December 30, 2025

Local 309 Update Dec. 30, 2025

Brothers and Sisters,

Safety:

When being assigned jobs, please be requesting the SWI for the task. This is the best way for us to ensure that we’re doing the job the safest way possible.
If a procedure does not exist, STOP!!! Get together and figure out what the next steps are in completing the task and have the company involve the proper individuals so that one can be written.
Remember, if you have questions STOP, if you’re unsure STOP, if this is your first time or an infrequent task STOP!!! This will ensure that we’re setting ourselves up for doing the jobs the safest way possible!
If you have any resistance from the company on this, do not hesitate to contact your Union Leadership, all the way up to me! I’m going to list all our contacts at the bottom of this update!

Bargaining Updates:

We will be having a rally on January 6^th to kick off Local Negotiations. Everyone wanting to attend needs to be at the Union Hall at 9:00am. Everyone then will head over to the admin building for an information picket to start around 9:45am.
We will be negotiating with the Local management 3 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) for the next 2 months. With the anticipated end date being February 19^th.
Ronnie Amos, Jennifer Myers, and I will be heading to Pittsburgh on January 26^th, for Union only meetings to prepare for Master Negotiations.

Grievance/Arbitration Updates:

The Company cancelled the December 16^th arbitration date. We are currently trying to get a make-up date in early January.
We have also sent over the request to have dates for another round of 5^th Steps and more dates for arbitrations. I will communicate these out just as soon as we have them.
If you have any grievances that have been held and denied, but haven’t been moved up the process, please get them to your department Chair. If they’ve been held and answered at 2^nd Step, make sure that your Plant Chair has them to process them at 3^rd Step.

Upcoming Events:

January 6^th: Local Negotiations start and Kickoff Rally 9am at the Union Hall
January 8^th: Monthly Union meeting, 12pm and 3:30pm

Bargaining Committee:

Nick McCarter (President)- (865) 254-6252
Ronnie Amos (Vice President)- (865) 363-4440
Damion Billingsley (South Plant Chair)- (865) 387-5542
Jared Marsh (North Plant Chair)- (865) 414-0540
Kevin Kittrell (Central Plant Chair) (865) 765-2256

Union Safety Leadership:

Mike Bivens (TN Safety Chair)- (423) 836-3146
Gregg Hayes (South Plant Safety Chair)- (865) 257-4344
Harold Abbott (North Plant Safety Chair)- (865) 254-5792
Jason Householder (Central Safety Chair)- (865) 851-1002
Ken Shepard (Industrial Hygiene Chair)- (865) 324-9484

CAT Team Members (Brothers and Sisters that will be the points of contact for bargaining news and information, in addition to your Bargaining Committee):