Staying Competitive, Saving Jobs

Members of Local 1386, Newburyport, Massachusetts, are celebrating ratification of a four-year contract with Ferraz Shawmut, Inc., an electrical manufacturer.

"In recent years Local 1386 has lost more than half its membership due to NAFTA and outsourcing," said Business Manager Gail Dreisel. Despite this, the 104 brothers and sisters of Local 1386 negotiated a favorable contract and the membership ratified the agreement on September 28, 2002.

Ferraz Shawmut is "a leader in the electrical fuse industry for whom IBEW members provide the technical expertise in machining, stamping and brazing of fuse components that make the company a world class fuse manufacturer," Dreisel said.

Business Manager Dreisel said the IBEW negotiating committee "diligently sought and obtained language changes in the new contract that will lead to a stronger, more versatile work force" allowing for job rotation.

"Based on the premise that knowledge is power, rotation of jobs within classifications will make us even more competitive with outside forces," Dreisel said. "We wanted to get our members rotated in various positions so they would not be stuck in one job and could increase their skills and gain valued experience."

Among the benefits negotiated were wage increases of 8.25 percent over the next four years, and improved medical benefit and severance provisions, said IBEW Second District International Representative John Faria, who assisted in negotiations. The contract also secured a 50 percent company co-pay on COBRA medical coverage for early retirees age 62 and older.

"This Ferraz Shawmut contract represents unstinting dedication by the members of the Local 1386 negotiating committee, assisted by International Representative Faria," said Second District International Vice President Frank J. Carroll.

IBEWCURRENTS

January/February 2003 IBEW Journal