Setting a strong bargaining path

Delegates at the 2011 UAW Special Convention on Collective Bargaining continued work on a variety of resolutions designed to set the union’s course of action for the next four years when in negotiations.

Resolutions approved by delegates (pdf)

During the first two days of the convention, delegates debated the Proposed Resolution, including sections on Building Power to Win Justice, Building a Global Middle Class in a Just Society, Providing Health Care and Retirement Security, and Democracy in the Workplace.

Building Power to Win Justice
Rico Diaz, a welder from UAW Local 865 at the John Deere Co. harvester facility in E. Moline, Ill., spoke in favor of the resolution on Building Power to Win Justice.

Diaz said he has seen National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections up close and knows that they don’t allow workers to form their own unions without fear and retribution from management. He supported the UAW Principles for Fair Union Elections contained within the resolution because it would help make union organizing drives more equitable for workers.

“I feel it’s very important to put something in place that would allow these workers a fair chance at a decent future,” Diaz said.

Sue Pratt, a member of UAW Local 12 in Toledo, Ohio, is unit chair at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center. A registered nurse, Pratt supported the resolution because she wants other workers to be able to choose a union without fear or retribution.

“We organized over 10 years ago. Many staff members and nurses were afraid,” she told the more than 1,200 delegates and activists. “But with the help of the UAW, we were able to stick together and make significant gains in the workplace, and we are fortunate we are on our fourth contract.”

Tony Vultaggio, president of UAW Local 228 in Sterling Heights, Mich., also spoke in favor of the same resolution and lauded the mobilization and activism section.

He noted that anti-worker Republican governors such as Michigan’s Rick Snyder, Wisconsin’s Scott Walker and Ohio’s John Kasich have no doubt helped our activism with their acts against workers.

“It’s very encouraging to me that we have large numbers of members volunteering,” said Vultaggio, who represents workers at Ford Motor Co.’s Sterling Heights Axle Plant.

Building a Global Middle Class in a Just Society
Mike Keck, the financial secretary at UAW Local 723 in Monroe, Mich., spoke on the Building a Global Middle Class in a Just Society resolution and said a visit to a Mexican factory controlled by Ford was an eye-opener for him.

“I certainly hope and pray that we would never treat my sister they way workers are treated there,” said Keck, a retired Ford worker, who spoke on the International Corporate Conduct section of the resolution.

He added that we need more activism like the kind that forced athletic apparel maker Nike to take action against the forced child labor in the plants that supply its products.

“We still have adults that are being mistreated, and that results from the fact that we don’t have the power to stop that,” Keck said.

Esther Scruggs of UAW Local 276 urged delegates to adopt the Building a Global Middle Class resolution, and referred to the nondiscrimination language.

  “The UAW has a proud history in pursuit of equal opportunity and social justice for all, but we still have a lot of discrimination due to the fact that discrimination against lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender individuals still face workplace discrimination,” she said. “Despite the efforts of some to turn back the clock, the UAW remains committed to the cause of helping others.”

Winston Williams Jr., civil and human rights chair at UAW Local 652 in Flint, Mich., said he was taught early on that Americans are free and the world copies what we do.

“If we have these freedoms, then how come Mercedes, BMW and Volkswagen are organized in Europe but not here in America? You’re right. We need global strategies to fight global employers,” he said.

Providing Health Care and Retirement Security
Corey Fletcher, president UAW Local 686, spoke on the health care resolution, which was debated Wednesday – the one-year anniversary of the health care reform bill signed into law by President Obama.

  “Every worker in America deserves access to affordable health care. High deductibles, variable co-pays and lifetime maximums, in addition to insurance calculations for seriously ill people are putting our members under extreme financial stress,” he said.

Fletcher said his brother-in-law in the plant has childhood diabetes, and he has had several surgeries, a blood transfusion, takes many prescriptions and is only 43.

“He will need these drugs the rest of this life. He’s a father of three and his expenses are outrageous,” he said. “He’s a great worker with an outstanding track record. He is an example of why employers should view our commitment to health as an investment.”

Democracy in the Workplace
Part of Wednesday afternoon’s session gave delegates the opportunity to debate and support resolutions on Democracy in the Workplace, and more specifically, Co-Determination and Democracy in the Workplace.  This would allow workers, who obviously have a long-term interest in the success of their workplaces, the chance to seek and obtain a voice in the decision-making at all levels of the workplace.

Fred Dorrell, UAW Local 1895 chair, strongly supports the resolution because in the workplace, the employee is ultimately the master of their task and essentially the expert.

“Management may have the company’s best interests at heart, but what is ideal is not always real in the workplace,” said Dorrell. “At least we have a voice. We bring the worker process point of view to their attention and we achieve better results.”

Brett Zorich of Local 249 Photo by Don Lehman

UAW Local 249 member Brett Zorich  works at Ford Motor Co.’s Kansas City Assembly Plant, and he believes the way to build the best product is with worker inclusiveness. His facility builds the Ford Escape and F-Series pickup.

“Our people build the best quality. We know these jobs, and we have something to add to the process because we are out here doing the job every day,” said Zorich.

Bob Holden Local 1097 Photo by Rebecca Cook

Bob Holden, shop chair for UAW Local 1097, also supports the resolution because it protects workers and gives us a voice, especially as far as health and safety, productivity and sourcing. This resolution has a personal meaning to Holden, who is determined to bring back laid-off UAW General Motors workers from his plant in Rochester, N.Y.

“We will not get out of the way until every last member has been returned to our facility from layoff status,” said Holden.

Innovative Benefits
Helping workers balance the demands of their jobs with the needs of their families is an important part of our bargaining program. These include long-term care, group legal services, employee discounts, employee assistance programs (EAPs), and veterans’ benefits. Another component of this is work and family benefits.

Brenda Bailey Stevenson Local 7127 Photo by Don Lehman

Brenda Stevenson, a member of UAW Local 7127, which represents 20,000 members of Child Care Providers Together Michigan (CCPTM), supported the Innovative Benefits resolution.

“Providing for young children who need child care is important,” she said. “If not, my children will be forced to send my grandchildren to child care facilities they can’t afford. We can’t let that happen.”

Gloria Kelly of UAW Local 2377 also stood in support of this resolution.

“I am the product of mothers and fathers who established those benefits. It’s our responsibility to maintain them and fight for them. I won’t have to borrow against my assets to cover my care. We deserve respect, dignity and equality of life,” said Kelly.

“The EAP programs saved my life,” said an emotional Greg Ailor, UAW Local 1178 recording secretary, who fell on hard times due to substance abuse.

After help from the EAP – and encouragement from his fellow union brothers and sisters – Ailor is celebrating three years of sobriety.

UAW Local 897 member Gino Messina also supported the resolution because he’s had to use family leave time to care for a sick mother who has kidney failure, diabetes and is blind. As one of her primary caregivers, Messina has used FMLA and credits the law – the Family Medical Leave Act – with helping him keep his job.

“It’s time for these companies to realize that the men and women who work for them aren’t just workers. They’re also mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and caring partners,” he said.

Donna Fenton  is a UAW Local 2865 member who works in the University of California statewide system comprised of nine campuses. Having this language in contract agreements would give workers an opportunity to better educate themselves and perhaps move into better-paying jobs with benefits.

James Steele Local 856 Photo by Rebecca Cook

“Given the high cost of child care, balancing these responsibilities is a particular challenge. That’s why these benefits are so important,” said Fenton. “We’ve negotiated a stipend of up to $2,400 a year depending on how many quarters are worked. With this cost covered, it makes higher education more possible for people with diverse backgrounds and different family situations.”

James Steele is a Vietnam veteran. The UAW Local 856 member from Akron, Ohio, works at the Lockheed Martin facility and strongly supports the resolution because of its inclusive language for those in the armed services and veterans.

“Too many vets are coming home and can’t find a decent job, and can’t get adequate support,” said Steele, who urged other members to help in any way they can when they see a veteran in need.

Compiled by Gwynne Marie Cobb, Sandra Davis, Vince Piscopo and Joan Silvi