June UE 506 News
JUNE MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE
Members can nominate rank and file delegates to the 66th UE National Convention to be held from September 16 through the 20th in Pittsburgh, Pa.
Members attending the meetings will hear reports on:
- The status of layoffs and SEROs
Recent meetings of the Job Preservation Committee
The June 10th Erie Labor March
How to properly sign up for Pa Unemployment Compensation
The June 13th informative meeting on the privatization of Social Security
A Building Committee update
A Sports Committee wrap up on the VA 5K Event.MEMBERSHIP MEETING DATES AND TIMES:
Wednesday, June 20, 2001
7:25 (3rd Shift)
1:00 p.m. (2nd Shift)
3:30 p.m. (1st Shift)
Layoff Update
As we go to press on June 8, 2001, the complete layoff picture is still hazy. What is clear though is that we’re still not completely free of the threat of any permanent layoffs.
56 workers received their layoff notices in May, some effective June 1st while others will move off their jobs on July 1st. To date at least 21 layoffs in this latest round have been offset by SEROs and many others averted by placing affected workers on open jobs in the Plant.
Things still haven’t shaken down far enough to see if any permanent layoffs will result from the notices given in May. Nor do we know whether GE will issue more layoff notices in the months to come. The Sunday, June 3, 2001 Erie Times News reported that GETS was sticking to the 450 layoff number, however we have heard enough credible information to believe that will not be a reality if certain anticipated business conditions are settled.
Temporary LOWs are already on the increase and, given the holes in the schedule, we’ll be seeing many more. The Company informed the Union that they expected about 250 extended Temporary LOWs. Some of the temporary layoffs began on June 10th. Depending on the Division, the layoffs are in the 30 to 90 day range. In most cases the LOWs are being dispensed in 30-day increments. Members going out on new or reopened Unemployment Claims should make sure they understand how to sign up for benefits. (See information on page 6 or see you representative)
WAREHOUSE LAYOFFS
In addition to the GETS layoffs, seven warehouse workers also received notices in May but fortunately these workers received a stay from their impending fate. This situation came about as a result of a backlog in the Warehouse. Building 63 Chief Steward Mike Jelinek and the Officers prevailed upon the Company to suspend the layoffs until the work was caught up. In the mean time the Company has also agreed to meet with the Union to take another serious look at their original layoff projections. You’ll recall that the Company had given the Union a notice of their intent to bypass Erie and send external parts directly to the repair shops or to a facility in Kansas City. Although the 45-day negotiating period has come and gone, we are continuing dialogue which may hopefully mitigate the original projection for layoffs. Suspending the seven layoffs will help us to try and meet that end.
Kitchen’s Kabinet June 2001
By the time this issue goes to press, most if not all Chief Stewards will have had meetings in their respective areas with their managers on the Job Preservation Committee issue. As reported in the last paper, the company identified a "point person" from management who would be in charge of coordinating, along with the Union representatives, additional work opportunities. These meetings hopefully are not just "bull sessions" and will result in real opportunities for bringing additional work into the Erie facility. Faced with what the company believes are several years of soft market sales we need all the effort we can muster to address these slack times.
Discussions of this type have led to AC6000 rad cab piping, AC6000 pipeway and wireway, sill assembly, LRV control box, cable tray work, additional harness work and alternator UX work coming into the plant. We are committed to additional successes.
GRIEVANCE REPORT
There have been 28 grievances filed year to date, compared to 44 cases last year during the same time frame.
Our last step #2 grievance meeting was held on May 22nd, there were 14 cases on the agenda. Five of these cases were held for further discussion at the next meeting, settlements were reached on six other cases and two were requested to be processed to the third step. If you filed a grievance and have not heard anything about the cases please make sure you see your Steward or Chief Steward for an update on the case. As a practice we make available to the grievant all documents relative to the case after we have concluded the three steps of the procedure
Our recent Step # 3 grievance meeting resulted in three cases being returned back to Erie for further discussions. Generally cases are returned to the local plants for further discussions when the company finds some merit in the union’s argument and require more dialogue on the issue. The cases were out of Central Maintenance and Propulsion. They involve subcontracting and job responsibilities respectively.
A final note, Frank Vollmer, Chief Steward from building #2, retired effective June 1st, an election is under way to replace Frank. We wish to pass on our thanks to Frank for his tenure as Chief Steward and hope his retirement is long and prosperous.
IT Could Be Worse By Randy Majewski
The recent announced layoff in May was not a pleasant announcement. The only silver lining in that storm cloud is that are things now in place that make those rotten kind of situations a little more palatable.
Through the years the Union has negotiated an IEA supplement that makes up most of the monetary losses caused by the layoff. It has also bargained for an early retirement provision (SERO) that allows a member to retire early if he or she so chooses to save a lesser service person’s job. There also have been "special windows"as in the bargaining of this current 2000-2003 UE-GE National Agreement that allows members to opt out in a special time frame when they meet the special eligibility requirements.
The recent formation of the Job Preservation Committee is another tool that the Union has used to save jobs. This committee takes input from the chief stewards and stewards as well as members on the floor to measure and gauge what work can be done better and cheaper in our Plant. It has already reaped benefits by brining back work and keeping it here. Layoffs are never a good thing and will always be questioned. However with these provisions in place the hit may not be as big or as hard to take.
The 6th annual VA 5K Run/Walk was held on Sunday, June 3RD and resulted in raising about $5,000.00 to help local veterans attend the National Wheelchair Games in New York City. The Sports Committee would like to thank the many volunteers who helped out in less than perfect weather. Special thanks go out to Lieutenant Popovich of the Erie Police Department, the Erie Officers of the motorcycle and bicycle patrols, the Erie/Crawford County State Police, Company 24 , and Charlie Fry and the Retirees Association of GE, R.A.G.E. And last but by no means least, the Boy Scouts of Troop15 who helped out at the water stops.
Some of the many employees and or family members who participated and won awards in their age groups were: Amy Hardesty, Rick Rekitt, Michael Rohan, Karen Coleman, Kim Gray, and Craig Noyes. Patrick Grutkowski, nephew of our sergeant at arms Dave Grutkowski, set a record for the wheelchair competition.
Golf applications are now available for the Annual UE Golf Outing. The event will be held at the Riverside Golf Course in Cambridge Springs on Tuesday, July 31, 2001 at 1:00 p.m. (2nd week of shutdown). The cost of the outing is $70.00 and there will be a "Shotgun Start."
The June 2nd Edinboro Triathlon ended with several UE Local 506 Members winning events or placing in second. Congratulations to the following contestants:
1st Place "Corporate Over 40" Class 2nd Place "CorporateOver 40" Class
Larry Kisiewlewski, Bldg. 5 (swim) Scott McFadden, Bldg. 9 (swim)
Jim Brown, Bldg. 10 (bike) Don Rogers, Retired Bldg. 7 (bike)
Dave Walsh, Bldg. 6 (run) Bruce Maloney, Bldg. 50 (run)
ODDS AND ENDS
SLOW DOWN! - Complaints have come to the Hall about workers (from all employee groups) speeding in between and behind buildings in the Plant. Apparently there is a growing problem caused by drivers trying to exit the Plant earlier than their patience will allow. This Union does not condone this type of driving because it puts other workers in harms way. If you are one of the antsy drivers who has a pattern of rushing out of the Plant just to get home a couple of minutes sooner, try what many others have and let some of the traffic clear before heading out. You’ll find out that there’s very little difference in your arrival time – and it keeps your blood pressure down. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
COLA and GENERAL WAGE INCREASE – Based on a 1.69% rise in the Consumer Price Index from October through April, GE workers covered under the UE-GE Contract will receive 16 cents per hour beginning June 25, 2001. Also effective on the same date will be the negotiated 3% General Wage increase.
SALVAGE'S CASH SALES will be held between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. on June 30. For those of you unfamiliar with this event, materials and equipment is offered for employee purchase based on a long- held bidding procedure.
YEAR 2000 INSURANCE CLAIMS – Local 506 Members carrying the original CMB health insurance plan must submit their 2000 insurance claims by June 30, 2001 to be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses.
CEDAR POINT has been taken off the boycott list by the
Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council. As a result we will be
offering discount tickets but only on special dates and times (see related
article).
Amusement Park Tickets Available June 28
Discount tickets for Cedar Point, Six Flags World Adventure (Ohio), Six Flags Darien Lake (Western NY), Conneaut Lake Park and the Erie Zoo will be available again this year for UE Local 506 and 618 Members. But due to the confusion and interference with the Union Halls normal activities experienced in prior years, Tickets will only be available on a limited basis. We suggest that you get your tickets early because we only have a limited supply available for each Park.
Tickets will be sold by Financial Secretary Wayne Burnett (a.m.) and Treasurer Don Kosobucki (p.m.) at the Union Hall according to the schedule listed below.
7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (Only)From
A leaflet containing more information on Park discounts and
the clip out coupons, required by some of the Parks, will be distributed on
Friday, June 22, 2001
D.C.M.& G. PICNIC
Sunday, June 24, 2001 has been set aside for the "D.C." Picnic. The annual event will be held at the GE Picnic Grounds from 12:30 p.m.. to 5:00 p.m. with food being served at 1:30 p.m. This is a B.Y.O.B. event however, soft drinks will be provided. Tickets are $7:00. To buy your tickets see: Phyllis Bootes, Graham Matthews, Bldg. 2, Ray Burkell, Bldg. 2, Debbie Johnson, Bldg. 18, Pat Casane, Bldg. 6 or Shirley Ploss, Bldg. 10. Also we’ll try to arrange to have some tickets available at the Union Hall.
LOCAL 506 DELEGATES REPORT
QUEBEC FTAA PROTESTBy Donna Cramer and Sue Smock
Easter Sunday was not the usual holiday for us because the trip we had spent weeks preparing for was just hours away. Our planned destination was Quebec City to participate in a week full of activities surrounding the Free Trade Act of the Americas, FTAA. We joined Tom Dunne, Local 1111 and International Representative Robin Alexander to represent the UE in meetings, educational sessions and protests scheduled to express the broad-based opposition to FTAA.
The Woman’s Forum was the first order of business for us. There that heard from panels of women from Canada, United States and Mexico. Panel members spoke on how difficult it had become to find family sustaining jobs. Since the North American Free trade Act, NAFTA, was enacted, the multi-national corporations have taken opportunities to move good paying jobs to Mexico to exploit the work force there.
According to the presenters, women and children in Mexico have suffered the most since NAFTA came into existence. Women in Mexico talked about the young women in the Maquiladoras that work fourteen and sixteen hours a day. Due to these conditions, women have been murdered while walking home in the dark. The murders are still going on with no end in sight. The women, while seeking employment in Mexico, must also endure pregnancy tests, take birth control at the request of a boss and even put up with sexual harassment and other inhumane treatment.
The Canadian women on the panel echoed the remarks made by the American women. They have also found that jobs paying family sustaining wages are almost impossible to find.
The UE delegates heard from a number of other women representing countries throughout the Western Hemisphere. All saying the same thing. If NAFTA is expanded more exploitation at the hands of the multi-nationals will destroy any hopes of a better way of life.
Tuesday saw the opening of the "Peoples Summit". While the heads of thirty-four countries of the Western Hemisphere met secretly behind three miles of chain link fence and concrete abutments to make decisions that could affect the fate of human beings, the environment and all other natural resources, the "People" met to propose a real and fair trade agreement.
On Wednesday the UE representatives participated in an all day labor Forum. The delegates listened to John Sweeney from the AFL-CIO and Benedicto Martinez for Mexico’s Labor Congress. Although they spoke in two different languages, the two men conveyed the same message, "The people and the earth are now on the auction block! Who will be the highest bidder to use, abuse and discard human rights, clean water, clean air and good earth to grow crops both now and in the future." Both speakers urged the delegation to work against FTAA.
We had the chance to speak with young adults from colleges and universities. They asked us why we were there. We told then it was because our elected representatives no longer work for the people. They now serve the multi nationals and their concerns (profits).
If NAFTA is expanded to the FTAA corporations will be able to use the system to further promote their own agenda: more rights for multi-nationals and a weakening of government control over corporations.
Thank you UE 506 members for sending us to Quebec City to collect this important information and to participate in the demonstrations on your behalf. We promise to stay on top of this issue and to bring you further reports. Your UE local 506 and 618 LAC has more information if you wish to know more.
BUILDING TWO "CHIEF" RETIRES
Building 2 Chief Divisional Steward Frank Vollmer accepted a Special Early Retirement effective June 1st. He was elected to the chief divisional steward position in January 2000. During Frank’s freshman term in office he participated as a member of the Job Preservation Committee working especially hard on bringing machine work into the Plant. Frank served the Union as a steward for most of his 32 years of service and was an active member during the rare periods when he wasn’t in office. We wish to thank Frank for his many years of service and we wish him the best in his richly deserved retirement.The election to fill Frank’s position was held Thursday, June 14, 2001, too late to post the results in this edition of the LOCAL 506 NEWS. The member succeeding Frank will be announced in an upcoming NEWS supplement or in the July paper.
UE-GE CONFERENCE BOARD ADOPTS STATEMENT ON FTAA
STATEMENT OF THE UE-GE CONFERENCE BOARD
ON THE FREE TRADE AREA OF THE AMERICAS (FTAA)
The UE-GE Conference Board stands in solidarity with working people all over the world who have joined the struggle against corporate and government trade policies that are systematically destroying our jobs, our communities, and the environment. This week we watch as tens of thousands of ordinary people converge on the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, Quebec, to expose and denounce the work of trade ministers and heads of state who are planning the next stage of the globalization attack on working people.
The business and political leaders meeting behind closed doors in Quebec are constructing the so-called "Free Trade Area of the Americas" (FTAA.) The ultimate goal of the FTAA is to increase corporate profits by further reducing the wages and living standards of working people throughout our hemisphere. This will be accomplished as corporations - such as the General Electric Company - utilize deals like FTAA to downsize and move production to those countries where labor costs and working conditions are at the lowest possible levels.
It' s time for completely new trade policies that put people and the environment before the greed of politicians and big business. Nothing less will do.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE UE-GE CONFERENCE BOARD;
1. Demands that the U. S. Congress oppose the corrupt and anti-worker FTAA;
2. Demands that the U.S. Congress oppose the undemocratic "Fast Track" mechanism;
3. Stands in full support of those trade unionists, students, farmers, and other working people demonstrating against the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City, Quebec.