Members of UE Local 123 at Daikin Industries ratified a new four-year contract at the end of April. The contract guarantees six percent wage increases for the lowest paid workers, increases vacation days and paid time off, and improves language on other benefits. It also increases shift differential pay from $.80 to $2.30 per hour, giving second and third shift workers an additional $1.50 raise.
“There’s quite a bit of important stuff in this contract that we got changed that we really needed,” said Local 123 President Gary Bottenfield. “It wasn’t just one thing that was a win, it was all of it.”
“This is absolutely an improvement from the last contract,” added Second Shift Chief Steward Sylvia Eaves.
The members agreed to a four-year contract, after negotiating it down from five years. It improves language around weekend overtime — allowing members to know their schedule in advance. The contract also includes the elimination of lower pay tiers in most job classifications, meaning many members will be bumped to higher pay grades in addition to the raises in the new contract. The members were strategic in bargaining for flat dollar amounts rather than percentages so the lowest paid workers would have a higher wage increase.
The contract includes an additional week of vacation for workers each time they surpass five, ten, and 25 years on the job. It also includes five more days of paid time off. Many members now have an additional two weeks of paid time off. Members also won the ability to take vacation time in one-hour increments when needed, rather than full days. The contract includes a shorter probation period, accelerating job security and higher pay. There will be an increase to their short-term disability pay by $160 per week and members will no longer need to use vacation before FMLA is used. Language on bidding rights and seniority for furloughs was also improved.
The members successfully got rid of “job skill knowledge forms,” an unnecessary and burdensome document which management would often use as an excuse to deny members raises. Between ridding the workplace of these forms and improving workers’ promotion timeframes, the workers will now get full pay rates more quickly. When the bargaining committee announced these wins to the general membership before ratification, the members loudly cheered.
The company wanted to create a new lead worker position which the local fought off by getting a super-majority of all workers to sign a petition demanding the proposal be dropped. Vice President Troy Eppard credited their strong steward system for the successful petition. He said, “Our chief stewards got together with the stewards and got everyone on the phone. We had people walking around with the papers and getting them signed.” Many non-members also signed the petition. Recording Secretary Abbie Flipping proudly told the UE NEWS that dozens of these workers ended up signing union cards when they saw the new contract — 30 signed cards in just one day.
The bargaining committee consisted of President Gary Bottenfield, Vice President Troy Eppard, First Shift Chief Steward Kenny Colvin, Second Shift Chief Steward Sylvia Eaves, Recording Secretary Abbie Flipping, and Executive Board member Tim McCambridge. They were assisted by International Representative Tara McCauley.