UE: Preparations Key to Winning Biggest Wage Increases Ever for Local 319

From UE News | Photo Courtesy of ueunion.org | UE News Reuse Policy

NORTH TONAWANDA, NY—UE Local 319 members who work for Battenfeld Grease and Oil Corporation ratified a new three-year contract on October 29 which includes the biggest wage increases ever negotiated with Battenfeld.

Depending on their labor grades, members will receive five to nine percent wage increases in the first year of the agreement, which took effect on November 1. Wages will increase 11 to 22 percent, depending on labor grade, over the life of the agreement. This was the number one bargaining priority of both the negotiating committee and the membership.

“In order to retain and incentivize our members to bid on the more skilled labor grades, we drove home the need for the company to increase the wages significantly for the more skilled labor grades,” said Local 319 Chief Steward Scott Simmen. “That was the foundation for the company to invest in our future employment opportunities at Battenfeld.”

During the past year, negotiations and bargaining goals were discussed at monthly membership meetings. The negotiating committee circulated contract surveys and did follow-up meetings with the members to discuss the survey results and to get additional membership input. The members wore blue UE Local 319 t-shirts every Monday when the negotiations were taking place. The negotiating committee gave negotiations updates at membership meetings after each negotiating meeting. 

“Preparation was key to our successful negotiations,” said Local 319 president Tom Simpson. “Before entering negotiations, we were able to gather relevant information, identify the wants and needs of our members, and establish clear bargaining objectives. We got our point across that this wasn’t just a three-year contract we were negotiating. It was to secure our future and build career opportunities at Battenfeld.”

There will be no increase in the costs of health insurance benefits during the life of the contract. Battenfeld pays 100 percent of the employee’s single coverage. Battenfeld will continue its annual health savings account (HSA) contributions of $2,750 for single coverage and $5,500 for family/two-person coverage. The company also increased its health insurance opt-out payment from $170 to $200 per month.

Short term disability (STD) benefits will increase from the ridiculously low New York State minimum of $170 per week to $400 per week. This was the first time the STD benefits were ever increased.

The members also won one additional paid personal day for a total of six paid personal days per year.

The Local 319 negotiating committee consisted of President Simpson, Chief Steward Simmen, and Financial Secretary Mike Bogdan. They were assisted by UE Staff Coordinator John Thompson.