WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SESSION, SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
President John Hovis called the convention back to order at 2:00 p.m. and called on Western Region President Carl Rosen and Local 506 President Frank Fusco, co-conveners of the Constitution Committee. Brother Fusco read the proposed constitutional amendments, all of which were unanimously adopted by the delegates. The amendments will now be referred to each UE local for ratification vote by the rank-and-file members.
The convention returned to the consideration of resolutions, starting with “Defend Civil Liberties,” which was read by Peter Knowlton, Northeast Region president and convener of the Resolutions Committee, and James Taylor of Local 222. Sandy Coulter, Local 767, rose to speak for the resolution, saying she had seen Bush on CNN earlier that day calling for permanent authority to eavesdrop on our conversations. “We have to fight to keep our rights,” said Sister Coulter. Armando Robles, Local 1110, described his interrogation at the airport by TSA agents, who treated him like a suspected drug dealer. “We need to demand respect for everyone,” he said. “What is the Border Patrol doing on the Allegheny River in rural Pennsylvania?” asked Dan Bojarski of Local 506, who encountered federal border agents near Clarion, PA on a recent canoeing trip. The resolution was unanimously approved.
Resolutions Committee co-convener Jonathan Nowlan, Local 155, introduced Colleen Ezzo of Local 222 to read the resolution, “Advance Women’s Rights.” Annie Dove of Local 150 said the majority of her local’s membership is women, and supported the resolution’s call for more training and development of women workers as leaders in the union. “I’ve been in the women’s movement for 40 years,” said Anne McDonald, Local 222, “and today women’s rights are in danger,” citing among other threats U.S. Supreme Court justices who are hostile to women’s rights. Her superintendent thinks female employees are all “just wives” and therefore he doesn’t need to provide them with health insurance.
Tom Gharing, Local 622, described how early in his working career, his local successfully struck for six weeks to put an end to a segregated seniority list that kept women workers on the oldest presses and with the lowest pay. Sarah Voog, Local 222, reminded delegates that UE has been in the forefront of struggles for women’s equality since its founding. Health insurance coverage and pay equity for public school paraprofessionals is a major women’s equality fight that Local 222 has taken on across Connecticut. Becky Dawes, Local 893, was proud to announce that all of the current officers of her local are women. It is unfair for women to be expected to accept less, said Colleen Ezzo, Local 222. Local 1103 at Tramont Manufacturing is taking on a sexual harassment case for the sole woman worker on the third shift, said Lauro Bonilla. The company “wants to get rid of her.” Carmyn Stanko, Local 267, proposed an amendment, which was adopted by the delegates, calling for workshops at the 2009 UE convention on developing women union leaders. Marianne Hart, Western Region and Local 1421, endorsed the resolutions’ call for more women in leadership. The delegates unanimously adopted the resolution.
The resolution “Fight Workplace Closings” was read by Jonathan Nowlan. Sandy Coulter described the current fight to save Antioch College from closing and Local 767’s alliance with alumni and faculty in that struggle. Dennis Hayda, Local 751, said that since the convention started, GE has announced a 30 percent cutback in employment at his plant. GE, Lowes and other retailers are aggressively marketing GE’s compact fluorescent bulbs as more energy-efficient, despite hazards from mercury in the bulbs. GE makes all of its CF bulbs in China, rather than in the U.S., and now legislation is pending that would ban all incandescent lighting – although GE says it is developing technology to make incandescent bulbs much more energy-efficient. Dennis McLaughlin, Local 506, and John Payne, Local 731, also spoke in support of GE Lighting workers’ fight for job security.
Bob Rudek, Local 1111, said his local is about as close to a plant closing as you can get. Employment at the former Allen-Bradley Milwaukee plant has fallen from 5,000 to 320 since Rockwell took over. Sharry Niedfeldt, Local 1161, said her Spartek plant has also suffered significant job losses. “I wish there were laws for these companies to be penalized or prosecuted for what they’re doing to us,” she said. Bill Lynch, Local 262, has worked for 34 years at Cole Hersee, which has manufactured electrical components in Boston for 84 years. Now the company is moving much of its assembly work to Mexico. “I blame the government with their trade deals,” said Lynch. “They’ve betrayed the people who elected them. Let’s elect people who will represent us and put workers back in the factories.” Vicki Hoover, Local 683, emotionally described the closing of her plant, OEM Plastics. During your final days on the job before a plant closing, she said, “You hate to see the hands on the clock moving, because you know your time is short.” She said her co-workers were like family, and the Detroit-based company that bought her plant “has taken our family and broken it up.” Armando Robles, Local 1110, also spoke in favor of the resolution, which the delegates approved unanimously.
President Hovis then asked for a motion to approve the packet of 14 resolutions that had been provided to delegates earlier in the week, with the understanding that any delegate could request separate consideration and debate on any of these resolution. (The workplace closings resolution had been brought to the floor for discussion because of such a request.) A motion was made, seconded, and unanimously approved to adopt these 14 resolutions. These resolutions are: UE Retiree Committees: A Wealth of Experience and Activism; Restore the Right to Strike; End the Cuban Blockade and Resume Relations; Stop the Ten-Hour Day; Eliminate Hate Groups; Repeal of 95-98 as Part of Reparations for 1898 Wilmington Racist Coup D’Etat; End Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation; Celebrate the Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; Public Education: Stop the Attacks and Fund Quality Education for All; Protect Our Planet for Future Generations; Support the Family Farmer; For a Safe and Healthy Workplace, Fix OSHA Now!; Rights of the Health Care Worker; and Workplace Struggle.
General Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Klipple then chaired the convention to take nominations for President. John Hovis was nominated by Marianne Hart, Western Region, and seconded by Larsene Taylor, Local 150. A motion was approved to close nominations, followed by a motion instructing the Secretary-Treasurer to cast a single ballot for John Hovis for president for the coming two-year term. John then called for nominations for Secretary-Treasurer. Ray Pompano, Local 243, nominated Bruce Klipple, with a second by Beth Austin, Local 893. The delegates approved motions to close nominations and to elect Klipple as Secretary-Treasurer. Hovis then called for nominations for Director of Organization. Bob Kingsley was nominated by Marie Lausch, Local 222, seconded by Armando Robles, Local 1110. The delegates then voted to close nominations and elect Kingsley.
Hovis then called for nominations for the trustees and alternate trustees of the national union. Under constitutional changes adopted in 2005, one trustee and one alternate trustee is to be elected from each of the three regions. As it turned out, one person was nominated for each of these positions, and so contested election took place. The new trustees and alternates will be, from the Western Region: Cleo Hester, Local 893, trustee; Jaime Lopez, Local 1421, alternate. Eastern Region: Kevin Elmquist, Local 329, trustee; Bill Smothers, Local 766, alternate. Northeast Region: Bob South, Local 234, trustee; Bruce Reese, Local 332, alternate. The newly-elected national officers, trustees and alternates were then administered the oath of office by Andrew Dinkelaker, president of the hosting Eastern Region.
Resolutons Committee co-convener Jonathan Nowlan introduced Maryann Zeleski, Local 1106, who read the resolution “An Economy for All.” The delegates adopted the resolution without discussion. The resolution “Privatization: The Shark in the Bathtub” was read by Peter Borja, Local 1004. Marianne Hart recommended to delegates the video “Iraq for Sale,” about privatization of the U.S. military and the war in Iraq. “They give new meaning to the term ‘blood money,’” said Sister Hart. Angaza Laughinghouse, Local 150, said the use of convict labor is also part of the attack on jobs. He proposed an amendment to the resolution to that effect, which the delegates approved. Cleo Hester, a Local 893 social worker, described how privatization is causing deterioration in foster care for children in Iowa. Nina Williams, Local 799, called for standing up against privatization in public schools.
The convention recessed until Thursday morning. On Wednesday evening delegates participated in the convention banquet.