Workers fear longer schedule may spread
Anger over what some see as abandonment of 8-hour day
Skilled trades workers making the popular Ram 1500 pickup might have thought they’d won a minor victory last year when a controversial work schedule appeared to have been pulled from consideration.
But that’s not what happened.
The seven-day on, seven-day off, 12-hour work schedule is back, and it’s set to start in April at Sterling Heights Assembly Plant. Alternative work schedules, where workers might pull longer shifts or rotate days off in different configurations, are not a new idea in the auto industry, or even at Stellantis, but it would represent a first for the company’s skilled trades workers and some worry it would then spread to other plants.
Many workers have told the Free Press they are angry at what they view as an abandonment of commitments to the eight-hour day, blaming both the company and the union.
Stellantis is the name of the company created by the merger this year of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot maker PSA Group.
The UAW had said the schedule was pulled because of concerns about how it might affect employee benefits.
It resurfaced earlier this year, although it’s not clear how any benefit issues were resolved. Although the schedule provides substantial blocks of time off, the workweeks would be considered grueling and not familyfriendly.
Skilled trades workers, who include electricians and millwrights, were given two options during a vote in January held by UAW Local 1700, and they voted for what many indicated was the least bad of the two.
An alternative work schedule for skilled trades was allowed as a result of the 2019 contract for then-FCA’s UAW members. The company has said alternative work schedules for skilled trades ensures plants have appropriate coverage levels across all production shifts, and the union was told weekends were a particular problem at high-volume plants like SHAP.
“They’d rather do it at a lesser rate rather (than) hire more skilled trades.”
Cindy Estrada
UAW vice president
The plant has more than 7,800 workers, according to the company. Officials have said several hundred of them are skilled trades.
All but a couple of the dozens of skilled trades workers who have contacted the Free Press about the alternative work schedule have expressed frustration, saying they do not want to work 12-hour shifts over such a long stretch and be forced to work multiple weekend days in a month. They have expressed concern over its impact on overtime and other issues, too.
They also say it’s at odds with UAW Constitution language emphasizing, among other things, improving working conditions and creating a uniform system of shorter hours, and they consider it a reversal of hard-fought labor wins from the past.
Workers have declined to be identified, many citing concerns of retaliation.
The Free Press requested comment from the UAW, but a spokesman referred questions to the local.
In recent weeks, numerous attempts were made to reach local officials, including President Louie Pahl and Skilled Trades Committeeman Keith Linton, but those messages were not returned.
Pahl and Linton signed a memorandum of understanding dated Feb. 5 with James Gholston, SHAP plant manager, and Bob Hogan, senior manager for maintenance at the plant, related to the new schedule.
The memo addresses a number of issues, ranging from breaks to absentee coverage to shift start times for the four crews of workers involved. Some skilled trades workers are to remain on a traditional, eight-hour schedule, according to a copy of the memo, which was provided to the Free Press.
Twelve-hour shifts are to include a 30-minute lunch and then two break periods of 12 and 18 minutes, respectively, according to the memo.
According to official results of the Jan. 22 vote on the schedule, 319 skilled trades workers cast ballots, choosing the seven-day schedule with 77% of the vote. The example provided on the official results has workers essentially on a Friday to Thursday schedule and then off for seven days.
The other option would have had workers rotating more, for example working Monday and Tuesday, then off Wednesday and Thursday and then working Friday to Sunday. The next set of days would have flipped the order. Several workers described that as even more disruptive than the one they chose.
Alternative schedules are not new. But the agreement to allow them for skilled trades in the current contract appears to be at odds with other efforts to limit their use, something many of those who reached out to the Free Press have stressed.
UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada, who oversees the union’s Stellantis department, had described a balancing act at play when the Free Press interviewed her about the SHAP schedule issue last year. She said the union is trying to preserve jobs and prevent the company from outsourcing skilled trades work. She indicated that attention should be focused on the company.
“Why is it acceptable for them that our workers work seven days a week, 12 hours a day? Why? Because ... they’d rather do it at a lesser rate rather (than) hire more skilled trades,” Estrada said then.
A Stellantis spokeswoman was asked for comment. She re-sent a version of the company’s previous statement on the issue.
“During 2019 bargaining, FCA and the UAW agreed to a series of alternative work schedules for skilled trades to ensure the plants have the appropriate levels of coverage across all production shifts,” according to the statement provided by spokeswoman Jodi Tinson.
Meeting production demands has been an issue across the auto industry since the coronavirus pandemic forced a shutdown of manufacturing last year. A global semiconductor shortage could mean even more chaos in the coming months. For Stellantis, SHAP represents a particularly important plant, producing one of its most profitable vehicles.
HOLTVILLE, Calif. – At least 13 people died after an SUV packed with more than two dozen passengers collided with a semitruck near the U.S.-Mexican border Tuesday, according to California Highway Patrol officials.
California Highway Patrol Division Chief Omar Watson said the crash involved a big rig hauling two trailers and a Ford Expedition carrying 25 people. The vehicles collided before 6:15 a.m. PST at the intersection of State Route 115 and Norrish Road near Holtville, about 50 miles west of Arizona and 10 miles north of the border.
“It would be premature for me to speculate or discuss what caused this collision. What we have to keep in mind is that 13 people died in this crash,” Watson said. “It’s a very sad situation.”
Twelve people died at the scene, including the SUV driver, and one died at the hospital, Watson said. There were children in the SUV, but none of them died, he said. The ages of the people injured range from 16 to 55, and the ages of the people who died ranged from 20 to 55, Watson said.
Several people were thrown from the SUV, and others “were able to pull themselves out of the vehicles,” Watson said. The older-model Ford Expedition should fit only six people, he said.
Matchup: Michigan State (14-10, 8-10 Big Ten) at No. 2 Michigan (18-2, 13-2).
Tipoff: 7 p.m. Thursday; Crisler Center, Ann Arbor.
TV/radio: ESPN; WJR-AM (760), WWJ-AM (950).
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Max Scherzer and Juan Soto should make their delayed Grapefruit League debuts this week for the Washington Nationals.
Scherzer, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, hurt his left ankle last month while preparing for the start of spring training but could start Washington’s exhibition game against visiting St. Louis on Friday.
“If everything goes according to plan, Max will probably do a little bit of a touchy-feely bullpen tomorrow and start the game,” pitching coach Jim Hickey said Tuesday, when Washington did not have a game. “As long as he responds well, and I think that he will.”
Soto, the 2020 NL batting champion, fouled a ball off his right foot during live batting practice Sunday. He sat out what was supposed to be his first game Monday, but worked out Tuesday and is expected to play Wednesday against Miami.
“He’s fine, he’s good. … I just wanted to give him a day (to) get back on his feet,” manager Dave Martinez said.