The Vote Is In - 82% Vote To Approve The Contract!

After three days of meetings and voting, the results are in. At 5pm today, all ballot envelopes were opened and the results were 96 for the contract and 20 against.

As was explained at the meetings, according to the company - even after this contract MCC Newburgh will be the highest paid can plant in their system. The company made it clear during every bargaining session that they had a hard time increasing that margin much further or higher.

We give the people much credit for realizing that no matter what - having that written contract was the most important subject.

We were glad that everyone recognized that it was the company that thought you were overpaid, not the union. We honestly felt that some of that opinion by the company was only to not appear to be rewarding you for joining a union with improvements. You guys picked it right out too.

Thank you to all of the people who came up afterwords and thanked your reps for the hard work they put in. Those guys and gals gave up a lot of their free time for the benefit of everyone at the plant. IBEW Local 363 thanks them too for being at the table and showing the true feelings of the people.

The message finally has been personally delivered by everyone at MCC Newburgh - working under a contract really is the best option.

Now we move forward into the future with a new company, some new management and a new contract. We have a new foundation on which to build and a voice that we can now call our own - IBEW Local Union 363.

The fact is that YOU - the people who work at MCC Newburgh - are IBEW Local 363 in that plant. YOU are the union - all of you.

Sometime soon, your reps will come to you with the paperwork you will need to complete for your union life insurance policy and IBEW and Local 363 membership. Please work along closely with your reps in regard to completing and returning them to him or her.

Welcome to the IBEW and to Local 363 and congratulations on having a written contract at MCC Newburgh.

Stay Strong, Stay Solid

Additional Meeting Date Added

To accommodate the people who are working their off days and to create another opportunity, we are adding an additional day to the meetings. This additional day is an option for anyone who would like to participate but mainly for those working outside their normal off days on overtime.

The third meeting will begin at 10 am on Monday September 12, 2011. This should give everyone time to attend.

The company wants an answer on the contract ratification by Sepember 15. Part of the contract depends on it being ratified by that date. That was part of the company proposal with a probable contract date of October 1 or before.

We will be mailing a flyer to each persons home tomorrow so that everyone has been notified.

The contract will be very easy to understand for everyone and we will go over it as for long as you would like. I am no hurry at these meetings. I want you to understand it so you know how it covers you.

I will be sending out the mailing tomorrow with all three meeting dates and times. Here are the updated dates and times for our meetings:

September 9, 2011 1:30 pm

September 10, 2011 3:30 pm

September 12, 2011 10:00 am
( additional meeting date )

These dates will allow all to attend based on the crew schedules and make allowances for those working overtime or who may also have a conflict by having the option of an additional meeting.

The meetings will be held at the IBEW Local 363 Building located at 67 Commerce Drive South, Harriman, NY 10926.

See you all there. You can come to whichever meeting is best for you.

Talking Is Done - Contract Meeting Vote Scheduled

The talking is done and we have a draft contract to present and review. Here are the dates and times for our meetings:

September 9, 2011 1:30 pm

September 10, 2011 3:30 pm

September 12, 2011 10:00 am ( additional meeting date )

These dates allow all to attend based on the crew schedules.

The meetings will be held at the IBEW Local 363 Building located at 67 Commerce Drive South, Harriman, NY 10926.

Please pass the word to all of your co-workers. I am posting this in the cafeteria, on the blog, emailing everyone and I am planning to send out a flyer.

See you all there.