THANKS to all Local 506 and 618 Members, especially those who pulled picket duty during the January 14th and 15th National Strike. Your participation sent a clear message that our Local is determined to resist further cost shifting. We would also like to thank the community for their support and reinforce our position through the following letter to the Erie-Times News:

On behalf of the UE Local 506 Members, we wish to thank the community for the strong outpouring of support many displayed during our recent two-day national strike against GE.

Our membership appreciated not only the moral support exhibited by passing motorist who waived at us and honked their horns but we were also overwhelmed by the tremendous amount of supplies that were dropped off by individuals, local businesses and area organizations. Community support went far in giving picketers the stamina to endure the record cold temperatures.

We know our strike over GE’s medical care cost shifting created quite a bit of interest in the greater Erie Area. So much so that it has evoked strong commentary from several factions, some critical of our stance. While we want to address the specific issue with GE, we would also like to explain, in a broader sense, that our ultimate goal is to secure affordable health care for everyone.

Because of "out of control" rising health costs, most corporations have passed on increased costs or discontinued coverage to their workers. GE is no different. The strike over recent higher co-pays (which we strongly dispute will only be $200.00 per year), was an action that culminated as a result of a decade of increased co-pays, deductibles and other out-of-pocket expenses. Contributions GE workers pay for their own and dependent health care have gone up steadily over the years and GE workers have given up cost of living wage increases to offset even higher contributions. Co-pays for prescription, doctor visits, specialists and hospitalization have also risen sharply, as have the total annual maximums paid for individual and family deductions. The most harmful of all GE meddling with our insurance has been with their "managed health care". GE decides who we can see for treatment, if and when we can see them, which facility we can go to and they list which medicines our doctors can and cannot prescribe (a formulary that’s constantly changing).

Despite those facts, we are fully aware that many workers and small business operators are paying far more than we are for their health insurance. We also know that almost 44 million more Americans have no health coverage. Our fight with GE, a Company with soaring profits that, in large part, are derived from their medical systems business and by financing health related industries, must be waged to protect our real wages.

We also know that, as a Union, we have to utilize our organizational strengths to secure a long-term solution for everyone. In the months to come, as our Union prepares for national negotiations with GE, our members will be more outspoken on the need for effective reforms to our Nations health care problems. We will be aligning with other concerned groups and we will press our elected government officials to address this neglected issue.

Whether you were one of the many who supported our strike action or you were one to criticize it, everyone is affected by the unrestrained rising health care costs. In the end, it is our hope that everyone in the community can put their differences aside an work together for a common solution.

Respectfully, The Officers of UE Local 506

Stewards will be taking up a collection this week for Kjeston Michelle Rodgers, the member of IUE/CWA, Local 761 who was tragically killed while on picket duty in Louisville, Kentucky. Kjeston, a single mother of three teenage daughters, was struck by a police car at about 5.a.m. on the first night of the strike. All funds will be deposited in the Rodgers Children Benefit Fund.