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GENERAL SECRETARY TREASURER’S REPORTContinued from page 7ment exceeds (Insert number) for the calendar year of (Insert year){i.e. 2009}. If the man-hours exceed (Insert number) for ____ (year)then ($ Insert amount) shall be added to the hourly wage and fringepackage of this Collective Bargaining Agreement. For the purpose ofdetermining the total man-hours worked under this CollectiveBargaining Agreement for this clause, the number of hours contributedto the (Insert Name of Trust Fund) for the year shall be thedetermining factor. This process will repeat for each subsequent yearof this agreement.The only exception to the above clause is (Insert amount) per houradded annually to the fringe benefit funds, as called for in this agreement.”These clauses are certainly not for every Collective BargainingAgreement and every situation; however, some circumstances, industries,and market segments may need this approach to stabilize costs until marketshare increases or the economy improves. In some areas, the currenteconomic conditions and the amount of unemployment we are experiencingwill bring the employers to the bargaining table seeking concessionsor a wage freeze. This clause will allow us to still get a pay increase inthese situations if the economy improves over the course of the CBA. Thisapproach can also provide an incentive for the district councils or LocalUnions to organize and find innovative ways to increase market share,and it will motivate members to self-police any attempts by unscrupulousemployers to shave the number of man-hours reported.Determining what that man-hour threshold should be can be challenging.One idea is to use a 10 year average of the annual manhours,thus taking into consideration good years and bad. This willresult in increases when we are doing better than average, and it willkeep our employers competitive in the down years.If this clause can increase or maintain man-hours, it will have apositive effect on members even if they do not receive an hourlyincrease each year. For example, a member making $25 an hour andworking 1,800 hours per year earns $45,000 per year, but if a $2per hour increase results in that member only working 1,600 hours,he or she would earn only $43,200 the next year. Also, at 1,800hours, the members would have more hours paid into the fringe benefitspackage, thus increasing health and welfare, and pension benefits.In all markets, you control the market, compete in it, or becomeirrelevant. Since we do not control the market, we must compete in itor run the risk of becoming irrelevant. If we can successfully competefor market share, we may once again reach the point where we controlthe market.There is no magic bullet to fix everything; however, this is one moretool that can be used where needed.As we contemplate this and many other tactics to grow work opportunitiesfor our members, I continue to pray for guidance and God’sblessings on our members.Finally, I wish you all a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.WHEN YOURENAMEDEPENDSDSON ITDEPENDON OURS.C6Professionalsrely onPurdy®rollerstoloadwell,releaseevenly andalwaysdelivera smooth,lint-freee finish.After80 years, we’veearnedour reputation. And we canhelpbuild yours.purdycorp.com/rollers1.800.547.0780O C T O B E R - D E C E M B E R2 0 1 0 • J O U R N A L31