GENERAL ELECTIONS CONCLUDED

    At the completion of the special runoff election on Thursday, March 29, 2001, all UE Local 506 General Offices have been decided and the Tellers have certified the counts. There will be some changes resulting from the elections, Randy Majewski will now serve as Local 506 President and the Membership will see three new faces in the Union's administration. Mark Pierson will now serve as an Executive Board Member at Large and Karen Coleman and Steve Hyzer will review the Local's financial books as the new Trustees. On pages two and three, you can see photos of all recently elected officers.

ODDS AND ENDS

IEA FORMS have changed to allow laid off members, who choose to direct deposit their PA unemployment checks, file for IEA without submitting a copy of their checks. Initial claims still require a copy of the Financial Determination.

-You are still required to supply the check copy if you do not opt for the direct deposit.

Wow! the "Charities for Children" Annual Bowling Tournament, coordinated by 506 members Carl Daugherty and Rick Makowski experienced yet another record breaking year raising $9,641.00 for 13 local charities. That's figure is almost $4,000.00 higher than last year.

-Why the continued success? Rick is always quick to point out that the success of the tournament is due largely to the support of Local 506 Members.

Hats Off to Larry Carris and Bill Crockette who quickly saw to it that fellow worker Pasquale Bucci got to the Medical Center when he started to show signs of a serious health problem. If it wasn't for these conscientious members and the quick work of Dr. Ward and Cathy Park the outcome might not have been a good one. Pasquale had an emergency triple bypass and is recuperating fine.

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Kitchen’s Kabinet    

It’s April already! Well actually I never thought the warmer weather would ever get here. One sure thing, having lived in Erie all our lives, we expect the unexpected when it comes to weather. So lets enjoy the warmer weather now that it has finally arrived.

Another thing we can surely expect to come up, while working for GE, are problems and grievances. We should live so long to see the day when we can come to work and everything is going wonderfully and the employer is willing to do what ever we ask of them.

Our grievance activity, however, is below last year's level. Year to date, 20 Step Two cases have been submitted compared to 33 last year. Nonetheless we have been active in filing grievances on the subcontracting of trade's work out of Central Maintenance and although the level of subcontracted trades work has been reduced for a variety of reasons, we still feel there's too much. In one case there wasn't any notification given to the Union as required under Article XXIII. The Company admitted this was done in error and measures were taken to ensure compliance in the future. We intend to keep an eye on this issue to make sure the measures taken have the desired effect.

A step # 3 grievance meeting was scheduled for April 12th, with two cases from our Local on the agenda but due to a scheduling conflict with local management, our grievances will not be heard during that meeting. However, another meeting will be set up soon, and since we have just concluded another Step # 2 meeting, we’ll have more than two cases for that agenda.

The 2001 Stewards Classes have been completed and the attendance was good although it was not what we would liked to have seen.

Recently, the Union and the Company discussed and clarified the conditions under which payment for the floating holiday can be made. It seems the Company was forcing the floating holiday on individuals when, in some cases, they did not have the right to do so. If you were paid the floating holiday, and you feel it was in error, review the matter with your Chief Steward.

I’d like to thank the Stewards and Chief Stewards for their help getting through the last round of SEROs and layoff placements. Keeping an eye on the process to ensure that our members were handled properly, netted a few extra SERO opportunities and fewer layoffs than were expected.

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RALLY SLATED FOR APRIL 19^TH

A rally sponsored by UE Local 506 and R.A.G.E., Retirees Association of GE, will be held at the GE East Gate on Thursday, April 19, 2001 starting at 11:30 a.m. The rally comes just six days prior to the annual meeting of the GE Stockholders in Atlanta, Georgia.

Despite a nominal pension increase last year, R.A.G.E. and other GE retiree groups have planned rallies at sites throughout the country to let GE know that the "purse strings" will have to be loosened up wider. Opened wider to provide retirees with a livable monthly benefit and regular cost of living adjustments to protect their ability to buy goods and services.

UE-GE Conference Board Secretary Steve Tormey and R.A.G.E. President Charlie Fry will address the rally crowd to expose the plain truths about the GE Pension Fund assets and its’ ability to raise benefits without jeopardizing future obligations.

Like last year, all Stewards are asked to attend the event to carry their department’s support out to the retirees. And since the rally will be held on the same day as the membership meetings, we would especially encourage second shift workers to stop at the rally before attending going the Hall.

SPORTS COMMITTEE WOWS THE FANS

The Sports Committee has entered their busiest time of the year and members who look forward to the Committee’ sponsored events have dusted off their bowling shoes and sneakers and are signing up to participate in record numbers. The results of their recent efforts are reported below:

Intermediate Division Winners – "The Shenanigans" co-captained by Paul Dietrick, Building. 10 and Nancy Morrison, Building. 18C.

Recreational Group "A" Division Winners – "The Irish Setters" captained by Dan Postlewaite, Building. 5.

Recreational Group "B" Division Winners – * "Shilleliegh Schelackers" captained by Tom Yuschak, Building 6.

* "The Irish Setters" put a whooping to the "Shilleliegh Schelackers" to win the Recreational Divisional playoff and to take home the Championship Stein.

25^TH ANNUAL BOWLING TOURNAMENT

On March 24, 2001, the Sports Committee held it’s 25th Annual Bowling Tournament. This year, as an added benefit, entrants not only had a terrific time and a chance to win prize money, but they also raised $850.00 for the Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center.

During the three shifts of bowling an equal number of strikes and gutter balls were rolled and when the alley dust cleared? Well here are the results:

TOP TEAM - "The Fab Five" featuring Bob Plonski, Mike Rudzinski, Wayne Huff, Joe Newara and Bill Jenks.

TOP INDIVIDUAL PRIZES:

HIGH GAME (MEN) - John Duchnowski with 277

HIGH SERIES (MEN) - Doug Lunger with 689

HIGH GAME (WOMEN) - Donna Lesperance with 187

HIGH SERIES (WOMEN) - Sandy Lee with 576

The Sports Committee would like to thank Bob Ambrose, Leo Frawley and Pat Callahan for generously volunteering their time to insure a successful tournament.

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALL GAME? The Sports Committee is considering a bus trip to a major league ball game. The question remains, "Should we go to Pittsburgh of Cleveland?" Let the Committee know.

Volunteers and runners are needed for the VA 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, June 3, 2001. Applications are available from the Sports Committee, Chief Stewards and at the Hall.

SEAN LYNCH ENDORSED FOR CITY CONTROLLER

At the March meetings, Local 506 Trustee Sean Lynch received a membership endorsement for his bid to become the next Erie City Controller.

Along with serving the Local as a Trustee for 12 years, Sean has been a highly active member for over twenty-five years. In that time, Sean held Steward positions in a number of Divisions and has participated in almost every Union sponsored event. Sean dedicated much of his time and efforts towards the LAC and for many years served as that Committee's Treasurer.

Last but not least, Brother Lynch serves on the Local 506 Organizing Committee. Sean has not only worked on many of the local campaigns but he has also traveled to Mount Vernon, Indiana and Parkersburg, West Virginia to help out in organizing drives in those regions of the country as well.

LAC Raffle Winners

During the month of February each Division held a 50/50 drawing to support the UE Local 506/618 LAC Fund.

On behalf of the Legislative Action Committee we would like to thank those who supported us by buying a ticket and congratulate those who won. Listed below are the lucky winners.

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