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| UE Cartoonist Gary Huck presents John Hovis with his caricature as a retirement gift. |
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| Benedicto Martinez of the FAT presents John with a gift from his union. |
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| Sharon and John Hovis receive a quilt, sewn by Holly Bergles, wife of Local 1172 President Paul Bergles, from UE T-shirts contributed by locals across the country. |
The convention session of Wednesday afternoon, September 28 began by dealing with constitutional matters. President Hovis called to the stage Western Region President Carl Rosen and Ray Pompano, Local 243, co-conveners of the Constitution Committee. Pompano read the proposed constitutional amendment on salaries, which proposed a 3 percent raise for the national officers. The officers' pay is pegged to pay rates of GE workers, said Pompano, and the committee also considered the healthcare deductibles UE employees are now paying. Larsene Taylor, Local 150, said it makes her proud to tell people that our officers don't make more than the highest-paid member. Gerald Crawford, Local 155 and Antwon Gibson, Local 610, also spoke for the amendments, which were approved.
Roger Zaczyk, Local 506, read the amendment for a 3 percent raise for UE staff, which was also approved.
Rosen then read an amendment to Article 15 Section A, which would charge the highest per capita level to locals that fail to provide the national union with their average wage information. This is meant as an incentive to get all locals to provide that information, which the national union needs for budgeting. "We hope we never have to use this," said Rosen. The amendment was adopted.
Another amendment, requiring a 5 percent penalty on locals that fail to pay per capita within 45 days of the due date, was read by Rosen and approved by delegates.
Rosen and Zaczyk read proposals for moving interest and specified funds from the strike fund to the general fund; these too were approved. With that, delegates voted to dismiss the Constitution Committee with the Convention's thanks.
Resolutions Committee members Kathie Nelson and Sherry Filiatrault then read the resolution "Rights of Immigrant Workers." Wayne Burnett, Local 506, said, "This is what America is all about. These people help build this country but they aren't afforded the same rights." Angaza Laughinghouse added, "Immigrant rights are worker rights." Armando Robles and Lauro Bonilla also spoke in favor of the resolution, which was adopted.
Barrett Gough and Kathie Nelson then read the resolution, "Fight Racism." Mike Ferritto, Local 506, said "It saddens me that our society hasn't evolved beyond this." At GE, it's not just about supporting people on the job but getting them a job in the first place without discrimination. Mike Rivera, Local 1421, described his own experience with racial profiling. He and his wife were buying a house, and the realtor asked if either of them was a non-citizen. When they said yes, the realtor - who was himself Latino, assumed that Mike was the immigrant, when in fact his wife is an immigrant from Yugoslavia. Donna Morgan, Local 170, said she was shocked to learn recently that the KKK is active in West Virginia.
A number of other delegates spoke in support of this resolution, including Cleo Hester (Local 893), Brian Barrington (1421), Antwon Gibson (610), Phil Dedera (1177), Marie Lausch (222), Armando Robles (1110), Don Landry (269) and Larsene Taylor (150.) The resolution was unanimously adopted.
The resolution "Build Jobs with Justice and the People's Movement" was read by Barrett Gough and Kathie Nelson. Peter Knowlton proposed an amendment, which was adopted, adding mention of Local 204's plant closing fight. He also urged members to attend the Labor Notes Conference next spring in Chicago. Carl Rosen asked locals to get more involved in coalitions, and mentioned the "Occupy Wall Street" movement. The resolution was adopted.
OFFICERS ELECTED
The Convention then turned to the election of new officers for the next two years. For president, Marie Lausch, Local 222, nominated Bruce Klipple, seconded by Tim McCambridge, Local 123. Klipple was elected and pledged to "put every ounce of energy into moving this union forward."
For secretary-treasurer, Larsene Taylor, Local 150, nominated Andrew Dinkelaker, with Roger Zaczyk seconding. Dinkelaker was elected. He thanked a number of people, including the Eastern Region, and said, "Together we will grow beyond our expectations."
Antwon Gibson, Local 610, nominated Bob Kingsley for director of organization, which was seconded by Charlene Winchell, Local 1121. Kingsley was elected, and led the delegates in a chant, "Build this union!"
As trustees, the delegates elected Lauro Bonilla (1103) from the Western Region, with Rosann Raymond (893) as the alternate; Crystal Pratt (684) from the Eastern Region and Don Brown (506) as alternate; and from the Northeast Region, Bob South (234) as trustee and Autumn Martinez (255) as alternate. President Hovis then swore in the new national officers, trustees and the entire General Executive Board. Under the UE Constitution, the newly-elected officers take their positions on November 1, 2011.
CONVENTION HONORS JOHN HOVIS
The remainder of the afternoon session was devoted to a tribute to John Hovis. A short video was shown, prepared by Local 618 retiree Ron Flowers, with help from Mary Stewart-Flowers, Local 618. Bob Kingsley spoke about John, telling a humorous story, but adding that Hovis is like bedrock. "He always told the truth to the membership."
Andrew Dinkelaker then read the resolution, "John Hovis" which summarizes John's contributions to UE and wishes him well in retirement. Dinkelaker then showed a short video that follows UE Cartoonist Gary Huck as he draws a caricature of John; Huck then presented the framed drawing to Hovis.
Kingsley then called former UE national officers Amy Newell and Ed Bruno to the stage. Former Secretary-Treasurer Newell said Hovis "deserves a lot of credit for the union having maintained its core principles." Bruno, the former director of organization, shared some humorous reminiscences of his years working with John.
A number of delegates and guests spoke from the floor in praise of Hovis. Peter Knowlton said Hovis taught him the wise precept, "Sometimes you just need to put the b.s. spray on the table during negotiations." Carl Rosen said Hovis has upheld UE democracy with "even-handed leadership."
Also speaking about John Hovis were Ron Flowers, Larsene Taylor, Roger Zaczyk, Wayne Burnett, Ray Pompano, UE-GE Conference Board Secretary Steve Tormey, Ray Pompano, and Benedicto Martinez of the FAT, who presented John a gift from his union. Donna Morgan announced that Local 170 has started a scholarship fund in John Hovis's name.
John and his wife Sharon were then presented with a huge quilt made by Holly Bergles, wife of Local 1172 President Paul Bergles, from UE local T-shirts and logos contributed by locals across the country.
Kingsley then called for all those in favor of the resolution honoring John to indicate so by standing and applauding. The entire assembly rose to its feet.
John Hovis then spoke, saying, "While I appreciate the gifts, you've given me so much more... I leave knowing the union is in good hands." He explained how his strong commitment to maintaining UE is rooted in his knowledge of UE history, and in having been taught by many of the old timers who built the union and kept it alive during the red-scare attacks of the 1950s. "Other people lived and died to build this organization. Who the hell are we to give it up because we face a few challenges?"
The convention recessed until Thursday morning, and delegates gathered Wednesday evening for the Convention Banquet.