Stephen R. Williams

Business Manager

New Year - New Challenge

Here we are in the year 2000 and the turn of the century took place without any significant Y2K glitches. Most of the anticipated problems did not take place because hard work and preparation prevented them from doing so.

Hard work and preparation is what it is going to take if we are to prevent the Y2K crisis facing the labor movement in America. The turn of the last century witnessed many injustices in the work place: like child labor, unsafe working conditions and long hours for low pay. These things were challenged and the 1900’s saw many positive changes in the lives of working people in this country.

As the changes were taking place, so was the formation of the American middle class. Much of what the middle class takes for granted now, was non-existent at the turn of the last century. Things like the forty-hour week, the weekend, overtime and job safety, just to mention a few. These things and the middle class itself are once again under attack as we enter a new century.

Downsizing, outsourcing, exporting (jobs), importing (cheap products), call it what you like, it is a direct assault on the middle class and all of the things the labor movement has fought for and gained in the last century. It can be seen in the direct actions of unscrupulous employers when they circumvent wage/hour and workers compensation laws. Funding is being taken from state and federal agencies responsible for workers’ safety, such as OSHA and the State Division of Safety. The National Labor Relations Board, the only source for enforcement of labor laws, is being stripped of funding. Limits of liability for workers compensation is being slashed to preserve corporate profits, at the expense of injured workers and their families. Legislation and attempted legislation, which is being influenced by corporate lobbyists, has a clear direction and intention, and it is not labor friendly.

It is up to all of us in the labor movement to make sure that we not only preserve what has been gained, but also make new progressive changes. Each of us can do our part. We can help grow our local union, through apprenticeship and organizing. We can take part in our locals’ activities, such as voter registration drives and phone banks. It is important that we help get candidates elected who will look out for the interests of the working families.

Let’s start the new century off by getting involved.

Bill Sweeney

Organizer

A panel of seven historians were asked to rank organized labor’s greatest accomplishments in the 20^th Century. Here’s the top ten:

1. CIO founded – 1935
2. Social Security Act – 1935
3. National Labor Relations Act – 1935
4. General Motors’ sit down strikes – 1936
5. Civil Rights Act/Title VII – 1964
6. Public Sector Organizing – 1962
7. Fair Labor Standards Act – 1938
8. Bread and Roses Strike – 1912
9. World War II Support – 1940
10. Occupational Health and Safety Act – 1970

Source: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

January 12^th - Union Meeting 7:30 PM

January 13^th - Retirees’ Meeting 11:30 AM

January 24^th, 25^th, 26th - Y2K COMET 7 PM

February 1^st - OSHA 10 HR COURSE

The Daytona Beach Electrical Apprenticeship and Training Committee is now accepting applications for the position of Training Director to become available September 1, 2000. Applications may be obtained from Holmes Davis in the apprenticeship office. If you are interested in this position you need to get your completed application in as soon as possible.

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He made his living chasing rats.

When he first came to the union hall,

"Bubba" the cat was very small.

"Bubba" the cat attended all meetings,

He was always there with a friendly greeting.

His food we would buy, the kind he preferred,

But "Bubba" would catch a nice tasty bird.

It was noticed one morning that "Bubba" was late,

After thirteen years he had met his fate.

Now when you come to the hall to sign the list,

You won’t see "Bubba"; he’ll surely be missed.

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Can you imagine working at the following company?

It has a little over 500 employees with the following statistics:

• 29 have been accused of spousal abuse
• 7 have been arrested for fraud
• 19 have been accused of writing bad checks
• 117 have bankrupted at least two businesses
• 3 have been arrested for assault
• 71 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit
• 14 have been arrested on drug-related charges
• 8 have been arrested for shoplifting
• 21 are current defendants in lawsuits
• In 1998 alone, 84 were stopped for drunk driving.

Can you guess which organization this is?

It’s the 535 members of your United States Congress. The same group that perpetually cranks our hundreds upon hundreds of new laws designed to keep you in line!

Source: Unknown

THERE IS NO "ME"
IN UNION….
JUST "U" AND "I"
AND ONLY
"U" AND "I"
CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE