54 replies to this topic

[a673teamster]

http://chicagoteamst...ve/officers.cfm

Seems javier removed his e-mail and phone number......and we thought reform wished to be accountable for their actions

[a673teamster]

The employees of ATMI, which makes precast concrete products, are mostly immigrant men and from Mexico and South America.
Even though Yanez has been fired from ATMI, he continues to represent his fellow workers, a fact that doesn’t go unnoticed by his friend Jose Ruben Meraz. “We are appreciative of Enrique for the help,” Meraz said.
“ATMI is treating us worse than animals, by firing all these workers; the best workers the company has,” he added. “We feel they are stepping all over our rights. We feel they are treating us in an in-human way. They have thrown us on the street,” he said.
Three ATMI workers said what their annual salary was. Working full-time, including overtime, up to 80 hours a week, salaries included $32,000, $33,000 and $35,000. Bonuses are only available for supervisors.
Caballero, who has been with ATMI for 18 years, makes $35,000. He said their fight is not for more money. “What we want isn’t so much money, or anything like this, we want to be treated well; with dignity,” he said.
http://foxvalleylabo...ntation-feb-17/

It doesn't appear that the 1st vp of the Chicago Hispanic Caucus treated these workers with dignity or respect.

[a673teamster]

ATMI Precast – site of discussions on labor stats

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor

Putting its support behind the employees of ATMI Precast — who will soon vote for union representation, Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice (NIJwJ) held a protest Feb. 3 outside the doors of ATMI Precast.
On the first Friday of every month, the group gathers at various locations to discuss that day’s release of unemployment numbers, which are released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Last Friday, members choose AMTI Precast as its location.
“The abuse of the workers here, the firings, the intimidation is part of a larger picture that is happening all across the country – it’s a war on working people, a war on the working-class and a war on us as part of the 99 percent of the American people,” she explained.
Last November, ATMI employees, represented by Teamsters Local 673, rejected the company’s last and final contract offer after the company offered to return only 5 percent of the 20 percent pay it cut years before, resulting in ATMI locking out its employees for several weeks.
http://foxvalleylabo...on-labor-stats/

Unlike the current officers and agents of Local 673, I support the efforts of these Workers in their efforts to gain Union representation......even without high profile sporting events and cameras.

[a673teamster]

Despite attacks in 2011, union membership is up


By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
It was a hard won fight, but union membership is up slightly in Illinois and across the nation. This comes after unions lost almost 1.4 million members over the previous two years.
According to new U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, Illinois gained 32,000 new union members over the course of 2011. Overall, union membership increased by 49,000 from 2010 to 2011, including 15,000 new 16- to 24-year-old members. The state’s total number of union members increased to 876,000, or 16.2 percent of the workforce.
The largest increases in union membership were in construction, health care services, retail trade, primary metals and fabricated metal products, hospitals, transportation and warehousing.
Nationally, an increase of 110,000 workers in the private sector was partially offset by a decline of 61,000 in the public sector, making the rate of union membership essentially unchanged at 11.8 percent, with some 14.8 million U.S. workers active in unions. Public sector employees faced dramatic layoffs across the country as state and local governments trimmed their workforce to help cope with budget deficits.
http://foxvalleylabo...mbership-is-up/

Despite reforms claims of the opposite, Union Membership is up.....just not at Local 673.

[a673teamster]

March goes past ATMI Precast CEO’s home

ATMI Precast workers and supporters march to the home of ATMI CEO Jim Armbruster on West Downer Place, the home that ATMI workers helped get through their hard work at the factory.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
The statement ATMI Precast workers and their supporters wanted to make during their march last Sunday was to have a voice and an opinion at their work — without being fired.
To make their point, they marched to the home of ATMI Precast CEO Jim Armbruster, congregating on the sidewalk in front of his home on West Downer Place and asked him to respect his workers’ rights.
Tomorrow, Feb. 17, ATMI workers will decide their future by having the opportunity to vote for union representation by Laborers’ Local 681.
Last November, ATMI employees, represented by Teamsters Local 673, rejected the company’s last and final contract offer after the company offered to return only 5 percent of the 20 percent pay it cut years before, resulting in ATMI locking out its employees for several weeks.
After being returned to their jobs, four employees were promptly fired, resulting in Unfair Labor Practices to be filed against ATMI. Tomorrow, they will decide by voting, if they want to be represented by Laborers’ Local 681. In what labor officials call an intimidation tactic, ATMI has fired another four workers, resulting in more Unfair Labor Practices to be filed against ATMI.
http://foxvalleylabo...E2%80%99s-home/

[a673teamster]

Laborers' Local 681 announced today that ATMI Precast workers voted today for union representation by a vote of 78 to 9!

Great job, Brothers and Sisters!

[a673teamster]

The fact that reform could not get a contract for the ATMI workers is not as disturbing as the excuse "we had to let them vote on the contract, the Laborer's Union does not have to let them vote".

If only reform didn't have to let the Members vote.....

[a673nightmare]

R0ger and javierror have had little time to worry about the ATMI workers, VWR, Kieft, Nagle or Dunteman, Seems Judge Dow has ruled in favor of the workers at Argonne. Seems R0gs "I forgot" and Javierrors pack of lies did not hold up. Local 673 has lost in Besegke vs Local 673. The damages the local could be held liable for 2,8 to 3.2 % wage increases per for the length of the proposed contract. It sounds like the plantiff doesn't think they could recoup thoses increases in the next contract therefore they are asking for that to be paid to them by 673 for the rest of thier natural working lifetime. Sure hope R0g's incompetence doesn't break the local. Reform The Solution For The Future.

[a673teamster]

ATMI gets union representation from Local 681

Pat Barcas photo
Members of Laborers Local 681 show their support for ATMI Precast workers Feb. 16 in front of the factory. The group successfully voted for representation by Local 681, and hope to have a new labor contract in the coming months.


By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
The embattled ATMI Precast workers of Aurora now officially have union representation in the form of Laborers’ Local 681, based in Westmont. The decision came after the workers voted Feb. 17 at the plant on Ridgeway Avenue.
The final count: 78 in favor, 9 opposed.
“This is great, this is a strong message that the workers sent to the company that they are still united,” said Jose Zamarripa Jr., business manager for Local 681.
The fight is not over. The next step is to have lawyers draft a new contract for the workers. This could take several months to craft, then a decision needs to be made by ATMI management whether or not to accept it.
“We have to wait to be certified, which will take about a week, then we have to come up with a contract that is agreeable with both sides,” said Zamarripa.
Last November, ATMI employees, represented by Teamsters Local 673, rejected the company’s last and final contract offer after the company offered to return only 5 percent of the 20 percent pay it cut years before, resulting in ATMI locking out its employees for several weeks. The welders, carpenters, laborers and custodial staff said they were working for low pay, low vacation benefits, and low health benefits.
http://foxvalleylabo...from-local-681/

[a673teamster]

[a673teamster]

Aurora is a Union Town! Workers and management at ATMI have started negotiations. It is time to stand together as citizens of Aurora and show both sides that we want a fair contract soon. The event is supported by State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia, NIJWJ, the Immigrant's Hope Center, Occupy Aurora, The Chicago Workers Collaborative, Occupy Elgin, Occupy Naperville, Kane County Progressive Caucus and hopefully you!

• 
  
  Friday, April 6, 2012
  
• 
  
  
  12:00pm until 3:00pm

[a673nightmare]

I wonder if R0ger and Paul will show up to support what they couldn't get done? Javierror is a Aurora area resident I am sure he will be there unless he is busy with the Hispanic caucus or maybe the Argonne guys have tar and feathered him. Oh, I forgot they already did that to him, R0g and the local in federal court. Now it is just a matter of time before the Court will decide how much it will cost the local. By the way, congratulations to Javi on the 30,000.00 raise last year. The local made a wise investment on this idiot. That was per the lm2 report. Lucky R0g hooked Dunteman for 90 K or he would showed a 100K loss for the year. Although Dunteman has R0g back in court and now maybe Pecan will earn his 80K retainer. Maybe don't count on R0g, he may not be back from vacation.

[a673teamster]

Reform doesn't have a moral compass. They are not held accountable for their actions like the working Men and Women they are supposed to represent.
Had any one of us working Members caused such legal trouble for our companies we would be out looking for a new job. Instead, javi gets a raise.

[a673teamster]

JAVIER NAJERA
RECORDING SEC'Y/BUS AGENT
N $96,188 $1,200 $8,512 $0 $105,900

Wow......and not even a vote on this by the Members.

[a673teamster]

Laborers’ rally as ATMI contract negotiations begin

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
By Pat Barcas
Staff writer
Having secured representation from Laborers’ Local 681 recently, the workers of Aurora’s ATMI Precast, Inc. are now hoping for a fair and just contract.
April 13, the first step in achieving a new contract starts when representatives from Local 681 deliver a preliminary proposal to ATMI, which will effectively kick off contract negotiations for the workers.
“We want a contract with real wages, and a pension for the workers,” said Jose Zamarripa, business manager for Laborers’ Local 681, speaking at a rally held April 6 in downtown Aurora in solidarity for the workers.
Zamarripa said he met with ATMI March 13 in a preliminary meeting, and the company has been cooperative. Right now, the union has been able to drastically cut down the amount of temporary workers hired at ATMI to replace the permanent workers that were laid off late last year.
“Right now there are very few temporary workers there. ATMI has told us, they just want a contract as well. They aren’t delaying things,” he said. “We’ll see what they say when we hand them the proposal, that’s when the real negotiations begin.”
Members of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, who organized the rally across from the Paramount Theater, said they just want what’s fair.
“We want ATMI to stay here in Aurora, we want them to be prosperous,” said Aurora’s John Laesch. “At the same time, we want what’s best for the workers.”
Others criticized local politicians, including Aurora’s Mayor, Tom Weisner, for not stepping in with a clear position on the matter of worker job security.
Mary Shesgreen of Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice said people told her she was putting the mayor on the spot by inviting him to the rally.
“Absolutely we put him on the spot,” she said through a megaphone. “It’s about time elected officials are put on the spot. We have these workers working in a hostile environment, and it’s outrageous for our elected officials not to take a position. They should let us know where they stand.”
Laesch said people should call the mayor’s office to let him know of their position.
“I encourage people to call the mayor, and demand that he stand with the 99 percent,” he said, before ending with a chant. “Look around, Aurora is a union town.”