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From the Presidents Desk
Hugh Bowen
I would like to discuss some of the recent issues that were discussed at the February membership meeting. By now, most of you have seen the letter distributed in the plant from Dennis Dick, the president of Engineered and Chemical Products regarding the possible future sale of some segments of Engineered and Chemical Products.
I am bothered by the corporate decision to put out this vague information at a time when all parties involved are participating in negotiations. I realize that we have lost some business to Gates and even more business to the new plant in Mexico. I find it hard to believe that if Goodyear is being truthful about how much money they are losing, that they could even find someone who would want to purchase our business at this time.
Here in Lincoln, we are continuing on with local negotiations. They will continue until agreement is reached or February 25, 2000, whichever comes first. By that date it should be clearly evident that we are getting nowhere or we should have gotten something by then.
Any local issues or proposals that are chosen can then be taken with us to Master negotiations and could be settled there. Any local proposals that are brought to Master negotiations would be thoroughly weeded out by a special committee before being presented to the full International negotiating committee.
We will begin Master negotiations in early March. At this time a target company has not been selected. It the company
selected is one that is involved in regular negotiations, not a re-opener like ours, there is a good possibility that negotiations would be put on hold for the rest of us until a tentative agreement is reached with the target company.
At that time, negotiations would resume for the rest of us. Since no deadline has been set at this time, it is hard to predict an accurate timeline. But since our negotiations are a reopener, it is possible to end up with no tentative agreement which simply means that our agreement would remain the same as it is today, both locally and at the Master level.
It a tentative agreement is reached a vote would be set. There would be a separate ballot for each agreement, the local and the master, but the voting would be held at the same time. When possible, we will continue to keep you updated on negotiations and their progress.
Many of you have asked about this years PRP payment. Evidently it was agreed to delay any announcement about this years payment until March.
To the best of my knowledge there will be no PRP payment this year unless the company decides to do something in the form of a bonus payment on their own. At this time, we will just have to wait and see.
We are continuing to work with the company to be prepared for the changing dues structure as of July 1st, 2000. U you have any questions about how this new structure works, please contact someone here at the union hall. As of July 1st, dues will be collected weekly at a rate of 1.3% of your average hourly earnings. There is a formula that you can use to determine what your dues deduction should be.
As of February 15th, the sub fund is at 16.63%. We currently have 136 members on layoff.
Thoughts from the Vice President
John Shotkoski
News from your Secretary and P&I Rep.
Sally Edwards
Notice from the Pension and insurance office:
All retirees not on Medicare and not covered by an HMO plan must have a 'Midwest Select" sticker on their benefits card. If you do not currently have one and need one, you may get a sticker to apply to your card at the employment office in the plant or at the union hall. This sticker is important, giving the providers the information that you are entitled to the discount provided under the agreement with this organization.
Rx
This might be interesting . . . If you have your own personal computer and can get on-line, visit www.bettermedicare.org for up to date information on the current battle to make congress guarantee that all senior citizens have access to prescription drug coverage. The current white house plan threatens those covered by private coverage. This organization is trying to make our voices heard loud and clear in Washington. This website also has direct connections for sending a telegram to your senator or congressman. Please visit this site today.Sally Edwards
Pension & Insurance Representative
In The Editors Opinion
Ucinda Sims
You Can Make a Difference
We are constantly trying to keep you up to date on struggles across the nation and here at home. We offer suggestions on what you, the
Individual can do to help. We continue this vigil because it has been proved over and over that everyone getting involved is how we get things done.
We traveled by bus to Des Moines, Iowa to show support on the one year anniversary of the strike at Titan Tire. The strike there continues with national attention being given to the worker-be- damned attitude that permeates this workplace and others like it. Recently, Byron Orion, the Labor
Commissioner of Iowa, was forced to go to the Iowa Supreme Court to enforce a Lower court order to inspect a the plant in Des Moines. After that excursion, Orton was quoted by Progressive Magazine, saying, "We have never been confronted with an employer so defiant of the law."
Also in 1999, we joined in a letter writing campaign to our own CEO, Gibara in an effort to save the jobs and livelihoods of our brothers and sisters in Gadsden, Alabama. We watched and waited while they showed amazing courage and strength and solidarity in the face of plant closure. Today, as the members of USWA Local 12 bring their plant back up to full production, we can applaud the efforts of all of us. And we can look to them for guidance and support should we need them in the future.
During 1999 we also played a part in a steel industry struggle with foreign steel dumping. We lobbied any and all who would listen in Washington for an end to the devastation created in the sleet industry. While an anti-steel dumping bill did not pass the Senate last year, on Friday, February 11,2000, it was announced that President Clinton had decided to grant import relief for U.S. steel wire rod manufacturers and makers of U.S. tine pipe.
A spokesperson for the USWA said, Today's announcement by the President sends a strong message to our foreign trading partners that import surges which lead to serious injury to the industry and its workers will not be tolerated."
Since October of 1997, we have continued to bring you stories and information about our brothers and sisters in Pueblo, Colorado, that have been involved in a labor dispute since then with Oregon Steel! CF&I. The crusade for justice for these workers has carried itself all the way to San Francisco in a successful nationwide boycott of the main financier of Oregon Steel and their attempt to crush the workers in Pueblo. And that is Wells Fargo. And this is where you come in once again.
Please join in the Steelworkers continually expanding boycott of Wells Fargo, which has already resulted in nearly $1.5 billion in closed accounts at Wells Fargo facilities. It was recently announced that they will be the new owner of our own NBC bank. If you have money there, or bank there in any capacity, please find a new place to do business. You should also include Norwest on your don I use list. They also are operated by Wells Fargo.
We will continue to keep you informed as this 'deal' continues to unfold.
An injury to one is an injury to all. Never more true. Never more important to remember.Ucinda Sims, Editor
Community Services Committee
Milt Schmidt
Community Service Committee Warms up to Needs of the Hew Millennium:
The Need for VolunteersUpcoming events that we need volunteers for include the March 12th Swap Meet, the Havelock Street Dance and the State Fair booth. These are just a few of the events and special occasions that we will be needing help with. Let me know it you can help. Contact me for dates and times.
Iwould like to give a special belated thank you to Rod and Krista for your help with the 1999 Holiday Gift Giving distribution.Mitt Schmidt
Community Services Committee Chairman
Ext. 8564
Retiree’s Corner
Officers of the Retiree's Club
President Jerry Teichmeir, Vice Pres. William Ellsworth,
Secretary MargeLahodny, Tresurer Jim Landstrom,
Retirees Meeting
March 15th, 2000Dinner at 5:30 pm.
Sloppy Joes will be furnished by the Club.
Bring side dish and own table service.Regular Meeting 6:30 pm.
Election of Officers and Entertainment.2000 Club dues are now due $4.00
Pay Barb at the Union Office or Jim Landstrom,
6300 Madison, Lincoln, NE 68507.
www... Research Can Start Here
Politics on the Web
www.vote-smart.org
Vote Smart is a non-profit non-partisan site with information on elections and issues at the national and state level.
www.politics.com
Politics.com hopes to make a profit from selling political advertising by drawing an audience that wants the latest news, gossip, opinion arid poll results.
www.opensecrets.org
Center for Responsive Politics finds out who is giving money to Whom, who is getting soft money and whom the political action committees are betting on.
www.niu.edu/newsplace/whitehouse.html
WhiteHouse 2000 is a collection of political links, including academic sources.www.democrats.org Democrat National Committee
www.rnc.org Republican National Committee
www.billbradley.com Bill Bradley (Dem)
www.georgewbush.com George W. Bush (Rep)
www.algore2000.com Al Gore (Oem)
www.mccain2000.com John McCain (Rep)
USWA CONVENTION RAFFLE
$100,000 In Prizes
Tickets are $20.00 ea.Available at the Union Hall now.
First Prize!
Harley-Davidson Road King Classic motorcycle
Second Prize!
Harley-Davidson 1200c Sportster Custom motorcycle
Third Prize!
Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 motorcycle
Other prizes include a Coleman Fleetwood Camper, a central home heating/cooling system, tires, gas grill, desk and chair set, sterling silver punch bowl, 50-gallon hot water heater, gun safe, fishing boat with motor and trailer, and more, more, more.
Also more than $30,000 in CASH drawings.Drawings to be held throughout the USWA International Convention August 7-10, 2000. Proceeds to benefit the USWA PAC Fund.
February is Black History Month
Civil Rights and Labor Leaders are among most NotableIt is a month in which we bear witness to the progress, richness and diversity of African American achievement.
During the 1920's, an African American named
Carter G. Woodson created and promoted Negro
History Week. This period in February was chosen because it included the birthdays of Frederick
Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.The month-long celebration was implemented in 1979, and is a time for Americans to reflect on both the history and teachings of African Americans whose contributions are still too little known.
Two of the best known and most frequently referred to African-Americans in the history of civil rights movements and the labor movement
are Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, Jr.Frederick Dnu~1ass was know as the spokesman for the free Neg,ro and a fighter for human rights.
Martin Luther King Jr. may well be best known for his "I Had a Dream" speech. It is interesting that the mainstream media forgets that this speech was made in the midst of a labor struggle in Memphis and his presence there to support those workers in their cause resulted in his assassination.
At this time every year, we take time to applaud all diversity and hopefully learn more each year about the contributions that can be made and the progress that can be gained by celebrating our differences.
Do you have a Presidential match?
As we approach the upcoming May election. It is time to decide if any of the candidates share similar beliefs and opinions as you.
There is a great way to find out and have fun too. If you have a computer that is online, you can visit www.presidentmatch.com and you will find a questionnaire to answer. Your answers will aid the computer to find out which candidate is your best choice.
The process is fun, but certainly not foolproof. Please use this information to help make your choice before you go to the polls on May 5th.
Remember . . . you must be registered before you can vote. Deadline for registering is April 28th, 2000. Pick up a voter registration form at the Union Hall.
Get Cookin’The new Goodyear Cookbooks are now available. If you would like to have one, they are for sale at the Union Hall. They make great gifts, too. Price is $12.00 each. Come in today and get yours.
Start the New Century with a Win!
The 2000 Nebraska State AFL-CIO Calendar Winner's
Congratulations to the first winners of 2000 in the AFL-C10 calendar raffle.
USWA Local 286
Rod Blazek, Robert Bouc, Richard Riha
USWA Local 286 Retirees Club