USW 309 Membership Update 9/4/2025
Brothers and Sisters,
Surveys for next year’s negotiations were distributed earlier this week. Please take a few minutes to complete one. Your feedback is essential as we begin forming proposals for both Top Table and Local Negotiations. A link to the survey and live results is included at the bottom of this update.
We’ve had a lot of new hires join the plant recently. Over the next few months, please keep an eye out for them as they complete their training and get acclimated to the facility. A little support goes a long way.
The dates for the Top Table meeting in Lafayette have been confirmed: October 6–8.
The bi-annual Benefits Meeting will take place in Pittsburgh on October 1.
Our next Union Meeting will be held on September 11, 2025, at 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM, with an additional Nomination Meeting at 7:00 PM the same day. These meetings will include nominations for the upcoming International Election. All members are encouraged to attend and participate.
If you are working and need to perform an LTV (Lock, Tag, Verify), please follow the full procedure. Ensure all paperwork is completed and verify that the Lock Out was done correctly. Taking 5–10 minutes to double-check could save your life. We’ve had several recent incidents where Lock Outs were done incorrectly, and the workers performing the tasks didn’t catch the errors. Fortunately, no one was injured — but we can’t count on luck. If you notice a problem during Lock Out verification or while performing the job, report it immediately. Reporting helps us correct issues and protect others. Not reporting is equivalent to failing to report a mobile equipment incident and may result in disciplinary action.
We must continue to prioritize Safety and Quality every single day. If something is broken — STOP. If the product doesn’t meet the quality standard you were trained on — STOP. If it doesn’t feel right or seems unsafe — STOP. Taking the time to ensure things are done correctly is far better than risking injury, equipment damage, or producing bad product. If you stop a job, please document everything: who was involved, the reason for stopping, and the outcome. Share this information with your Department Chair so it can be escalated to the Bargaining Committee.
NextGen and Women of Steel will be participating in the City of Maryville’s Trunk-or-Treat event on October 24, 2025. If you’d like to get involved, please contact:
- Devin Pratt: (865) 459-9126
- Kevin Kittrell: (865) 765-2256
Upcoming Events:
- Union Meeting: September 11, 2025, at 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM, with an additional Nomination Meeting at 7:00pm
- City of Maryville Trunk-or-Treat: October 24, 2025
- NextGen Meeting: November 5, 2025, at 12:30 PM
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