First let me thank you for all your dedication to our union.
My question is: Management daily has ET’s and MPE’s perform level 7 MM PM’s on the AFSM’s while there are MM’s available to do this work. MANAGEMENT argues that higher level employees can work down. I argue only when needed and not at the expense of MM 7 hours. Due to this, higher level employees are given more overtime and as a result we have lost 2 MM positions here.
Thank you for your assistance and guidance in this matter.
First Name: Joseph
Last Name: Jacubowsky
Email: jakepostal@yahoo.com
Union/Local: APWU – Central Florida-Seminole P&DC
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
APWU - Hartford, Connecticut Local 147
Management wants to utilize lower levels to save money. ETs & MPEs are trained to fix equipment and MMs are not. You get paid for the skills you were trained for. Union always wants people to be paid the best wages and favor higher levels as seen in contracts where levels have been increased across the board. Level 10 & 9 can work down because it is their work and has been for years.
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
APWU - Central Florida-Seminole P&DC
I can see your opinion on this matter and I agree with most. Of course, we all want everyone to have the opportunity to improve their situation. But, trust me, it also leads to people who think that they are better than you. Trust me, I am strong and it doesn’t bother me that much. I was just asking for anything in writing that substantiates this. Chris Day of Lehigh Valley provided me with some valuable information.
I thank everyone for all their comments.
And once again thank you to all that makes a difference in representing our union.
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
APWU - STL Gateway Local #9
Office held, if any
Former Maintenance Craft Director
I agree Mike! The Maint Craft stewards and officers should always look to the future benefit of the collective when picking their fights with management. Also, one of the very first things taught in steward training is “No contractual guarantee to overtime!” Pick your fights wisely.
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
APWU - Tenn-Tom Area Local
Mike Nodine ……Well Said and I agree.
Union and NAME of Local/Branch
Atlanta Metro Area Local 32
Office held, if any
Workroom Floor Steward
I ask every reader, which do you think should be the correct Union perspective?
1) For staffing purposes, the lowest level positions should be maximized and the higher level positions should be kept to the bare minimum. Upward mobility should be limited as much as possible.
-or-
2) For staffing purposes, the highest level positions should be maximized to the greatest extent possible to give maximum flexibility to the workforce and lower level positions should be kept to a necessary minimum to be used as stepping stone positions to assist in upward mobility which should be encouraged.
When we consider that every MM-7 is capable, with study and experience, of passing all promotional requirements to become an ET-10 someday where their pay would increase, why would we want to reduce the number of ET-10 positions that would reduce the promotional opportunities for MM-7’s?
Too often you will find that we actually cause more harm in the long term to groups of individuals by the way we try to help their short term welfare desires. This scenario you present Brother Jacubowsky is an excellent example of just that kind of situation.
To me the answer is simple, obvious and self-evident, but I’m an ET-10 that supports the concept of all Maintenance Craft employees becoming Level 10’s, and my answer is to TEACH THOSE LEVEL-7’s TO FISH!
But I can see how it is less clear to those who have no problem with the idea that Level-7’s should forever be limited to Level-7 pay and in that case the answer should be that we provide them with subsistence fish or two to eat every now and then to ensure we eliminate Level 10 positions and replace them with more Level 7 positions, rather than the other way around.
I would like to debate this issue with anyone who disagrees with my perspective.