Pat Barcas photo
Lights spell out “Rahm Emanuel = Job Killer” Tuesday night in front of the Christmas tree in Daley Plaza. About 300 SEIU janitors are hoping they can change the mind of the mayor by Friday night, or else they might be out of a job by Saturday morning.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012
     CHICAGO — Things heated up even more this week between SEIU O’Hare janitors and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, as the janitors fight to keep their well paying union jobs. The janitors’ contract expires at midnight tomorrow, which means about 300 union workers could lose their jobs right before Christmas under the new management contract.
     With just a few days remaining before the contract changes hands, the workers whose jobs are at risk hope public outcry and City Council support will move the mayor to rebid the cleaning contract at O’Hare to a responsible company.
     Tuesday morning, members of the Chicago City Council held a press conference at City Hall, calling for Emanuel to protect middle-class jobs in Chicago by rebidding the O’Hare cleaning contract and passing the Responsible Bidders Ordinance (RBO), which calls for higher standards and accountability for contractors that do business with the city.
     That night, workers took to the streets in front of city hall and Daley Plaza to send a message to the mayor — they are not done fighting.
     “Hundreds of Chicago families will find themselves in crisis 10 days before Christmas,” said Nick Sposato, Alderman of the 36th Ward and co-sponsor of the RBO, which has 31 aldermen sponsoring it. “The mayor should be protecting good jobs in our city, not eliminating them. Good jobs help our middle class grow and make our communities stronger. We need to ensure companies we hire are responsible and uphold the values of Chicago.”
     The new contractor, United Maintenance, has alleged ties to the mob and would pay airport janitors and window washers $11.90 an hour — a pay cut of up to 30 percent for the vast majority of the current workforce, who make more than $15 an hour currently. If United Maintenance begins work at O’Hare Dec. 14 as planned, hundreds of janitors and window washers — the vast majority of which are people of color and immigrants — could lose their jobs.
     “We hope we can turn the tide here, we hope the mayor’s office is listening,” said Izabela Miltko, communications specialist for SEIU Local 1, who joined the janitors on the picket line Tuesday. “We still have time to make him change his mind, that’s why we’re out here.”
     SEIU Local 1 says that many of Emanuel’s recent economic deals haven’t created the number of new jobs promised and wages for 90 percent of Chicagoans have remained flat. Chicago has the third highest poverty rate, the second highest foreclosure rate, and the highest level of racial income disparity of any city in the country.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012
     Cook County Circuit Court Judge Richard Billik has issued the ruling that Gov. Pat Quinn’s administration must pay $60 million in wage increases state workers — wages that were negotiated last year to thousands of state employees.
     While the decision is not an unconditional victory, AFSCME is calling it a very positive one for union members.
     Judge Billik affirmed his earlier ruling that the state can’t pay what was not appropriated. However, he rejected the state’s basic argument of “condition precedent,” that is, that the state is not obligated to ever pay the money if it had not been appropriated. Rather, he said that the state had entered into a contract with the union and the obligation to meet its terms remains.
     This means that the state must pay what it can now. For appropriation lines without enough money, the state should pay what it can to each employee.
     Most importantly for the union, the judge ruled that the state’s legal obligation to pay remains until employees have been fully paid. Once employees are paid from the funds available now, any money still owed to them must eventually be paid from the Back Wage Fund at 7 percent interest.
     The judge read his decision in open court and the information now available is based on the attorneys’ notes. Once the written transcript is issued, further details will be provided to union members.
     AFSCME is calling on the Quinn Administration to accept the court’s ruling and begin paying employees the money they are owed. The state has already wasted hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars in legal maneuvers designed to prevent employees from receiving the monies they are owed.
     AFSCME says it would be senseless and unethical to continue to pursue this course by appealing the judge’s decision.
     An AFSCME statement on their web site read “From the first moment that Governor Quinn took the unprecedented step of withholding a negotiated pay raise, AFSCME made clear that the union would fight on every front for as long as it takes to ensure that members get the monies they are owed. The court’s ruling yesterday is a critically important step forward in that battle.”
     It is expected that the Quinn administration will appeal the ruling, and it’s unclear at this time how much the state will turn over to union members if the ruling stands.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Pat Barcas photo
Pearl Harbor survivor Joe Triolo bows his head during the singing of the Navy Hymn by the West Aurora High School choir.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012
     Just like they’ve done for the past 43 years, the men gathered in Aurora to reflect on lives past, tragic memories, and visions of hope for the future.
     It was the 43rd annual Pearl Harbor Day Memorial Luncheon, honoring local Pearl Harbor survivors James O’Flaherty, Jack Loane, Everitt Schlegel, John Terrell, and Joe Triolo. Since last year’s luncheon, three local survivors have died — Milt Card of Aurora, Clarence Wills of Chicago, and North Aurora resident George Hettinger.
     “It is a distinct honor and privilege to be here today, especially in the presence of these Pearl Harbor survivors,” said guest speaker Cmdr. Mike Thibodeau, executive officer at the Great Lakes Naval Station. “These men are American heroes. They are living legends. Men who did extraordinary things so that you and I can live ordinary lives as free Americans. They saved the world, and here they sit.”
     About 60,000 soldiers were stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack on Dec. 7, 1941. More than 2,400 died that day, including 1,177 soldiers aboard the USS Arizona. Fewer than 3,000 Pearl Harbor survivors are alive today.
     Thibodeau detailed the extraordinary rescue efforts that took place that day.
     “Your presence honors their acts of bravery. Sailors who manned battlestations and opened fire on Japanese planes even as their ships were ablaze and sinking. Men who plunged into murky waters to pull a shipmate to safety,” he said. “Rescuers who made it to their posts through the passage of burning oil to snatch a sailor from a watery grave. Pilots who took to the air to rebuke the enemy onslaught.”
     Thibodeau also drew comparisons to the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
     “The memories of Dec. 7 and Sept. 11 are etched into our national memory. The images of smoke and twisted steel, and human suffering. But perhaps what’s most common about the two days is the uncommon courage of those who were there and their unbending will to turn tragedy into triumph, defeat into victory, and war into lasting peace,” he said.
     “On Sept. 11, it was as if the spirit of one generation was passed to another. We hope to emulate the World War II generation. As our fighting men and women take war to the enemy half a world away, I ask now that you remember them. Because they remember you,” said Thibodeau.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Pat Barcas photo
SEIU Local 1 janitors presented a cake and lit birthday candles to Mayor Emanuel, who wasn’t there to receive them Nov. 29. Janitors wanted to make it known that they may not have jobs in the coming weeks due to the city hiring a non-union contractor for janitorial work at O’Hare.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
     CHICAGO — Dozens of SEIU Local 1 airport janitors descended upon Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s Ravenswood home Nov. 29 to wish him a happy 53rd birthday, but also to call upon the fact that many of the janitors will be losing their jobs in a few weeks due to a city-made decision to use non-union labor at O’Hare airport.
     Former Mayor Richard M. Daley privatized almost 300 O’Hare janitorial jobs in 2005, a move the workers were in agreement with because the company that employed them, Scrub Inc., paid $15.45 an hour and provided benefits.
     Now, the city has accepted a non-union bid from United Maintenance Company, which has announced it will pay workers only $11.90 an hour, and SEIU says it does not expect United to provide health insurance. Current workers may also be replaced entirely under the new contract, as United isn’t bound to terms with SEIU.
     “I want to tell Mayor Emanuel that this isn’t right,” said Jermaine Samples, a single dad and an O’Hare janitor for four years. “I live in the Austin area. I have 1,000 friends and I’m the only one with a job. I want the mayor to walk a day in our shoes, live our life and see our trials. We have families to provide for. The mayor is not helping Chicago’s kids by cutting their parents wages.”
     Many of the janitors wore large stickers on their backs with pictures of Emanuel, and the words “job killer” next to it, as they sang happy birthday in English, Spanish and Polish. SEIU Local 1 says this latest decision by Emanuel continues a pattern of cutting good jobs to help irresponsible contractors and large corporations increase their profits at the expense of good middle-class jobs for Chicago.
     According to SEIU, over the last decade, airline profits have risen dramatically, while service jobs at the nation’s second busiest airport continue to pay less and offer fewer benefits, leaving more and more Chicagoans to be forced to rely on taxpayer-funded assistance.
     The latest ongoing spotlight on Emanuel won’t be the last, as workers fight for their well paying jobs.
     “It’s no coincidence that Rahm decided to start up a new contract now. It’s the holiday season, everyone’s busy, he’s smart, he knows this might slip under the radar,” said Lonnell Saffold, director of institutional services for SEIU Local 1. “We’re not going to let up. We’ve got some things planned for this winter.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Pat Barcas photo
Chicago Federation of Labor Secretary Treasurer Bob Reiter introduces several real estate and financing experts during the forum Dec. 4 that focused on re-investing union pension money back into the community, creating safe dividends and much needed union jobs.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
     CHICAGO — To sum up the Tuesday, Dec. 4 forum on how billions of union pension fund dollars have been invested in the Chicago economy: money has been invested in lower risk when we look at this web-site, local real estate endeavors, and this money has been funneled into the local economy and has provided work for thousands of union members nationwide.
The Chicago Federation of Labor partnered with Heartland Capital Strategies to host the forum in Chicago, discussing how union pension fund dollars have been invested or committed into the Chicago economy, mainly through the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT.)
The HIT is a $4.5 billion investment grade fixed-income mutual fund, with more than 90 percent of the portfolio being U.S. government insured. The HIT creates union construction jobs by financing affordable housing, health care facilities, and community development, all built 100 percent union.
The HIT has financed more than 105,000 units of housing over its 45 year history, more than 60 percent are affordable to low and moderate income people. HIT-financed projects currently under construction total over $1.5 billion and are creating more than 8,200 on-site construction jobs.
“We have gotten to a point in the United States, we don’t engineer or manufacture anything here, construction is the only thing left that is made in America,” said Tom Villanova, president of the Cook County Building and Construction Trades Council. “We want to keep it that way. All of these projects are built under project labor agreements, and built with 100 percent union labor.”
The talks today are about rebuilding our economy, but doing it in a way that’s going to create positive job growth in the public and private sector,” said Bob Reiter, secretary treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor. “These construction jobs don’t just put construction workers to work. They create infrastructure that helps the factory workers, it helps support neighborhood businesses, and that’s what it’s all about. The folks on the panel today are advocates in how to invest our money wisely in terms of economic responsibility, but also social responsibility.”
The HIT launched the Construction Jobs Initiative in 2009, which was investments in affordable housing that are creating union construction jobs nationwide. You may also consider stock trading; this is one of the best options to invest in. There are so many new traders who are learning to trade options on the Medium @ platform.
“This has been the great depression in the construction industry,” said Ted Chandler, COO, AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust. “Some trades were up to 50 percent unemployment in certain cities, so we’re fortunate to have this array of labor backed funds.”
The HIT just passed its three year goal of creating 15,000 union construction jobs nationwide and has now raised its goal to 20,000 by the end of 2013.
The HIT is also creating jobs on another future front: green construction.
The AFL-CIO joined the Clinton Global Initiative in 2011 with a commitment to increase energy efficient building retrofits, seeking $10 billion in new capital for infrastructure and retrofits, in addition to retrofitting its own headquarters.
The HIT has invested $446 million of its own capital toward $757 million of total development in 15 projects that are being rehabilitated to meet green standards. These projects will result in the energy efficient retrofitting of more than 11,000 units of mixed income housing, creating approximately 2,880 union construction jobs. Real estate investors may hire a team of professionals such as realtors and conveyancing solicitors to help them with property purchases or sales. If you need to sell or buy property, consider visiting the HomesEh website.

“It’s clear in Chicago and throughout the country, the green initiative is a very large opportunity for the building trades,” Chandler said.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Pat Barcas photo
CTU President Karen Lewis graciously delivered the keynote address at Sunday’s Union Hall of Honor awards, held at NALC Branch 11 headquarters on the south side of Chicago. Lewis said she believes there is one political party in America: the party of money.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012
     CHICAGO — The fight isn’t over, but three more warriors have been immortalized Sunday into the Illinois Labor History Society’s Union Hall of Honor, and now a new generation of labor fighters can pick up where they left off.
     “We need people to encourage our youth to become leaders. At the end, we will all have to answer for what we’ve done in this world. I don’t know about you, but I want to get there and say I did my best for those and the rest,” said Alvis Martin, field director, Illinois Federation of Labor as he spoke during the awards ceremony. “No matter what we do right here and today, we couldn’t have done it if it hadn’t have been for the likes of Frank, Ed, and Alice.”
     Inducted into the 2012 ceremony were Ed Sadlowski, Alice Peurala, and Frank Lumpkin.
     Sadlowski’s Steelworker Fight Back campaigns sought to bring democracy and progressive militancy squarely back into his union and the labor movement generally. Ed has been a notable workers’ champion for decades.
     Peurala fought discrimination against women at all levels of the industry. She became the first and only woman president of a basic steel local, USW 65 at South Works.
     Lumpkin led the Save Our Jobs effort after Wisconsin Steel closed its Chicago plant and refused to pay workers pay and benefits they were owed. After 17 years of fighting for justice, a settlement was won.
     Keynote speaker Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, spoke of her beginnings as a union leader and how she still has humility.
     “Two and a half years ago, I was in the classroom. Two and a half years ago, I had no idea how all of our lives were changing. But I did know something had to change. Because of the attacks on public education and attacks on public services, because the attacks on working men and women seems to be relentless, and there seems to be no answers.
     Lewis said one must look at the history of labor to get the answers to current struggles. She said the 99 percent may not have the money, but they do have the votes.
     “No matter how much money and how much power they have, we have the numbers. We will never ever be able to compete on a level playing field with the ‘gazillionaires.’ But I don’t care how much money the heirs of Sam Walton have, each one of them have only one vote,” she said to applause.
     Lewis also cautioned against the political power of the wealthy.
     “I still believe there is one political party in this country — that is the party of money with two branches. I’m also reminiscent of something Lucy Parsons said, and I’ll paraphrase here: ‘Do not think for a minute that the rich will allow you to legislate their riches away from them.’”
     “We live in a time now where the wealth disparity is that of the robber-baron time period. The key thing is, they think nothing of killing us. Of putting our people in harm’s way. Of lethal working conditions. One thing that was interesting to me, is that during the strike, one thing that people always came up to me and said was, ‘What do you mean the schools are not all air conditioned?’ It’s a disconnect in our country from how some of us live, and how other people live. Which side are you going to be on?” she questioned.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Jennifer Rice photo
The Fox Valley United Way got $2,250 Nov. 20 in donations from union leaders. FVUW Chief Executive Officer Michael Meyer, left, along with Director of Development Denise Blettner, front, and Director of Administration Deborah Collins, were awed by the generous donation. Union leaders included, second from left, Laborers Local 149 Business Manager Dan Brejc, Operating Engineers Local 150 Business Representative Rick Dunlap, Sheet Metal Local 265 Financial Secretary/Business Representative Chuck Ruegge, Iron Workers Local 393 Business Manager/Financial Secretary/Treasurer Jack Keck, Bricklayers Local Administrative District Council 1 Business Agent Doug Johnston, Painters District Council 30 Director of Membership Services Brian Dahl and Fox Valley Building & Construction Trades Council President Scott Roscoe.

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012
     The Fox Valley United Way gets about 70 percent of its donations through workforce campaigns, and a big supporter is the Fox Valley Building & Construction Trades Council (FVBCTC).
     Several union leaders from the FVBCTC visited the Fox Valley United Way (FVUW) Nov. 19 to present checks from their unions — a total of $2,250. A good chunk of that money comes from council’s annual golf outing, the rest from union contributions.
     Even though most trades are hurting financially, members continue to come together to give what they can to help others in need. “The Fox Valley United Way has limited resources, but its determination is unbelievable,” said FVBCTC President Scott Roscoe, who also sits on the FVUW board.
     Fox Valley United Way Director of Administration Deborah Collins said her organization has gotten more calls for assistance this year than in years past. “The calls are indicative of what’s going on with the economy right now. Families are really worried about their basic human needs. They want to have groceries for holiday get-together — extravagant toys are the last thing on their lists,” Collins said.
     She added that for families in need, the holiday season is not about gifts — it’s about families coming together and being able to share a meal for the holidays. She thanked the Fox Valley union community for coming together. “There are a lot of families that are a lot less fortunate than we are.”
     Currently, the FVUW is helping 120 families — representing 240 children — through its Holiday Assistance Program, which helps needy families who won’t have the means to provide gifts for their children this year.
     FVUW Chief Executive Officer Michael Meyer said his organization partners with several area agencies that give assistance to those in needs. In total last year, those organizations helped 4,500 children. “That gives you an idea of how much help is needed in the community,” he explained.
     Meyer said Aurora is a generous community that he’s proud to be part of it. “I know there may be some union members that are on the receiving end of a lot of the services that we are now supporting, and hopefully that will change. Nonetheless, union members in this community are generous — despite hard times,” Meyer added.
     To participate in the Holiday Assistance Program by sponsoring a child, making a donation or donating scarfs, hats or mittens, visit www.uwfoxvalley.org.

Jennifer Rice’s e-mail address is Jen@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Pat Barcas photo
Commonwealth Edison CEO Ann Pramagiorre speaks about Smart Grid Technology Nov. 14 to an Aurora Chamber of Commerce gathering of local politicians and business owners.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012
     NORTH AURORA — It’s time for Commonwealth Edison to play catch up to newer technology such as Onstar, smart phones, and wireless communication.
     ComEd CEO Ann Pramagiorre said the company is currently revolutionizing itself with Smart Grid technology, technology that, combined with new regulations, will minimize downtime and power outages in the future.
     “The dilemma we have is, the grid was designed 100 years ago, for an economy that peaked 50 years ago, and hasn’t adapted to technology that changed 20 years ago,” she said. “The grid needs to evolve to meet new technology.”
     Pramagiorre spoke Nov. 14 in North Aurora to an Aurora Chamber of Commerce gathering of local politicians and business owners. She said she wanted to offer a new perspective on the energy company and talk about the Illinois energy model for the future.
     “Consider this, Onstar can turn your car on from 50 miles away, but we don’t know your power is out until you call us. It’s time to join the smart tech revolution,” she said.
     Pramagiorre came to ComEd in 1998 and began her job as CEO in February 2012, saying that the company has already laid infrastructure and made agreements that will improve the cost of energy distribution to Aurora.
     ComEd already has a deal set up where towns can broker energy through cheaper sources, and use the company’s infrastructure to deliver it, saving customers money
     “We’re glad to see the efforts by ComEd to modernize,” said Aurora Mayor Tom Weisner. “It’s not a sexy thing to do, a lot of the times it’s not even visible, but it’s vital to the community.”
     Pramagiorre said that her company faces unique challenges because it often only gets feedback when conditions are at their worst.
     “The issues are complicated, and they often evoke emotion. Having a forum like this is very important to us,” she said. “Does our energy policy provide the capability to accelerate through a turn in the road?”
     Owing to the digital revolution, she said currently it’s hard to find a factory not using robots in their manufacturing process, and health care is going more and more digital in their diagnosis methods. It all translates for a need for cleaner, more reliable power, an area where ComEd is stepping up service. This means cheaper, more efficient power for all customers large and small.
     “Aurora is capturing its share of the digital economy. Our region is fast becoming known as the silicon prairie,” she said. “Everyone banks, shops and even takes classes online, but why does that matter? It matters because you need a companion grid and energy policy that goes along with the new way of living.”
     The CEO said she is excited for the future of energy in Illinois.
     “I think Illinois has an innovative model for the future,” said Pramagiorre. “The Smart Grid will provide great accountability for us as a company. Fewer outages, less downtime, or we face penalties. It’s in the legislation.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

     ELWOOD — More than 125 Walmart warehouse workers signed and delivered a petition Nov. 17 to management at Roadlink Workforce Solutions here, demanding to meet and discuss issues around safety, a living wage and discrimination.
This action comes after an Oct. 1 protest at the same distribution hub of Walmart — where the warehouse was shut down — after several people sat in protest on the street, blocking the road. If you’re looking for dock doors Northern Virginia, contact CMH Industrial Systems. If you want to get your shipments on time, you may want to hire Green Van Lines. In addition, if you need extra space, look for Liverpool warehouses available at B8 Real Estate. Installing modern business security systems in warehouses and distribution centers can also help improve safety, monitor operations, and provide better protection for both workers and valuable inventory.

Easily organize your storage space with the MD54-42 pallet rack m divider. Members of Warehouse Workers for Justice (WWJ), workers and community members walked through the Elwood facility to deliver the petition and provide their explanation. “When management saw us in the warehouse, it was amazing to see all of them suddenly on the phone,” said Change to Win (CTW) Organizing Coordinator Trina Tocco, who participated in the action.

Many of the workers at the Elwood Roadlink Workforce Solutions work for various temp agencies, rarely earning a living wage or benefits. In September, they went on strike for three weeks to protest unfair labor practices concerning illegal retaliation against a group of workers who tried to bring their concerns to management. Some workers have also hired a Orange County age discrimination attorney because they feel like they are being treated unfairly because of their age.

Tocco said the Oct. 1 civil disobedience action — where the warehouse was shut down — was a victory. Later that week, management informed workers they should return to work and they would be paid for their time on strike. “That result is unheard of. That’s power; and the results were incredible,” Tocco said. Workers were paid in installments.
WWJ would like companies, like Walmart, to be held accountable for their actions, but in an industry that employes temp workers who have little rights, it’s like the David and Goliath story. These recent victories for workers in Elwood shows that WWJ is establishing power in the facility. “These workers are beginning to build and gain the momentum they need,” Tocco explained.

Walmart’s logistics operation is complicated at best. The Elwood facility is owned by Walmart, operated by a company called Schneider, who sub-contracts to Roadlink, who then sub-contracts to other companies and some of those also have additional sub-contractors. “It makes for a choppy chain-of-command,” Tocco said. “Walmart has its Standards for Supplies, so it can fall back on it by saying, ‘these sub-contractors signed it — saying they would do everything fairly.’”

What the public can do to support warehouse workers is participate in a rally. “Our role is not to be the worker, it’s to stand in support — in solidarity with them. They’ve gotten small victories and that’s huge, considering they are standing up to Walmart’s intimidation,” Tocco said.

Jennifer Rice’s e-mail address is Jen@foxvalleylabornews.com.

Pat Barcas photo
Leo Gerard, international president of United Steel Workers, said the tide has turned in favor of the middle class in America with last week’s election. “Our union is not a slot machine. We must be an engine for economic and social justice,” he said Tuesday.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012
     CHICAGO — They said it wasn’t really going to be a political gathering, but they knew they weren’t fooling anyone.
     Minority, labor and faith based leaders gathered Tuesday in Chicago for Arise Chicago’s fourth annual faith labor action breakfast, featuring keynote speaker Leo Gerard, international president of United Steel Workers.
     According to the United Steelworkers, Gerard has focused the United Steelworkers (USW) on strategic contract bargaining in paper, steel, rubber and other key sectors, while at the same time fighting unfair trade and building clout through political action and domestic and international alliances.
     He has been an outspoken supporter of Obama during his re-election campaign, and is leading the drive to restore manufacturing jobs that are the backbone of the middle class in America.
     Gerard wore his “steel blitz for Barack” football jersey Tuesday that he said got the crowds fired up during election season.
     “This is supposed to be a non-partisan, or non-political event. Well let me tell you this: We need to stand up and fight back against any party or individual who believes they’re going to balance the budget on the backs of workers. Workers didn’t cause this mess. The people who have caused this mess have already moved on and lined their pockets with hundreds of millions of dollars in their bank accounts, and now they think they’re going to come back, and make the workers pay by cutting medicare and social security and other programs that workers need,” said Gerard to the packed room at Operating Engineers Local 399.
     Gerard was appointed International President of USW on Feb. 28, 2001 by the USW’s International Executive Board to succeed the late George Becker, who had retired.
     “We need to make it clear, the page was turned a week ago, and you’re not going to walk on us. This is not a fiscal cliff, it’s a fiscal slope. We’re not going to allow more tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires,” he said. “Our union is not a slot machine. We must be an engine for economic and social justice.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.