The JSC expressed extreme disappointment with management's unwillingness to work with the Union to develop a plan together prior to the heating season instead of presenting their plan as a finished product without any input from the Union and the workers involved. The Company's plan puts customer needs and the Company's budget before the workers' contractual entitlements. We reminded them that when contractors were used in the past to balance workload the number of orders actually increased due to the inadequate quality of work they performed. This resulted in return orders, increased mandatory overtime as well as decreased customer satisfaction. JSC members pointed out that last year, workers were stuck on mandatory overtime from Columbus Day to Easter, and the workforce has decreased since then while workload has not.
Worker safety has to be considered in any plan to work through the heating season.
The Company's plan to use overtime to cover additional workload puts worker considerations at the bottom of the priority list. This and all Contract language is subject to change in our upcoming negotiations. Total hours worked since initial hire by the Company divided by 2080 hours. Part-time workers need to submit bids for jobs to be qualified. The Union Joint Steering Committee and the Company have agreed that the Union will receive a seniority list for part-time employees on a regular basis.