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At DTE Energy, we are committed to providing all employees with competitive wages and benefits, safe working conditions and growth and development opportunities to help build a strong, healthy middle class in Michigan and in the cities and states across the country where we do business. We know that when our workforce feels safe, treated fairly, engaged in rewarding work and valued for their contributions, we are able to live our company’s purpose and serve, lead and transform with our energy.
Approximately half of our workforce is represented by unions. DTE’s Labor Relations department partners with a cross section of business unit and union leadership to build a thriving culture, proactively address changing business conditions, resolve employee issues, and support collective bargaining negotiations. Additionally, we operate in compliance with the policies and regulations established by the National Labor Relations Board, the statutes of the National Labor Relations Act and the guidance of the federal Department of Labor.
DTE’s union employees can turn to multiple sources to address issues and concerns including their leader, our company’s Labor Management Committee (LMC), DTE’s Ethics and Compliance office, or the grievance process. DTE Energy and its unions jointly manage a grievance procedure which is defined by the collective bargaining agreements for represented employees. DTE Energy also manages a dispute resolution process for non-represented employees.
Members of DTE’s LMC, comprised of union leadership and company senior leaders, meet regularly to share opportunities for improving employee safety, operations, customer service and employee engagement – and then work together to develop and implement solutions. These types of meetings occur all levels of leadership, and the open and inclusive communication is key to our successful partnership.
In 2019, DTE identified that building a culture of service excellence would be the company’s top priority, next to safety. Company and union leaders came together at the LMC to discuss what service excellence looked like, completed service excellence training and recognized represented employees for demonstrating service excellence in enterprise-wide, executive and union meetings and in company communications. LMC partnership and collaboration has resulted in transparent and honest communication among members and alignment on key company initiatives.
Also in 2019, Labor Relations successfully negotiated a major contract negotiations with the United Security Government Officers Union of America (UGSOA), Local 39 and agreed to a two-year contract extension for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 17.