March 2004 UE Local 506 News

Agenda: A report from delegates to the UE Political Action Conference, Officers Reports and Committee Updates.

MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND TIMES ARE:

LOCAL 506 BACKS VETS

On Tuesday, February 24th, a diverse group of Local 506 members including the officers, board members, the ROC Committee and a large delegation of Building 7 workers rallied in the cold with members of veterans organizations at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, VAMC. The UE members joined the demonstration to protest against the VA advisory panel recommendations to close the Erie hospital acute-care beds and stop performing inpatient surgeries. If adopted, veterans would have to travel out of town for any surgery or treatment that requires an overnight stay.

Speaking out against cutting VA services, Local 506 President Frank Fusco stated, "Our veterans sacrificed too much for our Country to be neglected now or in the future." Frank urges the membership to take an active roll in the fight to maintain veteran services by contacting Senators and Congressmen. (Look for contact information on page 6).

Also at risk, if the panel recommendations are carried out, are the jobs of 400 caregivers, members of SEIU 200. Losing more union jobs would further undermine Erie County’s economy while also diminishing the skilled care given to veterans.

To learn more about the VAMC cuts or to voice your opinion, U.S Senator Arlen Specter will hold a hearing on March 26th at 9:45 a.m. at the Erie County Courthouse. In the meantime, Local 506 will be coordinating activities with Erie Jobs with Justice, an organization that has been at the forefront fighting to maintain veterans’ benefits.

The latest bumper sticker making the rounds is "A baby’s diaper and politicians need to be changed regularly and for the same reason." That may be crude, but it’s not bias. Although the Democrats would like to blame the Republicans, and the Republicans would like to blame the Democrats, the truth is both parties are at fault.

Enron, World Com, Global Crossing, these accounting scandals don’t happen by accident, both parties turned a blind eye to these problems. Despite what Ann Coulter and Molly Ivans say, neither party has firm footing on high moral ground; both have hit that slippery slope. There wasn’t a Republican president in office when NAFTA was passed, but there were plenty of Republican names on the bill. Likewise there wasn’t a Democratic president in office when the FTAA was passed, but there were numerous Democratic signatures on that bill.

We have officially entered the Election Season, and its time to tell Washington "NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL." The system is set-up for abuse, these politicians live in the D.C. area, and they set themselves up like kings and queens, having absolutely no idea what the real world is like. They pass trade schemes that take tens of millions of dollars per year from local economies, then show up before an election waving a check for 1 million dollars and we forget, or worse don’t care what they’ve done to us the previous years. We can no longer tolerate a system that ignores the taxpayers.

The voters need to declare Washington D.C. a toxic waste dump full of corruption and deceit. Both parties are responsible for the millions of jobs lost over the past four years. Both parties are to blame for the millions of retirees who have lost their pensions due to plant closings and the aforementioned accounting scandals. Only WE the voters are responsible for the legacy we leave for our children, and grandchildren, who may be the first generation with a lower standard of living than their parents had. Every generation has had it better than the last one. But that will be the case if we don’t act now. November 2^nd, the most important day in your family’s future. If you are not registered to vote, we can get you the form, see your Chief Steward. March 29^th is the last day to register before the primary election.

On February 24^th we attended a rally at the Veteran’s Hospital, over 500 people were there to protest the possible termination of Acute Care and In- patient surgery at the local VA. Hospital, the current plan would have these Veterans travel to Pittsburgh, Cleveland, or Buffalo for treatment. The men and women, who fought for the freedoms we enjoy in America today, are now being attacked. When do we as Americans say enough? When do we tell the politicians they work for us?

Grievances year to date (9) cases. Compared to March 2003, the Local had already filed 36 cases. As of this writing, we hadn’t scheduled any Step #2 meetings in the new year, opting instead to wait for the conclusion of the Divisional Chief Steward elections.

As a result of the recent elections, the Local will have three new Divisional Chief Stewards. They are Ralph Mannarino, M&C (Plant Services), Dan Ebert, Building 18 Control and Ron Dombrowiak, Building 63, 18 Truck and Transportation. On behalf of the Local, I want to thank outgoing Chief Stewards Steve Harris from Plant Services, Bill Lobaugh from 18 Control and Mike Jelinek from Building 63, 18 Truck and Transportation.

I do not often write my articles with politics in mind but this election has me baffled as to why any working person could support the current administration. In cooperation with corporations, this administration is systematically dismantling our manufacturing base. For years, we have been told that shipping our physically demanding jobs overseas would free American workers up for the less physical, high tech jobs. Now, based on the President’s chief economic advisor’s written report, it appears these high tech jobs are doomed as well. As the report states, some 3.3 million jobs will leave this country over the next ten years. The report goes on to say that this is good for our economy because it improves the bottom line for corporate America. And this is good for us all? If this scenario sounds like the old "trickle down theory" it is, only they don’t use that term anymore.

Having recently returned from India, I can tell you, that nation’s workers, although thankful to be employed, are no happier than the U.S. workers who are being told that they should just be happy to have a job. I can also tell you, from my experience, the theory that says shipping our jobs to low wage countries will somehow "lift all boats" is a bunch of bunk. The boats workers are on, in the countries that need a lift, are running deeper than a submarine and the surface is not even in sight.

By the way, those white-collar (technical) workers who years ago said, "If you blue collar folks would just work harder, and not be greedy, your jobs would not be in jeopardy", have now joined us in our boat.

Politicians all seem to run on a platform of job creation, George Bush was no different. He made the same claims, only now we see he not only didn’t live up to his promise, but he in fact gave away millions of jobs. Now GW wants the voters to believe his corporate and wealthy individual tax breaks are working, and he wants us to give him a chance to see it through and millions of jobs will be created. The way I see it, even if this were true, we’d only be breaking even and then what would his explanation be for the next 3.3 million jobs he plans to let go away.

If working people continue to be intentionally distracted by other issues, (marriage rights, gun rights, being too hard or soft on crime, or too hard or soft on war), then the issue of most importance, jobs, will go by the wayside.

President Frank Fusco, alias the "Prez" was apprehended at the Union Hall on Thursday, February 12 , 2004. His arrest came as no surprise, as the 506 NEWS was tipped off of the impending incarceration. The charges were kept secret but we know, judging by the baIL set for his crime, that the offense was of a serious nature.

In all seriousness now, Frank’s mock arrest came about as a part of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Annual celebrity lock up to raise money for the charity.

Through the generosity of his friends, especially the workers in Building 7, Frank raised $570.00 for his bail and the MDA. He would like to thank everyone who helped "Spring" him and promises now to stay on the "Straight and Narrow."

With the help of the Local 506 Sports Committee, the Veterans Administration Voluntary Services Association held their 2nd annual bowling tournament on Sunday, February 22nd. Thanks to community support, donations of over $7,500.00 were raised to benefit the patients at the VAMC.     (see the photos)

UE Members did well at the tournament winning the following classes:
 Mens high game: Carl Daugherty (258)
Womens High Game: Ruby Church (196)
Mens Handicap: Dale Wilkinson (267)
Womens Handicap: Mary Stewart (242)
VAMC Residents take part in event

Upcoming Sports Committee events include the Saint Patrick’s Volleyball Tourney on Sunday, March 14th and the UE 506 Bowling Tournament which is set for Saturday, April 10th at Eastway Lanes.

Although President Bush said the war is over, we still have thousands of men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan. The CSF board voted to donate $600 to the Yellow ribbon Campaign to defray the cost of shipping packages to our military. If you have a son or daughter serving in these areas, and you would like them to receive a package from the Yellow Ribbon, E-Mail their name and APO / FPO address to: Gbrumbau@adelphia.net

Unity Committee Chairman Wayne Burnett has announced that his committee has expanded to better serve the 506 Membership. After several months of meeting with interested volunteers, Wayne told the UE NEWS that three new representatives would be sharing the important work carried out by the Unity Committee. Willie Hopkins, Nancy Kinsinger, and Ray Rosario will be on call along with veteran members of the committee Donna Cramer, Dennis Crawford, and Chairman Burnett.

The Unity Committee was established in 1998, acting on a 63rd UE National Convention resolution calling on members to "challenge discriminatory behavior of any kind". Since then, the committee has taken their role a step farther and successfully intervened in several "member against member" conflicts that arose on the shop floor. In 1999, the Local 506 Unity Council was presented with C.A.R.E.'s Unity in Diversity Award for the work they perform.

If you have an issue you would like to discuss with a member of the Unity Committee, you can reach them at the following numbers:

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