JANUARY MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE
Agenda:

A review of times and dates related to the General Elections (see page one for more information)

The financial officers will report on the Strike Defense Fund investments. (Also see the page two article)

Officers’ Reports, Committee updates and general business matters will follow.

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND TIMES ARE:
Thursday, December 20, 2005 (All meetings)

7:20 a.m. (3^rd Shift)

1:00 p.m. (2^nd Shift)

3:20 p.m. (1^st Shift)

This is the first official notice that UE Local 506 will conduct nominations for all general offices during membership meetings on February 17, 2005 at the UE Local 506 Union Hall. Times for the meetings are 7:20 a.m. (third shift), 1 p.m. (2nd shift), and 3:20 p.m. (1st shift). Also, during the February meetings, the membership will select alternate-tellers for the General Election. Nominations for the following offices will be taken from the floor at each meeting. They are: Business Agent, President, Chief Plant Steward, Vice President/ Recording Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Board Member at Large (three to be elected), Sergeant at Arms, Trustee (two to be elected).

The election will take place on Thursday, March 24, 2005 at the UE Local 506 Union Hall. The polls will be open from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Voting machines will be used for all offices except Executive Board Member at Large and Trustee, which will be by paper ballot.

Absentee ballots for those members scheduled for temporary military leave will be available on Friday, March 11, 2005 at the Union Hall and must be returned to the Hall no later than 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2005.

By virtue of this election, the Business Agent, President and Chief Plant Steward will be delegates to the District Six Council and to the UE National Convention.

    First and foremost we would like to wish you and your families good health, happiness and peace throughout the new year. The early signs indicate that 2005 should be another prosperous year for the Transportation Division; that should mean continuing growth or at least stability in employment and it will provide further opportunity to advance the Local 506 agenda.

    Local Negotiations - Without the myriad of distractions we contend with in leaner years, the climate in 2004 gave us a good opportunity to work with the company on some important long-standing issues. Through Local Negotiations, we were able to secure language that better defines when pieceworkers will be paid average earnings if they are taken off their "regular" job to perform other work. Regarding Job Posting, language was adopted that now allows pieceworkers "fully qualified in a skill area other than the one engaged in", the right to bid, even though they’re not off break-in status. This is a right dayworkers have had for years. On the Layoff and Recall Procedure, although not put to bed yet, we have a commitment from the company to provide recall rights to workers who were or will be laid off before being off progression. We will look to finalize that language in 2005.

    Legislative Action - A lot of America’s attention was on national politics this past year and our organization was no different. Our Local Legislative Action Committee was extremely busy with programs urging people to vote, phone banking for Kerry, fundraising for Congressional candidate Steve Porter and, for the first time ever, establishing an in-plant voter registration program. The LAC also hosted town hall meetings for two political personalities. Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a candidate in the Democratic Party presidential primary election, spoke to Erie County residents at the 506 Hall on April 24^th and Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Democratic Vice Presidential candidate John Edwards used our Hall on October 21^st to relay their message.

    LAC Delegates took part in the UE National Lobby Days held in Washington, DC between March 7^th and 10^th. They utilized that time to press for health care reform and other issues of importance to working men and women. The LAC continued pressing for health care reform through a coalition with Jobs with Justice. On June 2^nd, Local 506 joined JwJ members at the Walbridge Road Bridge to participate in a national demonstration dubbed "Bridge the Health Care Gap".

    Helping the Cause – As usual Local 506 Members are always willing to lend a hand to help other causes and it was no different in 2004. On a bitterly cold afternoon on February 24^th, at least 30 members gathered with veterans at the VA Medical Center to protest government cuts to services. 506 Members showed up to support the Vets again, at the Courthouse, on March 19^th where Senator Spector was holding hearings on the matter. On May 7^th, Spector announced that the government was backing off the proposed cuts.

    Speaking of the Veteran’s Hospital, the 506 Sports Committee held their annual VA5K Race/Walk in June and assisted the VAMC hold another successful Bowling Tournament to fund special activities and needs of the VAMC patients.

    Charities - Local 506 Members continued to give their time and money to local charities and events. Through your contributions, the Community Service Fund (CSF) offered to pay shipping costs for packages sent to the sons and daughters of GE workers serving in the military overseas. Several 506 Members volunteered to help out at the annual Bike Rodeo and the WQLN Auction. 506 bowlers (and some who try) continued to support the Charities for Children and the Bowling Roundup fundraising tournaments. The Viet Nam Veterans’ Annual Duck Race also received tremendous support from Local Members.

    Organizing – Local 506 volunteers on the Regional Organizing Committee (ROC) celebrated with the Harborcreek Youth Service workers on May 6^th as they voted to join the UE. The ROC committee assisted that campaign through home visits and committee meetings at our Hall. ROC members have continued to work with Local 642 members to secure their first contract.

    A National ROC Institute was held in Erie between August 22^nd and 28^th. Representatives from all over the country participated in the week of activities that included leafleting several plants, picketing with the striking members of UE Local 697 at the Flex Y Plan Plant and assisting HYS workers on a community project. The week culminated with the ROC delegates organizing a town hall meeting with a panel of professionals seated to hear and respond to testimony regarding the health care crisis.

    International – The Local stayed involved with workers of other nations in 2004. Financial Secretary Denny Mclaughlin traveled to Mexico in August to exchange ideas on global outsourcing with members of the Authentic Workers Union. In July, 506 Members donated money to the striking GE Workers in Hozur, India and on December 8th, the Local 506 Executive Board hosted a meeting with a delegation of labor representatives from India to learn more about GE and GE workers in their country.

2004 Events Photos

    The Unity Council underwent some restructuring last year by adding several new contact people and by shoring up its mission to help our members experiencing work site problems that aren’t addressed by conventional means.

    When Employee Assistance Program (EAP) liaison Joe Ambrose retired last year, the Local was lucky that the former liaison, Dave Adams, stepped in to replace him.

    Health and Safety – On April 28^th, Local 506 joined other Erie County Unions at Perry Square for the Workers Memorial Service. Later in the year, we began a campaign to educate the membership about the hazards that manganese, in welding products, could pose to workers and to explain what course of action was needed if someone suspected they had a medical condition due to manganese.

    Transportation Business matters - On June 4^th, President Frank Fusco and Chief Plant Steward Dave Kitchen met with the IUE 201 E-Board, in Lynn, MA, to discuss the consolidation of the Aerospace and Transportation Divisions and, also of mutual interests, GE Wind Generation products. On September 7^th, the officers met with Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta to discuss pending rail legislation.

    PA Historical Marker – One of the highlights of 2004 had to be the September 18^th, dedication of a PA Historical Marker honoring President John Nelson for the sacrifices he made for GE Workers back in the McCarthy error.

    "The work of the Union is never over". That’s not just a cliché - that’s reality! It takes a core of dedicated people, expending a lot of effort and giving a lot of volunteer time to protect and improve wages, benefits and working conditions, all the while working to advance the policies and principals of the UE. As we reflect back on the highlights of 2004, we don’t want to overlook the fact that the work of the Union and the progress we made was due to the members of Local 506 who stepped up to make those events happen.

    In closing, We want to take this opportunity to thank those members who made an extra effort in 2004 to carry on the work of the Union, for the good of the entire membership. Whether you served as a steward, worked on a committee, gave up your time for an event or simply attended many of the membership meetings in 2004, we appreciate your efforts and look forward to working with you throughout the new year.

    On Tuesday December 28^th, the Lawrence Park Township Commissioners voted to raise the occupational privilege tax from $10.00 up to the maximum $52.00. After the vote, citizens were allowed to voice their opposition. President Frank Fusco attended the meeting to speak on behalf of the membership.

    Frank relayed that the Commissioners justified the increase because Lawrence Park provides police and fire protection to the plant, and also ambulance service in emergency situations. Frank explained that while he believed the Lawrence Park Police Department was among the best in the State, and the LPFD was second to none, he also believed that those services are paid for by the local taxes the Company pays. At that point, the Commissioners said that GE employees use townships roads, Frank explained that among the 5,500 employees, most used 12^th street or the Bayfront highway, so they enter the plant from Franklin Avenue. Frank said that all three of those roads are in the city of Erie, not Lawrence Park.

    In any event, the damage was already done before Frank had a chance to speak. Therefore you were probably surprised, after paying $10.00 on January 6^th, to see an additional $42.00 L.P. tax deducted on January 13^th. And now you know the rest of the story.

Following in his father’s footsteps (the late John Nelson), Jim began his active involvement in the Union shortly after he was hired at GE in 1965. He was elected to serve as a departmental steward in Building 63 and as a Local 506 Trustee in his early 20’s. Jim later became the youngest Divisional Chief Steward (Building 63) to serve on the E-Board. In the late1970’s and early 1980’s, while serving as the Local Political Action Committee Chairman, Jimmy directed numerous campaigns targeting political, social and consumer causes in the Erie community. Securing a countywide 911 system was one of the causes he spearheaded. Jimmy also helped establish PENPIC while he was the PAC Chair. In the advent of the mass exodus of manufacturing plants (and jobs) in Pennsylvania, PENPIC was ultimately responsible for legislation that outlined specific corporate responsibilities when closing a plant - like advance notice and severance pay.

Jimmy Nelson also helped labor unite in Erie County. He worked to get the United Labor Leaders (ULL) off the ground. With Jimmy as their Chairman, the ULL made it possible to fund and dedicate the monument to labor located at West-Perry Square.

Jimmy was well known for the articulate speeches he delivered. He was always well versed on the issues, which enabled him to deliver a sincere and impassioned message to any group he spoke to. Capping off almost 30 years serving the Local as an officer, Jimmy held six terms as President, 1985-1989 and 1991-1997, and served as Building 5’s Chief Steward during the interim. Retired since 2001, Jimmy has offered to assist the Local in any manner that he can.

During the UE-GE Contract Negotiations in 1997, the UE negotiated Martin Luther King Jr Day as an 11th paid holiday. Since then, and in observance of Martin Luther Jr’s contributions, a contingent of Local 506 members and representatives have joined the annual march from Perry Square to the MLK Jr Center on 4^th and Chestnut.

    We encourage more members, especially those of you who recently joined our ranks to join us at 11:30 a.m. at Perry Square in downtown Erie for this symbolic event.

SHORTS SHORTS

Basket of Cheer Raffle Winners – The Holidays were a little more "festive" for the following "Basket of Cheer" winners:

    NASCAR TRIP - Sports Committee Chairman Matt McCracken has not had enough of a response to be able to arrange a June trip to the Michigan Speedway. If he doesn’t hear from at least 35 people by January 31^st the committee will drop the idea. So call Matt at ext. 6421 (2^nd shift) or page him at 878-6144 to let him know if you’re interested. Also he would like anyone who previously called him to confirm their reservation.

The Officers and Executive Board Members of UE Local 506 wish to extend their sincere condolences to the family and friends of John Nestor, Building 26 who passed away December 29, 2004 and George Kloss, Building 18C who passed away December 24, 2004 and Frank Zielinski, Building 6 who passed away December 15, 2004.

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