United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), Northeast Region
5 Hill Street, Taunton, MA 02780
(774) 264 0110
office@uenortheast.org
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE), Northeast Region
Delegates to the UE District 2 Council Meeting on June 13 and 14 gave a warm welcome to members of UE's two newest locals, Local 203 at City Market in Burlington, Vermont and Local 255 at Hunger Mountain Coop in Montpelier, Vermont. "It's great to be part of the labor movement," declared Local 203 negotiating committee member Duke Moulton. Fellow Local 203 negotiating committee member Martha Hull described how management at City Market brought in a loan officer with a degree from Harvard who told the UE members at the bargaining table that he would "try to speak at their level" and that their wage demands amounted to "communism." Nonetheless, the members of Local 203 have secured most of their demands on language issues, including union security, and are confident that they will have a first contract by the July 1st deadline they have set. Local 255 members Alex Underwood and Lydia Trebilcock reported how management at their store cut workers' health care benefits without even telling them and arbitrarily declared $8.21 per hour — the store's wage rate for workers with one year of service — to be a "livable wage."
The District Council meeting did not focus solely on new UE members, however, as tribute was paid throughout the council meeting to the history of nearby New Bedford, especially the militant struggles against plant closings waged by Local 277 at Morse Cutting Tool and Local 284 at J.C. Rhodes. Carl Olsen, former president of Local 284 (and current president of Local 248) welcomed the delegates to Fairhaven, and introduced Fairhaven's Director of Tourism, who spoke about the area's history while dressed in colonial-era garb. Also present at the council meeting and banquet were retired Local 277 and District 2 president Rod Poineau and several other Local 284 retirees. Following the council meeting, many delegates went by the New Bedford Labor History Mural, which pays tribute to the great African-American abolitionist Frederick Douglass and to the struggles of New Bedford workers, including UE members.
Health insurance dominated the contract reports on Friday afternoon, as locals reported on negotiations with Haskon (Local 204), Atlas Copco (Local 259), Package Printing (Local 264), Greenfield Tap & Die (Local 274), Entoleter (Local 299) and GE (Local 332) - negotiations that, without exception, featured employer demands for takeaways on health insurance. While locals reported membership unity and some successes on this issue, most are being forced to accept at least some increased employee contributions for health care. Local 299 members have been on strike since May 1st because, after taking out health insurance costs, the company's offer leaves the workers with no wage increase in the 2nd and 3rd years of the proposed contract. On Saturday morning, UE education director Carol Lambiase led the delegates in a workshop on what UE sees as the only solution to rising healthcare costs - a political solution in the form of a national health care plan - and how locals can engage in political action to support this demand.
Also addressing the Council meeting was Massachussetts Congressman Barney Frank, who denounced the current administration and Republican leadership as "the most conservative political operation since Calvin Coolidge." The aim of the Republican leadership, he stressed, was to repeal all aspects of the New Deal: Social Security, the National Labor Relations Board, and the Fair Labor Standards Act (which includes the minimum wage and overtime pay). Congressman Frank also emphasized that the purpose of Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy is not just to reward his rich friends but also to get the country to a point where there isn't enough money left in the government coffers to allow spending for any of the social needs of working people such as prescription drug benefits, public education, social security and cleaning up toxic spills.
Delegates also heard from retired District 2 president Phil Mamber on the political power and importance of retirees.