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3 International Platinum Company 8 was one of the largest platinum board producers in the world. Headquartered in Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, the company was recognized in the industry for customer service and product quality in building and construction materials. There plants would often run twenty-four hours, seven days a week, closing only for collective bargaining agreed holidays, and were provided with surrounding infrastructure to ensure production and shipment of product regardless of inclement weather or natural interference. All of the company's line and warehouse personnel, but not management or HR related personnel, are represented by the Oil Chemical and Fruit-Workers Union (OCFW) who was responsible for the collective bargaining and representation of the workers. The International City plant was located in a rural stretch of northeastern Wisconsin. On December 23rd, the last working day before a union negotiated mandated three-day holiday, where the plant would shut down, a massive snow and ice storm hit the region. The inclement weather broke all records and caused massive travel delays. On December 23rd, the plant did not shut down and all workers were expected to report to their respective shifts as required: It was also noteworthy that being late or failing to show up for work on the day before a union negotiated holiday would result in the docking of pay for that day and the holiday pay, which would be time and half bonus being forfeited. On the 23rd of December, Walter Wallace, a plant shift-laborer, was 10 minutes late for his shift His normal commute was in excess of 20 miles and in the fifteen years
Page 1 1 2 3 1 4 5 10 di WE WERE CAPELLWWLWICHTE VOLUME was also noteworthy that being late or failing to show up for work on the day before a union negotiated holiday would result in the docking of pay for that day and the holiday pay, which would be time and half bonus being forfeited. On the 23rd of December, Walter Wallace, a plant shift-laborer, was 10 minutes late for his shift. His normal commute was in excess of 20 miles and in the fifteen years he had been employed at International Platinum, he had never been late for a shift and only called off for sick leave three times, which was well within the collective bargaining agreed benefits awarded to an employee. Upon arriving at the plant, Walter Wallace was informed by Collin Calvin, the Floor Manager, that his late appearance for work would result in the loss of an hour pay, as ten minutes late equaled the loss of an hour pay and also Walter would lose his right to the time and half bonus of holiday pay. This rule enforcement and subsequent pay penalty was confirmed by the Accounts Manager, Alice Reich at the end of Walter's shift. Terry Truman, the new Plant Manager, was informed of the floor manager's decision regarding Walter but ordered Alice Reich to enforce the one hour docking of pay for the day in question, but the holiday pay bonus was to be reinstated under the circumstances. Alice protested that the language of the collective bargaining agreement was clear and that past instances failing under the same or similar circumstances called for strict enforcement of company protocol. She further pointed out that the OCFW union representatives on this matter had not yet filed a grievance and that by granting the reinstatement, a precedent for leniency would now exist, potentially causing issues in the future. Terry noted that the magnitude of the storm causing the late arrival, and Walter's near herculean efforts to arrive at work under the circumstances, showed a commitment to the shared cause of plant production. He decided that his actions, under the circumstances, would show good faith in being able to with the ACE in the future without grievances