To: All BMRF/B&P Employees
The purpose of this Employee Information Bulletin is to provide an update on contract negotiations between the Company and the United Steelworker’s Local 13-243.
As you are aware, the Company issued its most recent offer on February 18. Since that time, the Company and the Union have met twice (February 25 and March 2) for the purpose of discussing the Company’s current offer, which is substantively similar to the offer issued on January 31. These meetings were spent discussing the Union’s questions, most of which have been previously answered, regarding the proposed contractual changes. At this time, the Union has neither rejected nor countered the Company’s current offer; furthermore to date, the Company has responded to every question and request for information from the Union.
At the close of the March 2 discussion, the Union requested to meet again on March 10. The Company has agreed to the requested meeting; however, we also reminded the Union that, consistent with our February 18 offer, the Company would withdraw the $1000 ratification bonus on March 5.
At this point in time, we are unsure whether the Union will bring the current offer to a vote prior to March 12. We continue to hope that our employees will be permitted to vote on the Company’s offer. We would encourage all interested employees to contact their Union leadership and demand to vote.