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NOVEMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE AGENDA: Chief Plant Steward Election (voting 6am to 6pm) District 6 President Andrew Dinkelaker will address the membership Vote on the 2006 Holiday schedule MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND TIMES ARE: |
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ELECTION NOTICE: NOMINATE AND VOTE FOR DIVISIONAL CHIEF STEWARDS IN JANUARY This may seem too early to write about the upcoming Chief Divisional Stewards Elections, but with the Holidays, a year-end shutdown and the usual vacation days planned for the Holiday Season, the Election Committee suggested that an advanced notice be printed. The Elections for Divisional Chief Stewards will be held in the shop on January 23, 2006. Any UE 506 Member in good standing can run provided they have paid Union dues for 12 months prior to the election. Candidates for Divisional Chief Steward must also have served as a Steward or Alternate Steward for at least 12 months. Nominations for Divisional Chief Stewards must be made at the UE Local 506 Office, during regular business hours on January 3, 4 or 5, 2006. Nominations will be closed at 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, January 5, 2006. Any member in good standing can nominate a candidate for these offices or the candidates can nominate themselves. The member making the nomination will pick up an acceptance form and a questionnaire. These MUST be filled out by the candidate and returned to the Union Hall Office no later than 4:00 P.M. on Monday, January 9, 2006. The individual making the nomination is responsible for delivering these forms to the candidate. The names of all Candidates will be published in a special UE Local 506 Bulletin, along with information on each Candidate’s attendance at Local Union Meetings, Union Offices held, and a brief statement of qualifications. Two tellers per shift will be chosen, by mutual agreement of the Candidates, to conduct the election in the Division. The Divisional Election Committee representative will post notices for the election in prominent locations at least three days before the election. The posting will list the candidates, date, hours of voting, and where and how the voting will be conducted. Newly elected Chief Stewards will be sworn in at the third shift Membership Meeting in February. The complete rules for Union Elections are contained in the UE Local 506 Constitution. If you do not have a copy, see your Chief Steward or stop by the Union Hall to pick one up. |
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SPECIAL ELECTION NOTICE
VOTE FOR CHIEF PLANT STEWARD= THE ELECTION WILL TAKE PLACE ON: Candidate statements can be seen on pages in the 506 NEW distributed to members on Friday the 11th. All candidates have pledged to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America and the Constitution and by-laws of UE Local 506. The candidates have also stated that they are familiar with the provisions of the UE-GE National Agreement. |
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ELECT DELEGATES TO DISTRICT COUNCIL SIX On October 20, 2005, nine UE Local 506 Members accepted a nomination to run for District Council Six Delegates or Alternate Delegate for the 2006 term. Seven seats will be filled through an election that will be conducted at the Local 506 Hall on Thursday, November 17, 2005, between 6am and 6pm. The District Delegate candidates will appear at the bottom of the ballot being used for the Chief Plant Steward and Sergeant at Arms elections. Make sure you bring your 506 Membership card with you to vote. The candidates accepting nomination for District 6 Delegate are listed below, in the order they will appear on the ballot.Matt McCracken, Building 42 |
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SERGEANT AT ARMS GRUTKOWSKI RETIRES Congratulations and thanks go out to Sergeant at Arms Dave Grutkowski who retired on November 1st. For eight years, Dave was the first person members saw when attending meetings and he always helped to keep order during those meetings. |
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NEW DISTRICT 6 PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS 506 MEMBERS District President Andrew Dinkelaker will speak at the November 17, 2005 Local 506 Membership meetings. Andrew was elected to succeed John Lambiase as President of District 6 on October 15, 2005, Prior to the election; Andrew was a UE National Staff Field Organizer working out of Erie. He worked on the successful Harborcreek Youth Services organizing campaign and more recently, while temporarily transferred, he was involved in bringing the members of the Connecticut Independent Union/Connecticut Independent Police Union into the UE. During his address, President Dinkelaker will be explaining his plans for the District, which includes improving and strengthening communications. |
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FRANKLY SPEAKING IDP EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS We often refer to the Benefits Handbook for answers to questions regarding healthcare and disability benefits and 68 lucky people used it to look up the Guarantee Pension tables. But the subject of this article is IDP. The Individual Development Program (IDP) is a benefit that can help employees enhance their job skills and enable them to become qualified for some of the more technical jobs in the plant including, but not limited to, Test, Electrical and Mechanical Maintenance, Tool and Die work, and Inspection. The program will reimburse employees up to $5000.00 per calendar year for job related classes i.e. your current job or to prepare you for future opportunities at the company. All schools must be accredited. Management must also approve all courses and you must pass the course to be eligible for reimbursement. Before you register for the course you will need to obtain an application. You can do so by going to, benefits.ge.com, or by calling the GE Education and Family Services Center at 1-800-992-0406 at least 30 days before the course start date. After you fill out the application, have your manger sign it, then mail or fax the application to the address or fax number on the form. To receive a tuition reimbursement, you must submit proof that you passed the course within 120 days of completion. You will receive your reimbursement directly from payroll within 4 weeks. |
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HAYSITE WORKERS THANK 506 FOR SUPPORT Haysite Workers, members of IAM Local 101, who have been on strike since September 15th, want Local 506 Members to know they appreciate the financial and moral support given to their cause. The Local 101 Members are on strike fighting a permanent two-tiered system that would max out at 70% of current wages. They are also fighting a wage and pension freeze and higher health insurance co-pays. The Local 506 officers presented a $500 check to the strikers at the picket line in October. They will be presenting the proceeds from the recent plant collection early next week. If you want to help the Haysite workers further, you can drop off non-perishable food items at the Central Labor Hall at 1701 State Street during business hours or, the strikers say, "Just honk when you pass by their pickets on Perry Highway", they appreciate the support. |
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| LOCAL 506 RECEIVES FOOD BANK AWARD On October 5, 2005, as part of it’s 17th Annual Award Program, the 2nd Harvest Food Bank of North Western PA recognized 506 Members for their contributions over the years and presented the Local with a "Bread Box " Award. As a result, the Local 506 name will be placed on a special honor roll plaque displayed in the foyer at the Food Bank. Over the last two decades, Local 506 Members have given generously every time a special collection was organized to benefit 2nd Harvest. |
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ODDS AND ENDS SERO WRAPUP – (Unless you opted out of the recent SERO Replacement Window) If you had 34.233 years of Pension Benefit Service (PBS) as of 12/31/2004 you’re probably on the outside looking in by now. Looking at the SERO on a national basis, 68 Local 506 Members retired out of the 420 total retirement slots open. 506 welcomes Conneaut GE workers – About 10 laid off workers from the Ohio Plant, former members of UE Local 731, were able to secure employment in the Erie works recently. When a young man recently asked IAM Lodge 101 President Tom Wagner (Haysite), What are you on strike for? Tom replied, "We’re on strike for you!" |
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