President’s Report–October 2014

Posted on by
Reply

Convention is Over, the Election Season is Almost Over…Now the International needs to respond to our concerns.

The issues that we have been waiting on the International to respond to have been piling up dramatically over the past several months. We’re waiting on responses on grievances, information requests, issues brought up during our human relations committee meetings, scheduling of anti-harassment training, expanding our anti-discrimination language, printing our contracts and dozens of other issues. Over the summer we were told that things would need to wait until after Convention. After convention we were told that things would need to wait until after the Elections. Now with the election season almost over there are no more excuses. We need answers and we need to move some of this important work forward.

Local 3657 is compiling a list of items we are waiting on responses to and starting right after the election we are going to publish it on our website and e-mail it out to our membership and to the International Union each month until all open items are resolved. We will also likely be organizing activities to put some additional pressure on the International Union to encourage them to respect our Local Union and respond to our concerns in an timely and appropriate manner.

If any committees have concerns that have been raised with the International but have not yet been addressed, please get them to Patrick Young or Dianne Babin as quickly as possible.

Building Deeper Relationships in the Field

Over the next two months we plan on taking some steps to help deepen our relationships with our sisters in the field. Districts 1 and 9 are planning their fellowship events in November and December and we are going to make sure that we have a representative from the executive board travel out to those events to meet with those members, hear their concerns and begin to identify some additional activists who would be interested in stepping up to be more involved in our local union.

Taking Action Around Pittsburgh

Over the past month, Local 3657 activists have been very active around Pittsburgh and around the country. On October 6th, Fight Back Pittsburgh hosted youth activists from around the city for a Next Gen night at its monthly membership meeting. On October 11, Local 3657 activists traveled to Metropolis, Illinois to take to the streets with Local 7-669 who has been locked out at that site for almost three months. Then the team of 3657 and Fight Back Pittsburgh road warriors traveled on to Ferguson, Missouri to participate in the “Ferguson October” protests demanding justice for Michael Brown and an end to police violence. On October 22, Local 3657 activists participated in the National Day of Action against Police Brutality. Guillermo Perez spoke at that protest representing our local and LCLAA. Later that night, about a dozen members of Local 3657 attended the annual Just Harvest dinner to support an important local charity.

First ‘Solidarity Happy Hour’

This Thursday, October 30th, Local 3657 is hosting our first ‘Solidarity Happy Hour’ at Genoa’s Pizzeria at 111 Market St. We’ve invited activists from Fight Back Pittsburgh and local union leaders from USW oil sector locals around the country to join us. This is the first of a series of ‘Solidarity Happy Hours’ and we are hoping that these events will allow us to build deeper and stronger relationships with each other as well as our key allies in the community and around our union. If you’re available please join us on Thursday, October 30th at 5pm at Genoa’s on Market Street.

RESOLUTION REGARDING THE SHOOTING OF MICHAEL BROWN BY POLICE IN FERGUSON, MISSOURI

Posted on by
Reply

WHEREAS:

USW Local 3657 is committed to fighting to uphold civil rights. As our goals have always been to empower workers in their workplace, advance and promote equality in our union and communities, encourage political and legislative involvement, organize workers into unions and promote policies that support working families, we are saddened to have to address the death of Michael Brown, the young man gunned down by police in Ferguson, MO. This can only be described as an egregious attack on civil rights.  

WHEREAS:

Our democracy is suffering because segregation by race and class has again resulted in tragedy and reactions based on fear, splitting a community and the country at large. The labor movement has confronted the issues of racism and classism in America on many occasions and must do so now with this tragedy. We must stand in solidarity and be a voice for justice.  

WHEREAS:

The militarization of some law enforcement agencies is a manifestation of the fear authorities hold toward the very citizens they are sworn to protect. USW Local 3657 empathizes with those who take up the shield of a badge and its corresponding risks. However, USW Local 3657 cannot abide the demonization of our youth by those same authorities simply because they are of a different color, race, gender, ethnicity or background.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That the members of the USW Local 3657 stand in solidarity with the family of Michael Brown and all those children who have been slain in an environment of fear and hostility;

That USW Local 3657 supports a full investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice;

That USW Local 3657 urges all media to commit to fair and balanced coverage of such incidents and avoid sensationalizing, regardless of jurisdiction;      

That USW Local 3657 urges elected officials and policy makers at all levels to work together in their communities to create an environment of justice for all, not just for the privileged few;

That USW Local 3657 remains committed to fighting for justice and equality and will continue working to break down the systems of racial segregation;

That USW Local 3657 remains committed to holding workshops for our members and the wider community on racial and socioeconomic injustice; and

That USW Local 3657 urges our members to contact elected officials to protest the militarization of the police both in Southwestern Pennsylvania and across the country.

Respectfully submitted this 28th of August 2014 by the Civil Rights Committee of USW Local 3657.  Adopted Unanimously.