UE

Nearly 50 UE members and staff were among the 10,000 social justice activists who met in the Motor City June 22 to 26 for the second United States Social Forum (USSF). No union played a bigger role than UE. Members of UE led or spoke as panelists in eight different workshops or assemblies, and UE banners and signs were prominent in four marches and rallies.

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One has to ask, “Can the U.S. Senate get anything done?”

Sixteen young UE activists from six states in UE’s Eastern Region met on Friday evening, April 23 at the hotel where the UE Eastern Region Council would meet the following day. They got the program off to a strong start with lively discussions and commitments to further action. This was the third regional meeting kicking off the UE Young Activists Program; groups had previously met in the Northeast and Western regions.

A delegation of 74 members of Zenroren, the progressive Japanese labor federation, participated in a variety of May Day events in Chicago, where they were guests of the UE Western Region. They joined in a massive rally and march through downtown by Chicago-area workers, estimated to number between 50,000 and 100,000, for immigrant rights, and dedicated a solidarity plaque at the Haymarket labor memorial.

For five days over the May Day weekend, a huge delegation of 500 members of the Japanese labor federation visited the U.S. to press the demand nuclear disarmament at the United Nations, and to build stronger ties of international labor solidarity. UE hosted Zenroren visitors to Chicago and Pittsburgh, and UE members joined them in the New York City peace march.

UE Local 1021 members approved a new four-year contract with Kraco Enterprises on March 24 by a two-to-one margin. Over the term of the agreement members will receive $1 in wage increases. They also significantly held the line against the company’s attempt to shift the cost of healthcare premiums onto the workers.

UE Local 1103 members have ratified a new three-year contract with their employer, Tramont Corp. The workers, who manufacture diesel fuel tanks for industrial use, were able to overcome the company’s push for takeways and negotiate a contract with gains.

UE Local 204 members and supporters marched through the streets of Taunton, MA on April 12, demanding that the Haskon Aerospace plant remain open. Haskon’s parent company, Esterline Technologies Corp., announced it will “consolidate” its operations in California and Mexico, wiping out 85 jobs in Taunton. But Local 204 members are not accepting that decision without a fight.

It’s time to start making plans to send a delegation to Washington, D.C...