March 25, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As of this communication, Boeing Leadership plans on moving forward and keeping our site operational, building aircraft. I am in contact with Larry Weng daily for continuous updates. Please continue to check on “Between the Blades,” The Boeing website, The Company’s Emergency Hotline number (800-899-6431), and our UAW Local 1069 website (uawlocal1069.org) for new information on this serious pandemic we are facing. Your union leadership will share any and all information as we receive updates from The Company.
In addition, please continue to use safe hygiene practices such as hand washing/sanitizing, wearing protective gloves and masks if available and when applicable, and follow recommendations for social distancing.
Also, we have made many suggestions to Boeing Leaders on measures they can take in regards to keeping our employees safe. It has been communicated to me that beginning next week they will ask for volunteers in some areas to go onto alternative shifts to address social distancing guidelines. The Company will also discuss seeking out volunteers to “loan” into the Labor Pool to assist with the cleaning of “high touch” areas. We believe this is a good start in addressing the safeguards and needs of ALL employees at our site. We welcome any suggestions and feedback from our workforce. We thank our UAW Local 1069 members for your understanding and patience during this extraordinary and difficult time.
In addition, I have been in touch with the law firm we closely work with, Pond, Lehockey, Stern, and Giordano. They have set up a “COVID-19 Hotline” number for our employees to call with concerns such as workers’ compensation, layoffs, unemployment rights, and social security disability (short term/long term) due to this current pandemic. For further information, please contact them at 267-606-4343.
Furthermore, there is a service available to employees here at our site called “Bright Horizons.” This service is an external company that offers services such as child care assistance, elder care resources, and help with finding sitters, nannies, and housekeepers. For more information of what we are eligible for and how much money we will be allotted for these services, go onto the “work life” website and enter “Bright Horizons” in the search bar. You can also contact them at 877-242-2737 to speak with a live consultant 24/7/365. This service is only available to us due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Lastly, there will be a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for this quarter of $0.04 effective April 3, 2020. The current maximum COLA for this unit is $0.71.
Important Reminder: Our UAW Local 1069 Women’s’ Committee made a mindful decision to cancel our Easter Egg Hunt which was to be held at our hall on April 4, 2020. We sincerely thank them for the hard work they already have put into this event.
In Solidarity,
Michael Tolassi
President
UAW Local 1069
General Membership meeting Canceled
Due to the Coronavirus, the General Membership meeting that was to be held on Sunday, March 22, 2020 has been canceled.
March 19, 2020
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As of this communication, The Boeing Company will remain operational, continue to build aircraft, and go on with “business as normal” in Ridley Park, Pa. The Company continues to communicate with Boeing Corporate and will follow mandatory guidelines from the Enterprise and the State of Pennsylvania of the necessary steps and precautions that are to be taken. Of course, your UAW Local 1069 Leadership will provide updates along with any additional information when provided to us. I have made it clear to Boeing Leadership I will be available 24/7 for any and all information to be shared with our membership.
In addition, “high touch” areas in our factory have been cleaned during 2nd shift hours due accessibility reasons. As of this week, these areas will be attended to more frequently and cleaned on 1st shift as well. These additional precautions will now take top priority in our factory instead of the cleaning of office areas. The company is also addressing the need for cleaning and disinfecting agents (hand sanitizing liquids, sanitary wipes, and sanitizing sprays) in areas within all shops such as computer/keyboard stations and areas we frequently work in. Once these products become available they will be distributed to our workforce.
Lastly, as of the distribution of this Chopper, there have been NO confirmed cases of the Corona virus at this site.
Attention: Our monthly membership meeting this Sunday, March 22nd will be canceled. As of now we do plan and anticipate resuming our meetings beginning April 26, 2020.
In Solidarity,
Michael Tolassi
President
UAW Local 1069
