GMP Exhibits Ware at Detroit

Notice of Nominations and Elections appear on page 9 Volume 58 June 2008 Number 6 An offi cial publication of The Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers, AFL-CIO, CLC U.S.P.S. No. 215-300

Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers, AFL-CIO, CLC JOHN P. RYAN 608 East Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 607, Media, Pa. 19063 International President Copyright 2008 by Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers, AFL-CIO, CLC. BRUCE R. SMITH All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without International Secretary-Treasurer the written consent of the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers. WALTER THORN Vice President PRINTED IN U.S.A. WESLEY ROYSTER Area Director In this Issue: P.O. Box 1978 608 East Baltimore Pike In his Message on page 1, International President Ryan points out the labor- Media, PA 19063 friendly positions of the presumptive Democratic Presidential candidate, Senator FRANK J. BRANDAO, SR. Barack Obama. Vice President P.O. Box 1978 The GMP demonstrated pottery-making skills at the 2008 America @ Work show in 608 E. Baltimore Pike Detroit. See page 2. Media PA 19063 A member of Local 50 in Seattle, Washington, received a Lifeline Trust grant from IGNACIO DE LA FUENTE Union Plus. See page 4. Vice President P.O. Box 1978 608 E. Baltimore Pike Staff Media PA 19063 DAVID DOYLE RICHARD KLINE FRANK GROTTI Vice President Director of Communications Director of Research and Education P.O. Box 20133 Woodstock, Ontario N4S 8X8 Canada FRED NEIBAUER, CPA BRENDA SCOTLAND Controller Director of Organizing EXECUTIVE OFFICERS RUSSELL BABCOCK Published monthly at 4801 Viewpoint Place, Cheverly, Md. 20781, by the Glass, Molders, Pottery, DALE JETER Plastics & Allied Workers. Periodicals postage paid at Media, Pa. and additional mailing offices. RANDY GOULD All Correspondence to HORIZONS should be sent to: 608 E. Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 607, SONDRA POWELL Media, PA 19063. BRUNO CYR POSTMASTER—ATTENTION: Change of address cards on Form 3579 should be sent to the DONALD SEAL Mailing List Department, Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers, 608 East Baltimore CLAUDE BEAUDIN Pike, P.O. Box 607, Media, Pa. 19063. DAVID POPE CHARLES BOULTINGHOUSE JERRY L. COTTON Change of Address RICKEY HUNTER To change your address please clip this form on dotted line. RICK VITATOE Send all the information required below to: DONALD CARTER Richard Kline, Editor, GMP HORIZONS 608 E. Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 607 INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES Media, PA 19063 RICHARD BAUMCRATZ EDWARD BEDOCS Your Name ______BENNETT SALLEMI Soc. Sec. No. ______LARRY HARRIS New Address ______PETE JACKS City ______State ______Zip ______KIM MCNEIL Your Local Union Number: ______MATTHEW MCCARTY MARK SINGLETON Are you a Retiree? ❑ Yes ❑ No HECTOR SANCHEZ Date your New Address is Effective: ______/ ______/ ______Signature ______See Our Website www.gmpiu.org PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Opportunity Knocks In Midst Of Bad Economic News he latest economic news is bad. the taxes of the richest Americans Just consider. The nationwide and giving a $1,000 tax cut to the Taverage cost of gas is four dol- rest. He intends to wind down the lars a gallon. On June 6, the stock Iraq war and use the money saved market fell 400 points. Unemploy- on domestic needs. ment jumped to 5.5%. Obama has called for greater Further, the auto industry is in federal action on renewable en- a tailspin, the airlines are ground- ergy and on building a green ing themselves and the housing economy. These approaches to a JOHN P. RYAN International President debacle continues to produce few national crisis would in the long houses but plenty of foreclosures. run strengthen the economy. Meanwhile, back in the race for They would both cut costs and cre- the presidency Sen. John McCain ate new jobs in new industries. “Notably, Obama is pledging to continue the poli- The Democratic candidate cies of George Bush. His proposed wants to protect consumers. introduced the Patriot program of tax cuts benefi ts the Obama will propose legislation to rich. McCain’s small government protect homeowners, create a uni- Employees Act of approaches to major problems in versal mortgage credit and penal- the fi nancial world will produce ize mortgage industry fraud and 2007 to provide a tax little improvement. abusive lending practices. He has Sen. McCain, the presumptive proposed ways to end predatory credit to companies Republican nominee, presumptu- credit card practices. ously tried to steal Sen. Barack Notably, Obama introduced the that maintain or Obama’s campaign slogan. His Patriot Employees Act of 2007 to lame attempt to co-opt “change you provide a tax credit to companies can believe in” was lambasted by that maintain or increase the num- increase the number Republicans and Democrats alike. ber of full-time workers in America However, we should not seek relative to those outside the country. of full-time workers solace from McCain’s poor perfor- The measure calls for other worker- mance on the stump or his lacklus- positive corporate behavior. This is in America relative ter ideas. It is not enough to deride a change we can stand behind. a candidate whose weaknesses are On healthcare, education, So- to those outside ever more evident. After all, McCa- cial Security and many other key in has himself identifi ed “econom- issues, Obama’s positions are sup- the country.” ics” as an area of his ignorance. ported by the Labor Movement. We look to Sen. Obama, the The opposition would move the soon-to-be-annointed Democratic clock back, way back beyond what candidate to energize the elector- George Bush has done. ate. He has begun to do so. Im- We cannot fail to get our eco- portantly, he calls for economic nomic house in order. The 2008 programs to strengthen America. election gives us an opportunity to Obama has expressed an inter- make that happen. est in taxing the oil companies that are feasting on high prices at the pump. He looks forward to raising

June 2008 1 GMP Exhibits Ware at Detroit

he GMP demonstrated pottery decorating and pottery casting at the America @ Work exhibition of union-made Show Tproducts and services in Detroit, Michigan, in May. Th e America@Work Show, formerly known as the Union-Industries Th e Internationalal UnionUnion ddisplayedisplayed proproductsducts mamadede bbyy mmem- Show, was attended by union members and the general public bers employed by a large number of companies. companies Companies Compani from a wide area around Detroit. included: Anchor Glass, Anvil International, Bronze Craft Cor- Th e GMP exhibit, staff ed by a delegation from the Interna- poration, Fairmount Foundry, Gallo Glass, Graham Packaging, tional and several local unions, was led by International Presi- Hall China, Homer Laughlin China, ITT Engineered Valves, dent John Ryan. Others from the International were: Interna- Metsch Refractories, Neenah Foundry, Oglebay Norton Indus- tional Secretary-Treasurer Bruce Smith and International Vice trial Sand, Owens Corning Fiberglas, Owens-Illinois, Penn- President Frank J. Brandao, Sr. Director of Communications Union Corporation, Spring City Electrical, Tyco Valves, Ward Richard Kline oversaw the operation of the GMP booth. Manufacturing and Weil-McLain. Local Union members on hand to demonstrate and explain Several visitors to the Show were winners of FiestaWare. their work and the benefi ts of GMP membership were: Each winner received a place setting for four of the popular • Local 265 (Constantine, MI) President Timothy Lyke Homer Laughlin China product. • Local 412 (Kalamazoo, MI) President Th omas Kimble Th e America@Work Show gives the thousands of people • Local 417 (East Liverpool, OH) President Sally Winterburn who attend a keener appreciation of the diversity and quality of • Local 419 (Newell, WV) President Luellen Bozek union-made products and services. Th e fi rst such exhibition was • Local 421 (Muskegon, MI) President Bruce Knuppenburg held in 1938. Seen here (L-R): Local 265 President Timothy Lyke, International Representative Bedocs and International Secretary-Treasurer Smith.

entering raffl e. Kimble and visitorvisitor entering raffl e.

Local 419 Recording Secretary Luellen Bozek and Smith.

2 GMPP HorizHorizonsons Hoping to win FiestaWare. International President Ryan and Local 421 President Bruce Knuppenburg are seen here at the Hall China Company booth.

Local 417 President Sally Winterburn and Local 412 President Thomas Kimble.

Local 316B Vice President Wayne Leslie, former Local 316B President Denzil Wilson and Brandao at the Weil- McLain booth.

Henry Hanna, former Local 412 President, visited the GMP exhibit.

Former Local 316B (Michigan City, IN) President Dave Glancy explains the operation of a Weil-McLain boiler.

(L-R): International Vice President Brandao, Lyke, Ryan, U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Knuppenberg, Winterburn and Kimble.

Tiffany Beams won a set of FiestaWare. Sharing views on unionism and Spectators listen to an explanation of pottery lining. buying American. June 2008 3 Lifeline Trust Aids GMP Member in Seattle GMP member suffering from Wiersma is back on the job and narcolepsy and off work for says of Union Plus and the Lifeline Aeight months, received help Plus grant, “It came at exactly the from Union Plus, a $1,250 grant that right, “It came at exactly the right does not have to be repaid. time. I had a stack of bills to pay - Kelly Wiersma, a Local Union electric, car insurance and phone. 50 member employed as a forming The money I received helped me machine operator at Saint-Gobain’s out during those two months when I Seattle plant, found herself becom- didn’t get a paycheck.” ing suddenly drowsy on the job. She Union Plus Credit Card hold- took leave to treat the condition. ers can apply for a grant by calling After six months, her fi nances 1-877-761-5028. To apply for a credit Kelly Wiersma, a Local Union 50 member, received a Union Plus were stretched thin and then her card, call 1-800-522-4000. Lifeline Lifeline Trust grant of $1,250. disability checks ended. That’s when Trust is just one of the unique safety which uses the combined buying she applied to the Union Plus Life- net programs offered by Union Plus power of America’s union members to line Trust for assistance. to help union families during dif- obtain top-quality goods and services The Lifeline Trust is set up to aid fi cult times. Visit www.UnionPlus.org at competitive prices. In addition GMP credit cardholders who experi- for information on all the benefi ts to a money-saving credit card, the ence a signifi cant loss of household - including scholarships, everyday Union Plus programs include free and income due to a long-term illness or savings and programs to help union discounted legal services, education prolonged disability. The Lifeline members buy and keep their homes. services, discounted health services, a Trust has distributed over $465,000 Union Privilege, founded by the home-buying program, travel and rec- to 295 members of various unions AFL-CIO in 1986, develops and man- reation discounts and much more. To since 2005. ages the Union Plus benefi ts program, learn more, visit www.UnionPlus.org.

Director of Research and Education Grotti Holds Steward Class in East Liverpool, OH

he International Union conducted a Steward Train- ing seminar in East Liverpool, Ohio, recently. Sev- Teral Local Unions sent 22 representatives to attend the meeting. Participating Local Unions included: LU 241 - East Palestine, OH LU 328 - Chester, WV LU 333 - East Liverpool, OH LU 384 - Lisbon, OH LU 417 - East Liverpool, OH LU 419 - Newell, WV The seminar, which was held at the Local 419 Union Hall in East Liverpool, was conducted by Di- rector of Research and Education Frank Grotti, Inter- national Vice President Walter Thorn and Executive Officer Sondra Powell. Steward Training program teachers at the Local 419 Union Hall in East Liverpool, Ohio, Some of the topics covered in the class were the Seven were Director of Research and Education Frank Grotti, Executive Offi cer Claude Beaudin, Test for Just Cause and Weingarten Rights. International Vice President Walter Thorn and Sondra Powell (seated).

4 GMP Horizons Federation, Allies Stage Blitz for Increased Jobless Benefi ts he AFL-CIO activated its state Thursday, June 12, extending jobless Neither Levin—whose Ways and and local leadership and is benefi ts to a minimum of 39 weeks, Means Committee is writing the bill— Tappealing to its members to stage and making the extension retroactive nor Samuel could produce a nose- a massive blitz on June 10-12 of e-mail to all workers who had exhausted their count on either side of Capitol Hill. and phone calls to Congress, urging benefi ts starting last November. Samuel Samuel said the situation could change passage of a new bill lengthening jobless said that every month, starting in Janu- quickly depending on both lawmakers’ benefi ts from their present 26 weeks to ary, some 200,000 more workers had perceptions of the joblessness prob- 39 weeks in most states and 52 weeks in lost their benefi ts, reaching the end of lem and on whether the free-standing states with 6%+ jobless rates. their 26 weeks. jobless bill would--again--be rolled into The effort, coordinated by Ameri- “We alerted our state and local labor Bush’s money bill funding the Iraq War. cans United for Change, also includes leaders, to contact their lawmakers and The Senate added the jobless benefi ts, AFSCME and SEIU, leaders said in a push them for it,” Samuel said. “And plus an improved GI Bill for soldiers’ June 10 telephone press conference. we’ve got 800 (toll-free) numbers for education, plus more relief for Katrina “The economy is in free fall and work- activists to call.” One such number is victims, to that measure last month by a ing people are struggling. The share of 1-888-460-0813, set up by the federation bipartisan 75–22 vote. all the unemployed who are jobless more and Americans United. That would be enough to override than 6 months is 18%, and there are two The key roadblock, said Rep. Sander a Bush veto, but “we don’t know how jobless workers searching, per every job Levin (D-MI.) who joined the call, is getting many would defect” on a solo jobless available,” declared AFL-CIO Legisla- enough Republicans to defect to override a benefi ts bill, Samuel said. “We hope it tive Director Bill Samuel. He called the veto by anti-worker GOP President George wouldn’t be any.” economy—including a sharp rise in May W. Bush. Bush says that joblessness is not The House also tucked the jobless in the jobless rate—“a toxic brew” for high enough to justify extending benefi ts. benefi ts extension into the war money workers and their families. He contends the economy is still basically bill, but without enough votes to over- The objective of the blitz is to get healthy, even though unemployment rose ride a veto. That needs two-thirds the House to approve a bill, to be voted 0.5% in May to 5.5% and 861,000 more majorities. on either on Wednesday, June 11, or workers lost their jobs. Letter Carriers Food Drive Sets New Record: 73.1 Million Pounds

ising generosity from the nation’s William H. Young said. passed the previous record of 71.3 million postal customers helped the Letter “It is heartwarming that in these dif- pounds collected in 2005. In 16 years, RCarriers set a new record for their fi cult times, when all families are feeling the NALC’S annual drives have collected annual food drive for the needy, col- the effects of high food and gasoline 909 million pounds of food. lecting 73.1 million pounds of food, the prices, that so many Americans put aside West Coast Florida NALC Branch union announced on June 2. their own fi nancial concerns to help 1477, headquartered in the St. Pe- The food, in cans and other non-per- others facing hard times. They should tersburg area, fi nished fi rst among ishable forms, was delivered to local food be applauded for their generosity toward the nearly 1,500 local branches that banks, pantries and shelters to help needy millions of needy Americans--including conducted drives, collecting 1,717,218 families in all 50 states and U.S. territories many working families, children and the pounds of food. That ended a 5-year and jurisdictions, the union added. elderly,” he added. Letter Carriers “are reign by Buffalo/Western New York Millions of families left food by their proud to deliver” the food to organiza- NALC Branch 3 as the top local branch. mailboxes or in large cities took it to tions that feed the hungry, Young stated. Branch 3 fi nished second. post offi ces on the 1-day drive on Satur- Final results showed 73,113,915 Young thanked the Postal Service day, May 10, where thousands of Letter pounds of non-perishable food were col- and Campbell Soup Co., who together Carriers, rural carriers, and other postal lected in the union’s annual “Stamp Out supplied over 120 million postcards to pro- employees and volunteers collected, Hunger” drive in more than 10,000 cities mote the drive. Among other top backers processed, and delivered it to the and towns. The amount was 2.4 million were the AFL-CIO and America’s Second pantries and shelters, NALC President pounds larger than a year ago and sur- Harvest, the nation’s food bank network.

June 2008 5 Primaries Over, Unions Start Planning For Fall Campaign

ith the Democratic and together for political action this year man Gerald McEntee, the AFSCME Republican primaries form the majority of all unionists. president, has said in the past. Wover, and with Sens. John The others include Virginia, Ohio, The fed won’t be the only labor McCain (R-Ariz.) and Barack Michigan and Kentucky. group acting soon. Other plans Obama (D-Ill.) their parties’ But between the CWA council’s include: presumed presidential nominees, recommendation and its conven- * The Steel Workers plan tens unions are turning their attention tion will come the decision by the of thousands of worksite visits by a to the fall campaign. AFL-CIO General Board to back corps of political activists, armed And that’s even though the AFL- Obama. with information about Obama’s CIO is not expected, as a group, To positions. They’ll emphasize to endorse Obama much before gain its mid-June, more than a week after endorse- a combination of the Illinoisan’s ment, he win in the Montana primary and needs super-delegate gains gave him the the votes Democratic nod on June 3 over Sen. of board Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) in their members- NOV. hard-fought battle. -union The fi rst immediate move came presi- from the Communications Work- dents and ers, one of the last big unions to offi cials- remain uncommitted all through -repre- 2008 the primary season. Its members senting were almost evenly divided between two-thirds Obama, Clinton and, earlier, former of the federation’s members. his stands for fair trade as opposed Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.). CWA’s That may take at least a week to to “free trade,” and for revitaliz- going to back Obama, union Presi- get, even after Clinton suspends her ing U.S. manufactur-ing through dent Larry Cohen said.. campaign this weekend, but retains high-paying--and unionized--jobs in In an interview with Press As- her delegates. That’s because pro- “green” industries, such as making sociates Union News Service after a Clinton unions, notably AFSCME, solar cells, industrial-size windmills June 4 press conference on trade, “need some time” to come to terms to power electric turbines, and hy- Cohen--an Obama-backing super- with the fact that their favorite lost, brid auto engines. delegate himself--said his union’s Cohen explained. “Today, he’s got * The Service Employees, the executive council would make a majority, but not the two-thirds,” largest union in Change to Win, de- that recommendation on June 5 Cohen said of Obama. cided at their convention June 2-4 to CWA’s convention, which meets Once the AFL-CIO endorses in San Juan to use $85 million for at the end of June. “We’ll have a Obama--it already launched and the fall campaign, out of the $150 major focus on this” at the conclave, upgraded its anti-McCain website, million they allocated for politics in he added. focusing on his anti-worker record- the next 12 months. Their po- After the expected ratifi cation by -the federation can start massing litical plan centers around holding the CWA delegates, CWA will con- ground troops for the fall. That’s candidates at all levels accountable centrate its political efforts this fall separate from its non-partisan for creating and backing a system on two areas: Its own members, and education, registration and get-out- of universal, comprehensive and in seven states--including the unlikely the-vote campaign, budgeted now affordable national health care--type selections of Louisiana and Missis- at $54.3 million. That drive’s cost unspecifi ed. sippi--where CWA, the Steel Workers may rise to as much as $60 million, The $85 million will go to elect and two other unions who joined AFL-CIO Political Committee Chair- such candidates, including Obama,

6 GMP Horizons this year. Of the $65 million left, working-class men--the group strong statewide pro-worker Demo- $55 million will go for a legislative Obama ran weakest among. cratic ticket for the governorship campaign to push that health care * The Teamsters, another and other offi ces. concept through the next Congress Change to Win union, will cam- “We’ll motivate our members. in its fi rst 100 days. The remaining paign nationwide but concentrate We’ll motivate their wives. We’ll $10 million will be held in reserve on key states, union President James motivate their families. We’ll to use against lawmakers who turn Hoffa--also an Obama super-dele- motivate their grandmothers. tail on SEIU and its plans. gate--told PAI after the June 4 trade We’ll motivate their grandfathers,” * The Mine Workers started a press conference. Asked to name Hoffa said with a smile, to get out massive education blitz of their them, Hoffa responded: “Ohio, and campaign and vote for Team- 105,000 members and retirees, Ohio, Ohio.” sters-backed candidates, led by showing them how Obama’s eco- The Teamsters will campaign Obama. “We’ll have thousands of nomic issue stands agree with their nationwide, especially--like USWA- people in every state. I get up on own, particularly on health care. -in the Midwes-tern-Northeastern a high-low and tell them: ‘You’re That’s important because UMWA, industrial belt. He said a close not voting for Obama. You’re vot- like USWA, has a majority of white second will be Missouri, due to a ing for yourselves.’”

Jobless Rate Leaps To 5.5% in May

aybe we should call it “The Bush’s Iraq War, to 39 weeks in most Bush Crash,” as the nation’s states and 52 weeks in those states Mjobless rate under GOP with extremely high jobless rates. President George W. Bush leaped A spokesman for Senate Labor 0.5% in May, to 5.5%. It was the Committee Chairman Edward M. largest one-month increase since Kennedy (D-Mass.), prime backer 1986. It exceeded every monthly rise of the rise in jobless benefi ts, said during Bush’s fi rst recession in 2001. Kennedy--now hospitalized--hopes And the May increase put 861,000 Congress will use the new numbers to shed almost 3.3 million jobs since more people out of work, the Bureau defy Bush and help hurting workers. 1999, half of them union jobs, and of Labor Statistics said. “There are now 8.5 million unem- hundreds of thousands of them due The number of unemployed was ployed Americans who desperately to subsidized foreign imports. 8.487 million in May, compared to need an extension of the unemploy- The jobless rate in construction 7.626 million in April and 5.956 ment benefi ts they’ve been receiv- was 8.6% in May and it led all indus- million when Bush entered the Oval ing,” the spokesman said. “Kennedy tries in unemployment rates. The Offi ce in Jan. 2001. That’s a differ- has led the fi ght to provide this assis- jobless rate in factories was 5.3%. ence of 2.531 million more people tance to working families, and a veto- The big loss in construction was in without work. The jobless rate in proof majority of the Senate voted residential specialty contractors, who that long-ago January, under Demo- to do so. He hopes the House will axed 18,800 jobs. In both sectors, cratic President Bill Clinton, was 4%. act favorably on this urgently needed joblessness increased by more than Despite the bad numbers, rising relief and send it to the president’s 1.4 percentage points in one month. joblessness and declining job cre- desk as soon as possible.” The job losses were so pervasive ation--a separate BLS survey showed BLS said its survey of industries that even temps lost jobs. There U.S. businesses shed jobs for the showed job cuts were widespread, were 29,600 fewer temps in May fi fth straight month--Bush refuses to reaching from factories (down than in April, down to 2.465 mil- extend jobless benefi ts, now at 26 26,000 jobs to 13.57 million) through lion. That’s 100,000 fewer than at weeks. The Democratic-run 110th construction (down 34,000 to 7.26 the start of the year. One of the few Congress is wrestling with an exten- million) to retail trade (down 15,000 sectors adding jobs was government sion, inserted in the bill funding to 15.336 million). Factories have (+17,000)--all local.

June 2008 7 Union Leaders, Lawmakers Unveil New Trade Legislation aying it is time that trade pacts work for workers, not Hoffa said the new bill would be pro-worker, unlike past just for multi-national corporations, top union leaders trade pacts. “Investors got NAFTA, billionaires got CAFTA Sand several lawmakers unveiled a new comprehensive and workers got the shafta,” he said of the treaties with trade bill on June 5. Canada, Mexico and Central America, pushed by GOP and The legislation by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and oth- Democratic presidents. ers orders the next president—Republican John McCain or Hoffa’s latest example of trade’s bad impact, he told PAI, Democrat Barack Obama—to review all existing trade pacts is Fig Newtons, made by Nabisco. The former National according to new criteria that emphasize workers’ rights and Biscuit Company closed its profi table U.S. plants making environmental protection in addition to business benefi ts. Fig Newtons and now makes them most of them in Mexico. Brown does not expect it to pass this year. Peppermint Patties, now manufactured in York, Pa., may be Those trade pacts that fl unk—all but the one with next, Hoffa added. Jordan, Brown said—must be renegotiated according to The Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers and those new standards. New pacts must meet them, too. “Our Grain Millers (BCTGM) represents 9,000 Nabisco workers nation can’t survive in a global economy without a different nationwide, but had 1,000 more before the fi rm closed all set of trade rules” that protect workers here from the race to but one Fig Newton production line—it’s in Chicago—and the bottom and workers abroad from “exploitation by drug moved to Monterrey. BCTGM also represents the Pepper- companies and energy companies,” Brown added. mint Pattie workers, BCGTM’s Joe Thibodeau said. The Trade Reform, Accountability, Development and Em- In a prepared statement, AFL-CIO President John J. ployment Act, called the Trade Act, is designed to set new Sweeney said the Trade Act “calls for a strategic pause on trade policy for the U.S., and to wrest control of the issue trade agreements and a long-overdue comprehensive review from the White House and return it to Congress and the of U.S. trade policy…It is past time to restructure trade people, backers said. policy to work for working families.” In another statement, It would replace now-dead “fast track” for trade pacts, Change to Win Executive Director Greg Tarpinian added: where presidents sent them to Congress for up-or-down “This legislation will fi nally bring an end to the disastrous votes on implementing legislation, with no changes—and no trade deals that have sent millions of jobs overseas and low- workers’ rights provisions. ered safety standards.” A joint congressional-White House commission, with law- Besides the two federations, CWA, the Teamsters and makers representing more than just fi nancial and business the Steel Workers, other unions backing the bill so far interests that dominate congressional trade policy, would are the International Brotherhood of Electrical Work- draft the new standards all trade pacts would then have to ers, the Boilermakers, the Machinists, the Painters, and meet. Brown said in practical terms that means a 2-year UNITE HERE. moratorium on all trade pacts. “The public is calling for a very, very different direction He also said Obama “will take it (new trade policy faster” in trade policy—and they’re way ahead of this city (Washing- while McCain “will need to be dragged by the public” to new ton) and this body (Congress) in doing so,” Brown de- trade policy. clared. “Now we’re catching up,” he added, even while later The legislation has strong union support, with Commu- admitting the legislation will not pass in the present 110th nications Workers President Larry Cohen and Teamsters Congress, but must wait till next year. President James Hoffa stepping to the D.C. press podium to Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine), a Steel Worker and back it, and other unions and federations—including the former shop steward said “our trade policies are broken. Steel Workers and both the AFL-CIO and Change to Win— They’re not working for our men and women, who are sick issuing written statements in support. and tired of seeing jobs being outsourced” due to the unfair “It’s time for fi ghting for our jobs, for a vision of the “free trade” pacts pushed by past Republican and Demo- future of America,” Cohen declared. “We can’t be the last cratic presidents, over union opposition. country in the world to focus on what trade means for our “It’s important for the presidential candidates to talk workers.” What trade does right now, he said, is not only about trade and this bill is a step forward” and a prod for strip U.S. workers of jobs but “transfers our wealth to the them to do so, Michaud added. “This is making sure we Middle East, China and sovereign wealth funds”—multibil- have fair trade, but having a new model for it.” Added Rep. lion-dollar investment funds run by foreign governments. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.): “This will put an end to all those Cohen’s latest example of trade’s bad impact was GM’s tired old arguments that we’re just protectionists.” They co- announcement it would close three U.S. plants and an- chair the House group that helped draft the bill. Said Rep. other in Mexico. “We need to do something to bring back Phil Hare (D-Ill.), a former UNITE shop steward: “Trade our auto industry, not just watch it go down one plant at a must be fair. Only then can American workers compete on time,” he said. a level playing fi eld.”

8 GMP Horizons GENERAL ELECTION Voter Registration Deadlines

State Deadline Phone Number State Deadline Phone Number Alabama 10/24/08 (334) 242-7210 Montana 10/6/08 (406) 444-2034 Alaska 10/5/08 (907) 465-4611 Nebraska 10/17/08 (402) 471-2555 Arizona 10/6/08 (602) 542-8683 Nevada 10/4/08 (775) 684-5705 Arkansas 10/5/08 (501) 682-1010 New Hampshire 11/4/08 at polls (603) 271-3242 California 10/20/08 (916) 657-2166 New Jersey 10/14/08 (609) 292-3760 Colorado 10/6/08 (303) 894-2200 New Mexico 10/7/08 (505) 827-3600 Connecticut 11/3/08 (860) 509-6100 New York 10/10/08 (518) 473-5086 Delaware 10/11/08 (302) 739-4277 North Carolina 10/10/08 (919) 733-7173 District of Columbia 10/5/08 (202) 727-2525 North Dakota Registration (701) 328-4146 Florida 10/6/08 (850) 245-6200 not required Georgia 10/5/08 (404) 656-2871 Ohio 10/5/08 (614) 466-2655 Hawaii 10/5/08 (808) 453-8683 Oklahoma 10/10/08 (405) 521-2391 Idaho 10/10/08 (208) 334-2300 Oregon 10/14/08 (503) 986-1518 Illinois 10/7/08 (217) 782-4141 Pennsylvania 10/5/08 (717) 787-5280 Indiana 10/6/08 (317) 232-3939 Rhode Island 10/5/08 (401) 222-2340 Iowa 10/25/08 (515) 281-0145 South Carolina 10/4/08 (803) 734-9060 Kansas 10/20/08 (785) 296-4561 South Dakota 10/20/08 (605) 773-3537 Kentucky 10/7/08 (502) 564-3490 Tennessee 10/6/08 (615) 741-7956 Louisiana 10/5/08 (225) 922-0900 Texas 10/6/08 (512) 475-2811 Maine 11/4/08 at polls (207) 624-7736 Utah 10/6/08 (801) 538-1041 Maryland 10/14/08 (410) 269-2840 Vermont 10/29/08 (802) 828-2464 Massachusetts 10/15/08 (617) 727-2828 Virginia 10/6/08 (804) 864-8901 Michigan 10/6/08 (517) 322-1460 Washington 10/4/08 (360) 902-4180 Minnesota 10/14/08 (651) 215-1440 West Virginia 10/14/08 (304) 558-6000 Mississippi 10/4/08 (601) 576-2550 Wisconsin 10/14/08 (608) 266-8005 Missouri 10/8/08 (573) 751-2301 Wyoming 10/6/08 (307) 777-7378

Notice of Nominations and Elections Local 117, Lincoln, IL Local 157, Salem, NJ Local 247, Brookville, PA The nomination of offi cers for The nomination of offi cers for The nomination of offi cers for Local 117, Lincoln, IL, will take Local 157, Salem, NJ, will take place Local 247, Brookville, PA, will take place at the American Legion, 1740 at 3:15 P.M., on Monday, Septem- place at the regular monthly meet- 5th Street, Lincoln, IL, during the ber 8, 2008, at the regular monthly ing on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, regular 5:00 P.M. union meeting on meeting at the Local Union Hall at the Heritage House, 4 Sylvania Thursday, September 25, 2008. on Fourth Street in Salem. Street, Brookville, PA, at 3:30 p.m. The election of offi cers for Lo- The election of offi cers for Lo- The election of offi cers for Lo- cal 117 will be held on cal 157 will take place at the Union cal 247 will be held at the Heri- October 23, 2008, from 7:00 A.M. Hall on Monday, September 29, tage House on Tuesday, October until 5:00 P.M. at the American 2008. Voting will take place from 14, 2008, from 6:00 a.m. until Legion in Lincoln, IL. 6:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. 8:00 a.m., and then from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. The regular monthly meeting of October 14, NOTICE: Any Local Union advertising its nominations and elections in Horizons must submit 120 days prior to the nominations date, an up-to-date corrected mailing list 2008, will follow these elections along with other details. with the installation of the newly elected offi cers.

June 2008 9 GMP Visits Local Union 419 At Homer Laughlin China Company

nternational Vice President Walter Thorn and Executive chinaware, including the poplular Homer Laughlin Offi cer Claude Beaudin recently met with offi cers and FiestaWare. Imembers of Local Union 419, as they toured the Homer The offi cers of Local 419 are - President David Allen, Laughlin China Company plant in Newell, West Virginia. Vice President Charles Bartley, Recording Secretary Luellen Approximately 575 members of Local 419 employed Bozek and Financial Secretary Ralph Goldsmith. Local 419 at this facility produce commercial and consumer was chartered in 1979.

GMP Offi cers met with offi cers and members of Local 419 as they toured the Homer Laughlin China Company facility in Newell, WV. Seen here (L-R) are: Plant Superinten- dent Gary Satmire, International Vice President Thorn, Local 419 member Jim Orr, Local 419 President Dave Allen and Local 419 member Theresa Keys. Allen, Local 419 member Valerie Grimm, unidentifi ed member and Thorn.

House Blocks Extended Jobless Benefi ts y an excruciatingly small margin, Bush has already vowed to veto any Iraq last November. Samuel said that every the Democratic-run House on June War bill that has anything in it other month, starting in January, some 200,000 B 11 failed to pass a bill lengthening than money for his war. That threat, if more workers had lost their benefi ts, jobless benefi ts from their present 26 upheld by enough GOP votes, would reaching the end of their 26 weeks. weeks to 39 weeks in most states and 52 doom the jobless benefi ts there, too. But the key roadblock, said Rep. weeks in those states whose jobless rates The effort to pass the stand-alone Sander Levin (D-Mich.) who joined the are 6% or more. The failure came despite jobless benefi ts bill was coordinated press conference, was getting enough AFL-CIO activation of its state and local by Americans United for Change and Republicans to defect to override a leadership and appeals to its members to also included AFSCME and SEIU. The Bush veto. LL Bush needs to sustain a blitz Congress with e-mail and phone calls. failure disappointed the coalition’s veto is one-third of those voting, plus The failure occurred because while leaders, who said workers need the aid. one. On the stand-alone bill, he got the measure won a 279-144 majority, “The economy is in free fall and one-third plus three. congressional Democratic leaders, working people are struggling. The share Bush says that joblessness is not high seeking to move it quickly to the desk of all the unemployed who are jobless enough to justify extending benefi ts, and of anti-worker GOP President George more than 6 months is 18%, and there are contends the economy is still basically W. Bush, brought it up under a special two jobless workers searching, per every job healthy, even though unemployment procedure where it needed a two-thirds available,” declared AFL-CIO Legislative rose 0.5% in May to 5.5% and 861,000 majority (282 in this case) to pass. And Director Bill Samuel in a telephone press more workers lost their jobs. Bush’s Republican allies mustered just conference when the fed launched its A prior Senate vote added jobless enough foes of workers to make sure last-minute blitz the day before the vote. benefi ts, plus an improved GI Bill for the bill fell three votes short. Samuel called the economy--including soldiers’ education, plus more relief The extended jobless benefi ts aren’t a sharp rise in May in the jobless rate--“a for Katrina victims, to Bush’s war bill quite dead, though: Congress still has toxic brew” for workers and their families. by a bipartisan 75-22 margin. The them in the bill funding Bush’s war in The bill would have made the longer House also tucked the jobless benefi ts Iraq--which was pushed aside for the jobless benefi ts retroactive to all workers extension into the war money bill, but stand-alone jobless benefi ts bill. But who had exhausted their benefi ts starting without enough votes to override a veto.

10 GMP Horizons PHOTO ROUNDUP

GMP Gains Contract with Kelman Bottles ecently the GMP International Union and Local #Unions 76 R and 134 Glenshaw, Pa reached an agreement with Kelman Bottles, LLC., formerly Glenshaw Glass. The one year agreement covers the 88 hourly employees at the facility. Kelman purchased the former Glenshaw Glass after it had gone into bankruptcy and had been closed for 2 years. The company is operating one tank with 2 glass bottle making machines. Glenshaw had a series of problems including receivership and a devastating fl ood that drove the plant into bankruptcy. Kelman Bottles purchased the property and reopened the plant as a glass making operation in January of 2007. The new owner has plans of starting up a Seen here are: (from left) Jim Gray President of Local #134, Bob Haller Controller, Dan Handyside President of Local #76, second tank in the future. Bill Harper Sales Associate, Dawn Dietz of Kelman Bottles and GMP International Representative Richard Baumcratz. Local Union 384, Lisbon, OH Local Union 48, Henryetta, OK, Negotiates Wage Opener Election Committee for the delegates to the 2008 Quadrennial Convention

Seen here are Linda Gerster, Clair Porschien, Albert Tucker and Elizabeth Meeks.

Seen here during the negotiation of a wage opener conducted by Executive Offi cer Claude Beaudin with Columbiana Clerk of Courts are (L-R): Committeep- Correction: In the May magazine, Larry Price and Curtis Cornett, erson Bobbie Koran, Local 384 President Diana Reiter and Recording Secretary Rose Hiner. donors to the GMP Memorial Scholarship Fund, were incorrectly listed among those memorialized.

June 2008 11 CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The National Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) is the basis on which our Cost of Liv- ing clauses are calculated. Thus, changes in the CPI-W are the ba- LOOK FOR sis for wage increases as required by many GMP contracts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics which publishes the Consumer Price Index has re-formulated the CPI-W, and discontinued the old index in July, 1985 when it published the June, 1985 Index. The new CPI-W refl ects a change from home ownership costs to rental equivalent costs. GMP HORIZONS will continue to publish the CPI-W for the benefi t of GMP members. THE LABEL Although most contracts call for a COL increase based on an increase in points, some have provisions for increases based on percentages. There- fore, both the percentage increase and point increase are shown below. Effective dates and terms of the contract clauses vary. Consequently, an interested member should consult his current Union Contract for effective dates and provisions. He then can judge from the changes noted in the table if the agreement provisions call for an increase. BUY UNION For purposes of gauging changes, the base index will remain 1967 = 100.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - U.S.A. for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers BUY AMERICAN (1967 = 100) Percent Point Index Increase Increase May 2007 606.6 0.8% 4.6 June 2007 607.3 0.1% 0.7 July 2007 606.7 -0.1% -0.6 August 2007 605.2 -0.2% -1.5 September 2007 607.3 0.3% 2.1 October 2007 608.6 0.2% 1.3 November 2007 613.2 0.8% 4.6 December 2007 612.9 0.0% -0.3 January 2008 615.8 0.5% 2.9 February 2008 617.3 0.3% 1.5 March 2008 622.9 0.9% 5.6 April 2008 627.6 0.8% 4.7 12 Month Index Increase = 25.6 • Year-to-Date Infl ation Rate Increased by Approximately 1.3%

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX - ALL CANADA (1986=100) (1992=100) 2007 2008 2007 2008 January 166.9 171.3 130.3 133.7 DEATH BENEFIT DUES - In the event you February 168.1 171.8 131.2 134.1 leave employment seeking permanent and total March 169.5 172.4 132.2 134.6 disability, YOU MUST CONTINUE PAYING April 170.1 132.8 YOUR DEATH BENEFIT DUES until such time as permanent and total disability status May 170.8 133.4 is established. As a general rule, disability de- June 171.3 133.8 termination routinely take from 6 to 8 months. July 171.5 133.9 Any overpayments will be refunded. August 171.0 133.5 September 171.3 133.7 Do not permit your DEATH BENEFIT DUES October 170.8 133.4 to become delinquent over 90 days. All GMP November 171.4 133.8 members are responsible for making payments to December 171.7 134.0 maintain death benefi t eligibility. Persons wish- Annual Average ing to report a death or discuss the death benefi t Average Annual Increase may call the Death Benefi t Department at 1-610- March 2007 to March 2008 1.4% 1.4% 565-5051 ext. 221. Remember to check your 2007 2008 2007 2008 offi cial benefi ciary information. The benefi ciary of record is solely entitled to the Death Benefi t. (1971=100) (1971=100) (1981=100) (1981=100) Submit benefi ciary changes immediately. January 533.29 536.9 221.2 227.0 February 526.9 538.5 222.8 227.7 All claims must be fi led within one (1) year of death. March 531.3 540.6 224.6 228.5 April 533.3 225.5 Early retirees are also responsible for payment up May 535.7 226.5 to age 65. If you are self-paying, indicate your local union number and forward your check to: June 537.3 227.2 July 537.8 227.3 Bruce Smith August 536.1 226.7 GMP Int’l. Secretary-Treasurer September 536.9 227.1 PO Box 607 October 535.7 226.5 608 E. Baltimore Pike November 537.3 227.2 Media, PA 19063 December 538.1 227.5

12 GMP Horizons EDITOR’S PAGE

RICHARD KLINE “The Big Squeeze” Describes Problems “The effect Crushing Workers of these illions of American workers workers are being denied their are confronting hard times. rightful pensions. He notes MFor too many, job security is that when corporate titan IBM lacking and wages, benefi ts and switched to a cash balance plan, corporate pensions are not keeping up. expected pensions were cut Now, Steven Greenhouse, the nearly in half. labor and workplace reporter for The pension-cutting trend has policies is The New York Times has written spread and Greenhouse analyzes The Big Squeeze: Tough Times the corporate strategy and its for the American Workers. He harmful impact on workers. He describes this growing crisis in detail notes the weakness of 401(k) to increase along with accounts of individual investments for retirement: a workers trying to earn a living. 401(k) requires good management The Big Squeeze examines and a positive status when it is the powerful factors pressuring cashed in. corporate workers. Globalization, The effect of these corporate immigration, corporate greed and policies is to increase corporate government policy are but a few of earnings while undermining the the issues. economic security of workers. earnings Greenhouse draws upon Some of the remedies his reporting for the Times to for our economic ills that fi nd anecdotes that exemplify Greenhouse recommends are the situations. For example, greater unionization, a high while he mentions a case in which minimum wage and lowering American workers must train unemployment. He says that their Indian replacements who bosses who break wage and hour will receive $5,000 annually (and laws should be severely punished. undermining not the Americans’ $80,000 wage) Greenhouse also calls for when the jobs go to the East. universal health care and a secure He recounts many instances of national retirement program. workers being mistreated. Workers Fundamental to his call for the economic in jobsites as varied as Wal-Mart, improvement is union organizing. call-centers, factories and poultry All of us in the GMP can plants provide examples of subscribe to many of his how people are being squeezed recommendations. And we look security of economically, if not outright forward to a labor and worker- abused. friendly national administration Equally troubling is that will act to resolve these Greenhouse’s discussion of how problems. workers.”

June 2008 13 UNION PLUS—Helping union families get more out of life HomeBuyer Tools Expert advice. Easy application. Specially designed for union families! uying a home can be one of the most expensive Band complicated purchases you will make in a lifetime. That’s why we’re proud to offer our union members exclusive benefits and services designed to cut your costs, ease your stress and help you secure that home of your dreams!

Customized advice from Unique benefits Affordable terms expert counselors for union families • Competitive fixed and variable How much you can afford to • Only program that can cover your interest rates. borrow? Which type of mortgage mortgage payments when you’re • Low down payments and fees. best suits your needs? When on strike, laid off or disabled. should you think about refinancing? • Closing bonus—$350 toward • Parents and children of union your closing costs when you use • Our specially trained mortgage members also eligible for Union both the real estate and mort- counselors are standing by to Plus mortgages. gage portions of the program. answer all your questions, just a • Comprehensive home warranty phone call away. plan available at no extra cost. Easy application • Available during early-morning • Mortgage planning calculators • Call 1-800-848-6466 and evening hours, so you and other useful tools at our • Online: visit can call whenever it’s most online Home Finance Center. www.UnionPlus.org/Mortgage convenient. • Walk through the entire process Wide range of mortgages of buying, selling or refinancing a for union workers home. • Many affordable options, including FHA/VA loans. • First-time buyer program. • Unique opportunities for borrowers with “less than perfect” credit.

For more information about all the benefits available through your union, visit www.UnionPlus.org/Mortgage GMP Mortgage Ad 05/06