Significant Advances in Skilled Trades Include New Technology Committee, Plan to Retain and Gain Warranty Work
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| The UAW Skilled Trades Subcommittee bargained to win new gains for skilled trades workers. |
Apprentices Working Alone
The union expressed specific concern about the health and safety of apprentices assigned to work alone on “high-risk” jobs without a qualified journeyperson being present. The corporation has agreed that apprentices will not be assigned to work alone on “high-risk” jobs. The definition of “high risk” will be subject to the approval of the respective Plant Safety Review Board.
The same safety concepts being put into place for apprentices will also be used for Employees-in-Training (EITs) and journeypersons being retrained.
Standard Apprentice and EIT Health and Safety Training Schedule to Be Established
Currently, there are too many inconsistencies between locations in health and safety training plans for apprentices and EITs. The new agreement establishes a common and uniform health and safety-training schedule for apprentices, EITs and journeypersons being retrained to an apprenticeable trade. Within 12 months of the effective date of the 2003 national agreement, a common Apprentice and EIT Health and Safety Training Plan will be developed and implemented in each plant.
Training Plans and Rotation of Apprentices
In some locations, the placement of a relatively large number of apprentices on the same date makes training plans and rotations difficult. It was agreed that UAW members of the Local Apprenticeship Committee would be informed and have the necessary input to ensure that apprentices’ training schedules are tailored for maximum effect.
Clarification of Document 20
In the circumstance in which an apprentice has transferred to another plant under the provisions of Document 20, the parties have clarified that apprentices will establish a new date of entry into the trade at the secondary plant. Credit for prior experience, only for completion of their term of apprenticeship, may be granted at the new plant in accordance with Paragraph 132 of the national agreement.
New Technology Committee Established
Advancing technology has a direct impact on the scope and work content of job classifications of UAW members. A New Technology Committee will be established at each local facility to ensure the advance discussion on the potential impact of new and/or upgraded technology on the plant and membership. The chairperson of the shop committee, the plant personnel director and/or their designated representatives will comprise the Plant New Technology Committee along with other union representatives and other employees deemed necessary.
UAW Involvement in Vehicle Development Process at GM Tech Center
The union raised concerns that there was no notification of new or advanced technologies being introduced into the New Vehicle Development Process (VDP), which has severely impacted the job security of UAW members involved in prototype work. The VDP will now include the involvement of a UAW member assigned by the chairperson of UAW Local 160, GM Tech Center, at the contract signing stage of the process. Involvement at this level will prevent the corporation from circumventing the national agreement provision “Statement of Technological Progress.”
Tool Allowance Increased
The tool allowance provided to apprentices upon graduation will be increased from $1,100 to $1,200 under the proposed agreement.
Increased Tool Allowance for Retrained Journeypersons
Journeypersons who are retrained to an apprenticeable trade will receive an increase in the tool allowance to $350, payable at the midpoint of his/her approved training program, to be applied to the purchase of tool(s) required to perform the job assignment of the new trade.
Toolbox for Retrained Journeypersons
In the case of a journeyperson who is retrained in a different apprenticeable skilled trades classification, such permanently assigned members will receive an appropriate precision toolbox, if required, within their new classification. This toolbox will not duplicate any similar toolbox that the member has received or might have received under terms of any other national or local provisions.
Warranty Work
To enhance the ability of skilled trades members to retain and gain warranty work on leased equipment, it was agreed that the local union should pursue competitive discussions with local management regarding leased equipment in the plant covered by warranties which feature recovery/billback arrangements with the vendors.
Die Engineering Services Added to Subcontracting Communications
Die Engineering Services will now be included in Doc. 98, advanced notification, review and competitive process, enabling skilled trades better opportunities to retain and gain skilled work.
Local Review of Non-apprenticeable Classifications
The union raised concerns that management was not fulfilling attrition replacements in many non-apprenticeable classifications. To prevent subcontracting of these work functions, it is suggested that the local parties review their current non-apprenticeable skilled trades to discuss folding them into appropriate apprenticeable trade(s), with a $350 training allowances paid to all affected members.
EIT Training Increased
The Employee-in-Training (EIT) training schedule has been increased to 500 hours from 400 from the previous agreement. The local shop chairperson and local management may recommend additional training up to a maximum of 576 hours, subject to the approval of the UAW-GM Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Committee.
Tool Room, Die Room and Engineering Shops in Planned Maintenance
To help prevent subcontracting of skilled trades work due to the inability to hold required dimensional tolerances resulting from improper or insufficient maintenance of tool room, die room or engineering shop equipment, agreement has been reached that such equipment will be included in the Quality Network Planned Maintenance Process.
Skilled Trades Supervisor Review
In response to the union’s concern that in some locations the skilled trades membership was being supervised by contract supervisors or regular supervisors without prior skilled trades supervisory experience, the parties agreed that in such a circumstance a review of work assignments will be conducted. The review will address traditional work assignments, lines of demarcation, work rules, work practices, and the agreement pertaining to skilled trades job assignments.
Skilled Trades Administration Audit
In an effort to standardize the administration of key provisions of the national agreement and processes related to skilled trades, the parties have agreed to skilled trades audits. The UAW-GM Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Committee will finalize and implement a joint audit process. Key provisions include, but are not limited to, Apprentice Program, Sub-contracting, Lines of Demarcation, Statement on Technological Progress, Job Security, Employee Placement, Indirect Labor Gap, and Documents 63 and 112.
Renewed Commitment to Using Best Practices and Continuous Improvement
The national parties agreed that the competitive gap is a continuing driver for reducing costs and improving efficiency. Accordingly, the parties agreed that the Joint Task Teams established under the provisions of Document 138 would continue. The parties reaffirmed the commitment to use Best Practices developed by the Joint Task Team to reduce costs and the necessity to outsource or subcontract bargaining unit work.
2,250 New Apprentices at GM; 750 New Apprentices at Delphi
The UAW bargaining team negotiated a commitment from GM to hire 2,250 new apprentices over the term of the agreement. The corporation also agreed to make a good-faith effort to increase the total to 2,800 over the life of the agreement.
At Delphi, the union negotiated a commitment to hire 750 new apprentices over the term of the agreement, and a commitment to make a good-faith effort at Delphi to increase the total to 950 over the life of the agreement.
