The participants of the meeting discussed the situation at Siemens in the US and Canada after the conclusion of the “Memorandum of Understanding” at Siemens in the US. Lee Vickers (Senior Director of HR Siemens USA), Fran Argentieri (designated successor of Lee Vickers) and two other representatives of Siemens HR also attended for a part of the time.

Randy Middleton (IBEW), John Shinn (USW) and Mark Haasis (UAW) explained the background of the “Memorandum of Understanding”, that has been signed with Siemens.

They pointed out, that the agreement is a compromise. Siemens has refused the demand of declaring complete neutrality and has not accepted card checks instead of elections, but has accepted access of the unions to non-unionized facilities and a catalog of actions that both sides have to omit, especially to make use of union busters.

Lee Vickers explained the business development of Siemens in the USA. He stressed the significant growth of Siemens in the US in the recent years. The number of employees is 50,000. Siemens has approximately 60 manufacturing facilities in the US and has invested 35 billion dollars over the past five years. In total, 800,000 jobs in the US depend on Siemens. He mentioned the acquisitions of Dresser-Rand and Rolls-Royce Energy in the "Power and Gas" division.

Mr Vickers said that approximately 20% of blue collar workers in the US are represented by a total of 10 trade unions (IBEW, USW, IUE-CWA, IAM, UAW, FISU, IUOE, UBC, UA and BRS). He explained that the management levels were trained on the agreement. In addition, the HR representatives were also instructed to provide the relevant local management with information. Mr Vickers said that in the United States, Siemens would be willing to cooperate with the unions, wherever the employees want to be represented by unions. A decision for a union is not a decision against the company.

Harald Kern, member of the Siemens Supervisory Board and the German Works Council in Germany, informed about the current discussions at Siemens from the point of view of the employee representatives. These include the problems in the Process Industry and Drives Division, the reorganization of the Wind Power and Renewable Energies Division, the speculation about a merger in the "mobility" business with Bombardier and the development of the company structure towards a holding structure. He then explained the German employee representation system with works councils and trade unions.

Dirk Linder gave an overview of the Siemens activities in the various regions of the world (with an emphasis on the USA and Canada) and the existing trade union contacts there.

There were short contributions by local union representatives:

- Union representatives (IBEW) from the service and repair center in Kansas City (Missouri): high order backlog, difficulties with the recruitment of specialists

- Thomas Solis (IBEW) from the Low Voltage Switchgear facility in Pomona (California, Los Angeles)

- Phyllis Goines (IBEW) reported on the ongoing IBEW organizational campaign at the Grand Prairie switchgear factory in Dallas, Texas.

- Nick South and Vic Henderson (IUE-CWA) reported on the difficulties at Norwood (Ohio, near Cincinnati, Electric Motors). Despite these current difficulties, there is a training program at the location.

- Pete Gribbin (USW) reported from the turbine service center in Trenton (New Jersey). The relationship to a part of the management had worsened due to poor communication. There are concerns among the workforce at the site because of the overlapping with the acquired locations of Dresser-Rand.

- Luke Gordon (USW, New York region) reported about the latest collective bargaining which has been successful.

- Tom Stimlinger (USW) from the Dresser-Rand compressor plant in Olean (New York) pointed out the upcoming collective bargaining at the site. He described the relocation of production to China and / or Mexico as the current main problem and criticized the health insurance offered by Siemens, which is worse than the old insurance provided by Dresser-Rand.

- Terry Schoonover (IUE-CWA) from the Dresser-Rand plant in Painted Post (New York) reported that investments in the promised form took place at the location. The employment situation is currently stable.

- Jim Lewis (IAM) reported on the location of "Siemens Government Technologies" (turbines, formerly Dresser-Rand) in Wellsville (New York). The company is still undergoing a transitional process following its acquisition by Siemens. A range of production is now being relocated to Burlington (Iowa). At the same time, investments are being made in new machines at the site.

- The union representatives of the three former Dresser-Rand locations in the state of New York (Olean, Painted Post, Wellsville) reported that they meet on a regular basis to share experiences.

- George Zoni (IAM) reported on the location taken over from Rolls-Royce in Montréal (Québec, Canada). The workforce is growing there. Another colleague from the site reported the inadequate implementation of agreements with the union from the Rolls-Royce period. The resulting gaps in regulation were unexpected for the trade union representatives and in individual cases led to hardships among employees, since previously granted benefits were abolished. Siemens also refused to let the employees participate in the company's stock program due to the lack of a collective agreement. For the future, she proposed a participation of a HR representative from Canada at the annual trade union meeting at Siemens.

- Alex Martinez (IBEW) reported from the Turbine Service Center in Houston, Texas. There was a recent reduction in the number of employees and, in various cases, a negative attitude of a part of the management towards the workforce. There is a competition situation with a comparable Siemens operation in Winston-Salem (North Carolina).

- One representative from IBEW from New York described the last wage negotiations at the "Healthcare" service center in New York as positive.

- A union representative (USW) from the "Healthcare" location in Mishawaka (Indiana) reported on investments at the site. The relationship with the management has deteriorated. There is a risk of job cuts by increasing automation as well as the danger of devaluation of some jobs.

- IAM representatives from Montréal (Canada) reported on the sites taken over by Rolls-Royce. Siemens recently supported workers affected by flooding.

- An IBEW representative from Oregon reported on the recent bargaining at a "Healthcare" service center. He judged the conclusion positively.

- Robert Sutton (UAW) reported on the circuit breakers and switchgear facility in Richland, Jackson, Mississippi. The union has to try to organize the new workers.

Randy Middleton reported on IBEW organizing campaigns at other companies such as Schneider and Grayton. A great success was the trade union organization of the Electrolux plant in Memphis (Tennessee). This campaign was supported by the Swedish trade union IF Metall.

Harald Kern drew the conclusion from the meeting that it has become clear that many "locals" have similar problems or complementary interests. A joint communication platform for trade unions at Siemens should be set up in the USA. IG Metall's "Siemens Dialogue" can also provide support.

Randy Middleton said, that in the US, there are numerous efforts to revive the largely recruited training programs of the past. The IBEW cooperates with various training organizations. Companies often refuse to cooperate with trade unions on the issue.

John Shinn proposed a meeting with the new HR officer, Mr Argentieri, to discuss various issues, including training programs, in the coming months.

(Report: Dirk Linder)