OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING NOTICE
Agenda:
Election for Trustee (see related article on page 2)
Nominations for Eastern Regional Delegates
1st reading of an amendment to the 506 Constitution (see related article on this page
Officers update on Plant hiring
Committee reports and general business matters
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS AND TIMES ARE:
Thursday, October 18, 2007 (All meetings)
7:20 a.m. (3rd Shift) 1:00 p.m. (2nd Shift) 3:20 p.m. (1st Shift)
AMENDMENT PROPOSED
Steve Harris submitted the following amendment to the Local 506 Constitution at a September 11, 2007 membership meeting. Members will vote on the amendment during the November 15, 2007 membership meetings. If the amendment passes a new eligibility requirement will be added to run for the office of Business Agent, President, Chief Plant Steward and Vice President/Recording Secretary.
Change Article V Section 1:
Add Section 1(h): A member must have held the office of steward for no less
than one full term
ODDS AND ENDS
Hiring resumed September 17th. We want to welcome all new members to our organization, hopefully by now you have met the steward and chief steward in your area and you are learning about Local 506 and the UE. The best way to become familiar with the Union’s Policies and Procedures is to attend the monthly membership meetings. See you there on October 18th.
Mike Rowan submitted the following from the Legion Magazine: "To err is human; to blame it on someone else shows management potential."
For years retirees have been presented with really nice retirement books, however, the books recent Building 10 retirees received were chintzy to say the least. Roger Zaczyk added, "As if this wasn’t enough of an insult, when the cake and coffee were served in the retiree’s honor, no managers (PTA, QTA of BL) bothered to show up to wish the 37 + year service people well.
The pension meetings set up to help SERO retirees understand and fill out all of the documents have been going smoothly. Because of the sheer numbers, we’ve had to hold group sessions. With all of the Boomers turning 60 and retiring on January 1st, we’ll have to set up something similar for them. I want to thank Treasurer Mark Pierson and 18T & 63 Chief Steward Ron Dombrowiak for giving up their time to help assist retirees at the meetings. -P.R.
ELECT STEWARDS AND ALTERNATES IN NOVEMBER
The Local 506 Election Committee, working with the Divisional Chief Stewards, will be posting nomination cards for Departmental Stewards and Alternates in late October or early November. Per the 506 Constitution, the elections will be conducted during the first two weeks in November. Any member who has been in good standing for at least six (6) months shall be eligible to run for either office. The term of office will be two years. Stewards and Alternate Stewards will be installed during the December Membership Meetings.
The duties of a Departmental Steward include attending meetings, representing the members in all grievance cases and working out differences with their area manager. Elected Stewards will have deferment from layoffs providing they follow the provisions of the UE Local 506 and UE National Constitution and the policies and principles of the Union in accordance with established practices. Members interested in running for the Steward or Alternate Steward position should familiarize themselves with Article X and Article V of the UE Local 506 Constitution.
LOCAL SEES RECORD NUMBER OF SEROS
As of October 8th, about 145 Local 506 Members have qualified and accepted the Special Early Retirements Option Window Feature, thus doubling the previous high allotment. The amount of Pension Benefit Service, PBS, needed (as of 12/31/2006) to retire was at 36.066 or about a 12/8/1970 Service Date.
Overall, 5, 269 workers were SERO eligible and 2,253 submitted applications. When offered the SERO 196 applicants turned the offer down.
So far, the Local has held 12 special meetings to help the large number of retirees and future retirees (11/1/2007) understand their benefits and know how to fill out their election forms.