Opinion ID: 617237
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Balser's Work at River Works

Text: GE, a multinational company that does business in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is composed of several divisions. One of its divisions is General Electric Aircraft Engines, which manufactures jet engines for both commercial and military use and has a manufacturing facility, River Works, in Lynn, Massachusetts. GE hired Balser in July 2007 to work as a Zyglo Inspector [1] at the River Works facility; this position required her to engage in the nondestructive testing of parts to be used in the construction of aircraft engines. In preparation for this position, Balser was required to undergo approximately four hundred hours of on-the-job training, after which she became certified to perform Zyglo-related work. Local 201 is a labor union that exclusively represents GE employees at the River Works facility. Since the start of her employment at River Works, Balser has, by virtue of her position, been a member of Local 201 and subject to the terms of a Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between GE and Local 201 that governs the basic terms and conditions of employment for all union members employed at River Works. The CBA consists of three agreements: (1) the 2007-2011 National Agreement between GE and IUE-CWA, the Industrial Division of the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC and its affiliated locals, which include Local 201 (National Agreement); (2) the 1974 Local Understanding Upgrading and Job Posting Agreement; and (3) the 1977 Supplemental Agreement's Layoff and Transfer Supplement. The third agreement, the Layoff and Transfer Supplement, provides that day-work employees who have been laid off will be transferred to any equally rated or higher rated open classification in the [River Works] Plant, exclusive of upgrading, for which they are qualified considering their [River Works] Plant employment record.