Northwest labor press., July 16, 2010, Page 5, Image 5

July 16, 2010:NWLP
7/13/10
9:58 AM
Page 5
...Three-year contract at Daimler
Musicians Local
99’s Fife elected
international VP
Bruce Fife, president of Musicians
Local 99 in Portland, was elected inter-
national vice president of the American
Federation of Musicians at their recent
national convention June 21–24 in Las
Vegas. The AFM represents 85,000
members, including symphony, record-
ing, and live-performance musicians
throughout the U.S. and Canada.
In his first run for international office,
Fife was a part of a “unity” group of
candidates who campaigned on building
membership, building loyalty, and build-
ing relationships while providing living
wages and a safe, healthy working envi-
ronment for musicians.
Among those newly elected with
Fife were President Ray Hair of Dallas,
Texas, and International Executive
Board member Tina Morrison of
Spokane, Wash., the only woman on the
Executive Board. Re-elected were Sec-
retary Treasurer Sam Folio and Vice
President from Canada Bill Skolnick.
As president of Local 99, Fife has
been active on both local and national
issues. He helped foster the “Fair Trade
Music” campaign, which promotes fair
wages for local musicians and publicly
recognizes “Fair Trade” establishments;
he helped facilitate the acquisition of a
non-commercial educational construc-
JULY 16, 2010
(From Page 1)
B RUCE F IFE
tion permit for full-power, non-profit ra-
dio station KZME in Portland to benefit
local artists by being an outlet for local
musicians; and he successfully lobbied
the Oregon Liquor Control Commis-
sion in regard to minor entertainment
rules, thus allowing minors to be able to
perform in venues such as bars and 21-
and-over clubs. Nationally, Fife has
worked with the Federal Communica-
tions Commission regarding consolida-
tion of media ownership and net neu-
trality, and he continues to lobby
legislators in support of the Perform-
ance Rights Act, legislation to provide
royalties to musicians for airplay of
their music on terrestrial radio.
Prior to his post with Musicians, Lo-
cal 99, Fife spent 25 years as a full time
working-class musician performing
throughout the western states.
ing team took the unusual step of en-
couraging Daimler to hold a meeting
of employees to explain its proposals
for cuts — something not normally al-
lowed during bargaining. Workers
made it clear they weren’t pleased.
“It was communicated fairly well
that this work force was solid,” Kear
said, “not only at the bargaining table,
but at work.”
Bargaining resumed June 15, just
weeks before the June 30 expiration
of the previous contracts. In the end,
the company backed away from talk
of closure, and gave workers an extra
measure of security: If it does close
the plant, it will pay severance of two
weeks wages for every year of service
to all employees who had worked
there within a year of the closure. In
the event of closure, Daimler would
also negotiate over retiree health cov-
erage. Past commitments mean the
company would face roughly $150
million termination cost if it closed
the plant, Kear said — a factor that
would weigh heavily against any deci-
sion to close.
“I’m very pleased that the com-
pany was able to talk about a long-
term commitment to the Portland
plant,” Kear told the Labor Press.
NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS
The new contracts maintain seven
sick days per year, and make no
changes to the way vacation time is
accrued. Daimler had earlier proposed
that new hires and recalled workers
accrue vacation time at a lower rate.
Daimler also agreed to pay “catch-
up” pension surcharges in the
amounts recommended by trustees of
the Service Employees and Machin-
ists multi-employer pension plans.
The additional contributions are to
make up for investment value lost in
the 2008 financial meltdown. For par-
ticipants in the Machinists plan, the
surcharge will total 75 percent by the
third year of the contract — $769.85 a
month per worker.
Union members did make conces-
sions on the health benefit: Employ-
ees’ share of the monthly premium
will increase, to $45 a month for em-
ployee-only coverage, $90 a month
for employee plus one coverage, and
$130 a month for full-family cover-
age. And in the Machinists’ health
plan, co-pays and deductibles will
also increase.
In the Machinists contract, Daimler
management wanted the ability to
cross-train workers within 10-person
work teams. The union agreed to that
in return for a process of getting input
from workers on the shop floor. A
joint labor management committee
will oversee the cross-training.
Machinists members also agreed to
change the rules on how mandatory
overtime could be allocated.
Machinists approved their contract
by nearly two-thirds. Members of
Sign Painters and Paint Makers Local
1094 initially turned down their con-
tract, but ratified it after members de-
clined to authorize a strike.
“Our members now have the
prospect of their jobs continuing for
three years without a reduction in pay,
and the confidence that the Portland
truck plant will be operational for that
time,” Kear said in an official state-
ment announcing the ratification.
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