In the month of September 1969, the first production truck rolled off of the assembly line at Peterbilt Motor Co

HISTORY

UAW LOCAL 1832

By Mike Brown and Mike Pardue

In the month of September 1969, the first production truck rolled off of the assembly line at Peterbilt Motor Co. in Madison TN. At this time of the young plant's history, the Boilermakers Union represented the employees. In January of 1973, the workers at Peterbilt Motors Company made their choice between no union, the Boilermakers Union and the UAW. The results were an overwhelming vote of 524 for the UAW, compared to four for the Boilermakers Union and 16 for no union. The International Union granted UAW Local 1832 a Charter on February 22, 1973.

Prior to voting the UAW in, top wages were $4.24 per hour, with no shift preference, no job bidding, no COLA, no retirement, no sick days and a poor health insurance plan for which the workers paid $5.00 per week.

The first officers elected in the newly chartered UAW Local 1832 were; (President) Danny Warren, (Vice-President) George Swartz, (Financial Secretary) David Graham, (Recording Secretary) Ron Christy. In order to obtain the first agreement under the UAW, members were forced into a strike lasting more than three months. The first UAW agreement brought vast improvements in grievance procedure, seniority, vacations and overtime language as well as top wages of $6.32; good health, dental, accident and sickness, extended disability benefits and survivor benefits with all premiums paid by the Company. The agreement also provided COLA, sick days, job bidding, seniority shift preference, additional holidays, a good retirement plan and many other benefits.

In 1975, the elected officers were Danny Warren, (President) Bobby Lamberth, (Vice-President) Harold Manis, (Financial Secretary) Ron Christy, (Recording Secretary). Following a three-week strike in 1976, the members returned to work with an agreement which provide top wages of $8.05, additional holidays, improved retirement and insurance coverage and improved lay off language providing more security for members.

Another election for officers was held in 1978. These officers were; James "Bubba" Green, (President) George Fox, (Vice-President) David Graham, (Financial Secretary) Ron Christy, (Recording Secretary). After another strike in 1979 lasting more than three months, members returned to work with a number of improvements including top wages of $10.56. Again, additional improvements were made in retirement, insurance, holidays and seniority provisions.

Mike Brown, (President) Bobby Lamberth, (Vice-President) Richard Burnett, (Financial Secretary) Wilburn Hester, (Recording Secretary) were elected in 1981. In 1982, the Union was able to settle their first agreement without a strike. This settlement maintained the record for significant gains with more improvements in layoff and recall language, all voluntary overtime, a 50% improvement in retirement benefits, improvements in vacations and insurance, top wages of $12.36 and V-CAP Checkoff. The V-CAP Checkoff greatly contributed to the Local receiving the "Region Award" for "Highest Percentage of Dollars Collected - Membership Over 350" in 1983.

In 1984, the elected officers were Mike Brown, (President) Danny Warren, (Vice-President) Richard Burnett, (Financial Secretary) Wilburn Hester, (Recording Secretary) and remained the elected officers in the 1987 and 1990 elections. After a short three-week strike 1985, the members again returned to work with significant gains in improved language, improvement in retirement, better health care benefits and a top wage of $14.43. One year into the new three-year agreement, the company approached the Union stating they were considering closing one of their three plants. These plants were located in Newark, California, being the oldest plant, Madison, Tennessee and Denton, Texas, being the newest plant. The company was wanting concessions from the Union to determine which plant was to be closed. The membership voted to change some of the language concerning vacations, to give back one holidays and extend the agreement for one year. Whether this had any results in the company's determination to close the Newark, California plant, we will never know.

As stated in the previous paragraph, the same officers were in place going into the negotiations of 1989. The parties reached an agreement without a work stoppage. The members continued to work with improved language, improvement in retirement, better health care benefits and a top wage of $16.19.

There was a work stoppage in 1992 for 14 weeks. After the Company sent a letter out to the membership saying if they did not return to work by a certain date, the Company would hire replacement workers, the members ratified the contract with improved language, improvement in retirement, better health care benefits and a top wage of $17.96. However, this was the first contract that the member had to pay a monthly pre-tax contribution for medical coverage.

In early 1993, Mike Brown was appointed to the International Staff as a Servicing Rep. and has remained our Servicing Rep. since that time. Wayne Wooten assumed the duties of President.

Wayne Wooten (President), Danny Warren (Vice President), Wilburn Hester (Recording Secretary), and Richard Burnett (Financial Secretary) were elected in 1993. Again, in 1995, the parties reached an agreement without a work stoppage. The members continued to work with improved language, improvement in retirement, better health care benefits and a top wage of $19.92.

In 1996, the elected officers were Richard Burnett (President), Danny Warren (Vice President), Glenn Hall (Recording Secretary), and Jarvis Barlow (Financial Secretary). In May of 1998, the Union struck Peterbilt of Madison. The Company then hired replacement workers, (SCABS). In September of 1998, the Union offered Peterbilt an unconditional return to work. What this meant was the membership would return to work while the parties continue to negotiate. The Company refused this offer and locked the Union out and by law had to let the scabs go. However, in December of 1998, the membership did return to work with improved language, improvement in retirement, better health care benefits and a top wage of $22.41. It was also the first time that an attendance policy was put into the contract.

The elected officers in 1999 were Richard Burnett (President), Danny Warren (Vice President), Jarvis Barlow (Recording Secretary), and George Fox (Financial Secretary). There were no negotiations during their term due to the fact that the last agreement was for 44 months.

In 2002 Mike Pardue (President), Danny Warren (Vice President), Jarvis Barlow (Recording Secretary), and George Fox (Financial Secretary) were elected to office. The Company surprised the Union in the 2002 contract negotiations. Prior to the negotiation, the company told the Union that there were only a few issues that they would bring to the table. As the parties entered into negotiations, it was clear that the Company had lied to the Union. The Company had 89 non-economic proposals compared to the Union's 14 proposals. As the expiration date approached, the Union knew there was not any middle ground. The Union offered to return to work and continue to negotiate. However, the Company decided to lock the members out in September 2002. In July of 2003, after a 10-month lockout, the membership was allowed to return to work with an agreement. This agreement did not have improved language; it did have improvement in retirement, no change in health care benefits, a top wage of $25.46 and a five year agreement.

The next set of negotiations are not until 2008. However, there was an election of officers in 2005. The elected officer were Mike Pardue (President), Danny Warren (Vice President), Jarvis Barlow (Recording Secretary), and Gary Eddington (Financial Secretary).