Also: Recently elected Trustee, Don Way will take the Oath of Office at the 2^nd Shift Meeting.

Larry Pietrasiewicz was elected
Building 2 Chief Steward in a special election
held on April 19, 2005.
You can reach Larry at his pager
number 878-6999

Frank Kindzora passed away on April 19, 2005. Frank sat on the Local 506 Executive Board serving as recording secretary of the Stewards Council for 15 years. During that time he was elected treasurer on the Legislative Action Committee. Frank will most be remembered for the role he played in establishing the original "Troubled Employees" Program that later became the Employee Assistance Program. Even after his retirement in 1987, Frank remained active the Retirees Association of GE workers, R.A.G.E.

   Bud Cooney, age 75, passed away on April 19, 2005. Bud served as President of Local 506 at the Erie, Pa GE Plant from 1977 to 1983. During that same period he held the office of District Six Secretary-Treasurer and he was a member of the UE General Executive Board. Before being elected president, Bud held the Chief Steward position in the Locomotive Assembly Division, Building 10. Prior to coming to GE, Bud worked for a local utility company where he headed up the union’s negotiating committee.

   Bud will best be remembered for the leadership he provided when GE, like other major corporations in that era, began an all out assault on workers by exiting businesses, stepping up automation and introducing "Team Concepts". When GE announced they were closing the Foundry and moving the Diesel Engine Division out of Erie, Bud led two highly visible campaigns that gained the support of the Erie Community. Those campaigns led to improved local job and income language that eventually was incorporated in to the UE-GE National Agreement. Beside the leadership he provided, Bud will also be remembered for his great wit and friendly personality. Daughters Cynthia and Michele and his son Mark survive him.

The following UE Local 506 members were elected to serve as rank and file delegates to the 69^th UE National Convention.

The Convention will take place in Chicago, Illinois between from August 21st through August 25, 2005. The Rank and File delegates will attend the Convention with the Officers along with Executive Board members Dave Adams, Wayne Burnett, Dennis Crawford, Ron Dombrowiak, Mark Pierson, Larry Pietrasiewicz and Jim Pifer.

FRANKLY SPEAKING

   Lean Mfg. is the latest craze to hit the Erie works, no, check that; Lean mfg. is the latest craze to hit the General Electric Company. So what is it? Lean manufacturing is a combination of "just in time," "direct flow technology", "kanban", and a whole host of other shelved production plans. An Internet search reveals that "Lean manufacturing is a term that generally refers to a system or process whereby corporations seek to minimize the resources required for production by removing waste, inventory requirements and delivery scheduling and lead time". With Lean Manufacturing, it is not uncommon to see a 15-25% increase in productivity or capacity.

   At a recent meeting the Company expressed concern that the pieceworkers would suffer financially under the "lean concept", and suggested moving to a day rate system. Currently the only area under review is the Rad Cab group in Building 12, as you know that area has been redesigned to fit the lean manufacturing concept. Once the Radiator Cab area is finished the Company plans to do lean studies in the Main Cab area in Building 12, the Aux Cab area in Building 18, and Locomotive assembly in Building 10.

   Although we have yet to receive a wage proposal from the Company, for any proposal to be considered by the Union, it must be fair, equitable and provide a level of job security for all of these assembly groups and they must be paid the same wage.

JIM’S JARGON     By Chief Plant Steward Jim Jaroski

     Hello Brothers and Sisters,

    This is my first article since being elected in April and I would like to begin by writing about some of the grievances that have been coming across my desk.

Article XXIII, Job and Income Security issues have hit several Divisions. It seems like some Business Leaders feel they don’t have to give out sub-contracting notification forms or talk to the union about sending work out. This has happened recently in Buildings 18T, 7, 12, as well as MC.

To keep outsourcing in check, our union can’t stand for this type of contract violation. Hopefully, Union Relations will take care of this issue through our local meetings, instead of leaving us with no alternative other than sending the grievances to Third Step.

Having a business leader refuse to recognize and work with a union steward in his area is another issue that is truly a contract violation. Although I don’t believe it is a widespread problem, even one instance of this is too many. Remember the stewards are the backbone of our Local therefore we must do everything possible to make sure they can carryout their jobs without some B.L. causing problems.

JOB POSTING: WHEN CAN YOU BID?

     The last thing I want to write about this month is about the Job Posting Procedure because there have been a lot of questions raised lately. I’d like to explain how long you have to wait to bid after starting a new job. First of all, to participate in Job Posting you must be off break in if you have been hired on an incentive job.

On daywork jobs you must have been on your new job for one month if it is a R12 or below, 3 months if R13 to R16, 6 months if R16 to R20, and nine months if R20 and above. Note - these rules are waived if you are bidding back to a job you previously held as long as you were off break-in (piecework) or progression (daywork).

For your information, you can bid down or lateral as long as you have "not previously so transferred during the preceding twelve months worked." You cannot bid to the same six-digit job you currently on. If you are a new hire, normally, you’ll have to wait for 6-months before you can bid.

On April 14, 2005, GE announced their plans to close its aircraft engine maintenance and repair facility in Ontario, California. The affected GE Workers are members of our sister union, UE Local 1010.

In response to the announced closing, the UE National sent out a press release stating, "The GE Ontario workforce consists almost entirely of highly skilled and efficient engine mechanics, who have for decades served both commercial aviation customers as well as the U.S. military in exemplary fashion. Having gone on a shopping spree during the 1990’s by acquiring a number of aircraft engine repair companies in the U.S. and around the world, GE now hypocritically tells us they suffer from "overcapacity". As a result, much of the work in Ontario will be performed in GE-acquired facilities in Great Britain and Brazil."

So far preliminary meetings have been mainly held over information requests. However, the Union has also met with Congressman Joe Baca and city officials to discuss the closing. On behalf of the membership, the officers have pledged Local 506’s support to help Local 1010 and we know our Brothers and Sisters in IUE Local 201 in Lynn, Ma have also sent a letter of support.

Due to a change in the normal scheduling, Local 506 Members on the Quarter Century Picnic Committee asked the 506 NEWS to announce that this year the event will be held at the GE Picnic Grove on Saturday, July 16^th, 2005 from 10:00 AM until 5:00 PM. Note that this is scheduled for the 3^rd Saturday in July this year instead of the usual 2^nd Saturday in order to avoid overlapping with the planned vacation shutdown.

Lunch will be served at noon with various refreshments available throughout the day. There will be reserved handicap parking at the Water Street Parking Lots and Wheelchair and Handicap drop-off and pickup at the Picnic Grove. Busses will run from the Water Street Parking Lot from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Handicap tags and Invitation tickets are required and can be requested from Linda Gladitz at 875-2780. To qualify as a member one must be retired from or be a currently working employee with 25 years of service (by July 31^st) with the Erie GE Plant.

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