UAW International Executive Board
Hold Town Meeting In Region 8
The UAW International Executive Board (IEB)
recently held their regular meeting in Region 8. The meeting was hosted
by Local 1853 in Spring Hill, Tennessee. The meeting was attended by members
of local unions all across Region 8.
Local 1853 President Rick Martinez welcomed the visitors then turned the
meeting over to Region 8 Director Gary Casteel for introductions of the
IEB. Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn was recognized with a plaque by
the Local 1853 Women's Committee.
UAW International President Ron Gettelfinger addressed the meeting, following
an introduction by Region 8 Director Gary Casteel. "I would like
to thank Region 8 and Local 1853 for hosting this meeting," President
Gettelfinger stated. "We need to have more of these "town hall
meetings", so the leadership can gain first hand knowledge of the
concerns and issues of the members."
Gettelfinger went on to speak of the forces attempting to destroy the
union, specifically mentioning Congressman Norwood of Georgia. Last year,
Rep. Charlie Norwood pushed several proposals that are directly and blatantly
targeted at unions. He has, for example, pushed proposals to further increase
the financial reporting required by unions. Since 1959, unions have been
required to file detailed financial reports with the Department of Labor.
Those reports already provide a level of financial disclosure far beyond
the disclosure required of corporations, charities, religious organizations
or any other entity. The report filed by the UAW every year is several
inches thick. His most recent proposals would be very costly to the UAW,
in terms of additional record keeping and disclosure. Norwood has  introduced
legislation that would outlaw card-check recognition drives. Under his
bill, employers would always be given the chance to mount a campaign of
intimidation and harassment. This bill is a naked attempt to undermine
the ability of employees to choose union representation and must be resisted.
President Gettelfinger also discussed the situation with the lock out
of members of Local 1832 at Peterbilt in Madison, Tennessee. "Tomorrow
we will send a message to Paccar that what is happening is totally wrong. (see related story) Our members are willing to return to work under
the old contract until a new agreement can be settled. There is no justification
by Paccar that can make what they are doing right.
We have to build this union together and we need your support. We currently
have a daily trade deficit of 1.2 billion dollars. Go home tonight and
look in your closet at your clothes, then ask yourself why we have such
a large trade deficit."
Thanks to Jack Cobb of Local 1853
for his assistance in this story.
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