At long last, and in no small part due to the support of active Local 506 Members, the Company has started to recall laid off workers. This past Tuesday, the officers were given a list describing 25 recently "filled positions" and 5 more "to be filled positions." The recalls come at a crucial time, when many laid off workers have exhausted or are about to exhaust State and Federal UC Benefits.
The prospects of securing more recalls in the near future look pretty good at this point. The officers, executive board and *Job Preservation Committee are continuing to identify undermanned areas and pressing to have those jobs filled. Through those means and by picking up some recalls through **SERO Window retirements, we are hoping to see the return of many more of our members.
* A special meeting pertaining to job preservation will be held with GE Corporate representatives in Erie on August 13, 2003. The meeting comes about as a direct result of discussions at the National Negotiations Table. UE President John Hovis and Conference Board Secretary Steve Tormey will represent the Union along with the Local 506 officers.
** Two Retirement Seminars have been scheduled for September 13, 2003 for anyone interested in learning more about their Pension and Benefits available upon retirement.
VOTE FOR CONVENTION DELEGATES
Four rank and file delegates to the 68th UE National Convention will be elected at the Wednesday July 30, 2003 membership meetings. Tellers, from the Election Committee, will oversee the voting, which will only be conducted while the three shift meetings are in session. The votes will be tallied and the results will be disclosed after the 1st shift meeting. The Convention will be held in Pittsburgh, Pa from Sunday, August 24, 2003 to Thursday, August 28, 2003.
The nominees are:
Guy BarrettMike Benedict
Dan Coughlin
Cathy Chimielewski
*
Please remember to bring your membership card, you must have it to vote. * MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS NOTICEWednesday, July 30, 2003 (All meetings)
7:20 a.m. (3rd Shift)
1:00 p.m. (2nd Shift)
3:20 p.m. (1st Shift)
Agenda:
The election of four Delegates to the 68th UE National Convention
*Vote on two Amendments to the Local 506 Constitution.
A trial committee will give their report on charges against a member of Local 506
The "SERO Window" process will be explained
Officer and committee reports.
* See Below for proposed Local 506 Constitutional Amendments
PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
The following three proposed amendments to the Local 506 Constitution will be read, along with the Executive Board recommendations, and they will be voted on at the July 30, 2003 Membership meetings.
1.) Under Article IV, the Officers propose combining the offices of Vice President and Recording Secretary by eliminating Section 6 altogether and revising Section 5 to read:
VICE PRESIDENT/RECORDING SECRETARY
Section 5: The Vice President/Recording Secretary shall perform the duties of the President during his/her absence or in case of the resignation or death of the President. He/she shall perform the duties of the President until such a time as the vacancy is filled by an election as provided for by this constitution.
He/she shall also preside when the President may be temporarily unable to discharge his/her duties.
The Vice President/Recording Secretary shall also record and keep the records of the meetings of the Local Union, including Executive Board, Membership and Stewards Council meetings.
The Vice President/Recording Secretary shall be a member of the Grievance Committee and record the discussions held at all grievance meetings with Local Management. He/she shall also record discussions held between Local Officers and Management when deemed necessary.
He/she shall conduct all correspondence pertaining to this office. Also, perform such other duties, with the approval of the local Executive Board, necessary to a proper and effective administration of the Local Union.
2.) Additionally Under Article IV, the Officers propose the combining the offices of Financial Secretary with those of the Treasurer by eliminating Section 8 and revising Section 7 to read:
TREASURER
The duties of the Treasurer shall be to certify the finances of the Union. He/she shall check all receipts and disbursements. He/she shall be authorized to approve and countersign all expense and payroll vouchers with the Business Agent. The Treasurer shall manually record all expenditures and make arrangements to send or distribute all payments. He/she shall prepare and make deposits. He/she shall read the financial report at each membership meeting. At the expiration of his/her term the Treasurer shall turn over, to his successor, any records of the Union that are in his/her possession.
It shall be the duty of the Business Agent and Treasurer to place all money of this Union in a bank or banks of good reputation in the name of UE 506, United Electrical, Radio, Machine Workers of America (UE), Erie, Pennsylvania. Union Funds may be invested elsewhere subject to the approval of the membership.
The rules and regulations governing the operation of the Union Strike Defense Fund shall be incorporated in the Appendage of this booklet. From time to time these rules and regulations may be changed subject to the approval of the membership.
3.) Mike Gieza, Bldg. 10, proposes changing language under the APPENDAGE (page 31) section, "STRIKE DEFENSE FUND", Rules and Regulations. *Changes in italics
A. The purpose of the UE Local 506 Strike Defense Fund is to operate the Union and maintain the survival of our members during the hardships of any *UE Local 506 sanctioned work stoppage/strike of no less than one day full day.
Benefits will be paid to members in good standing in the event of any *UE Local506 sanctioned work stoppage/strike, the daily amount to be equal to one 8 hour day’s gross pay at the lowest day rate code as published in the Union News. (As of March 2003 this code is an R-3.) These monies would begin two (2) weeks from commencement of such a work stoppage/strike and, providing monies remain in the Strike Defense Fund, benefits would continue two (2) weeks from the termination of any such work stoppage/strike.
Printed by UE Local 506 Friday, July 25, 2003