Genesis and USW continue to work together under new contract

United Steelworkers Local 13214 and Genesis Alkali have completed their first month under their new contract.

After six weeks of negotiations, the fruits of both of their labors have been apparent, according to Union President Marshal Cummings.

The changes to the safety language are still working their way through their infancy, Cummings explained. Productive Safety Leadership Team meetings have taken place, he said, and the team has already started working to build comprehensive training programs to help identify hazards in the workplace and get them corrected timely and effectively.

"Through these processes, the Labor Management relationship has made strides," Cummings said.

Union and company representatives will be traveling to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania together to attend a Health and Safety Conference to gain the tools to reach their joint goal of every miner going home safe every day.

"We believe through negotiations we have given the entire mine a better chance to get there," Cummings added.

The union and the company have also been working the kinks out of implementing a four day a week schedule.

"On the 'four tens' schedule, we believe our members will have a better work life balance, and most importantly it was something our members wanted and asked for in negotiations," the president explained. "Being a union, we had the opportunity to bargain this schedule in."

The same is true underground, Cummings added.

After a successful longwall move that he believes the USW and Genesis Alkali should be proud of, the ins and outs of the new 12-hour schedule are being identified and heading towards implementation.

"We are eagerly waiting to see how this would help our employees to enjoy more days off with their families, as well as see our miners break production records," Cummings said.

One of the other provisions in the new contract that the union members are most proud of parental leave.

"Hearing how happy and grateful our members and their families are to have the opportunity to bond with their new family members always brings a smile to my face," Cummings said.

Other changes in the contract have benefited employees right away.

"Of course, our wage increases and additional retirement benefits are something we immediately felt," the president said. "Our Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance not increasing its premiums should ease the burden of providing our families with the coverage we feel they need."

Cummings believes making positive changes will benefit everyone at Genesis as a whole.

"It was important to the union and the company to make sure we were the top paid mine and hopefully attract the best miners from the area to be a part of our goal to be the safest, most efficient, highest producing mine in the world," he explained. "We are looking forward to achieving these goals as a team. USW 13214 and Genesis Alkali together feel the steps we took in negotiations put us in a better position to hit all our goals in the next five years. If you want a better work environment, join a union!"