District 7 Welcomes
Newly Organized Local 741
FORT WAYNE, Ind.
The District Seven Council meeting here Oct. 16-17 welcomed Local
741, representing bus drivers, custodians, cooks, secretaries and other
staff of the Highland School District in Ohio.
District Pres. Joyce Clayborne encouraged local leaders
to become more self-sufficient so that staff can devote more time to
organizing. "If locals need more training, please take advantage of the
education programs offered by the National office," she said.
Reporting on the decisions of 64th UE National Convention,
Pres. Clayborne raised the possibility of conducting a state political action
conference. After discussion, delegates endorsed the proposal. An Ohio
political action conference will take place in conjunction with the February
district council meeting in Columbus.
INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY
Ed Havaich, Local 751, traveled to Mexico during the
summer as part of the worker-to-worker exchanges coordinated by UE and the
Authentic Labor Front (FAT). The Mexicans he met in a number of factories,
Havaich said, are hard-working people the same as ourselves who face
considerable odds in fighting for basic human rights. That they earn $46 a
day, instead of the $22 an hour some UE members make, is a result of economic
and political decisions that we must struggle against together on both sides
of the border, Havaich said.
A workshop prepared by the National union on workplace stress
was well-received by delegates.
Shop reports revealed a wide variety of disputes with
employers, including victories in grievances and arbitration.
Delegates elected Joyce Clayborne, president; Jerome
Kieffer, vice president; Rich Tarnaski, secretary; Phil Bishop,
treasurer; Virginia Garrette, Bill Callahan and Eileen Ginley,
board members; Leonard King, Ellis Williams and Jeff VanMeter,
trustees; and Diane Sprow, sergeant-at-arms.
UE News - 11/99
