leaders, and printing both sides to the story. Like Tammy, we all want to get back to work. We also appreciate your comments Ron Walton. We may not agree with everything you say, but at least you are man enough to step up and voice your feelings rather you agree with us or not.
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Sir James Matthew Barrie was a Scottish novelist and dramatist best known for creating the character Peter Pan, whom he based on his friends, the Llewelyn Davies boys. Educated at Dumfries Academy and Edinburgh University, he became a journalist and, later, a celebrated novelist who counted Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Thomas Hardy amongst his friends and acquaintances. Why was Barrie disappointed with the statue of Peter Pan erected in Kensington Gardens, London?
