IUE July 17 - IUE

IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 1
Celebrating 80 Years
as a Chartered Local
1933 – 2013
IUE-CWA
Local 201 News
Local 201 is an amalgamated local representing approximately 1,800 members employed by GE River Works (Lynn),
Ametek Aerospace (Wilmington), Veolia water (Lynn), Avis-Budget Group (East Boston), Avis (Boston/Cambridge), and
the Saugus Library (Saugus) and thousands of lifetime Retiree members across the country.. www.local201iuecwa.org
Vol. LXXIII
EDITOR
Ric Casilli
PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT LYNN, MASS.
MANAGING-EDITOR
Bill Rounseville
TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015
Subscription
$1.00 Per Year
USPS 171-720
Post Master: Send Address Changes To:
IUE-CWA Local 201 News
112 Exchange St., Lynn, MA 01901
Number 6
Published By: IUE-CWA Local 201, AFL-CIO
112 Exchange Street, Lynn, Mass. 01901
(781) 598-2760
Contract Negotiations Open With GE
President Jim Clark
Chairman Bob Santamoor
“Our bargaining committee and membership took bold
steps in 2011, that quite frankly, none of us were pleased
about…but we are people of our word, and we did what we
said we would do to help GE through the U.S. recovery…”
“It is no longer 2011. The economy has changed, GE made
$15 billion in profits in 2014, and the 2011 contract is expiring
this month. The memberships across all GE facilities are mobilized, engaged, and demanding solid improvements…”
“We may be smaller in numbers, but we are stronger, more
committed and more unified than ever. Experience has taught
us that each round becomes more difficult because GE thinks
we already have too much. You want to take things away from
us…including things we have already bargained…paid for, if
you will…for our retirees. We however expect more…much
more…than mere polite attention paid to our requests; we expect a positive response…”
Excerpted from the opening statement of IUE-CWA President James Clark
Excerpted from the opening statement of Conference Bd.
Chair Bob Santamoor
“Finally, don’t make the mistake of thinking anyone on this
“While GE insists that it must follow the lead of other maside
is complacent or discouraged. We have taken on this fight
jor corporations when it comes to pensions and healthcare, we
before
and we are more than ready to do so again. One by one,
disagree. General Electric did not become a universally-admired corporate giant by being a follower; GE can and should person by person, union by union, we stand in solidarity. Solilead by setting an example for others to follow, an example of darity to do right by our members, to do right for our retirees
and even to do right for our honor and our future…”
being a good corporate citizen and U.S. employer.”
Paid Sick Time Law Benefits
Many GE & ABG Members
Law Effective July 1st
Seven hundred and twenty
members at GE and thirty two
members at Avis Budget Group
will be immediately impacted
by the implementation of the
new Massachusetts Sick Leave
Law.
After a long campaign by
union and community groups,
voters approved Ballot Question
4, “Earned Sick Time for Employees,” on November 4, 2014. The
law goes into effect this July 1st.
It provides for the use of up to 40
hours of paid sick time per calendar year, with one hour earned
for every 30 hours worked, beginning on the date of hire or on
July 1, 2015, whichever is later.
Employees can begin to use
earned sick time on the 90th day
after hire.
MA Attorney General Maura
Healey has issued a “Transition
Year: Safe Harbor” under which
employers are responsible for allowing at least 30 hours of paid
time off to be earned during the
calendar year 2015, since implementation of the law takes place
part-way into the year.
For GE workers the new law
means that new employees will
be eligible to accrue sick time
from the start of their employment and start to use it after just
3 months on the job. For a large
group of our members with less
(Continued on page 3)
Business Agent Ric Casilli addresses one of three
in-plant rallies held on May 29th before leaving for
national negotiations in New York. Similar send-off
rallies were held at all other IUE-CWA locals, including in Louisville, Kentucky (see photo on page 9).
Daily negotiations up-dates are being posted on
geworkersunited.org
Thursdays are Red CBC T-Shirt Days!
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 2
MSAC Thanks 201
PAGE 2
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
The 1,200 members of Mass Senior Action
Council thank you for your generous donation.
Your support is helping us build our power in the
fight for justice.
Sincerely,
MSAC Members & Staff
Silent Auctions
Door Prizes
ECCO Boat Cruise fundraiser in June!
Essex County Community Organization is hosting its first annual fundraiser, a sunset boat
cruise of the Gloucester harbor. Join us to celebrate a successful year with ECCO and
support our continued work for justice in the North Shore!
We’ll have a DJ spinning live music, refreshments, and a cash bar.
Sunday, June 21, 2015, 7:00–9:00PM
Tickets are $45 for one, or $40 for two or more.
Mass Senior Action Council leader Barbara Mann
addressed Local 201 members rallying on the day
of GE’s Annual Meeting.
Discount Tickets Available
At the Union Hall
Canobie Lake Park
$29.00 per person
(Over 3 and under 60, 48 inches or taller)
Water Country – $29.99 per person
Call 781-598-2760 for more information.
“IUE-CWA Local 201 News”
(USPS 171720)
“Published monthly.”
$1.00 a Year
Service Directory
As a service to our members and retirees, Local 201 offers classified ads at minimal rates. We encourage
members to consider their brothers and sisters when hiring for odd jobs. These ads do not imply any endorsement or guarantee of workmanship by Local 201.
Real Estate Needs. Paul Kotkowski,
Coldwell Banker. 30 yrs experience
full Time realtor, listing and selling.
GE retiree. (978) 828-1604.
Generator: New Briggs & Stratton
5500 watts. $795.00. Utility Trailer:
4’ X 8’ Tilt Bed. $100.00. Utility
Trailer: 4’ X 6’ Heavy Duty. $200.00.
Call 978-462-7877
Snowflake Arizona House for Sale:
2 story, 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, custom
wood and stone work. Gas heat,
mild winters, taxes only $508 per yr.
6 acres fenced. Asking $180,000
Call 775-537-7870
Published By
Camera Graphics
Printed by The
Golden Manet Press
Quincy
Small Engine Service: 35 plus yrs
experience repairing small engines,
Lawn Mowers, Snow Blowers,
Chain Saws, etc. Reasonable prices.
(10% Discount on Parts for GE employees) 978-758-9527.
Seasonal Camp for sale in mobile
home park. Deck, private beach, 2-3
Bdrms, near Weirs Beach, Laconia,
NH. Mid $20’s. Call 978-697-9912.
Print your ad on this form.
Mail to: Service Directory, IUE-CWA Local 201, 112 Exchange St., Lynn, MA 01901.
Enclose Payment:
For laid off members & retirees: $1 per issue / $15 per year
For active members: $2 per issue / $30 per year
TITLE
Published by: Local 201 IUE-CWA (AFL-CIO)
112 Exchange Street, Lynn, MA 01901
Periodicals Postage Paid at Lynn, MA • POSTMASTER: Send address changes
to “IUE-CWA Local 201 News,” 112 Exchange Street, Lynn, MA 01901
Chevy Pickup, 1998 Pickup 4 X 4.
Plow Cap, Tool Box. 4 studded tires.
$5,000 or best offer. Call 207-4909049
Fix A Brick – No job too small, really! Stairs, Foundations, Walkways,
Chimneys, etc., etc. Call 978-2399801.
Nice 1 Bedroom Condo with car
port & pool. New Port Richey,
Tarpin Spring area, Florida. Furnished. Ground floor. Retired GE
get away vacation for snow birds.
Price negotiable. 1-727-849-6983
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LIMIT
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PHONE #
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Your Name..........................................................................................
Amt. Enclosed ................................
Your phone #..................................................Circle: active or retired
Date mailed ....................................
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 3
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
(Continued from page 1)
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
PAGE 3
• New Paid Sick Time
than 25 years Continuous
Service, the new law will
increase the number sick
days they can earn and
use.
For part-time Avis
Budget Group employees, they will now have
the right to earn and use
paid sick time. In addition, all new employees
will start accruing paid
sick time from the start of
their employment, although they won’t be eligible to use any of that
time until after 90 days.
The law also allows employees to carry over up
to 40 hours of unused
sick time into the next
calendar year, an increase
of 8 hours for all ABG
members in a single year.
GE has informed Local
201 that its implementation of the new law will
be the subject of discussions at negotiations in
New York since the
Company is also having
to deal with the implementation of similar laws
in other states covered by
the National Agreement.
Avis Budget Group has
told Local 201 that its
Union Relations Manager will discuss implewith
the
mentation
Union soon.
Our members should
keep in mind that these
improved benefits did
not just fall from the sky.
Just as with the recent increase in the state minimum wage, many unions
and individual members
worked
long
hours
knocking on doors, petitioning and demonstrating for these progressive
changes. The eight hour
day, Social Security, occupational health standards and many other
things we all tend to take
for granted were the result of the past struggles
of organized labor. Political activism has to be
as much a part of our
Union’s life as negotiating contracts and representing
individual
members. Next time the
Legislative Committee
puts out a call, get on
the bus!
* Workers’ Compensation
* Social Security Disability
* Accidents
James J. Carrigan
(Former member Local 201
and Lynn Teachers Union)
Anne Gugino Carrigan
(Former member AFSCME)
Ronald D. Malloy
(Former Business Agent
of Local 201)
15 Johnson St.
Lynn, MA 01902
(across from Lynn District Court)
Tel. (781) 596-0100
Fax (781) 592-7555
e-mail: [email protected]
Free consultation.
*No fee unless successful.
Veolia Water
By Roger Moreau
Chief Steward
We don’t have any step
2 meetings scheduled with
the Company right now.
The Two O&M positions
were filled and they have
begun working in the plant
now.
We have Contractors beginning work in the Plant
removing the cake, screenings, and grit bins preparing for installation of the
new scrubber equipment
for the Incinerator. We also have Contractors completing work on painting
the wind turbine.
We had Don Pottle in for
a brief class for our
wastewater license contact
hours. We will be reviewing
the
Sacramento
wastewater volume two
book, homework assignments given out. He will
be coming in every Tues-
day, correcting the previous week’s assignments
and issuing the following
week’s assignment. In order to get credit for your
homework, make sure it is
completed and returned to
Linda Holland before
3:30pm on Tuesdays.
Safety has improved
greatly over the past few
years in our Plant. It has
happened because of a
concerted effort between
Company and Union.
Even though I say this, we
still sometimes over look
work hazards because we
become accustomed to seeing them on a daily basis.
That’s why the Company
does Safety Audits on its
self.
We have a program now
that works, the Near Miss
Program. We have a Safe-
ty Committee that meets
monthly and reviews hazards in the plant. We have
safety training each month.
If work isn’t safe we talk
about it and work together
to remove the hazardous
condition as best we can.
Some hazards can’t be
eliminated and we need to
be careful working around
them and take precaution
as best we can.
If you see an unsafe condition or work practice,
consult your Union Safety
Rep (Mark B), our Plant
Safety Coordinator (Fred
H), myself or anyone that
is on our Safety Committee
(Linda, Al, Paul K, Mark B,
Fred H, and Ted Comick)
and we will all work TOGETHER to make it as safe
as possible for all of us to
work here.
Congratulations to
Local 201 members
Gary Fuller and Hal
Call on their retirements. Gary, a P21
Welder Technician,
retired May 1, 2 0 1 5
f r o m A m e t e k Aerospace (formerly GE)
with over 46 ½ years
of combined service.
Hal, a R25 Tool Maker, retired June 1, 2015
from Ametek after almost 43 years of combined service. Hal was
a former Steward and
was the IUE-CWA Local 201 Ametek EBoard member from
October
3,
1994
through March 13,
2001. We wish both
Gary and Hal a great
retirement and thank
Hal for his service to
Local 201 for many
years as a union representative.
CONGRATULATIONS ON
201 AMETEK RETIREMENTS
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 4
PAGE 4
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Local 201 Scholarship Winners
Local 201 Treasurer
Tom O’Shea had the pleasure of presenting two of
the three Local 201 Scholarship winners checks for
$1,000 each at the AFLCIO State Federation
Scholarship Reception at
the IBEW Local 103 Hall
in Dorchester.
On Tom’s right is Cassidy McGann of Lynn
who is graduating from
Lynn Classical High
School.
Her father,
Richard McGann works
in GE’s Bldg. 64 as a Special Machinist. Cassidy
will be attending Endicott
College in the fall where
she plans to major in Biology.
On Tom’s left is Kayla
Ostrowski of Beverly
who is graduating from
Beverly High School.
Kayla’s father, Michael
lity,”
“Qua sional
Profes ntal
De ”
“Care
Ostrowski is a ScrapCoordinator in Bldg. 64. Kayla
is looking forward to
studying drama and media at Marymount College in Manhattan. Kayla
was also the winner of the
North Shore Labor Council’s scholarship.
Rachel Connelly of
Amesbury, who attends
Bishop Fenwick High
School, won the Charles
E. Ruiter Jr. Memorial
Scholarship but was unable to attend the Reception. Rachel’s grandfather,
Michael
Grant
worked as a welder in
Bldg. 66 before his retirement
The Local 201 Scholarships, each for $1,000, are
among the 548 scholarships totaling $878,585
that were awarded by the
State Federation this
year. Each student applying for a Mass AFLCIO scholarship is provided
with
study
materials on labor history
and must take an exam
administered by their individual high schools
which also includes an
essay section.
Local 201’s scholarships are always advertised in the late fall issues
of the 201 News and the
state-wide labor history
exam is usually administered in the following January. CWA, IUE, and
Union Plus scholarships
are also advertised in the
paper early each year. If
you have a son or daughter who just finished their
Junior year of high
school, be sure to keep an
eye out for these important notices.
LYNN DENTAL HEALTH
10 Kirtland Street, Lynn, MA 01905
General and Multi-specialty Practice
• Preventive Care – Routine Exams,
Cleanings, X-Rays
• Restorative Services – Amalgam/
Composite Fillings, Crowns, Bridgework
• Emergency Care – Extractions
• Dentures & Denture Repairs
• Endodontics (Root Canal Therapy)
• Periodontics & Dental Implants
• Orthodontics
Serving GE Members For Over 20 Years
Most Insurances Accepted
Evening & Saturday Appointments Available
Handicap Accessible
New Patients Welcome!
Please call (781) 595-2552
Lynn Dental – All New Patients Will Receive A 10% discount.
Please Present This Coupon at The Time Of Your Visit.
6
SYMPATHY
The sympathy of IUE-CWA Local 201 Officers, Executive Board, members and Retiree Association is
extended to the family and friends of Charlie
Guice, former President of IUE Local 191, Rome,
Georgia, on his passing. Charlie was an ally of Local 201 in National Negotiations with GE throughout the 90’s. The photo above was from the memorial service for 201 Business Agent Charlie Ruiter
in 1999. They had been soulmates, Guice was
“Buford South” to Ruiter’s “Buford North.” Charlie
Guice, a proud and strong union leader, RIP.
OFFICIAL NOTICE
LOCAL 201 IUE-CWA (AFL-CIO)
COMBINED SHOP
STEWARDS & MEMBERSHIP
MEETING
TUESDAY, JUNE 16 , 2015
112 EXCHANGE STREET
LYNN, MA 01901
FIRST SHIFT........................................................ 3:30 P.M.
SECOND SHIFT................................................... 12:30 P.M.
THIRD SHIFT may attend either meeting.
AGENDA:
I. FEATURED PRESENTATIONS:
1. 30 + YEAR PINS
2. GE CONTRACT 2015 REPORT
3. FAST TRACK AND TPP OPPOSITION REPORT
II. GENERAL BUSINESS:
1. POLICY BOARD
2. TREASURER’S AND MONTHLY FINANCIAL REPORTS:
3. COMMITTEE REPORTS:
4. GOOD AND WELFARE:
5. NEW BUSINESS:
III. GE REPORT:
IV. AVIS & BUDGET CAR RENTAL REPORT:
V. AMETEK REPORT:
VI. VEOLIA WATER REPORT:
VII. SAUGUS LIBRARIANS REPORT:
Signed,
PETE CAPANO, President
RIC CASILLI, Business Agent
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 5
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
PAGE 5
201 Retiree’s Column
By KEVIN D. MAHAR
President Local 201 Retirees Council
ON MY WAY TO
NEW YORK TO
GE NEGOTIATIONS
This column is being
written on the way to
New York. I had a very
early day, had to catch
a train at 6:15 AM to
head for retirees day at
the GE negotiations. So
please excuse any mispellings as I’m already
tired, had to get up at
3:30.
On March 15, 2015
the AARP Bulletin had
a huge headline on the
front page that said
“That’s
An
OUTRAGE!” “Abuse, ripoffs and injustices and
how you can avoid
them.” Then there were
a few stories about people who were hurt and
their own situations.
That made me think
about what had happened to the salaried
people on January 1,
2015, when GE took
away the benefits to
them. This was a shift
of well over 1.4 billion
dollars away from GE
and onto the backs of
those salaried GE retirees. Now that’s An
OUTRAGE OF COLOSSAL MAGNITUDE!
Thinking of how this
may have happened,
we all know that President Obama picked Jeff
Immelt as the Job Czar
to bring jobs back into
our country. I do not
know how he did at
that job, but at the same
time he was downsizing many locations in
his own company.
Could Jeff and the
President have had discussions about the fact
Jeff was going to take
away over-65 insurance from 65,000 GE retirees and in one day,
on January 1, lower the
standard of living of
these GE retirees? Then
I was thinking about
the irony of Dennis
Rocheleau, who had
been GE’s chief negotiator for many years
before he retired, filing
a law suit against GE
for taking away those
benefits.
One of the senior benefits managers, Evelyn
Kaufrnan, even went to
the GE share owners
meeting and gave an
impassioned
speech
telling share owners she
went all around the
United States and told
thousands upon thousands of GE retirees for
many years that they
would have those benefits.
THEN SHE
ASKED GE AND JEFF
IMMELT WHY THEY
HAD MADE HER A
LIAR? You could hear a
pin drop but no answer
for her question.. Obviously both Dennis and
Evelyn thought
“That’s An OUTRAGE.”
Well, I have to cut
this short as we just arrived at Penn Station.
Of course my next column will be about what
is happening in the contract.
But wait! As I arrive
in New York I am being
told by many that Ric
Casilli went into a
tirade against the GE
this morning because of
the post-65 insurance
problems. Ric went on
for 10 minutes about all
the problems this has
caused
for
65,000
salaried people and told
the company that, just
as an example, retirees
are on the line with the
One Exchange for hours
at a time trying to get
insurance. All of the
people on the union
side started clapping
and many said it was
about time the GE was
taken to task for the disgraceful treatment of
those most vulnerable.
Then many local representatives from around
the country chimed in
about how bad this situation is for GE retirees
they knew.
There will be no regular meetings
of the Local 201 Retirees Council
until September.
If there are urgent contract
related issues, it is possible
a special meeting will be called.
Regardless, have a great summer.
Kevin Mahar
President,
Local 201 Retirees Council
The sympathy of IUECWA Local 201 Officers,
Executive Board, members
and the Retiree Association
is extended to GE retiree
Tom Conners, his family
and friends, on the passing
of his wife.
SYMPATHY
The sympathy of IUECWA Local 201 Officers,
Executive Board and members is extended to the family and friends of Steve
Lewis on the passing of his
brother. Steve is an AllRound machinist in building
63 Tool & Die.
SYMPATHY
SYMPATHY
The sympathy of IUECWA Local 201 Officers,
Executive Board, members
and the Retiree Association
is extended to the family and
friends of GE retiree Kenneth W. Russell on his passing. Kenneth worked at GE
for 35 years as a Servicer in
building 74.
SYMPATHY
The sympathy of IUE-CWA
Local 201 Officers, Executive Board, members and the
Retiree Association is extended to the family and
friends of GE retiree Kenneth W. Russell on his passing. Kenneth worked at GE
for 35 years as a Servicer in
building 74.
Former Executive Board Member
Ralph Colella
(306 Euclid Ave Lynn, MA 01904)
is now home from serious surgery
and will be laid-up for some time.
Ralph would like to hear from
his many friends.
Open 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM. GE workers can drop off tanks before work, pick up after work!
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 6
PAGE 6
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
GE CONTRACT 2015 –SCHEDULE & PROCESS
Monday, June 15- “Small Table” ** and two “Sub-Committees Tables”
*** (Pension & Insurance and Contract Language) begin meeting.
Sunday, June 21- 12:00 midnight Contract Expiration. Negotiations
scheduled to conclude with GE final offer usually on this day. 10 day
contract extension usually scheduled to conduct voting process
Tuesday, June 23 – IUE-CWA National Negotiating Committee votes
a recommendation on “final GE offer”.
Wednesday, June 24 – IUE-CWA National Conference Board delegates vote on GE “final offer”. If approved by delegates, it becomes a
“tentative agreement” and goes back to all IUE-CWA GE Locals for a
secret ballot vote.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
If there is a Tentative Agreement:
Thursday, June 25 – Local 201 Policy Board votes a recommendation.
Friday, June 26 – Information out to members, 201 Stewards’ Council
vote
Monday, June 29 – Local 201 Special GE Membership Contract Information Meetings (probably 12 Noon & 3:30 PM)
Tuesday, June 30 – Local 201 GE Contract Membership Voting, 6 AM
– 5 PM, 2-96 Auditorium & Union Hall. Also whole country voting on
Tuesday, June 30.
Wednesday, July 1 – Contract Extension would expire.
INDEX OF TERMS USED ABOVE
* “Large Tables” – The IUE-CWA and UE each sit at separate tables with GE during the first two weeks of negotiations (June 1 -12) as
each has separate (but similar) National Contracts with GE. All negotiating representatives (including BA CasillI) from both unions are
together at their respective “Large table”. Representatives from all the other GE CBC unions sit in at one of these two tables.
** “Small Table” – This table begins June 15 and the top International and Conference Board union representatives from the different CBC
unions (CBC GE Steering Committee) meet with top Company negotiators. Our IUE-CWA representatives at this table would be Bob Santamoor and Vinnie Vines (and possibly Jim Clark). This “small table” is where the main and detailed points of any potential proposal are hammered out. This “small table” meets from June 15 up to Sunday, June 21 @ midnight.
*** “Sub Committees Tables” – These tables begin also June 15. There are two tables- one is the Pension & Insurance Sub-committee
(BA Casilli assigned here) and the other is Contract Language. These tables are where the elected union leaders from GE locals across
the country are along with some staff from the different CBC unions. IUE-CWA and UE leaders usually co-chair these meetings that are
held with Company UR and benefit specialists. The local elected union representatives are normally assigned to one of the two committees
for the duration. Whereas these two sub-committee tables run concurrent with the “Small table” meetings, there is daily communication between union representatives at all the tables. The sub-committee tables usually conclude one or two days (June 19 or 20 this contract) before
the “Small Table”.
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The distance between your dreams and reality is called “ACTION”
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 7
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
IUE-CWA/AFL-CIO
LOCAL 201 OFFICIAL NOTICE ELECTION
COMMITTEE RULES AND PROCEDURES
IUE-CWA/GE 2015 CONTRACT
In the event there is a tentative contract agreement, a
vote to accept or reject the
proposed IUE-CWA/GE
2015 Contract will be held
on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE
TO VOTE
Any Local 201/GE dues
paying member who is considered to be a member in
good standing.
Any Local 201/GE member who is out of work due
to personal illness. The
member must be currently
collecting Sickness and Accident Benefits, or in the
process thereof.
Any Local 201/GE member who is out of work due
to an industrial accident.
The member must be currently collecting Workers’
Compensation, or in the
process thereof.
Any Local 201/GE member who is on a temporary
lack of work and has a return to work date.
Any Local 201/GE member who is on suspension,
and has a return to work
date.
Any Local 201/GE member who has been terminated and their grievance is
still active. The member
will be considered as a
member in good standing
until the grievance is settled
or exhausted.
Any Local 201/GE member who has been permanently laid off will be considered as a member in
good standing until the end
of the month, in which the
lack of work occurred.
Any Local 201/GE member who has been permanently laid off, and has not
exhausted their recall rights
(5 years from the date of the
layoff), and has continued
to keep their union dues
current, will be considered
as a member in good standing.
WHO IS NOT ELIGIBLE
TO VOTE
Any GE employee who is
paying Agency Shop Fees
will not be considered as a
member in good standing.
Any Local 201 member
who has been permanently
laid off, and has not exhausted their recall rights (5
years from the date of layoff), and has not continued
to keep their union dues
current.
Retirees are not active
members of the bargaining
unit and therefore are not eligible to vote.
Any Local 201 member,
or GE employee who is
working on a union eligible
job, and who is not paying
union dues as of June 16,
2015, will not be considered
a member in good standing.
Any Local 201 member
who is currently paying
union dues, however the
member owes back dues,
and the member has not
made financial arrangements to satisfy their financial obligation will not be
considered as a member in
good standing.
Any Local 201 member,
whose union dues are not
current, must make financial arrangements with Local 201. Financial arrangements will be made to
accommodate the member.
Any financial arrangements
must be made in writing on
a specialized form. Members must contact at the
Union Hall.
Any GE employee who
has recently returned to the
Local 201 bargaining unit
from a permanent lack of
work, or other GE employment, and is not currently
paying union dues, must
immediately contact the
Union Hall. Failure to do so
will result in denial of member in good standing status.
ANY LOCAL 201 MEMBER/GE
EMPLOYEE
WHO IS NOT CONSIDERED A MEMBER IN
GOOD STANDING WILL
NOT BE ALLOWED TO
VOTE ON THE IUECWA/GE CONTRACT!
MAKE SURE THAT
YOU HAVE YOUR CURRENT YELLOW UNION
CARD! IF YOU DO NOT
HAVE YOUR UNION
CARD, CONTACT THE
UNION HALL, 112 EXCHANGE ST., LYNN MA
01901 (781) 598-2760.
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
PAGE 7
LOCAL 201 IUE-CWA AFL-CIO
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Voting on the IUE-CWA/GE National Agreement
Provided there is a tentative agreement, voting
will take place on
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
POLLING AREAS are as
follows:
• Union Hall, 112 Exchange Street, Lynn,
MA
• Building 2-96 Auditorium
ALL POLLING HOURS
WILL BE FROM 6:00
AM TO 5:00 PM
ABSENTEE BALLOTS
will only be provided if
there is a tentative
agreement.
Absentee ballots will
not be mailed to members due to the short
time period.
Signed,
Ronald LeBlanc,
Chairman
Local 201 IUECWA Election
Committee
06/02/2015
The May Membership Meeting approved the Procedure for Payment of Strike Benefits
which appeared on page 11 of the 5/12/15 Local 201 News, as well as extending the Strike
Fund Allocation as described on page 4 of the same issue. The Rules for Collecting Strike
Benefits were also approved as amended below:
RULES FOR COLLECTING STRIKE BENEFITS
The following rules shall
govern the administration of strike benefits eligibility:
(1) Every member will
picket or perform weekly
alternative strike-related
duties by applying with
the Strike Committee.
(2) An employee must be
a dues-paying member in
good standing and on an
authorized strike.
(3) Eligibility for local
strike payments will begin with the first week of
the duly authorized
strike, payable on the
second week.
(4) A member is ineligible if he/she is on a previously scheduled vacation, leave of absence or
lack of work for the duration of that leave.
(5) A member is ineligible if he/she is out on
Worker’s Compensation
or on Short-Term/LongTerm Disability until
their disability benefits
have ended, the strike
benefits would start as
per (3).
(6) A member is ineligible if he/she retires.
(7) Any appeal MUST be
made in writing within
thirty (30) days of the denial, and the decision of
the Strike Administrators
is final, subject to the Local Union constitutional
provisions.
BENEFIT PAYMENT
METHOD
(A) You MUST register
for strike benefits on
forms provided. A member is ineligible for weeks
of benefits paid prior to
registration. Registration
on a weekly basis for the
duration of the strike is
required subject to approval of the Board of
Administrators.
(B) When the strike fund
checking account falls below a balance of 1 week’s
strike benefits for the applicable bargaining unit,
the Local will make a deposit into the fund of the
needed strike benefits
from the Local’s Strike
Fund.
(C) Payments will be in
the sum of $275.00 per
week per Executive
Board and membership
approval. This money
will be $200.00 from the
International and $75.00
from the Local Strike
Fund commencing on the
15th day of the strike.
Payments commencing
on the 29th day of the
strike will be $375.00 per
week per Executive
Board and membership
approval. This money
will be $300.00 from the
International and $75.00
from the Local Strike
Fund. Payments commencing on the 57th day
of the strike will be
$475.00 per week per Executive Board & Membership approval. This
money will be $400.00
from the International
and $75.00 from the Local Strike Fund. Any of
these amounts may be
adjusted.
April 27, 2015
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 8
PAGE 8
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
Health &
Safety Notes
By TED COMICK
Local 201 Health & Safety Director
A COUPLE OF
CONTRACT
THOUGHTS
Like most members
of our Local I have voted for some contracts
and opposed others.
The last contract was
terrible and like most
members I opposed it,
both individually and
as a Conference Board
Delegate. It lived up to
its awfulness, for me
and my family, by
causing me to lose the
Primary Care Physician that I/we had
used for 15 years. It
did not make me a
“better health care consumer”. It made me an
angrier health care consumer.
But I don’t vote on
emotion or on single issues. The last contract
was terrible on multiple levels. And many
of the locals around the
country that accepted
the last contract have
indicated that it was
significantly
worse
than they had originally thought.
But GE has a chance,
and certainly the financial wherewithal, to
pave “the Road to Ratification”, as they call it
in their literature, by
halting the Take-away
Juggernaut, by mending the holes they
ripped in Medical, by
giving those contemplating retirement a
sense that they won’t
have to get a new job at
age 80 because GE has
arbitrarily changed the
calculus on which they
retired, and by giving
younger employees a
sense of job security,
that the company is
more than a glorified
Wal-Mart with slightly
better pay but no reason to care about.
OSHA COMMENDS
ONE OF OUR OWN
OSHA recently chose
Local 201’s Steve Gauthier as its Special Government
Employee
(SGE) of the Year for
Region 1 New England.
SGE’s are workers
and managers from
worksites that qualify
for VPP status who are
specially trained and
qualified to accompany OSHA personnel on
audits of other companies and worksites that
seek VPP recognition.
OSHA appreciates
Steve’s qualities not
just as a fair and
knowledgeable auditor
but also as a mentor
for other companies
and unions and a significant “doer” in his
own plant.
HOT TOWN,
SUMMER IN THE
CITY
OSHA for years had
no formulas for protecting workers from
summer’s blazing days
other than admonitions
to take breaks and
hydrate.
Those
words of advice are
still good, but OSHA
is beginning to get
more prescriptive in
its guidelines.
Bottom Line: people die of Heat
Stroke, like the Letter
Carrier in Medford
walking his route on
a humid 94 degree
day in 2013. If you
feel compromised by
heat, don’t feel embarrassed to seek
help.
The life you save
So, what happened
in Dayton?
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Dear brothers and
sisters, I recently returned from a Political
Action Training in Dayton, Ohio hosted by the
CWA. Trans Pacific
Partnership (TPP) was
the main topic being
discussed, a secret
trade agreement being
negotiated by corporate
lawyers, who have eyes
set on moving more
jobs out of the US all in
the name of corporate
profits.
If you believe trade
agreements like this
won’t affect you or
your family, I urge you
to look a bit deeper.
Here is one example of
how these trade agreements hurt the working
class: It is no secret the
cost of health care is rising, and the cost of prescription drugs along
with it. With the current system in place, a
generic drug has to
wait a period of 20
years before being introduced. That will not
be the case if the TPP is
agreed to. A generic
drug would then have
to wait 40 years before
being introduced. That
means, in the mean
time, you will be forced
to buy the name brand
drug, which we all
know is significantly
more expensive than a
generic. How is that
helping working families? Its not!
By the time you read
this, the Fast Track
bill will be about to
be voted on in the
House. The members
of Congress in our
state have all backed
us in derailing or voting down this Fast
Track Authority, except congressman
Moulton, who has yet
to make up his mind.
Local 201, along with
other organizations in
the area, have been
pressuring Congressman Moulton to side
with us on this key issue. I believe TPP is
worse than NAFTA,
and we all know who
won in that trade
agreement, not us!
I want to thank everyone who has been
helping to get the word
out, making phone
calls, writing letters,
and showing up for rallies opposing this Fast
Track Authority and
the TPP. In Solidarity
Nefty Alvarez,
Steward &
Legislative Cmte.
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 9
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
PAGE 9
VP’s Column
By JAY WALSH
Vice-President/
Recording Secretary
I would like to thank
everyone for a great turn
out for the contract rally. It
is a great way to show that
Lynn can stick together
during the contract negotiations.
During these next
weeks we will hear all the
normal things that we’ve
heard over and over
again from the Company
about how they need
more out of your pocket
so they can continue to be
competitive. Hey GE,
how about you start leading the way in great products and new sales of
products to make money
and stop picking your
employees’ pockets to
make profits?
Just the other day I was
stopped by a management
person in Bldg 74 and they
tried to explain that GE
had to institute the highcontribution/high-deductable/high-co-pay
healthcare plan last contract to be competitive. So
I asked if making 16 billion in profits was just
barely cutting it for GE in
the “we must be competitive” ideology.
So in the coming weeks,
as you hear all the shop
floor scuttle butt, and the
sometimes down right
scare tactics you will hear
from management and
others, take the time to ask
your self, can we continue
to afford the increases to
healthcare or the loss of
benefits in this next contract ?
I would like to end this
article by reminding the
people who are in New
York working on this contract to remember the people who are struggling to
pay medical bills and the
countless post 65 people
who got screwed already.
In solidarity.
Local 761 all in! Hundreds of Louisville workers turned out on Saturday, May 30th,
outside Appliance Park for their Contract Kick-off Rally.
been a part of the May Day
planning committee for the
past 2 years.
organizations, increasing poBefore moving to Lynn, I
litical activity, and expanding went to college in Oberlin,
programs that the Union has OH, where I studied environbeen instrumental in creating ment and politics, graduating
such as E-Team and the in 2008. Since then I have alLower Washington St hous- so earned a Certificate in Ening development. I will be vironmental Policy from
working out of the bullpen UMass Dartmouth and a
at the Union Hall, so please Masters in Urban and Envifeel free to stop by or ronmental Policy from Tufts
Hello! My name is send me an email at University in 2014. My time
Jonathon Feinberg, and I’m [email protected].
studying policy at Tufts
I’ve lived in Lynn for about while living in Lynn has
honored to introduce myself
as the new internal organizer 5 years now. During this time taught me one lesson above
with Local 201. The position I’ve gotten to know some of all – that the only way
is funded by a grant Local 201 you as friends and neighbors, change happens in this
sought and obtained from the and have come to see the Lo- world is when hard working
IUE-CWA. My main goal cal as a real source of strength people come together and
will be to go deeper into orga- and power in this city I now demand change with an ornizing our Lynn-based mem- call home. I have worked as ganized voice. I’m excited to
bership as a real source of an organizer with Tri-CAP in be working with such a
power in the region. This will Malden, an anti-poverty strong Local to build more
include putting on social agency, and with a number of power on the shop floor and
events, developing closer re- environmental organizations. at city hall.
lationships with community Since moving to Lynn I’ve
been an active member of the
In solidarity,
New Lynn Coalition, and also
Jonathon Feinberg
New Organizer for Local 201
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IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 10
PAGE 10
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
‘PAINT IT BLACK’
By BILL MAHER
LAT&O/Logistics Executive Board
“The Labor
Movement means
just this: It is the last
noble protest of the
American people
against
the power of
incorporated
wealth.”
Wendell
Phillips
CONTRACT 2015
CWA Members Relief
Fund Striker Certification
forms have been delivered to the jurisdiction. If
you have not completed/received the form see
your Steward ASAP.
HEAT IN BUILDINGS
The Union is working
on solutions to the lack of
heat in the jurisdiction in
September and October,
as well as in the months
of April and May. Additionally, we are attempting to address the excessive heat in the buildings
during
the
summer
months. The situation of
the cold/hot temperatures is magnified during
second shift. More information will follow.
JUNE
This month appears to
be very busy; both in Logistics and LAT&O. Golf
Tournaments and vacation time are just around
the corner. Hopefully, the
business will begin to recall those employees that
are on LOW, back to
LAT&O.
RETIREMENTS
One can reasonably ex-
CHIROPRACTOR
Dr. Joseph J. Dowling
341 Western Ave., Lynn, MA 01904
(781) 596-0700
www.drdowling.com
•
•
•
•
•
Neck & Back Pain • Sports Injuries
Sciatica • Auto Accidents
Muscle Strains • Work Accidents
Leg/Arm Numbness
Repetitive Stress Injuries • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Complimentary Exam and Evaluation for GE, AMETEK,
U.S. FILTER/EOS, and/or Local 201 IUE Members
pect multiple retirements
throughout the plant,
from July through December. Multiple retirements can be anticipated
from Building 66 and
LAT&O. There are twenty-four (24) employees
from LAT&O that are on
LOW and working elsewhere (primarily manufacturing) in the plant.
These employees have
recall rights back to
LAT&O. The Company is
running out of balls to
juggle. The Union has advocated for recalls now,
in anticipation of retirements.
FINAL THOUGHT
On May 8, 2015, many
GE employees were enjoying a post golf tournament dinner at the AOH
in Lynn. Fifteen minutes
prior to the dinner, I had
a jovial and light-hearted
conversation with Mike
and Jim Gallagher that
lasted for twenty minutes… idle banter and a
lot of laughs. During the
dinner, Jim had a piece of
steak lodged in his throat
which could not be removed, despite valiant efforts. In the blink of an
eye, Jim was gone.
James F. Gallagher was
a 37 year employee at
GE-Lynn. He leaves behind his wife Sharon, son
James (Jay) Jr and daughter Shannon, as well as
additional family members.
On behalf of all your
golf, GE and AOH
friends…Rest in peace
my friend.
Tuesday,
Tuesday,May
June12,
9, 2015
GE-Lynn 2015
Memorial Day Ceremonies
GE-Lynn Veterans Council hosted in-plant Memorial
Day ceremonies covering all three shifts. Local 201,
IUE-CWA members participating in the event included, among others, Janet Melanson (Bldg 66), Karen
Hodge (Bldg 42), Penny Louf (Bldg 63), Bill Maher (Local 201, IUE-CWA Executive Board) & Peter Capano
(Local 201, IUE-CWA President).
Memorial Day Observance
On Thursday, May 21
the GE-Lynn Veterans
Council hosted Memorial
Day ceremonies at 06:15,
noon and 15:30. The ceremonies, all well attended,
took place at the flagpole,
adjacent to the Fairchild
Street gate.
A beautiful spring day
was the backdrop for a
program that provided a
poignant and moving reminder of the sacrifices
made by our military veterans, and those that
made the supreme sacrifice.
The ceremonies were
highlighted by the moving personal accounts of
the veteran speakers at
each event (Lt. Toby
Newton, Paul Judge and
Jonas Lagergeren). Local
201 IUE-CWA President
Pete Capano’s words reminded us all why we
were gathered in reverence and gratitude. The
National Anthem was
performed by Israel Kim
and Amy Dow. The GE
Band once again, offered
stirring renditions of
“Taps” as well as a military salute to each branch
of the Armed Forces.
The 1530 ceremony featured the Lynn English
High School MCJROTC
Color Guard, under the
direction
of
Master
Sergeant G.J. Goncalo Jr.
The cadets treated those
in attendance to a precision rifle drill performance.
Local 201 IUE-CWA
members Penny Louf,
Karen Hodge and Janet
Melanson, who all work
tirelessly on behalf of veterans, provided essential
logistics for the event and
raised close to $1300 in
donations.
Thank you to the GELynn Veterans Council
and all the GE-Lynn
Memorial Day observance participants for
providing the GE-Lynn
community with the opportunity to honor and
remember those that gave
their lives in the name of
freedom. The event was
truly outstanding.
IUE June 9_ IUE July 17 6/5/15 9:54 AM Page 11
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
LPS/M&E
Report
By FRED RUSSELL
Executive Board Member
Well it is contract time
and the big question is:
are they in or are they
out?
At this time
Louisville is in the contract. The US government hasn’t approved the
sale of the appliance division of GE and that could
change at any time.
The second question is:
how can GE say we are
cutting your pay or going
up on your medical to
stay competitive when
the CEO’s get millions of
dollars in bonuses? If I
got one of their bonuses I
wouldn’t take a raise next
year either.
The one thing we need
to do as a Union is organize all the non-Union
plants. We need to make
an all-out effort to make
all GE plants Union.
Then and only then will
we get a fair contract.
If the Company wants to
be fair about the contract,
let all management enjoy
our medical. Throw the
lower level a bone and
bring them up to us, but
bring the top level management into our plan too.
Also, bring their wage
structure in line with ours
and limit their raises to
what we get each year!
Then and only then will
we be fair and competitive.
There is nothing complex
about it. There, we just
solved all our problems.
Listen to your Board
Members and Stewards;
we will try to keep everybody up to date on contract developments.
The May Membership
Meeting approved the proposed changes to Article IX
Section B Paragraph 4 of the
Local 201 Constitution. As
of June 1st, what had been
the Plant IV Executive Board
jurisdiction will now be di-
vided up with Bldg. 66 & 32
coming under the jurisdiction of AE Manufacturing
with Jeff Francis as their
Board Member and Tool &
Die coming under the crafts
so that Fred Russell will be
their Board Member.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
GE E-Board
Jurisdiction Changes Passed
Alcohol & Drug Abuse Affect Everyone –
Recovery Does Too.
Alcoholism, drug abuse and compulsive gambling
can affect everyone it touches…at home, in the
workplace, and in the community, if someone in
your family or yourself needs help, please contact
the Employees Assistance Program.
All calls are strictly confidential
Bob Cummings – LADC1,MA-PGS
598-2760 or 781-584-7641 ext. 124
Board Certified Diplomate
John L. Murray, LICSW, CEAP, LADC-1
68 Market Street, Suite 201
Lynn, MA 01901-1115
T. (617) 947-7456
F. (617) 625-0232
PAGE 11
‘ANGUS
BARKS’
By Jeff Francis
AEG Executive Board
KISS OFF
One goal united many generations of GE employees - a retirement
with dignity. For that purpose, our Pension Plan started in 1912. Group
Life Insurance started in 1920. Post-65 Hospitalization plans covered
GE Pensioneers for over six decades.
These plans improved gradually over the years, in proportion to
what the Company could afford. The Union at contract negotiations
became the voice of all GE employees in building up old-age protections. For GE workers in the past and future, our goal is not to have to
die in our workboots.
Providing retirement with dignity was seen as a responsibility, by
the Company and the Union, for employees who devoted their working
lives to building GE products.
RADICAL DEPARTURE
Beginning last contract, the Company broke that tradition. Eliminating new hires from entrance into the $48 Billion GE Pension Plan
solidified a new philosophy. Eliminating retiree life insurance and retiree medical, as GE plans to do this contract, continues the trend.
The endpoint will arrive sometime after 2019, when GE plans to
offload our pension benefits to outside insurance or financial providers.
When you punch the clock for the last time, this Company no longer
wants to know you. After you’re done making profits for them, GE wants
to be done with you.
OBLIGATION
Corporate leaders consider retirement coverages a future obligation that bogs down their finances. They want the GE retiree to get
medical from the Government, to get an annuity from a private provider. And if you die, well that’s sad, but no skin off their nose.
We see these changes are a denial of responsibility. Unless the
Union’s National Negotiating team, with our support, can turn it
around, that’s the direction things are headed.
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PAGE 12
IUE-CWA LOCAL 201 NEWS
President’s Column
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
By PETE CAPANO
PRESIDENT
The Lunchtime rallies were great. The fantastic turnout of the
membership shows that we want a fair contract and will be willing to
fight as hard as we need to for it. There were also huge turnouts on
the same day at other locations and in Louisville the next day where
hundreds of members marched from their union hall to Appliance
Park where they work. These actions should help show GE that we
are united for a fair contract and we are one hundred percent behind
our bargaining committee in New York.
It is important that we all remain engaged over the next few
weeks. GE has already ripped the heart out of their most dedicated
longtime retirees by taking away their post-65 supplemental health
insurance while giving their top five executives an average $10.9 million pension bump in 2014 alone. That truly is no joke. It is a disgrace.
They have no reason not to give us a fair contract this time. They are
doing extremely well. The economy is not in recession. If we can’t get
a decent contract now, when could we ever expect one?
The company is in the midst of their “Road to Ratification.” This
is their official campaign to sell the contract to the membership. We
see some of this effort through their focus mailings we have been receiving. However, beware of the unofficial GE whisper campaign that
will occur. This will include statements like, “If we don’t vote for the
contract they will farm more work out or close the plant,” or “At least
you have a job, its tough out there.” These statements are obviously
made to scare the membership. Sometimes the people spreading
these statements are afraid themselves, others feel like they’re doing
their job to help the Company. Most won’t say it, but they actually
hope the union is successful.
The truth is General Electric’s profits have shown tremendous
growth over the years while working with us to cut costs and finding
ways to become more productive. If they are going to take work out
of here, it won’t be because of the contract. We have worked with
them as have other unions and will continue to do so. They have
closed approximately 30 shops in the last 20 years including places
that have voted for concessionary contracts and fully cooperated with
them on everything. We can’t control what they do, but generally
speaking, if they are making money they aren’t going anywhere.
When management comes around with their scare campaign,
make sure you remind them about the high cost of health care, the administrative nightmare it has become, that we are using health care
less and paying more, Remind them of the General Electric Health Insurance horror stories. We all have one. Remind them that a full 85
percent of the membership indicated that they would change health
care plans if they could. Nobody except for the GE bean-counters
think we have a good medical plan.
We will be voting on the contract on Tuesday, June 30th, in the
auditorium and the Union Hall. Please fill out and return your strike
cards as soon as possible so we can be prepared, just in case. Social
Security numbers need to be on the card in order for you to be paid.
If you do not feel comfortable putting in your social security number
on the card and giving it to your steward, come down to the hall to
fill one out. IRS requires that we have it.
Check out GE WORKERS UNITED and the Local 201 website for
updates. Also if you want e-mail updates send your name and email
to [email protected]. All emails will be sent by blind copy and
used strictly for union business only.
***************
According to the National AFL-CIO, the House of Representatives will be voting on Trade Promotion Authority (Fast Track) possibly on Thursday of this week. If this passes it is highly unlikely that
we will be able to stop the TPP, the NAFTA like trade deal that will
accelerate the erosion of our wages and benefits and allow for more
jobs to flow overseas. Congressman Moulton is the only representative in the state who hasn’t decided how he is going to vote. Everyone else is voting with us. The vote in the House is going to be very
close. The Senate already passed it and the President is pushing it
very hard. We will be holding a rally at Congressman Moulton’s office in Peabody Square this Thursday, June 11 at 3:30 PM. We had a
good turnout of 201 members two weeks ago, but this time we need
to step it up. Please make every effort to attend. Other than the contract, this could be the single most important thing you do that will
impact your job for years to come.