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General Executive Board
Meets For Two Days
Of Intensive Discussions

PITTSBURGH

Dir. of Org. Bob Kingsley Pres. John Hovis and Sec.-Treas. Bob Clark
Phil Bishop, Dist. 7 secretary Bob Rudek, Dist. 11 secretary Joyce Clayborne, Dist. 7 president
Dist.1 Pres. Connie Spinozzi and Sec. Barry Rideout Dist. 6 Pres. John Lambiase; Dist. 6 Secretary Dave Adams and District 10 Sec. Maryanne Hart
Members of the UE General Executive Board deliberate. From top, left: Dir. of Org. Bob Kingsley; Pres. John Hovis and Sec.-Treas. Bob Clark; Phil Bishop, Dist. 7 secretary; Bob Rudek, Dist. 11 secretary; Joyce Clayborne, Dist. 7 president; Dist.1 Pres. Connie Spinozzi and Sec. Barry Rideout; Dist. 6 Pres. John Lambiase; Dist. 6 Secretary Dave Adams and District 10 Sec. Maryanne Hart.

After an "exciting four months," UE seems to be "on its way to a better than average year on the organizing front," reported Dir. of Org. Kingsley to the union's General Executive Board (GEB), at its meeting June 9-10.

In particular, he said, UE organizing was boosted by the union’s largest National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election victory in 20 years at the Henry Mayo Hospital in Santa Clarita, Calif.

The GEB’s first action was to charter the Hospital’s more than 500 licensed vocational nursing staff, technicians, clerks and support staff as UE Local 1004.

Kingsley detailed the union’s prospects in a number of organizing campaigns underway around the country, as well as ongoing tough campaigns to secure first contracts. District 11 Pres. Carl Rosen briefed the GEB on the latest developments at GATX in Chicago, where a UE effort to rescue a largely immigrant workforce from a corrupt union was tripped up (but not derailed) by NLRB bungling.

Intensified work to UE Local 150, the North Carolina Public Service Workers Union, has seen a steady increase in dues-paying members, Kingsley reported.

BROAD SCOPE

During two days of intensive meetings, the GEB took a close look at the union’s organizing, collective bargaining, political action and internal finances. The GEB consists of the presidents and secretaries of each district and the three national officers.

The Board came to few decisions on major issues, but, says Genl. Sec.-Treas. Bob Clark, the discussion itself had more impact than formal votes. "The national officers were looking for guidance on a number of really important issues," he told the UE NEWS. "The Board’s input was valuable, and it was heard."

Genl. Pres. John Hovis, Dir. of Org. Bob Kingsley and Clark led discussions on:

  • A budget for fiscal year 2000-20001;

  • Organizing strategy and allocation of staff resources;

  • An approach to building the Labor Party.

General Secretary Bob Clark reported that the national union's expenses are down in every area except for rent as he presented an update on a new budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

GE NEGOTIATIONS

High stakes negotiations are underway in New York, reported Genl. Pres. Hovis, who leads the UE committee negotiating with General Electric. The union’s national agreement with GE expires June 25.

District Seven Pres. Joyce Clayborne said that in her district, regional coordinators are educating and mobilizing rank-and-file volunteers in an organizing plan. Several Board members suggested that field staff should have the experience of both organizing and servicing.

POLITICAL ACTION

A series of state political action conferences took place successfully this spring, reported Chris Townsend, political action director. Rank-and-file UE members brought a working-class agenda to the attention of state legislators in Iowa, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Wisconsin.

The House of Representatives endorsed both permanent normal trade relations with China and the "NAFTA for Africa" bill, over union objections, Townsend said. Labor will face a difficult struggle in defeating these measures in the Senate. UE had a prominent part in the April 16 rally in Washington against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, Clark and Townsend observed.

LABOR PARTY

The Board had an intense discussion on the way forward for the Labor Party, with a special guest to aid in the deliberations — Labor Party National Organizer Tony Mazzocchi. Mazzocchi said there are possibilities developing for further union backing for the party and for electoral work (the Labor Party has yet to run a candidate), but the emphasis must be on recruitment. "We have a long road ahead of us," he said.

A majority of GEB members agreed with District Two Pres. Judy Atkins, that UE counsel the Labor Party to continue with its issues campaigns, especially the "Just Health Care" campaign. But Carl Rosen proposed that the Labor Party put greater emphasis on running candidates.

The GEB also gave considerable attention to the plans for the union’s upcoming National convention, which takes place in Erie, Pa. from Aug. 27-31.

UE News - 06/00


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