OCU History

50 year Annvisary

First layoff in 16 years – 68 Office Committee Union members affected.

The company negotiated Team-Base work system into the Office Committee Union contract. In return a significant amount of the New Hire Supplement language was removed other than the two-tier wages. This contract will last through June 2004.

The Company negotiated early and brought into the Office Committee Union approximately 100 layed-off DWU employees from Cummins Electronics.

The Office Committee Union petitioned to represent the employees in the office at Cummins Midrange Engine Plant (CMEP) which is currently the Walesboro Facility building engines for Chrysler.

The company negotiated the New Hire Supplement. This started the two-tier wage system which is currently in place today.

The company negotiated one of its most flexible contracts for exchange for two years of employment security.

The Office Committee Union had its first and only strike to-date. The issue was economics.

The “Office Committee” petitioned the NLRB to be recognized as a union. Employees were given a choice to be represented by the DWU, UAW, Office Committee, or no union. The Office Committee won the election with 77.5% of the votes cast and at that time was certified as the “Office Committee Union”.

“Office Committee” signed its first 3 year contract.

Starting in 1948 through 1951, contracts were negotiated annually.

First official contract was signed.

The first written agreement between the Company and “Office Committee” was signed (not an official contract); it established a wage scale tied to a five grade job classification system, a 3 step grievance process, and an explanation on rules for vacations, sick leave, layoff, and seniority.

“Office Employees Association” demonstrated that it represented a majority of the office hourly (office clerical, plant clerical, nurses, technical, drafting and mechanical employees) work force and agreed to disband and be represented by a management committee known as the “Office Committee,” rather than pursue unionization.