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GMP Executive Board Meets Notice of Nominations and Elections appear on page 6 January/February 2010 Volume 60 Number 1 ISSN # 1065-1640 / U.S.P.S. No. 215-300 An offi cial publication of The Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers, AFL-CIO, CLC Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers, AFL-CIO, CLC BRUCE R. SMITH 608 East Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 607, Media, Pa. 19063 International President Copyright 2010 by Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers, AFL-CIO, CLC. WALTER THORN 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. RANDY GOULD Vice President PRINTED IN U.S.A. FRANK J. BRANDAO, SR. Vice President In this Issue: IGNACIO DE LA FUENTE Vice President In his Message on page 1, President Smith discusses the challenges of P.O. Box 1978 608 East Baltimore Pike the GMP in the midst of a deep recession, and how as the new President Media, PA 19063 he will work hard to keep GMP members on the job. DAVID DOYLE The GMP Executive Board met in Philadelphia, PA. See page 2. Executive Director-Canada P.O. Box 20133 Woodstock, Ontario N4S 8X8 A new contract was ratifi ed between GMP Local 19B and Hanson Canada Pipe and Precast. See page 4. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS Staff BRUNO CYR CLAUDE BEAUDIN JOHN RYAN DAVID POPE Assistant to the President CHARLES BOULTINGHOUSE DONALD SEAL JERRY L. COTTON Director of Research and Education RICKEY HUNTER RICK VITATOE FRED NEIBAUER, CPA BRENDA SCOTLAND DONALD CARTER Controller Director of Organizing RICHARD BAUMCRATZ EDWARD BEDOCS BENNETT SALLEMI Published bi-monthly at 4801 Viewpoint Place, Cheverly, MD. 20781, by the Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers. Periodicals postage paid at Media, PA. and additional mailing offices. INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATIVES All Correspondence to HORIZONS should be sent to: 608 E. Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 607, Media, PA 19063. LARRY HARRIS PETE JACKS POSTMASTER—ATTENTION: Change of address cards on Form 3579 should be sent to the Mailing List Department, Glass, Molders, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers, 608 East Baltimore KIM MCNEIL Pike, P.O. Box 607, Media, PA. 19063. MATTHEW MCCARTY MARK SINGLETON HECTOR SANCHEZ Change of Address DAVID HOFFMAN To change your address please clip this form on dotted line. Send all the information required below to: GMP HORIZONS 608 E. Baltimore Pike, P.O. Box 607 Media, PA 19063 Your Name ________________________________________________________________ Soc. Sec. No. ______________________________________________________________ New Address ______________________________________________________________ City ____________________________ State ________________ Zip _______________ Your Local Union Number: ____________ Are you a Retiree? ❑ Yes ❑ No Date your New Address is Effective: ______ / ______ / ______ See Our Website Signature __________________________________________________________________ www.gmpiu.org PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Serving the GMP is an Honor Meeting its Needs, a Necessity he honor of serving as your International President is the culmination of my years of service to the GMP. The joy and pride of the moment for me though Thas been tempered by the adversity facing many of our members while they continue to struggle in the throes of the continuing recession. I recognize that the challenges facing the GMP are daunting, but with the assistance of our professional and dedicated International Staff, our committed Local Union leadership and a supportive membership, the GMP will overcome these adversities and remain a strong and viable advocate for its members. As some of you already know, Owens-Illinois has announced the closing of two plants and the scaling back of operations elsewhere. Hundreds of GMP members BRUCE R. SMITH are affected. In our opinion, closing these O-I plants is unnecessary; the International President plants are profi table and the company reports strong earnings. More business is available to keep the plants working. The GMP believes that O-I has chosen instead to seek higher margins by cutting capacity and jobs. It is a cruel strategy “It is an honor in a time of deep recession. It is a mean payback for workers who enabled the company to reach its corporate goals and aided its political and marketing programs through such activities as the Nickel Solution. to serve you. To We also recently learned that U.S. Pipe, a division of Mueller Water Products, Inc., is closing its Birmingham, Alabama, plant and moving the work to another meet the needs of location. Once again, our fellow members face a diffi cult time. The past few years have been tough ones. The Bush Recession has been GMP members is a painful for the entire country, but more so for the industrial sector. Ill- advised corporate strategies have worsened the situation. The GMP has called upon Owens-Illinois and U.S. Pipe to reconsider their decisions. We necessity. I will do stand ready to help theses companies avoid any job cuts. We want to keep GMP members on the job. my utmost to serve While we are fi ghting to save these plants and jobs, we are also contacting local, state and federal agencies to secure assistance for our fellow members in the event the closures occur. you well. ” Corporate decision-makers have an obligation to their employees. We intend to see that contractual responsibilities are met, and we believe the companies have a moral obligation to their employees as well, particularly in these diffi cult times. I have instructed the GMP’s legal counsel to make sure our members are protected to the fullest extent of the law. It is our intention to assist affected GMP members in fi nding other employment. We have contacted other companies to make them aware of the availability of our members. I would be remiss if I did not note that Walter Thorn has assumed new responsibilities as International Secretary-Treasurer. I know that we can rely upon him to provide prudent fi nancial management of the International Union. I know that he will provide key support in meeting the challenges that face us. Finally, we owe a debt of gratitude to former President John Ryan, whose 35-year labor career began at Missouri Steel Casting. His leadership during the diffi cult years of the Bush administration focused our union on service and growth. Despite the times, GMP members benefi ted from good contracts and effective representation. Throughout his career, he exhibited the calm determination and wisdom on which the GMP relied during his presidency. I will work hard to build upon the course he set. It is an honor to serve you. To meet the needs of GMP members is a necessity. I will do my utmost to serve you well. January/February 2010 1 GMP Executive Board Meets Proposed Budget for 2010 Affi rmed Assistant to the President John Ryan is seen here swearing in International President Bruce Smith. Ryan swearing in (L-R) Executive Offi cers Bennett Sallemi, Edward Bedocs, and Richard Baumcratz, Interna- tional Secretary-Treasurer Walter Thorn and International Vice President Randy Gould. he GMP Executive Board met Several staffi ng changes were appointment of Executive Offi cer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, announced at the meeting. Don Seal. Ton January 26 through January International President Ryan has Executive Offi cers Dale Jeter, 28, 2010. stepped down as President and Russell Babcock and Sondra The Board met to deal with the he has moved to the position of Powell announced retirement challenges for the upcoming year Assistant to the President. Assistant creating Executive Board vacancies. and to set the operating budget to the President Ryan swore in President Smith appointed Bennett for 2010. the new International President Sallemi, Richard Baumcratz and International President Ryan Bruce Smith. President Smith then Edward Bedocs to fi ll the vacancies. chaired the meeting and discussed appointed Walter Thorn to the All of the new Executive Board with the Board the issues facing position of International Secretary- members were sworn in by Assistant the GMP in the coming year. Treasurer. That in turn created a to the President Ryan. International Secretary- vacancy that saw Executive Offi cer President Smith gave remarks Treasurer Bruce Smith presented Randy Gould appointed to Area 1 concerning the future of the the budget to the Board along Vice President. organization. with a detailed overview of all The retirement of Director We look forward to the fi nancial issues. of Research and Education traditions of the GMP International The Executive Board affi rmed Frank Grotti was announced and Union, its reputation, a new era the proposed budget for 2010. this position was fi lled by the and new leadership. 2 GMP Horizons RUTH WEIMERSKIRK, Local 263B, A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Company Retires with 41 Years of Service Local 263B retiree, Ruth Weimerskirk, seen here with A. Y. Local 263B Recording Secretary Tim Michel Retiree Ruth Weimerskirk seen here with her retirement McDonald representatives. presents Ruth Weimerskirk with a watch. cake and an A.Y. McDonald Representative. uth Weimerskirk, a long-time worked as a rough casting fi nisher Ruth plans to enjoy her retirement GMP 263B (Dubuque, IA) and a core cleaner. Ruth was married playing cards and traveling with family Rmember, offi cially retired on to her husband, Larry, for 41 years. and friends. Local 263B presented January 4, 2010. She started in the They lived in Bellevue, Iowa, where Ruth with a watch. The company foundry in December 1968 and she was born and still resides today. gave her a small party and some gifts. Members at Anchor Glass, Salem, NJ Recognized at Service Awards Banquet members at Locals 6, 21, and 157 in Salem, New Jersey, were honored GMP members at the An- GMP at a service awards banquet held on chor Glass plant in Salem, NJ, were honored for their November 13, 2009, at the Riverview Inn in Pennsville, New years of service.

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