SUNDAY SESSION, SEPTEMBER 16, 2007
The 70th UE Convention was called to order at 9:21 a.m. Andrew Dinkelaker, president of the UE Eastern Region, host region for the convention, welcomed the delegates. He called on all the Eastern Region delegates to stand and be recognized. “Our strength comes from our unity and diversity,” said Dinkelaker.
Brother Dinkelaker introduced Megan Elk, daughter of International Rep Gene Elk and voice teacher at a school of music, who sang the national anthem. Dinkelaker then introduced the Fruit of Labor singing ensemble from UE Local 150, consisting of Local 150 leaders and convention delegates Angaza Laughinghouse and Nathanette Mayo, and Rick Scott, a Local 150 supporter and activist in Black Workers for Justice. Fruit of Labor performed four inspiring songs of struggle, including a South African freedom song and three original songs. The delegates joined in on the chorus of the song “Organize!”
Dinkelaker then introduced General President John Hovis, and credited him with his crucial leadership role – not only for the UE committee but to the other unions involved – in the recent national GE negotiations – where the union won important battles in behalf of past, present and future GE workers.
Hovis began by assessing the structural changes adopted by the union two years ago. “Not only have we survived the changes – I believe the changes made us even stronger. As the week progresses I think you will agree that UE is very much alive and moving forward.”
But “while the world we live in has changed,” said President Hovis, unfortunately some things remain the same. “After four long years, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan rage on with no end to the fighting – or the U.S. occupations – in sight.” The only solution to the deteriorating situation in Iraq, said Hovis, to the applause of the delegates, is to “Bring the troops home now.”
Things are not much better on the home front, said the UE president, with 47 million uninsured and many forced into bankruptcy by medical catastrophe. Victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma continue to wait for federal aid and reconstruction that is still yet to arrive. Hundreds of thousands of Americans have lost their homes due to unscrupulous policies of the mortgage industry and Wall Street speculators, and it’s expected that “two million more will suffer the same fate,” said Hovis. “The great American dream of owning a home has turned into a financial nightmare.” Politicians in Washington can’t seem to agree on anything, “other than approving billions of dollars for funding the war, tax cuts for the rich and passing so called ‘free trade’ agreements that continue to send more good paying jobs out of the country.”
Hovis blasted the cynicism of the Bush administration’s recent wave of immigration raids. For decades, said Hovis, administrations of both parties have practiced an open borders policy that encouraged Mexican workers to enter the U.S., as a safety valve “to protect the Mexican government from protests by the Mexican people against their government’s low wage policies,” and to supply U.S. corporations with cheap labor. Now the administration has reversed course, and “shamefully shifts the blame for the illegal border crossings onto the real victims of their scheme – those same exploited workers.” After months of grandstanding on the issue, Congress failed to act on comprehensive immigration reform. “I guess for some in Washington,” said the UE leader, “it’s easier to build a fence than to grow a backbone.”
Failing to privatize Social Security, said Hovis, the Bush administration moved to appease Wall Street with the so-called “Pension Protection (but, in fact, Destruction) – Act.” This law gives employers additional excuses to attack defined benefit pension plans, and is likely “to provide Wall Street with billions of dollars in new 401(k) money to play with.” UE members will face increased pressure in negotiations to give up defined benefit plans and agree to 401(k)s instead.
President Hovis reminded delegates of the two tough lockouts endured by Local 155, at Stepan and Tinius Olson, and was pleased to announce that the lockout of Local 1174 members at Quad City Die Casting in Moline, IL had just ended. He welcomed several newly-organized groups of workers into UE, and said Director of Organization Bob Kingsley would have much more to say about this during his report on Monday.
“UE members continue to make improvements at the bargaining table,” said Hovis, with an average first-year wage increase of 3.6 percent. John cited impressive gains by UE members in negotiations with the State of Iowa, the University of Iowa, the University of Vermont, Sargent, McQuay International, Kennedy Valve, and Alamo-SMC. Members of 13 sub-locals in public sector Local 222 in Connecticut negotiated new contracts with impressive wage and benefit gains, and tough first-contract negotiations resulted in good settlements for workers in two new New Jersey units, Stepan and Hess Oil.
Hovis spent some time discussing the union’s largest settlement, GE. “UE negotiation strategy remains grounded in the basic philosophy that how a contract is achieved is every bit as important as what was achieved.” UE’s negotiations involved 13 locals with a total of more than 4,000 members from Connecticut to California, as well as other unions working through the GE Coordinated Bargaining committee (CBC). The national union devoted considerable resources to research, literature, website coverage and logistics, as well as the bargaining talents and tireless work of International Rep. Steve Tormey. But, said John, “none of that takes the place of membership mobilization back home in the shops. That’s where every last nickel gets squeezed out of the company at the bargaining table in New York.” He singled out the extraordinary efforts of the members of Locals 506, 618, 731, 751 and 332 in putting up the fight needed to overcome GE’s concessionary offensive.
Brother Hovis said that delegates could look forward to Wednesday’s report on the union’s finances by General Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Klipple, and pointed out that the union’s annual report was in their convention packets. “Bruce has done an exceptional job of keeping the Union’s finances on track,” said Hovis. “With Bruce’s leadership, the budgeting process undertaken by the Officers and budgets approved by the General Executive Board are now showing the desired results.”
“The union’s international work is at its highest point as far back as I can remember,” said Hovis, with the high point being the successes in North Carolina resulting in large part from the international strategy that led to a ruling by the International Labor Organization (ILO) that the governments of the U.S. and North Carolina are denying public workers’ basic human rights. He welcomed fraternal guests Benedicto Martinez from the Authentic Workers Front (FAT) in Mexico and ZENROREN General Secretary Odagawa from Japan.
President Hovis praised the union’s considerable work and accomplishments in the past two years in the areas of political action – on the state and national level – and the role of internal education in leadership development and increased membership involvement.
“We belong to a very special kind of union,” Hovis reminded the delegates. “We are a beacon for the labor movement – not perfect, but a shining example. Progressive forces in other unions look to UE as an example and as a resource for materials and guidance in their contract and shop floor struggles.
Whether UE is here in another seventy years, said Hovis, will depend on its local leaders and members and whether they “believe in this union enough to be willing to step up to staff positions and regional and national leadership positions to carry it on.” But he added that he’s learned over 40 years in UE that, “... there’s not much UE members can’t accomplish. I encourage you to go back to your locals, look to the younger people in your membership – the women – the people of color – look to everyone. Get them involved ... step up a little higher yourself!”
Delegates responded to Hovis’ address with a standing ovation. Brother Dinkelaker then introduced Rev. Jack O’Malley, a priest long active in the fight for social justice, including housing desegregation and labor struggles, and opposition to the wars in Vietnam and Iraq. Father O’Malley for several years was pastor of the Catholic parish in Wilmerding, PA, home of UE Local 610, and since retiring from his official pastoral duties he has served as labor chaplain of Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.
President Hovis then called on Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Klipple, who moved to place the official convention call into the record of the convention. The motion was seconded and adopted by the delegates.
President Hovis then called for appointment of the Convention’s Sergeant-at-Arms. Nina Williams, president of Local 799, had agreed to serve in that position. A motion to appoint Sister Williams as sergeant-at-arms was made, seconded and adopted.
Brother Hovis and Secretary-Treasurer Klipple then announced the appointment of delegates to the various convention committees. The first committee appointed was the Rules and Order Committee, who then left the convention hall to meet immediately and prepare a set of rules of order by which the convention would operate. Delegates were appointed to the following additional committees: Resolutions, Publicity and Education, Organizing, Policy Action, and Constitution.
President Hovis then called on Ruth Hollabaugh from Local 741 for the first partial credentials report.
The Rules and Order Committee reported back with its proposed set of rules to govern convention debate. A motion to adopt the rules was made, seconded and adopted. The convention then adjourned. The afternoon and evening was devoted to meetings of the convention committees.