August 2003 UE 506 News

Membership Meeting Notice 

Months of Contract preparation, five weeks of negotiations and attending to all of the post-Contract details, understandably, consumed much of our organization’s time and efforts so far this year. But even with all that on our plate, the Union continued to make headway securing job openings. As reported in the July 25, 2003 Local 506 NEWS, 25 members had already been recalled and 5 more were in process. Since then, the Officers have successfully completed negotiations with the Company to create 12 paint jobs in Building 10-26. Building 5 has also opened up 9 weld jobs.

With the Contract and Shutdown behind us, we have even a greater opportunity to pursue more recalls. Building 6 Multi-Story, Building 18C and Building 12 (Wind Generation) are areas with potential that are currently under review.

It’s important to note that not much has changed with the business over the last couple of years, other than the Company’s willingness to work with the Union to open jobs. After all, the economy still hasn’t rebounded and, consequently, the Locomotive, Transit and Off Highway schedules remain low relative to the late 1990s. The only thing that has changed is the Company’s willingness to fill jobs in areas identified by the Union as being under manned. And, as evident by hiring in 10-26 Paint and Building 12 Wind Generation, the Company has shown they are now receptive to Union proposals to create new positions.

At the last membership meetings, and in light of movement from the Company, there was an important discussion on the merits of continuing the strong action the Membership approved and has maintained in response to the Company’s January 2002 layoff announcement. The consensus was to hold tight until all remaining laid off members are returned.

"The Members Run This Union" that’s not just a catchy phrase but a rock solid principal that this Union was built upon. Time and again this membership has risen to have its voice heard. No matter where the need has been, whether in the community or in the shop, this membership has NEVER been shy about voicing its opinion. And that’s why it’s important to not only recognize the work of the stewards and executive board members who protect our contractual rights but also those members who are out their working to protect our rights legislatively and those who work to strengthen our Union through their organizing efforts.

At this time the Local is involved in numerous organizing campaigns throughout the Erie and northwestern Ohio area. The Regional Organizing Committee, ROC, is working hard to help workers in a variety of shops form Unions. The ROC members have been leafleting and setting up meetings with unorganized workers to teach them how to protect their rights and to explain the benefits of joining the labor community.

Our PAC is involved with several area groups working on political education in the Erie area. In the next 15 months we will be electing local, state, and national politicians, who will be making decisions that may effect us the rest of our lives. For example, the various free trade schemes continue to destroy this country’s manufacturing base, and there are bills pending that will let companies off the hook for inadequately funded pensions. There was also something called countywide re-assessment, remember that and its impact on your budget? Now is the time for Labor to be heard again and to let the elected officials know they had better hear and act on our concerns now or they will hear from us in November.

We haven’t had a paper out since May due to the contract schedule so plenty has happened on grievance activity. So far this year we have 110 grievances filed compared to approximately 115 last year.

Three Step 2 meetings were held and we still have a considerable backlog to work through. A Step 3 meeting is scheduled for the 14^th of the month and so far eleven cases are on the agenda including a discharge case from Building 2.

The Union continues to grieve the company subcontracting trades and maintenance work. When it became apparent that the company wasn’t going to keep the size of the maintenance crew at the levels necessary to service the Plant, the Union argued against bringing in more contractors. The company responded that it would not, and the business would just have to get by with the crew they had. Additionally, the company stated the backlog would grow and the business would have to wait longer for work to be completed. During contract negotiations the Union was able to show that these two positions were just not the real world and in fact the hours and money GE was spending on contractors was on the rise and that situation wasn’t acceptable.

On August 13^th the company will have a corporate representative in Erie to meet with our Local and National Officers to discuss issues such as the contracting of maintenance work as well as the problems we are having, in general, with Article 23. We look forward to presenting our case and are optimistic we can make changes that will benefit the membership.

Several other grievances, which are being discussed, and should cause concern if not resolved, center on proper payment for incentive workers, when doing work other than their normal assignment. When the Union and the Company went through the code consolidation battles in the mid-eighties, the end result was that everybody had what is referred to as your "normal job". This is important because when you are not on your normal assignment, when you could be, the company is required to pay you average. The company has over many years tried to chisel at this protection and the Union has resisted. What code consolidation did was put us all in a much larger pool of jobs for layoff and recall purposes. What it did not do is require everyone to perform all the jobs in that pool without proper payment. Now in some areas the company wants to cross train us on all jobs in the pool, and whenever you are pulled off your job to work on them, you do it for the price not average. This is not a problem in all areas of the Plant and the Union is not about to allow it to become one. The Union is waiting for the company to set up a meeting to further discuss this problem. We will keep you updated on this matter.

On February 5, 2003 the Local Recording Secretary received a letter from Patte Dillen, Bldg. 6, bringing charges of activity detrimental to the welfare of the members of UE 506 and violating the principles and policies of the Union. These charges were directed, in particular, at William Kaufmann, Bldg.6, accusing him of working during the national strike over GE’s HCP increases on January 14 and 15, 2003.

Mr. Kaufmann was sent a letter by certified mail notifying him of the charges. The charges were read at all three membership meetings on Thursday, February 20th. At this meeting the members present approved the formation of a trial committee consisting of three Board members plus six rank-and-file members. The charges were read a second time at the April membership meetings.

Mr. Kaufmann was sent a letter via certified mail on May 13th advising him that the trial Committee had been assembled and the trial date was set for Friday, May 30, at 10:30 AM.

The Trial took place as scheduled on May 30th. Mr. Kaufmann did not attend. Patte Dillen appeared before the Trial Committee and presented her case. She was questioned at length by the Committee, answered several questions and explained her position and the reasons for her decision. She presented evidence indicating Mr. Kaufmann worked the two days of the strike, not only eight-hour days, but overtime on those days as well.

The Committee then entered into deliberations. Based on the evidence presented, the Committee voted to find Mr. Kaufmann guilty and recommended the following measures as punishment:

On Wednesday, July 30, at all three membership meetings, the members voted to accept the report of the trial Committee and all the above recommendations.
Signed,
Wayne Burnett, Chairperson
Dale M. Stubenhofer, Recording Secretary

ODDS AND ENDS

          As we approach the 2^nd anniversary of 911, let’s not forget the 100’s of working men and women who lost their lives that day.

Many of the problems that tie us up can be resolved, as in this individual found out, by simply calling the GE Benefits Office, insurer or physician. As I stated earlier, we will be happy to continue to assist members where and when we can especially in the most severe of cases. - P.R.

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