plaindealer july 2013

6
the THIS ISSUE Summer Angel Tree 2 HB 2069 3 Direct Pipeline 4 FixMyJob.com 6 VOL. 93 ISSUE 33 July 2013 A Voice for Working Kansans Since 1919 plaindealer The PlainDealer (316) 529-8513 3830 S. Meridian Ave. Wichita, KS 67217–3704 ULP Charge Filed Spirit AeroSystems Refuses To Provide Information SPEEA Press Release, www.speea.org June 11 Former Grand Lodge Rep, Activist Receives Humanitarian Award Posted by www.goiam.org, June 18 union news SEE SPEEA pg 6 Happy July 4 P olitical activist and retired 41-year IAM member Pat Lehman of Wichita, KS is the recipient of the National Federation of Democratic Women’s 2013 Humanitarian Award. Lehman, a former Grand Lodge Representative who retired in 2006, was recognized at the organization’s annual conference on Saturday, June 14 in Charleston, WV. Lehman was the first- ever female Tool and Die Maker at Beechcraſt and the first woman or union member to serve as chair of the Kansas Democratic Party. At the IAM, she served in several capacities including organizer, District 70 Secretary-Treasurer and eventually Grand Lodge Representative. She was a delegate for the National Commission on the Status of Women and has traveled to Indonesia to study working conditions of female employees. In her address, Lehman thanked the women of Kansas for nominating her for the award and spoke to the importance of preserving voting rights. “My own mother could not register to vote today in the state of Kansas because she never had a birth certificate having lived in this country her entire life,” said Lehman. “I want you to think about the extreme voting laws that are being passed under the guise of ‘protecting our vote.’ We cannot allow it to continue.” In her native Kansas, Lehman has served on the Sedgwick County Mental Health Board and the Employment Training Board for the City of Wichita. She helped found the Kansas School for Effective Learning (KANSEL). “Pat has distinguished herself as a person of action throughout her life,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger in a statement read before Lehman received the award. “Although well- spoken and articulate, Pat never failed to back off impassioned words with her hands, her feet and most certainly her heart. When it came to matters of economic equality and social justice, Pat Lehman was on the front lines advocating for the causes of fairness and respect for human rights. Some people we meet in life can be viewed as takers; others are easily identified as givers. Pat Lehman is a giver, and does so freely without ever seeking recognition in return. us knowing and working with Pat Lehman can be described as a blessing.” Lehman remains an advocate for labor and volunteers on campaigns for Democratic candidates. She is now pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Wichita State University. W ICHITA, Kan. – An Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge was filed Monday (June 10) against Spirit AeroSystems aſter company officials refused to provide information nor answer questions during a formal, “step 3,” grievance meeting with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001. During the meeting, Spirit officials said managers would continue to refuse answering questions. Additionally, this nonresponsive action would apply during 14 additional, already scheduled meetings related to the company’s abrupt and arbitrary firing of 38 employees in March. “Management refused to provide information, clarify the company’s position or answer any of our questions,” said Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest Director. “is is a complete repudiation of the established grievance process and Spirit’s own policies.” Filed at the Region 7 office in Kansas City of the U.S. Department of Labor, the ULP charge reads: “Since on or about June 10, 2013 the employer has refused to bargain with the Union and repudiated the third step of the grievance procedure on 15 terminated cases.” Only a few of the dismissed employees, many with decades of service, had any documented performance issues. None of the workers were given the chance to improve their performance. Instead, Spirit managers told each employee to get their personal items and leave. At the time, Spirit management said they were taking the abrupt action “to send a message to all employees,” Brewer said. Spirit’s unprecedented action is just the latest move by the aerospace firm to circumvent its own processes and disregard union contracts to arbitrarily dismiss/fire employees, said Brewer. e step 3 meeting is part of the formal grievance process used to resolve issues between labor unions and management. e meetings are designed so the union and management can exchange information, clarify positions and ask questions of each other. Information is shared at these meetings in an attempt to reach a remedy or settlement based on the entire facts of the case. In February, 2011, without explanation Spirit dropped the Performance Management ratings of more than 1,000 represented employees. is action continued in 2012 when 83 employees were put on Performance Coaching Plans, almost all who had no documented performance issues. e ratings “Pat has distinguished herself as a person of action throughout her life...”

Upload: michael-kennon

Post on 17-Mar-2016

220 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

DESCRIPTION

Pro-Labor newspaper, based in South-Central Kansas.

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: PlainDealer July 2013

the

THIS ISSUESummer Angel Tree 2

HB 2069 3 Direct Pipeline 4FixMyJob.com 6

VOL. 93 ISSUE 33 July 2013A Voice for Working Kansans Since 1919plaindealer

The PlainDealer (316) 529-8513 3830 S. Meridian Ave. Wichita, KS 67217–3704

ULP Charge FiledSpirit AeroSystems Refuses To Provide Information SPEEA Press Release, www.speea.org June 11

Former Grand Lodge Rep, Activist Receives Humanitarian AwardPosted by www.goiam.org, June 18

union news

SEE SPEEA pg 6

HappyJuly 4

Political activist and retired 41-year IAM member Pat Lehman of Wichita, KS is the recipient of the National Federation of Democratic Women’s 2013 Humanitarian Award. Lehman, a former Grand Lodge Representative who retired in 2006, was recognized at the organization’s

annual conference on Saturday, June 14 in Charleston, WV.

Lehman was the first-ever female Tool and Die Maker at Beechcraft and the first woman or union member to serve as chair of the Kansas Democratic Party. At the IAM, she served in several capacities including organizer, District 70 Secretary-Treasurer and eventually Grand Lodge Representative. She was a delegate for the National Commission on the Status of Women and has traveled to Indonesia to study working conditions of female employees.

In her address, Lehman thanked the women of Kansas for nominating her for the award and spoke to the importance of preserving voting rights.

“My own mother could not register to vote today in the state of Kansas because she never had a birth certificate having lived in this country her entire life,” said Lehman. “I want you to think about the extreme voting laws that are being passed under the guise of ‘protecting our vote.’ We cannot allow it to continue.”

In her native Kansas, Lehman has served on the Sedgwick County Mental Health Board and the Employment Training Board for the City of Wichita. She helped found the Kansas School for Effective Learning (KANSEL).

“Pat has distinguished herself as a person of action throughout her life,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger in a statement read before Lehman received the award. “Although well-spoken and articulate, Pat never failed to back off impassioned words with her hands, her feet and most certainly her heart. When it came to matters of economic equality and social justice, Pat Lehman was on the front lines advocating for the causes of fairness and respect for human rights. Some people we meet in life can be viewed as takers; others are easily identified as givers. Pat Lehman is a giver, and does so freely without ever seeking recognition in return. Thus knowing and working with Pat Lehman can be described as a blessing.”

Lehman remains an advocate for labor and volunteers on campaigns for Democratic candidates. She is now pursuing her bachelor’s degree at Wichita State University.

WICHITA, Kan. – An Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge was filed

Monday (June 10) against Spirit AeroSystems after company officials refused to provide information nor answer questions during a formal, “step 3,” grievance

meeting with the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA), IFPTE Local 2001.

During the meeting, Spirit officials said managers would continue to refuse answering questions.

Additionally, this nonresponsive action would apply during 14 additional, already scheduled meetings related to the company’s abrupt and arbitrary firing of 38 employees in March.

“Management refused to provide information, clarify the company’s position or answer any of our questions,” said Bob Brewer, SPEEA Midwest Director. “This is a complete repudiation of the established grievance process and Spirit’s own policies.”

Filed at the Region 7 office in Kansas City of the U.S. Department of Labor, the ULP charge reads: “Since on or about June 10, 2013 the employer has refused to bargain with the Union and repudiated the third step of the grievance procedure on 15 terminated cases.”

Only a few of the dismissed employees, many with decades of service, had any documented performance issues. None of the workers were given the chance to improve their performance. Instead, Spirit managers told each employee to get their personal items and leave. At the

time, Spirit management said they were taking the abrupt action “to send a message to all employees,” Brewer said. Spirit’s unprecedented action is just the latest move by the aerospace firm to circumvent its own processes and disregard union contracts to arbitrarily dismiss/fire employees, said Brewer.

The step 3 meeting is part of the formal grievance process used to resolve issues between labor unions and management. The

meetings are designed so the union and management can exchange information, clarify positions and ask questions of each other. Information is shared at these meetings in an attempt to reach a remedy or settlement based on the entire facts of the case.

In February, 2011, without explanation Spirit dropped the Performance Management ratings of more than 1,000 represented employees. This action continued in 2012 when 83 employees were put on Performance Coaching Plans, almost all who had no documented performance issues. The ratings

“Pat has distinguished herself as a person of

action throughout her life...”

Page 2: PlainDealer July 2013

2 — The PlainDealer

Like us on Facebook. Search “Plaindealer Labor News.”

July 2013

Page 3: PlainDealer July 2013

Find us online at www.PlainDealerLaborNews.com! Add YOUR local’s events to our online calendar.

July 2013 3 — The PlainDealer

The Plaindealer (ISSN 0898-4360)Periodicals Postage Paid at Wichita, KS POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Plaindealer 3830 S. Meridian Ave. Wichita, KS 67217–3704 (316) 529-8513

Vanessa Whiteside, Editor [email protected]

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Judy Pierce, President, Labor Federation Terry Haskins, Vice Pres (IAM LL 639) Tim Franta, Sec./ Treas (IAM LL 733) Kathy Petersen (IAM Local 839) Dan Rutherford (Local 834) Brian Alexander (IAM Local 774)Jarrod Lehman (IAM Local 839)

Founded in 1919 by Tom Tilma, the Plaindealer covers news of interest to working people.Advertising and stories are due by the 15th of each month. Subscription rates are $15 per year. Special rates available to union members and locals subscribing as a body.Story suggestions and letters to the editor should be sent to: The Plaindealer, 3830 S. Meridian Ave., Wichita, KS 67217–3704; [email protected] or call (316) 529–8513. To be considered for publication, letters to the editor must be signed, include the author’s telephone number and less than 500 words. Views expressed in letters to the editor are not necessarily the views of The Plaindealer, its board of direc-tors or affiliated unions.

Published monthly by Plaindealer Publishing, Inc.

at 3830 S. Meridian Ave. Wichita, KS, 67217

Kansas Legislature July UpdateBy Jake Lowen, Working Kansas Alliance, www.workingkansas.com

Crossland Construction Company, a major contributor to Governor Brownback and the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, is currently pushing legislation in the Kansas Legislature to limit the wages of Kansas workers on construction projects funded with taxpayer dollars.

The bill, HB 2069, would prohibit any local unit of government from enacting local ordinances that require contractors to pay prevailing wages or anything more than minimum wage on public works projects.

Currently Kansas law does not require prevailing wage to be paid on construction projects that receive taxpayer funds but certain local municipalities such as the Unified Government of Wyandotte County/ Kansas City, KS have instated local policies requiring any project funded with taxpayer money pay prevailing wages to the workers.

Crossland Construction is a major contractor, who’s business model is based on public projects. Over the course of the last ten years Crossland Construction has received close to $200 million in government contracts. So, Crossland has pocketed millions in taxpayer dollars, while they openly champion limited government, pushing back workers compensation laws, and lowering workers’ wages. We guess limited

HB 2069: Brownback and Crossland’s Attempt to Suppress Wages in KansasPosted by Working Kansas Alliance, www.workingkansas.com, June 2013

government is only good if it is limited to Crossland’s coffers.

A large amount of this money over the last ten years has found its way to the Kansas Chamber of Commerce’s PAC to back the effort to purge the Kansas Senate of moderate Republicans, and advocate for anti-worker policies and candidates. Now, Crossland is calling in favors with the conservative candidates they bought with taxpayer dollars and pushing legislation that will suppress wages across Kansas.

The legislation is a shameless attempt to sacrifice worker’s wages so Crossland can suck more from the government trough and use to buy the loyalty of more legislators in future elections.

Visit http://www.openkansas.org/ to locate contact information for your state representative.

June Issue Correction

A caller indicated that we mistakenly printed national Flag Day as June 13 on the cover of our last issue. The patriotic observance was June 14. Our apologies.

We thank our readers for their ongoing support of The Plaindealer. Look for the publication’s magazine launch to your mailbox in August.

Contract the GovernorCapitol, 300 SW 10th Ave., Ste. 241S, Topeka, KS 66612-1590

877-KSWORKS or 785-296-3232

https://govenor.ks.gov

Brownback Budget Underfunds Public Schools by $650 Million

The Kansas Department of Education has released an analysis that shows that Governor Sam Brownback’s budget will underfund Kansas Public Schools by $650 Million.

House Minority Leader Paul Davis put it best: “This further proves what we’ve been saying all along - Governor Brownback’s middle class tax hike was solely intended to fund income tax breaks for the wealthy and big corporations. It did not fund your local public school, higher education, or any of the core services that Kansans really care about.”

Brownback Cronyism?

Governor Brownback has long sought to privatize essential state services and eliminate Kansas jobs in the process. But his recent privatization of child support enforcement reeks of old fashioned cronyism. The Kansas Department for Children and Families announced Friday that four companies were awarded contracts to privatize Kansas child support enforcement. One of them is YoungWilliams, P.C.,

based in Jackson, Miss. The company’s CEO, Robert Wells, and his wife, Pam Wells, both gave maximum $2,000 donations to Brownback’s campaign during the 2010 primary cycle.

Lesson learned: If you want Governor Brownback to listen to you, you best pony up fat campaign contribution checks. Brownback looks out for his buddies while Kansans pay the price.

Brownback Budget causes dramatic tuition hikes at state universities.

Thanks to Governor Brownback it just got much more expensive to go to college in Kansas. Last week Governor Brownback toured the state to tout his $777 million middle class tax hike. Yesterday the middle class got taxed again in the form of higher college tuition when the KS Board of Regents was forced to raise tuition (by 9% in some cases). All of this - all of this - is happening so that the Top 1% of earners can each enjoy a $26,000 tax break.

Now, consider the three brief stories above and ask yourself.. “Is Governor Brownback looking out

for my interests?” Unless you are in the 1% the answer is clear. No. It’s time for Brownback’s radical agenda to go and for common sense to return to Kansas.

Save the Date for Labor Day Picnic.

The Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation, AFL-CIO would like to invite you to our Annual Labor Day Picnic at the Machinists Hall, 3830 S. Meridian on Saturday, August 31 from noon-4:00 p.m.

The event celebrates workers who keep our country strong- working people who are the backbone of our economy and the fuel that keeps America running. The work of each of us depends on another. It’s how we support our families and interact with our communities to make a difference.

We hope you’re able to attend the picnic and help us celebrate.

Steelworkers Ratify 4 Year Masters Agreement at PCA Box PlantsPress Releaseusw.org, June 20PITTSBURGH — The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that its members have ratified a four-year master global economic and security agreement by an overwhelming margin with Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) that covers over 1,900 workers at 25 box plants across the country.

The global agreement sets key economic and security terms and stipulates that during local bargaining, no changes can be made to existing local agreements except as mutually agreed by the local union and the company, while fixing the term of those local contracts at four years.

“This second global agreement further solidifies coordinated bargaining in the industry and with PCA,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “It provides economic

SEE STEELWORKERS pg 6

“If you want Governor Brownback to listen to

you, you best pony up fat campaign contribution

checks.”

Page 4: PlainDealer July 2013

4 — The PlainDealer

Like us on Facebook. Search “Plaindealer Labor News”

July 2013

Direct PipelinePLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LU441

Richard L. Taylor, Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer

LOCALLYThe 2013 Legislative session in Topeka has come to an end and it seems they believe for businesses to flourish in Kansas they must put the burden on the back of the workers and drive down wages and benefits as low as they can go. Looking back, the greatest period of economic growth and prosperity for all in America was when it was believed that a living wage was good for business. It was realized that paying employees a decent wage meant more of them could afford to buy goods boosting business for a company and allowing them to hire even more workers. Around the middle of the 1980s, corporate America and segments of the political class changed course setting the stage for massive income inequality and a declin-ing middle class that haunts us today. Big CEO’s and corporate traders; who are making more profit now than they did before the 2008 recession; may not be worried, but for the vast majority of working Americans who are finding it harder just to make it, this model is unsustainable. We need to get back to the concept that businesses can make it in America by investing in good jobs that provide a road to the middle class and uplift the workers and the broader community. Until the reality of the current path we are on reaches a dead-end, it is likely to be a rough and rocky road for those of us fighting for the middle class. NEW ITEM…Take time to visit the new Local 441 website. The new website is easy to navigate with added information and uses for the membership. The address is www.ua441.org. New t-shirts with new design and logo are in. Designer sunglasses with UA Local 441 engraved above the lens. We also have golf shirts and camp shirts and stainless steel pocket knives with Kansas Local 441 engraved on them. And as always, don’t forget Local 441 golf balls, t-shirts (long sleeve and short sleeve), and hats are available for the mem-bership to purchase. Come by and get outfitted with Local 441 apparel.

DEATHS We are sorry to report the deaths of Brother Edward G. Porubsky, 89, retired Pipefitter, residing in Topeka, KS, passed away on May 25, 2013, and Brother George Dale Doffing, 63, retired Pipefitter Refrigeration, residing in Haysville, KS, passed away on May 30, 2013. Our thoughts and prayers are with their family and friends.

POLITICALThe session is over and obviously was not a good one for working class. In my opinion this was just an example of what they can do. Next session has the potential to be much worse. Now is the time to con-tact your Legislator and let them know you do not appreciate all the negative labor bills that were pushed through the House and Senate this pass session. Direct contact with your legislator is the best way to relay concern or a voice of support and does have an impact

MEETINGSLocal Union 441 meetings are being conducted on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Union Hall located at 1330 East First Street in Wichita. If other meetings are scheduled, you will be duly notified.NOTE: Please take the opportunity to attend Union meetings in your area. The teleconference system is working well and has much better sound and video quality than in the past. The good news is that it is be-ing provided for no additional cost to Local 441.

Richard L. TaylorBusiness Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Local Union # 441

Retirees ClubThe next Retirees meetings will be on July 3, August 7 and September 4 at 10 a.m. at the Hall. Please come and join us! Breakfast is the second Wednesday at 9 a.m., at Village Inn, 7020 W Central from January through No-vember.All retired members and their families are invited to join us. Come enjoy the fellowship!

Richard Taylor

At the Rail Column by Martin Hawver June 17, 2013Plaid.

You can instantly tell a certain something about a guy who wears plaid pants. If he’s wearing a plaid sport coat that doesn’t match the pants, you can tell even more about that guy.

Well, sartorial tell-signs aside, you can also tell something about a Kansan who talks about the tax bill that Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law last week.

Is it a tax cut or is it a tax increase?

It’s a little of both, depending on your viewpoint about what’s happened in the past two years in the Legislature.

This year’s tax bill was basically a fairly cleverly designed fix for last year’s tax bill, which was a genuine tax cut—and a cut that was bigger than the governor wanted, totaling $4.5 billion over five years.

This year’s tax bill pares that cut by about $777 million over the next five years, bringing the total loss of revenue to about $3.8 billion.

Now, is this year’s bill a tax cut?

The Democrats over there in plaid pants figure that the $4.5 billion from last year (that they didn’t like anyway because it was perceived as tilted toward businesses and the gold card-carrying crowd) is ground zero.

And, they maintain that the part of the tax bill that drops the sales tax rate from 6.3% to 6.15% is in reality a sales tax hike. That’s because the Legislature spiked the sales tax to 6.3% a few years ago with the idea that it would be dropped to 5.7% on July 1, 2013. But last year’s massive income tax-cut bill made the governor and Legislature look for other funding—from sales taxes. So, the Democrats say, if the sales tax on July 1 is 6.15% and not 5.7%, that’s a tax increase.

The plaid coat Republican crowd? They’re saying that the sales tax was actually cut slightly from the current rate, and it’s a tax cut: The sales tax on June 30 will be 6.3%, but it drops to 6.15% on July 1.

Tax cut? Tax increase? Depends on where you start counting, doesn’t it? (Note: Not all Kansas Republican legislators donned plaid coats on this issue, but the majority did.)

Income taxes? Well, the standard deduction was reduced from the current (that’s still brand new) tax law, but is still bigger than it was last year. Cut or increase?

And the value of deductions for those who still pay Kansas income tax? They’re reduced by that “haircut” that pares their value in figuring your taxable income. That means you pay the currently reduced rates on more income because of that haircut. Is that a tax cut or a tax increase?

Increase? Cut? You can tell a lot about where people are coming from and which side of the aisle they want to play to by how they answer that question.

Let’s just try to do it with a minimum of plaid—OK?

Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com

SPEAK OUT

Page 5: PlainDealer July 2013

Find us online at www.PlainDealerLaborNews.com! Add YOUR local’s events to our online calendar.

5 — The PlainDealerJuly 2013

Local Union Bulletin Board Gallery Jazz Fest - June 12 http://www.tkaamuseum.org/calendar.html

Music & BBQ

When: Fri. July 12, 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.Where: The Kansas African American Museum 601 N. Water Wichita, KS 67203Cost: $15

The TKAAM Gallery Jazz Fest features black and white photographs detailing artists work as part of a permanent collection.Price includes a plate of delicious BBQ and side dishes, live music from Willie Wactor III and friends.

3rd Annual American Indian Fest - June 13-14http://www.theindiancenter.org

1st Annual Wichita Rock, Ink, and Steel Fest - July 21https://www.facebook.com/events/116751778535573/

79th Annual NBC World Series - July 29-August 10http://www.nbcbaseball.com/nbcworldseries.html

Cultural Celebration

When: Sat. June 13, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Sun. June 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.Where: Century II Expo Hall, 225 W Douglas Ave, Wichita, KS 67202Cost: $5 Adults, $8 Adult 2-day pass, $4 Elders (age 55+) Active Military, $3 Youth (age 6-16), Kids under 6 FREE

This is a family event featuring a contest PowWow, fine art market, youth art show, hands-on educational opportunities, food vendors, and area ven-dor booths.

Thursday, July 4Happy Independence DayOperating Engineers LU101— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaMonday, July 8Plumbers & Pipefitters LU441– Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 1330 E. 1st, WichitaTuesday, July 9Machinists Local 708— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaWednesday, July 10Machinists Local 1989— E-Board, 3:40 p.m., Regular Meeting, 3:50 p.m. 2005 Kansas Ave., Great Bend, 67530Thursday, July 11Wichita Area Union Label— E-Board, 5:30 p.m.; Regular Meeting, 6:30 p.m.Friday, July 12APWU Local 735— Regular Meeting, 8:00 a.m., 6920 W. Pueblo, WichitaSaturday, July 13 Machinists Local 834 — Regular Meeting, 10 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaMachinists Local 839— Regular Meeting, 10 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaMachinists Local 639— E-Board, 8 a.m., Regular Meeting, 9 a.m., WichitaLL733— E-Board, 12:30 p.m., Regular Meeting, 2 p.m., WichitaMonday, July 15 NALC Branch 201— 7:30 p.m., NALC Br 201 Union Office 227 S. Pattie, Wichita USW Local 01350— Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Union Hall 427 N. Main, Hutchinson, 67501 SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001— Membership Recruitment / Organizing Committee 973 S. Glendale, WichitaCWA Local 6402— E-Board, 5:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, Wichita Stewards, 7 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaThursday, July 18SPEEA— Midwest Council Meeting, 973 S. Glendale, WichitaSaturday, July 20 Machinists LL2799— E-Board meeting 9:30 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, Wichita Regular Meeting, 10:30 a.m. Machinists Local 774— 10 a.m. Regular Meeting, 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaThursday, July 25Wichita/Hutch Labor Fed— E-Board, 5:30 p.m.; Regular Meeting, 6:30 p.m.District 70 Retirees— Luncheon, 11:45 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, Wichita

Baseball Brilliance

When: July 28-August 10Where: Lawrence-Dumont Stadium, 300 S. Sycamore, Wichita, KS 67213Cost: $6, $10, $13

Top summer-collegiate league teams from across the country meet up in the Heart of America to participate in the 32-team double elimination tournament to crown a National Champion. This summer Baseball ‘Round the Clock’ will take place Friday, August 2-Sunday, August 4.

Artistic Marketplace

When: Sun. July 21Where: The Brickyard, 129 N Rock Island, Wichita, KS 67202Cost: $10 in advance, $15 at the door

Local tattoo and body piercing shops collaborate with live music and a market place. Features a marketplace with local vendors and merchants, live bands at 6 pm with local recording artist Kingshifter will headline the event at 9:30 pm. There will be donation boxes at the door for non perishable food items for local food banks. Everyone bringing a donation will be entered into a drawing for some great prizes.We’re becoming a

magazine!The voice for working Kansans is changing from a newspaper format into a glossy, color magazine starting in August.

Love the publication and want to share it with others?

Purchase a subscription for a union co-worker for only $15! Contact us: [email protected]

Starting in August

Page 6: PlainDealer July 2013

6 — The PlainDealer

Like us on Facebook. Search “Plaindealer Labor News”

July 2013

SPEEA cont. from pg 1

10 Good Reasons You Should Use FixMyJob.comBy Seth D. Michaels, aflcio.org, June 2010) If you’re not getting paid what you deserve. Whether you see money disappearing from your paycheck or you’ve just never gotten a raise, that’s a problem that you don’t just have to accept.

9) If you’re hitting the ceiling. One of the biggest problems we hear is that people don’t feel like there’s any opportunity for advancement at their job.

8 ) If your boss is a jerk. Just because someone signs your paycheck, it doesn’t give them the right to abuse you. You deserve respect.

7) If you never know when you’ll have to be there. Does your schedule keep changing? Do your days off turn into work days? Are you getting more shifts than you can handle—or not enough to get by?

6) If you’re not feeling safe at work. You shouldn’t be afraid that just being at work could mean you wind up injured, sick or worse.

5) If you can spot a pattern of unfairness. Harassment and discrimination are illegal—but a lot of workers don’t know what their right are if they’re being targeted.

4) Because the laws that should protect workers are under attack.

Republicans in the U.S. Senate may block nominees for the U.S. Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board, endangering the ability to enforce decades-old protections for working people. That’s why it’s more important than ever to know your rights and speak out on the job.

3) Because working people’s power is eroding relative to corporations. We live in a time when the share of the economy made up by wages is shrinking, and the share of the economy made up of corporate profits is increasing. Organizing at work helps shift the balance of power back toward us a little.

2) Because you spend so much of your day at work. You shouldn’t have to dread the place you spend so much of your time.

1) Because you’re not in this alone. Chances are, whatever problem you have at work, your co-workers are dealing with it, too. You’re going to need help from others to fix what’s wrong at your job, and when you take positive steps, the people you work with will benefit, too.

70% of workers* hate their jobs or checked out according to a Gallup poll recently released.

Disengaged workers* cost the U.S. as much as $550 billion yearly.*U.S. employees 2010-2012. Posted by www.opposingviews.com in an article by Michael Allen, June 19, 2013.

are used to grant raises, give promotions and in extreme cases, terminate employees. Steps in the process are negotiated and included in the union contract between employees and Spirit.

A local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), SPEEA represents 26,400 aerospace professionals at Spirit and The Boeing Company in Kansas, Washington, Oregon and California; and at Triumph Composite Systems, Inc., in Spokane, Washington.

and job security for our members and a platform for a positive relationship between the USW and companies like PCA that are committed to manufacturing in North America.”

On expiration of each local union contract, wages will increase 2.5 percent the first and second years, 2 percent the third year and 2.5 percent the final year. The agreement also improves retirement security, vacation provisions, the dental plan and adds a vision program. The current health care plan and premium contributions are locked in for the

life of the current and next local union agreements.

“One of the key achievements of this global agreement was locking in our high quality health care plan and maintaining current percentages on premium contributions to keep health care costs from escalating for the PCA box plant workers,” said Leeann Foster, Assistant to the International President and PCA bargaining chair. “Unfortunately, health care insecurity is too often the norm in today’s workplaces, but the USW PCA box plant workers will know stability on this important issue through at least 2017 and at some locations until

2019.”

All local union contracts will continue their contract protection clause in case a facility is sold. There is also improved organizing language that showcases the relationship between the USW and PCA at both an international and local level.

“With continuing consolidation in the industry, contract protection provisions are especially important, and USW PCA workers will continue to know that their jobs won’t be affected if a facility is sold. The organizing language will assist us in improving our union density in the converter

sector of this industry,” said USW International Vice President Jon Geenen, who oversees bargaining in the paper sector.

Later this summer, the USW, local affiliates and PCA will enter negotiations for a master global economic and security agreement that covers workers at the company’s four mill operations.

The USW is the largest manufacturing union in North America, representing more than 850,000 members, including about 130,000 paper workers. PCA is a manufacturer of containerboard and corrugated packaging.

STEELWORKERS cont. from pg 3

“Great things begin with great conversations.”

PCA Business Philosophywww.packagingcorp.com

Follow Labor Union News Daily

@theplaindealer1

plaindealerlabornews.com

plaindealer labor news