Joe West

Experience

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  Whirlpool Corporation

  Nov 1991 - Jun 2009

  Supervisor of Employee Relations and Plant Security November 1996-June 2009•Advised manufacturing leadership on the administration and interpretation of Company policy and the Labor Agreement. Trained leadership to ensure the Labor Agreement was fairly and consistently administered among 2,500 unionized hourly employees.•Administered all disciplinary actions of hourly employees, including individual counseling, verbal reprimands, written reprimands, disciplinary suspensions, and termination of employment. Conducted all employee investigations and fact finding meetings for suspensions and terminations.•Represented the Company in unemployment hearings for termination cases.•Coached 60 Supervisors regarding the proper administration of these policies as well as how to administer the proper discipline to employees as necessary. Constantly reviewed and revised the Attendance Policy in response to changes in company policies, attendance trends and business circumstances.•Permanent member of the Company’s Contract Negotiations Committee serving as the contract language subject matter expert. Responsible for reviewing current language and making recommendations for improvements, and conducted wage and benefit survey comparisons. Analyzed the Union’s contract language proposals and identified their effects on the Company’s practices, policies, and procedures. •Prepared and issued the final Management reply to 70 plus Union Grievances per year.•Responsible for the grievance arbitration process. Ensured that the Company was thoroughly prepared to defend its case and partner with attorneys to gather facts, documents, interviews, and other related materials.•Managed the Supervisor Selection Process which entailed recruiting, interviewing, orientating, and training approximately 15 new production Supervisors per year.•Assisted in the process of hiring more that 500 new employees. •Managed and directed the daily operation of the plant Security Department. • Show less

  • Labor Relations and Plant Security Supervisor/ HR Shared Services Consultant

    Nov 1996 - Jun 2009

  • Manufacturing Production Supervisor

    Nov 1991 - Nov 1996
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  Patriot Coal Corporation

  Jun 2009 - Feb 2012

  Human Resources Manager

  Human Resource Manager / Labor Relations • Responsible for all Human Resources activity at the Highland #9 Mine, Camp #9 Preparation Plant, and Camp Terminal loading facility. • Advise Mine Leadership Team in all areas of Human Resources.• Responsible for all aspects of the recruiting process for 3 locations. Manage all interviews, physical evaluations, and pre-employment drug screens. • Manage all grievances and labor issues for 3 separate UMWA local unions with a total membership of 450 union miners. Company Advocate for Arbitration hearings as well as unemployment hearings.• Administer the Company Drug and Alcohol policy to include random testing. • Responsible for administration of employee benefits plans for all employees and their dependants, annual enrollment, new dependants, student status. • Manage and coordinate employee events including the annual Health Fair and Flu Shot Clinic. Show less

• 

  Alcoa

  Feb 2012 - Apr 2016

  Superintendent of Labor Relations

  • Advise manufacturing leadership on the administration and interpretation of Company policy and the Labor Agreement. Ensure the Labor Agreement is fairly and consistently administered among 800 + unionized hourly employees.• Advise manufacturing leadership in the handling of disciplinary actions of hourly employees, including individual counseling, verbal reprimands, written reprimands, disciplinary suspensions, and termination of employment. • Represent the Company in unemployment hearings for termination cases.• Attendance Policy and Family Medical Leave Act. Coach Supervisors regarding the proper administration of these policies as well as how to administer the proper discipline to employees as necessary. • Chief spokesperson for Local negotiations committee. Plant representative for Master negotiations. • Responsible for the grievance arbitration process. Ensure that the Company is thoroughly prepared to defend its case and partner with advocates to gather facts, documents, interviews, and other related materials.• Manage the Drug and Alcohol program which includes Random testing, MEO Physical testing, post accident/incident testing, and for cause testing. Show less

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  Century Aluminum

  Apr 2016 - now

  Responsible for all Human Resources activity at the Hawesville facility. •Advise the plant Leadership Team in all areas of Human Resources.• Advise manufacturing leadership on the administration and interpretation of Company policy and the Labor Agreement. Ensure the Labor Agreement is fairly and consistently administered.• Advise manufacturing leadership in the handling of disciplinary actions of hourly employees, including individual counseling, verbal reprimands, written reprimands, disciplinary suspensions, and termination of employment. • Represent the Company in unemployment hearings.• Attendance Policy and Family Medical Leave Act. Coach Supervisors regarding the proper administration of these policies as well as how to administer the proper discipline to employees as necessary. • Plant representative for Labor Agreement negotiations. • Responsible for the grievance arbitration process. Ensure that the Company is thoroughly prepared to defend its case and partner with advocates to gather facts, documents, interviews, and other related materials.• Manage the Drug and Alcohol program which includes Random testing, MEO Physical testing, post accident/incident testing, and for cause testing. Show less

  • Manager of Labor Relations Century Aluminum Corporate KY

    Mar 2018 - now

  • Human Resources Manager

    Apr 2016 - now