by Cheryl Splain, KnoxPages.com reporter
MOUNT VERNON — On Saturday, KnoxPages.com learned that some workers at Siemens were offered a buyout package. Initial reports were that the buyout offer included 13 weeks of pay for union workers and 26 weeks for office workers, plus vacation pay and an insurance allowance. However, Siemens spokesman Jeffrey Grappone said the offer applies only to hourly union employees. Grappone declined to give specific details of the offer but released this statement:
“In accordance with a special negotiated agreement between the company and union, the company is providing a special one-time voluntary opportunity to eligible union-represented production and maintenance employees who voluntarily elect separation. This is being done in an effort to preserve employment for other employees who would have otherwise been impacted by the recent workforce adjustment. This action is a fairly common approach and is done in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and the special agreement between the company and union. This opportunity is only being provided to hourly union employees.”
Some production workers have been on a seven-day, 10-hour-a-day schedule for several weeks. The statement addressed the overtime issue as follows: “Based on the production schedule, overtime work is required on an as-needed basis during peak production periods. This work is offered, and accepted, by employees on a volunteer basis.”
