The Working Press, Volume 1, Issue 6, June 1998: “Building the Road to Union Cities” June 1998 Item tclc-0076 https://adolfhoromero.com/archive/tclc/items/tclc-0076/ Machine-generated text (OCR) from photographs of the original pages. Not corrected; it contains errors. The page images are the authoritative record. ===== Page 1 (Box 1 sequence page 283) ===== The Labor Coalition, Midstate Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO Labor Coalition Endorsement of AFL- ClO program In 1997, The Labor Coalition endorsed the AFL-CIO Union City initiative. It is the hope that each and every Local Union in Tompkins, Cortland and Schuyler counties will adopt the Union City initiative. Together, we can BUILD A UNION CITY. Step 1. ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE, CHANGING TO ORGANIZE Promote organizing as the entire labor movement's top priority and get half of the local union to sign up for the AFL-CIO “Changing to Organize” Program. Step 2: MOBILIZING AGAINST ANTI-UNION EMPLOYERS Recruit and activate at least 1% (one percent) of union members in the area for STREET HEAT, AFL-CiO’s new solidarity and rapid response team. Members pledge to help defend and support workers involved in organizing and contract campaigns. Are YOU ready to commit to STREET HEAT? Inside the Working Press Page 2: Local News: Campaigns and Contracts Page 3: General Information Page 4: e4 Labor Coalition Meetings 109 West State Step 3. BUILDING POLITICAL POWER AND COMMUNITY COALITIONS Organize grassroots lobbying/political action committees fo work on local, state and national issues, build community alliances and support political candidates who champion working families. Step 4. PROMOTING ECONOMIC GROWTH, PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITIES Organize community allies in support of economic development strategies that establish worker and family-friendly community standards for local industries and public investment. Step 5. EDUCATING MEMBERS IN POCKETBOOK ECONOMICS Sponsor the new AFL-CIO Economics Education program for at least a majority of local unions in the area. Step 6. GENERATING SUPPORT FOR THE RIGHT TO ORGANIZE Persuade city or town council and/or county bodies to pass resolutions supporting the right of workers to organize and insist candidates do likewise as a condition of endorsement. Step 7. MAKING SURE OUR LEADERSHIP MIRRORS FACES OF OUR MEMBERS Work to make sure that all official CLC bodies - executive board, committees, Officers, delegate bodies-are as diverse as the membership represented by affiliated focal unions. Street, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-277-5670 June 1998 Step 8. ENCOURAGING ALL LOCAL UNIONS TO INCREASE THEIR MEMBERSHIP Reach an annual membership growth rate in the Central Labor Council (CLC) jurisdiction of three percent (#%) by the year 2000. UNION CITIES - STRONG COMMUNITIES The mission of the AFL-CIO (including its affiliates, their Local Unions and _ State Federations and Central Labor Councils) is to improve the lives of working families-to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our nation. By organizing workers and building a broader American labor movement. By creating a stronger political voice for workers. And by changing the labor movement. Organize... - Mobilize... Jobs! ===== Page 2 (Box 1 sequence page 282) ===== cer leagues to use discr year glohal hictarn, 919 the shevik 1178 C nition ¢ of the Conve ld not ld War omote Shah o t indus new c icable iling v CER e chilc condi mm cou 10n on aign. E tant fo Unitec ally Si Ire of . TN) Weri OUS JO expan n fron waa wae wass Organizing Locals Coalition Unions affiliated who are actively organizing are: Local Union Contact SEIU 200A Coert Bonthius 275-0910 UAW 2300 Harry Evans UBC 603 Kathy Thomas 257-9586 IBEW 241 Gary Kirton 272-2809 Bricklayers Local 8 Mark Babbage 273-3050 CSEA Region 5 Will Streeter UA 267 Paul Fingland 315-437-2951 SEIU 200B Bob Tompkins 315-424-1750 Asbestos Workers 30 Brian Urquhart 315-475-1246 Phone 272-4108 800-559-7975 CSEA June 24 has been designated by the AFL as Right to Organize Day of Ac- tion and an event is being organized in Syracuse around a CSEA organizing drive in the Town of DeWitt. Will Streeter is asking for support for the workers. Call the Syracuse Labor Council for more information 315-422- 3363. UAW 802 Mark Keith reports that Monarch Tool IS Feorganizing its management struc- lure. Members are receiving Health and Safety training in Lock out/T ag out and respiratory training, SEIU 200A Continuing their organizin g Campaign at St. Joe's Hospital in Elmira. They . 7 — So rusvuvui dll SUCCC! Odllo ail 1idGe fil Ui veer LOWN, Sialkot. The Foulball Campaign, developed to monitor and encourage all etion in purchasing equipment 1s th= APWU 1151 - ike Oates reports that a nation e ise of the US Postal Service nes ing privatization by Emery meter C non-union company) was recently eld. Their current contract expires on November 20. The unfair labor practice against the downtown {thaca post office is awaiting a final ruling. IBEW 961 Dan Addy reported on the effects of deregulation. The Milliken Station facility is to be sold. Town of Lansing residents will feel the immediate effect with a hefty increase in school taxes. The Meter services department may experience an impact to current jobs. Labor Party News Howard Botwinick reported on the up- coming Labor Party convention. The Labor Party is seeking endorsement from Local Unions. Union Cities Conference The recent conference held in Albany was highly successful with over 50 rep- resentatives from the Northeast partici- pating. One potential outcome is the regular meeting of Central Labor Coun- cils to discuss collective actions. The National CLC conference is sched- uled for July 31 - August 1 in Chicago. Steering Committee Meeting The Steering Committee will meet on Tuesday, June 30 at 6:30 at the Coali- tion offices at 109 West State Street. The agenda will include discussion on He upcoming Steering Committee elec- ns. Affiliated members interested in being On the Steering Committee should con- tact Kathy Thomas, 257-9586. Building Trades Bricklayers 8 Mark Babbage was re-clectey dent of Local 8 during recent Presi. Carpenters 603 Carpenters 603 recently held an Ap. prentice and Service Awards Dinner Four graduating apprentices were hon. ored. Service pins were distributed to members. Three families with over 80 years of collective service were honored with special awards. WORKING WOMEN CELEBRATE F THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF [ THE DECLARATION OF_ SENTIMENTS IN SENECA FALLS f A Statewide rally for working} women sponsored by the Work-E ing Women’s Department at theP AFL-CIO, CLUW and _thep Rochester and Midstate Central Labor Councils will be heldE Thursday, July 17 at 1:00PM ing Declaration Park, 136 Falls} Street in Seneca Falls, NY. E More information is available} at: 3 hitp://www.celebrate98.com} http://www.unps.gov/worie http://www.greatwomen.org.> http://www.hws.edu/~forum98 : This event will culminate af week-long celebration on the) contribution of women. Speak-f ers for the week include Hillary p Clinton and Alexis Herman. fF Call Kathy Thomas for further information at 257-9586. Wef are looking for support from local unions for T-shirts mark-| ing the event. Union Brothers are encouraged to support ape) attend this event as well. } ===== Page 3 (Box 1 sequence page 281) ===== Health and Safety News ttee Tuesday, June 30 6:30PM at Coalition Office Repetitive Strain Injury: A FREE CLINIC DATE: THURSDAY, JUNE 18 TIME: 4PM-7PM WHERE: 2-4 Pulteney St., Bath, NY AFGWU Local 1013 LABOR IS BACK - THE DEFEAT OF PROP 226 DEFEAT OF THE PAYCHECK DECEPTION ACT IN CALIFORNIA - A MAJOR VICTORY FOR LABOR Dr. Michael Lax, Medical Director of the CNY Occupational Health Clini- cal Center (CNYOHCC) will con- duct a health screening for repetitive strain injury. Also available will be Greg Siwiniski, Certified Industrial Hygienist with the CNYOHCC, who will conduct individual consultations on workstations; and Arlene Small, Physical Therapist, who will consult with clinic participants on helpful stretches. The following is a memo from AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney to all Labor Activists...."A moder political miracle, the defeat of Califomia Propo- sition 226 by an overall 54 to 46% margin, sprang from the voters strong sense of fairness and union members’ unprecedented mobilization against a right-wing effort to silence the voices of working men and women in our nation’s political system. Union members rejected the proposition with a resounding 71 to 29 percent vote. Even more, we gained new strength and momentum for a pro-working family agenda heading into the fall elections. More than 24,000 new union member political activists emerged in Califor- nia in the course of this campaigning. Anyone who is concerned that their job may be putting them at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome or other hand/ wrist/shoulder problems, or thinks they have symptoms of such an injury, is welcome to come in for a free con- sultation. Refreshments and general information on RSI will also be avail- able. The defeat of Proposition 226 sends a clear message about the prospects of other such worker-bashing initiatives in other state and the message is, simply put, “Pounding working families is a losing proposition.”... For nearly six months, we've played effective defense against the attempt to wipe us off the political map. Now it’s time to go on the offensive on behalf of a Working Family Agenda, demanding that elected officials take action in support of the right to organize and on behalf of the key worker concerns like health care, fair pay, and retirement security.” If you would like to join the Labor Coalition in our efforts to promote a working family agenda during this political season, contact Kathy Thomas at 257-9586. For MORE information contact 277-5670 or 776-3022 Sponsored by Midstate Central Labor Council, Steuben Central Labor Council, American Flint Glass Workers Local 1013. HELP WANTED Labor Day Picnic Volunteers are needed for this year’s Labor Day Picnic Committee. We need committee chairpeople for the following sub-committees: ¢ General Planning Solidarity Issue of the Working Press B \¢ Entertainment The Working Press will publish a SOLIDARITY ISSUE forfj |* Children's Games Labor Day this year. We are requesting advertisements from | 4 Publicity. pines Local Unions and Labor Activists. Full-page, half-page and |+ Food and Beverages quarter-page ads will be available. Please begin planningf |* Awards Please contact Kathy Thomas, 257-9586 immediately for more information. for this issue. Stay tuned for more information. LE OOS TENT SPDT ITI NTT IE LTE TTI PIG AE CLP OR Fo LPR EN IT ELON ERE LOE OE EC SIG ON ty De 7 F We m, pe . 9 , he f yt 4 ¢ re? CoA Oa are Ke ion Xf 4 ace %y 2. ie Set ae a : tar hs $34 ia es is 4 ayy REGS Bs Rog % 4 te 4 at ? ay Se owe PseX Li Seuee 2 aba ey oe: baa Pa Fa Oe a. rs not 7 W ¥ core a+ 4 4 ADVE ies ry ro Ata Ste ¥ = tA * ===== Page 4 (Box 1 sequence page 280) ===== Midstate Central Labor Council 1998 Meeting Schedule MONTH/DATE June 30 July 28 August 24 General Meetings will rotate between the Workers’ Rights Board office on Cortland, TC3 in Dryden and the Pipefitters Hall (701 West State Street) Ithaca. additional information. TIME. 6:30pm | 7:00pm 6:30pm MEETING Steering Committee General Meeting Steering Committee LOCATION Ithaca _ Ithaca Ithaca News articles and information for the Working Press is needed by the 15th of the month for publication in the following month. 3 easy ways to get your news in the Working Press: ¢ CALL the Coalition Offices with your news 277-5670 or Kathy Thomas 257-9586 ¢ FAX information 272-4111 ¢ E-MAIL to Kathy Thomas SHOKWAVE12@aol.com Please forward 1998 dues and information on delegates and activists as soon as possible. Contact Kathy Thomas, 257-9586 or SHOKWAVE12@aol.com (e-mail) for The LABOR MOVEMENT: the folks that brought you the WEEKEND THE WORKING PRESS The LABOR COALITION 109 West State Street Ithaca, New York 14850 Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Permit No. 978 Ithaca, New York