P R E S I D E N T' S   R E P O R T

LOOKING BACK AT 2011....

This last year was a year to remember. Here are just a few of the highlights from 2011: On January 1, Al Link, a 43 year Kaiser employee and member of Local 338 who also served ten years as Secretary Treasurer of the State AFL-CIO, retired. January 31, we submitted a proposal to the company for a training plan which over the next five years would proactively cope with future attrition at Trentwood.  On February 9, President of AMI Metals, Scott Smith presented Kaiser and its employees with an award for "Best in Service, Quality and On-Time Delivery Performance." During the month of February with help from Edward Jones & Associates, we conducted money-management workshops for our members. Throughout the first quarter of 2011 we held weekly labor rallies in support of Wisconsin's public employees and the right of American workers to join a union of their choice. In April, I attended District 12's Council Meeting in Anaheim California to  coordinate efforts to re-assemble an Aluminum Conference similar to what we had back in the 80's and 90's. In May we conducted labor history classes at the hall for union activists. July 23, was our annual retiree and active member picnic at the Post Falls City Park. In early August Kaiser Aluminum announced plans to invest another 21 million dollars in equipment to increase production capacity at Trentwood. August 15, was the beginning of the USW International Constitutional Convention in Las Vegas where this years theme was "Stand Up and Fight Back".  August 27 was Local 338's annual PAC party and raffle drawing. In 2011 we were recognized by the International Union for having the highest local PAC  check-off from 2008 through 2010. On September 29, our CXT members ratified a new three year labor agreement with L.B Foster. In November, delegates from Local 338 along with union leaders from several other Kaiser plants attended an aluminum conference in Pittsburgh. In 2011 unemployment hovered between 9% and 10%. Overall, American manufacturing was in a third year of decline, but business was good enough here that Kaiser Trentwood hired 50 new employees. In 2011 we were fixated on how to improve safety. As a local we invested heavily in external safety training for many of our members. Our safety representatives were on the shop floor interacting with employees, addressing hazards and behavior. As a result, we ended the year with one of our best safety records ever. On the downside, last year was marred by the discharge of several members. The underlying commonality for most of those discharges were due to three main factors: (1) lack of attendance, (2) substance abuse, (3) aggressive or inappropriate behavior. Most of us would readily agree that none of these issues are worth losing a good paying job over. If any of our members would like a copy of the Attendance Control Policy, Rules of Conduct or the Substance Abuse Agreement let me know. If you need additional clarification on any of these policies or agreements talk to Dave Carlson or myself. Looking ahead, 2012 may well be our best year with regard to safety, quality, and delivery performance here at Trentwood.  

Wishing you and your family a happy New Year!

Dan Wilson - President Local 338