Seattle and Portland will maintain its GQ/PV shop but there will some changes such as combining the two shops, eliminating the 10-hour shift and there will be some reductions. The company was not willing to give the exact number. My belief is that there might be ways to mitigate some of the layoffs.
The other factor is that the shops must maintain their current production levels for a ninety-day trial this is not unlike what the Check Crew in Aircraft Maintenance did last year and they were able to step up the pace.
Thanks to our Teamsters GQ/PV committee and especially Phil Stewart, Rob Pennell and Clacy Griswold for doing an outstanding job. Out of the nine stations that were going to be cut only two will be outsourced. The Seattle Station manager had told us that HNL and BOS would be the two cut.
Currently the company is saying that June 7th will be the common furlough date. The mechanics will stay on their current shift up until the furlough date.
As more information comes out, we will update the blog.
Jock Creach
IBT Coordinator.
