plain dealer, 03/2009

plaindealerVol. 91 Issue 6 “A Voice for Working Kansans since 1919” March 2009th

e

The PlainDealer(316) 529-8513

3830 S. Meridian Ave.Wichita, KS 67217–3704

IN THIS ISSUE...United Way: Laid-Off Workers Fund —2

Send This Letter to President Obama —5The Healthy Workplace Act Introduced —7

Cesar Chavez Celebration March 29 —8

Urgent Action Alert on Minimum Wage!Kansas Minimum Wage Bill Passes Senate,Moves to House! From Jake Lowen, Heidi Zeller and Frank SmithOn February 19, 2009, the Kansas Senate voted 33 to 7 to increase the state minimumwage from $2.65 to $7.25 per hour! Senate Bill 160 has been referred to the Houseside and we expect that it will be heard in the Commerce & Labor Committee onThursday, March 5, at 9 a.m.We HOPE that it will be forwarded favorably out of Committee and sent to the House floor, ashappened on the Senate side. To make that happen, it is critical that legislators hear from constitu-ents that this issue is important to them!Please contact members of the House Commerce & Labor Committee and tell them:

You support current efforts to raise the Kansas minimum wage above $2.65/hour to match thefederal minimum wage (which rises to $7.25 in July)

You want to see a bill raising the KS minimum wage passed out of committee and sent to theHouse floor where it can get the debate it deserves!

You want your legislator to vote to raise the KS minimum wage!If you can make it, please attend the hearing on Thursday, March 5th at 9 a.m., in room 784Docking (10th and Harrison, Topeka). Prior to the hearing we will hold a short rally / pressconference in support of Kansas workers and in support of swift action to increase the minimumwage.WE CAN raise the minimum wage in Kansas this year but ONLY if we push our legislators tomake it happen!

Commerce and Labor:Steven Brunk, Chairperson; 785-296-7645, Bel Aire (north Sedgwick county)[email protected] Grange, Vice-chairperson; 785-296-7655, El [email protected] Bethell, 785-296-7616, Alden. Herepresents all of Rice county, includingLyons and Sterling, and parts of Bartonand Reno - (near Hutch) - counties)[email protected] Bowers, 785-296-7644,Concordia (Lincoln, Cloud, Ottowa andNW corner of Dickenson county)[email protected] Hermanson, 785-296-7696, southside of [email protected] Kerschen, 785-296-7699, GardenPlain (Kingman plus SouthwestSedgwick county, i.e, Goddard,Cheney, Viola, etc.)[email protected] Ann Pottorff, 785-296-7501, Eastside of Wichita, north of [email protected] Prescott, 785-296-6014, OsageCity, plus NE Franklin and southcentralDouglas [email protected] Quigley, 785-296-7682, [email protected] Schwab, 785-296-7655, [email protected] Wolf, 785-296-7653, [email protected] Worley. 785-296-7653, [email protected] Ruiz, Ranking Minority (Demo-cratic) Member; 785-296-7122, [email protected] Garcia, 785-296-6838, [email protected] Gatewood, 785-296-7657,[email protected] Grant, 785-296-7650, fromCherokee, near [email protected] Henderson, 785-296-7697,Kansas [email protected] Palmer, 785-296-7698, FortScott (near Pittsburg)[email protected] Tietze, 785-296-7669, [email protected]

March 20092 — The PlainDealer

Want to email The PlainDealer to your friends? Find a link online at www.D70iam.org

SPEEA to Revote Boeing Offer and Seek Strike AuthorizationWEU Contract Talks Break Downwww.SPEEA.org, Feb. 24, 2009

WASHINGTON (PAI)—Before achilled crowd of almost 4,000people, and standing among boxesnamed by state and symbolizingthe 1.4 million cards, letters and e-mails sent to Congress, organizedlabor launched this year’s drive topass the Employee Free ChoiceAct, with a boisterous outdoorD.C. rally on Feb. 4.And with a backer of the bill,Democratic President BarackObama, now sitting in the WhiteHouse, its lead 2009 congressionalsponsors, Sen.Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and HouseEducation and Labor CommitteeChairman George Miller, D-Calif.,vowed to get it to his desk thisyear.Ailing Senate Labor CommitteeChairman Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., handed Harkin the job ofshepherding the bill through theupper chamber, which will betough.To do so, labor must overcome avirulent business campaignagainst the bill, which would helplevel the playing field betweenworkers and bosses in organizingdrives and in bargaining for firstcontracts. Business wants togarner 41 senators to filibuster it todeath.The bill would aid workers bylegalizing majority sign-up –automatic recognition of the unionin a workplace when a majority of

workers signs election authoriza-tion cards – and that’s one pieceof ground the campaign will befought on.Business has launched a multimil-lion-dollar ad drive saying thatmajority sign-up would take away“secret ballot elections” for oragainst unionization, withoutdiscussing its rampant labor law-breaking – detailed at the rally – incampaigns before such votes.And as virtually every unionspeaker, led by SteelworkersPresident Leo Gerard said, thelegislation would still permit unionrecognition elections or majoritysign-up. “But it would leave thedecision in the hands of theworkers, not the bosses,” headded.Besides majority sign-up, theEmployee Free Choice Act wouldimpose hefty fines for labor law-breaking and binding arbitration iflabor and management can’t reacha first contract within 120 days ofstarting bargaining. And it wouldmake it easier to get federal courtinjunctions against persistentlabor law-breakers, such as Wal-Mart.That business law-breaking, fromillegal firings to threats to payfreezes to illegal threats to closeplants, was a key theme of therally.Majority sign-up, the law’ssupporters say, would short-circuit

business’ chance at such cam-paigns.Sarah Steffens, a NewspaperGuild-CWA member who was alead organizer for the union at theContra Costa (Calif.) Times, told atypical story: The union got 2/3rdsof the newsroom to sign theelection authorization cards. Thentrouble started.The virulently anti-union largenewspaper chain that owns thepaper “hired an anti-union‘consultant,’ threatened therewould be a wage freeze and layoffsif we voted for the union, andcalled people in again and again”for anti-union meetings, sheexplained. The union won, andthree weeks later the paper fired 29people – many of them organizingdrive leaders – including her.That’s illegal.Businesses, in their campaignagainst the law, “act as if they’respeaking up for democracy – andthey’re not,” added Communica-tions Workers President LarryCohen.“Workers need the Employee FreeChoice Act so we can solveproblems in our workplace and notget fired if we stick our necks out”for our rights, Steffens added.It’s also a matter of respect on thejob, and of giving workers a say individing up the proceeds fromtheir own hard work and produc-tivity, which has soared in recent

years, said Teresa Garris, a busdriver from New Jersey who was akey organizer of her shop for theTransport Workers.“They don’t want us to have avoice in our companies. We’retold: ‘You’re just a bus driver andyou’re a dime a dozen.’ We runthe company. We run it smoothly.Why can’t we have a piece of thepie?” she asked.Unionists had another message forlawmakers for their nationwidecampaign: That it would helprestore the middle class and alsohelp pull the country out of itspresent economic crash. Gerard,the rally’s emcee, said the law iseven more needed now “becausethe nation is in economic free-fall.”Harkin, reading a long list ofprogressive laws labor pushedthrough over the years to createand aid the U.S. middle class –Social Security, Medicare, civilrights acts, the minimum wage,OSHA, the Mine Safety andHealth Act, workers’ comp andmore – he said the Employee FreeChoice Act would join those inrestoring workers’ bargainingpower, and incomes. But he alsowarned “we had to fight for everyone of those, and we’ll have tofight for this. I’m here to ask youto turn up the heat.”“I’m here to state the obvious: It’sbetter to bargain collectively thanto beg individually,” the Iowan,son of a coal miner, added.

Labor Launches This Year’s Drive for Employee Free Choice ActBy Mark Gruenberg, PAI Staff Writer, 2/6/2009

Negotiations with Boeing broke down today with company negotiators refusing tomove on key issues for the nearly 700 engineers in the SPEEA Wichita Engineering Unit(WEU). Boeing forced the breakdown despite efforts by the federal mediator.“The company never had any intent to negotiate with us,” said Bob Brewer, SPEEAMidwest director. “There was no movement from their team on anything — none what-so-ever.”With local and corporate management refusing all overtures for productive talks, theWEU Negotiation Team is sending Boeing’s offer to members for a vote. The WEUNegotiation team is again recommending members vote “NO” and reject the company’soffer.In addition to voting on the contract, union members will be asked to grant strikeauthorization power to the WEU Negotiation Team. While strike authorization does notmean a strike will take place, it does give the team the ability to call for a strike. Thecontract and strike vote are rejected or approved by a simple majority of the votingmembers.Details of the upcoming vote are being worked out by the WEU team. A special meetingfor WEU Council Representatives is also being planned.The SPEEA website has the latest information about efforts to secure a respectfulcontract.

Wearing red shirts and carrying signs, members of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees inAeropace (SPEEA) rallied in OldTown on Feb. 23. SPEEA is involved in the longest negotiations they’ve everhad and may be looking at formal involvement of a federal mediator.

The PlainDealer — 3March 2009

Support the Employee Free Choice Act! Sign a card today!

The Plaindealer (ISSN 0898-4360)Periodicals Postage Paid at Wichita, KSPOSTMASTER:Send address changes to:The Plaindealer3830 S. Meridian Ave.Wichita, KS 67217–3704(316) 529-8513Melanie Jenney, Editoremail: [email protected] of DirectorsJudy Pierce, President, Labor FederationBrenda Honse, Vice President

(CWA Local 6402)Tim Franta, Sec./ Treas. (IAM Local 733)Stuart Elliott (APWU Local 735)Deb Boatright (Local 708)Dave Philpott (IAM Local 774)Kathy Petersen (IAM Local 839)Ralph Stout (Local 834)John Shepherd Jr. (UA Local 441)Advertising and stories are due by the 15thof each month. Subscription rates are $15per year. Special rates available to unionmembers and locals subscribing as a body.Founded in 1919 by Tom Tilma, thePlaindealer is the official publication of theWichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, and covers news of interest to workingpeople.Story suggestions and letters to the editorshould be sent to the PlainDealer at 3830 S.Meridian Ave., Wichita, KS 67217–3704;by email to [email protected], orcall (316) 529–8513 with your ideas. To beconsidered for publication, letters to the editormust be signed and include the author’stelephone number. Views expressed inletters to the editor are not necessarily theviews of the Plaindealer, its Board ofDirectors or affiliated unions.Published monthly by PlaindealerPublishing, Inc. at 3830 S. Meridian Ave.,Wichita, KS, 67217.

United Way Sets Up Laid-OffWorkers FundUnited Way of the Plains has set up a Laid-Off Workers Fund to assistlaid-off individuals who worked or live in Sedgwick County. Due to thelarge number of recent layoffs, United Way is setting up the fund tohandle the increasing needs that go beyond United Way’s annualfunding of assistance programs.“One of United Way’s ongoing focus areas is family financial stability,”said Patrick J. Hanrahan, president of United Way of the Plains. “So,helping those affected by the large numbers of layoffs is what UnitedWay is all about. We want to be there for individuals in these times.”For those who qualify, financial assistance will include support for amortgage (or rent) and utilities. Clients must be interviewed by a caseworker, have written documentation of both layoff status and financialneed, and agree to attend seminars on household budget planning. Nofunds will go directly to individuals; bills will be paid on the person’sbehalf directly to a landlord, mortgage company or utility company.The Laid-Off Workers Fund will assist individuals through a Laid-OffWorkers Center which is targeted to open by the first of June. At therequest of Mayor Carl Brewer, United Way agreed to lead the coordina-tion efforts of the center. The first priority remains to secure a facility.Until the center opens, laid-off workers can find local services to assistthem by calling United Way’s 24-hour information line: dial 2-1-1. UnitedWay’s 2-1-1 call specialists have information about financial counseling,food assistance, job training, mental health services and more fromnumerous local nonprofits and government agencies.Individuals wishing to donate to the fund can make checks payable to“United Way Laid-Off Workers Fund” and mail to: United Way Laid-OffWorkers Fund, 245 N. Water, Wichita, KS 67202. CONTACT: DelaneButler, Vice President of Marketing, 267-1321.

Solis Secures Labor Secretary PostWorking families can find solace in knowing they have one moreadvocate fighting on their behalf in Washington, DC.

After nearly two months of procrastinating interro-gations, background scrutiny, and back-and-forthcorrespondence, the Senate has finally confirmedRep. Hilda Solis as Secretary of the U.S. Departmentof Labor.The show of support by millions of Americansovercame the sideshow put on by some SenateRepublicans not in favor of her commitment to

defending workers’ rights, including the right to form a union withoutemployer interference.As Secretary of Labor, Solis will fight to improve skills development andjob creation programs, assure workers get the pay they have earned,address the retirement security crisis, and improve working conditions.She also understands that giving workers a voice and the freedom toorganize is the key to rebuilding our economy. www.goiam.org

Obama Suspends Series of Anti-Worker RulesPresident Obama hit the ground running when he took office Jan. 20.Among his immediate actions: suspending a series of anti-worker rules George W. Bushput in place in his final weeks.The new president said the rules already put in place would be reviewed for another 60 days, and then possiblykilled. Other rules that had not yet been officially published were dumped.Virtually all of the rules had been heavily lobbied by the business community. Among them:• Making it tougher for workers to take family and medical leave, while letting their employers demand theirmedical records;• A proposal for mandatory drug and alcohol testing for almost all coal miners;• A scheme to lengthen the number of hours truckers spend consecutively on the road;• A plan to make it more difficult for workers to show they’ve been exposed to toxic substances on the job;• Complicated and time-consuming new reporting requirements for local, state and national union officers.The first reports under that rule were due this coming March.“No proposed or final regulation should be sent to the Office of Federal Register for publication unless anduntil it has been reviewed and approved by a department or agency head appointed or designated by thePresident after noon on January 20, 2009, or in the case of the Department of Defense, the Secretary of De-fense,” declared a memo issued by Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.

“If hard work were such a wonderful thing,surely the rich would have kept it all to themselves.”

—Lane Kirkland, former AFL-CIO President



Extending Cobra for Laid-Off WorkersDow Jones Newswires reporter Victoria E. Knight writes about the financial implications of health-care issues. WSJ.comThe financial pain of paying forhealth insurance could soon easefor the newly jobless.Included in the final version of thestimulus bill nearing a final vote inCongress, and expected to besigned into law by PresidentObama, are provisions that wouldslash 60% off the price tag forhealth insurance for many laid-offworkers seeking to extend cover-age through their former employ-ers. Coverage would be subsidizedfor up to nine months.Workers are already guaranteedthe right to extend their job-relatedhealth coverage for up to 18months under the federal Consoli-dated Omnibus Budget Reconcilia-tion Act, or Cobra. The law appliesto companies with 20 or moreworkers that are continuing tooffer a group health plan.About two-thirds of workingadults are eligible for Cobra, but

only 9% of the unemployed electit, according to a study by theCommonwealth Fund of data from2007. The reason: the program’ssteep cost.Active workers on average payabout 25% of the total healthinsurance premium, with employ-ers picking up the rest. But laid-offworkers who get Cobra have topay 100% of the cost, plus a 2%administrative fee.Last year, for example, a laid-offworker could expect to pay $373 amonth for individual coverage and$1,009 a month for a family,excluding administrative fees,according to a survey by theKaiser Family Foundation and theHealth Research & EducationalTrust. The 65% federal subsidywould slash the tab to about $130a month for single coverage and$350 a month for a family, based onthe figures in the Kaiser/HRETstudy.

Not everyone will be eligible forthe subsidy, though. To qualify,workers must have been laid offbetween Sept. 1, 2008, and Dec. 31,2009, and their annual income inthe year they receive the subsidycan’t exceed $125,000 for singlepeople or $250,000 for couples.Workers laid off from last Septem-ber onwards who declined Cobrawill be given a second chance toenroll. Jobless workers in statesthat have enacted Cobra-like lawsthat apply to smaller employerswill also qualify for the subsidy.While the changes may still notmake Cobra affordable for every-one, it’s likely to bring coveragewithin the financial reach ofworkers laid off from relativelywell-paid jobs. Such workersprobably have the savings orother resources to pay thepremiums, says Alwyn Cassil, aspokeswoman for the Center forStudying Health System Change.

Another View: Banker Bonusesby Jim HightowerO bitter bile and gall, the wretched unfairness of Wall Street’s ongoingdebacle is almost too much to swallow.I speak, of course, about the heart-breaking plight of top bankingexecutives, who’re having to forego portions of their year-end bonuses.As the CEO of Citigroup explained in an internal mailing to assortedexecutives: “The harsh realities of 2008 mean that our bonus pool isdramatically lower.”Wow, keen insight, chief! This financial conglomerate, which was at thecenter of the banker greedfest that has now wrecked our economy, losttens of billions of dollars last year, got a $45 billion bailout from ustaxpayers, is now splitting itself apart, and is seeking another bailout.Yet, instead of requiring the whizzes at the top to pay back their entire2008 salaries and resign in shame, the CEO puts on a sad face and breaksthe news that bonuses for the 10 members of Citigroup’s “seniorleadership team” will be down at least 40 percent. Excuse me, but thatmeans they’re still getting about 60 percent of their bonus money.Bonuses! For a historic level of abject, embarrassing, destructive failure!Well, say apologists for such pampering of corporate elites, if Citigroupcuts too deeply into the compensation of these favored ones, it riskslosing their talent. Excuse me again, but losing them to where? WallStreet is not exactly on a hiring binge these days, and even if it was–who’d want this bunch?The bankers’ obscene sense of entitlement is more powerful than a blackhole, sucking up all traces of reason and humility. Still, a Harvardbusiness professor recently tried to explain away the bonus grab asmerely an image problem. Now that taxpayers are “part of the equation,”the professor postulated, “how things appear is important.”It’s not the appearance that disturbs me, it’s the reality.–Jim Hightower is a nationally syndicated radio commentator and thebestselling author of Swim Against the Current: Even a Dead Fish CanGo With the Flow. For more information visit www.jimhightower.com



KC Conference to Address Economicand Global Warming CrisesThe KC Labor website is sponsoring a conference on April 3-4 on“Responding to the Economic and Global Warming Crises. The confer-ence will be held in the North Kansas City Community Center, 1999 Ironat Armour Road.Bill Onasch, webmaster for KC Labor says, “Working people face twourgent crises today—economic and global warming. The causes of bothare connected—and so are the solutions. We can leave a sustainableplanet, good jobs, and a quality life style to our kids—but only if we actboldly and soon. We invite you to join us in learning what needs to bedone—and figuring out how to do it. “The conference begins on Friday evening with a session entitled “ClassSolidarity Leaves No One Behind.” Judy Ancel, director of UMKC’sInstitute for Labor Studies and a familiar figure to many in Kansas laborcircles will be joined by Donna Dewitt, president South Carolina AFL-CIO and Peter Rachleff, professor of history, Macalester College, St PaulA highlight of Saturday’s program will be a workshop on the EconomicCrisis led by Mark Brenner, PhD in economics, director of Labor Notes, amonthly labor news journal. Other sessions will focus on the ClimateCrisis and examine the lessons from past crises.Labor historian David Riehle, will speak on the “Truth about the NewDeal” and Bill Onasch, will discuss the World War II mobilization.Shawn Saving of Kansas City Jobs with Justice will moderate a sessionon “Struggles In and Out of the Workplace” There will also be a sessionon the Employee Free Choice Act.There will be plenty of time for discussion after the presentations.Conference expenses for site rental, out of town speakers travel ex-penses, a provided lunch and other amenities are substantial. Since wehave no corporate or major institutional underwriters there is a slidingscale of registration fee–regular forty dollars, low income twenty dollars,unemployed/students ten dollars, strikers admitted free. No one will beturned away solely for lack of money.For more details about the conference call, program, registration and amap go to kclabor.org on the web and follow the conference links or callBill Onasch at 816-753-1672.

March 2009President Barack ObamaThe White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.Washington, DC 20500Dear President Obama,As working people, we are happy to finally have a president who has worked for a living, and is from aworking family. We believe you truly understand the devastation families suffer when the wage-earningmembers lose their jobs through no fault of their own. It is an economic and emotional blow from whichsome never recover. Unemployment destroys families.Because we believe you understand that, we are asking for your help in retaining critical national security,highly-skilled, and taxpayer-funded jobs in the United States.You may be aware the U.S. Air Force has determined it needs to replace our aging tanker refueling aircraftfleet. Initially the contract was given to the Boeing Company because Boeing was the only company tohave produced these very special aircraft.Unfortunately, Sen. John McCain of Arizona decided to make it his personal mission to overturn thiscontract. He waged a three-year campaign, and was successful in having the Boeing contract cancelled.Airbus was invited to make a bid, and was awarded the contract. When it was determined the contract hadbeen illegally awarded to Airbus, Secretary Gates had the contract cancelled and it is being rebid.Mr. President, this contract will eventually cost 50 billion U.S. taxpayers’ dollars, and would provide long-term, high-skill jobs for U.S. workers in most of our states.More importantly, these aircraft, and the ability of U.S. workers to design and build them, is critical to ournation’s national security. How can we depend on a foreign country to produce these vital aircraft for thesecurity of our country?Now we find the Defense Department wants to replace your airplane, Air Force One, known throughout theworld as a symbol of our democracy and the skill and dedication of U.S. workers.Again, the U.S. Defense Department is seeking bids to allow Airbus to build Air Force One!Mr. President, someone in Washington must be adding stupid pills to the water at the Air Force andDefense Department! Do they not understand how awarding these vital contracts to a foreign countrywould make the United States look to the rest of the world? That we are incapable of maintaining a viableindustrial base? That U.S. workers and engineers are incapable of designing and building the finest aircraftin the world?Do “leaders” of the U.S. military understand that once we give away the jobs, we lose the future research,development of new designs, new materials, and new methods of producing these products forever? And ifthey expect the U.S. taxpayers to pay for these products why don’t they understand if they give away ourbest jobs we won’t be paying the taxes they need to buy these aircraft? DUH!President Obama, please don’t insult U.S. aircraft/aerospace workers by allowing a foreign country todesign and build your plane, Air Force One, and would you remind the folks over at Defense that Airbushas never even built a working mock-up of a tanker?Thank you for your consideration of our requests. We don’t want a handout, we just want our jobs, andour tax dollars being spent for the products we build, the finest in the world.Sincerely,Pat Lehman515 ManloWichita, KS 67204[If you care about keeping our jobs here in our community, just clip this letter out, crossout my name and address, add your own name and address and if you like, add anycomments you may have. Send the letter and your comments and your name and address toPresident Obama at the White House. The job you save may be your own!]

FIVE-MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

A small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mixthoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the choco-late chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.Put your mug in the microwave and cook for three minutes at1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, butdon’t be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate ifdesired.EAT! This can serve two if you want to feel slightly more virtu-ous. And why is this most dangerous cake recipe in the world?Because now we are all only five minutes away from chocolatecake at any time of the day or night!

The Most Dangerous Cake Recipe in the World!



Direct PipelinePLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LU441

Richard L. Taylor, Business Managerand Financial Secretary-Treasurer

LocallyOne important item we need help on now and throughout the rest of the political sessionis a continued voice of support for the Holcomb Expansion Project. Considering themagnitude of the Holcomb Expansion Project and the fact that it will be a Union Project,it would seem to only make sensee for legislators to support this project, especiallygiven the downturn in the economy, the increasing unemployment, and the problemswith the state budget. However, many are not supporting the project. [Editor’s note: AsRichard mentions, the Holcomb Expansion Project IS a controversial topic, and manylocals have taken different views and different approaches.]Please contact your Legislator immediately and let them know you support the Holcomb ExpansionProject and encourage them to vote yes on legislation that allows the project to go forward. WE NEEDTHE JOBS AND KANSAS NEEDS THE JOBS.The Hall can provide help if needed in contacting your Legislator.We have golf balls, tee shirts, and hats. Come by and get outfitted with Local 441 apparel.Please take time to view your web site. The address is: www.ua441.org.DeathsWe are sorry to report the death of Brother William “Chet” Fankhouser, 95, Retired Pipefitter, residing inEl Dorado, passed away on January 31, 2009, Herbert R. Adkins Jr., 64, Pipefitter, residing in Montgom-ery, LA, passed away on February 5, 2009, and Donald L. Dodson, 72, retired Pipefitter, residing in ElDorado, passed away on February 10, 2009. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with their families.PoliticalThe 2009 Political Session in Topeka is underway with concern about the economy obviously being thefocal point. The approval of the air permits for the Holcomb Power House Project will be a big part of thesession again this year. If continued contact is made with your Legislator, chances are good this year toget a decision in favor of the project simply because of the jobs this project will generate and given theforecast of large unemployment across the state and the entire country for that matter.We have secured a contract with Sunflower Electric requiring a PLA (Project Labor Agreement) to beutilized on the project if it goes forward. This agreement ensures that Kansas Building Trades Unionswill be used to man the project.We will continue to build a long-lasting establishment in the political arena of our jurisdiction. We feelthat it is critical to maintain a presence politically so that when issues arise; the local will already havean established voice that will be heard. Thank you to all Local 441 members for your support boththrough your participation in the PAC fund and your involvement and support with various politicalgroups.MeetingsLocal Union 441 meetings are being conducted on the second Monday of eachmonth at 7 p.m. at the Union Hall located at 1330 East First Street in Wichita. If othermeetings are scheduled, you will be duly notified.NOTE: We have recently upgraded our system used to teleconference themonthly Union meetings. Please take the opportunity to attend a meeting in yourarea. The new system has much better sound and video quality and is beingprovided at no additional cost to Local 441.Retirees ClubThe next Retirees meetings will be on March 4th, April 1st, and May 6th at 10 a.m. at the Hall. Please comeand join us!Breakfast is the second Wednesday at 9 a.m. We are meeting at Spears Restaurant, 4323 W. Maple fromJanuary through November.All retired members and their families are invited to join us. Come enjoy the fellowship!For more information, call Jim Wilbert at 722-6859.

Richard Taylor

At the RailColumn by Martin Hawver 2/23/09Every year has its buzzwords, the phrases thatpeople say over and over again that come intothe general vernacular that we use in daily life.

One of those buzzwords is “transparency.” The concept: Everyone seeswhat’s happening. Somewhere, generally on a website or in an office orsomewhere, the public can find out what’s being spent by someone onsomebody and for what.It’s like letting everyone see the change in your pocket or the contentsof your wallet, and while nobody wants their friends and neighbors orpeople with an Internet connection to know what’s in his/her wallet, it’sall different when it comes to government.The transparency fans want virtually everything done by or for or withgovernment to be accessible to everyone. That’s probably not a badidea. It would be better if all that information was somehow given somecontext by.hey, how about reporters who work for newspapers which sellsubscriptions to people who need some context for just what thattransparent information shows, but that’s a different story.But transparency probably makes sense. We don’t know whether thelast time you went to a government office and saw coffee and cinnamonrolls if you would have thought to ask whether the rolls were paid forwith your tax dollars or brought in by the guy who wants the contract toservice the copying machines.someday, that’s probably going to be on-line. Just in case you care.But it got a little different last week in the Kansas Legislature, thistransparency business.The House, probably in an extreme demonstration of transparency, did apublicly-recorded (that’s rollcall for you insiders) vote on an amendmentthat would require many special interest groups to report to the statewhere they get their money for those attractive ads and postcards thatcite some candidate for public office for doing something, well, nice.The campaign materials don’t specifically say “vote for” someone, oreven mention whether the nice thing some candidate did is what thethird party group is interested in.just that he/she is nice and ought to bethanked, though not specifically voted for.That transparency in the House? It told the political organizations whovoted for transparency and who didn’t. And it allowed those politicalorganizations to target the transparency fans by lobbying to changetheir votes to prevent the public reporting of where their campaignmoney came from. Oh, it worked. The transparency bill was defeated thenext day.Transparency? It works a bunch of different ways, doesn’t it?Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawveris publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. www.hawvernews.com

Sit down and read.Educate yourself forthe coming conflict.

—————Mother Jones



LOCAL UNION BULLETIN BOARD

Hammond, Zongker & Farris, L.L.C.ATTORNEYS AT LAWCity, State, Federal, Trial & Appellate Practice

•THOMAS E. HAMMOND

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Mailing Address:P. O. Box 47370 • Wichita, KS • 67201

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Keep Your Eye onThe Healthy Workplace ActFrom Jake Lowen, COPE Director, Wichita-Hutchinson Labor Federation, 2/ 4/09Delegates:Today in the Kansas legislature the House will take up the budget fightand budget issues will likely remain the big fight for quite a while.Nevertheless, we are starting to get some good legislation proposed byour allies.Bills have been drafted to enact all the key provisions of the Democrat’sworking families agenda that was announced at a press conference acouple weeks ago. They have been turned in for processing and we willlikely know specific bill numbers on Friday or Monday. I will keep youposted.In the meantime, I wanted to let you all know of a good bill drafted byDale Swenson, Geraldine Flaharty, and Delia Garcia among others calledthe “Healthy Workplace Act.” Read below for an excerpt and link to thefull text of the bill. I will keep you posted on the development of this anyother legislation concerning workplaces and working families.HOUSE BILL No. 2218 www.kslegislature.org/bills/2010/2218.pdfBy Representatives Swenson, Burroughs, Crow, Davis, Flaharty, Garciaand MahSec. 3. (a) It is an unlawful employment practice under this part tosubject an employee to an abusive work environment.(b) An employer is vicariously liable for an unlawful employment practicein violation of this part committed by its employee.(c) It is an unlawful employment practice under this act to retaliate in anymanner against an employee because the employee has opposed anyunlawful employment practice under this act, or because the employeehas made a charge, testified, assisted or participated in any manner in aninvestigation or proceeding under this act, including, but not limited to,internal proceedings, arbitration and mediation proceedings and legalactions.

Thursday, March 5Operating Engineers LU101— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaFriday, March 6Go Red for Women to raise awareness of heart disease in women. GoRedForWomen.orgSaturday, March 7Machinists LL639— E-board Meeting 8 a.m., Regular meeting 9 a.m.Machinists LL733— Regular meeting at 10 a.m.Monday, March 9NALC Branch 201— 7:30 p.m., NALC Br 201 Union Office

227 S. Pattie, WichitaUSW Local 01350— Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Union Hall

427 N. Main, Hutchinson, 67501SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001— Membership Recruitment / Organizing Committee

973 S. Glendale, WichitaPlumbers & Pipefitters LU441– Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 1330 E. 1st, WichitaTuesday, March 10Machinists Local 708— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaCWA Local 6402— E-Board, 5:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, Wichita

Stewards, 7 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaWednesday, March 11APWU Local 735— Regular Meeting, 8 a.m, 6920 W. Pueblo, WichitaIBEW Local 1523— Regular Meeting, 5:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaMachinists Local 1989— E-Board, 3:40 p.m., Regular meeting, 3:50 p.m.

2005 Kansas Ave., Great Bend, 67530LU 441 Retirees— Breakfast, 9 a.m., Spears, 4323 W. MapleThursday, March 12SPEEA— Midwest Council Meeting, 973 S. Glendale, WichitaWichita Area Union Label— E-board, 6:30 p.m.; Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.mSaturday, March 14Machinists Local 2328— E-Board Meeting, 9 a.m., 2055 S. Ohio, Salina

Regular Meeting, 10 a.m., 2055 S. Ohio, SalinaMachinists Local 834 & 839— Regular Meeting, 10 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaMonday, March 16SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001— Membership Recruitment / Organizing Committee,

4:30 p.m., 973 S. Glendale, WichitaSPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001— L&PA, 4:30 p.m. at SPEEA Hall, 973 S. GlendaleGlaziers Local 558— 5 p.m., 1330 E. 1st St., Wichita, KSTuesday, March 17CWA Local 6402— Membership Meeting, 6:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaWednesday, March 18SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001— Governing Documents Committee, 5 p.m.,

973 S. Glendale, WichitaThursday, March 19Salina Labor Federation— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 2055 S. Ohio, SalinaSteelworkers Local 13417— Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaWichita Hutchinson Labor Fed— 6:30 p.m., 3219 W. Central Ave., WichitaSaturday, March 21Machinists LL2799— E-board meeting 9:30 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, Wichita

Regular Meeting, 10:30 a.m.Machinists Local 774— 10 a.m. Regular Meeting, 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaThursday, March 26District 70 Retirees— Luncheon, 11:45 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaSaturday, March 28Graphics Union Local 575— 10 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaKansas State Union Label— 10 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, Wichita

Why, Why??· Why do we press harder on aremote control when we knowthe batteries are almost dead?· Why does someone believeyou when you say there are fourbillion stars; but have to checkwhen you say the paint is stillwet?· Why does Superman stopbullets with his chest, but duckswhen you throw a revolver athim?· Why do Kamikaze pilotswear helmets?· Whose idea was it to put an‘S’ in the word ‘lisp’?· If people evolved from apes,why are there still apes?· Why is it that no matter whatcolor bubble bath you use thebubbles are always white?· Is there ever a day thatmattresses are not on sale?· Why do people constantlyreturn to the refrigerator withhopes that something new toeat will have materialized?· Why do people keep runningover a string a dozen times withtheir vacuum cleaner, thenreach down, pick it up, examineit, then put it down to give thevacuum one more chance?· How do those dead bugs getinto those enclosed lightfixtures?

Pat Lehman, Former Grand LodgeRep, Will Be Honored at Women’sHistory Month Event March 15Women’s History Mystery II to Honor Pastand Present “Sheroes” at Cabaret OldtownOur own Pat Lehman will be among those honored at the Women’sHistory Mystery II on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at Cabaret Oldtown.In recognition of Women’s History Month in March, the Wichita Chapterof the National Organization for Women (N.O.W.) will present a dramaticinterpretation of a conversation between women’s rights championsSusan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton, incorporating an awards

program to honor members of ourcommunity who have advanced socialjustice.Pat Lehman has led a life of “firsts” inher career with the IAMAW and in hercommunity involvement. She was hiredby Beech in 1965 and very quicklycompleted an application to become anIAM member. In March 1966 she wasinitiated into IAM Local Lodge 733 andin June 1966 she became the first womanin the department to train for herJourneyman’s License. She rose quicklythrough the ranks, shattering glassceilings along the way. Pat was twice

elected as IAM National Delegate to the National AFL-CIO and the firstIAM woman to run and be elected to National Position.Other honorees are Louis Goseland, community organizer with SunflowerCommunity Action; Susan Schokett, founder of City Roots, an inner-citygardening program; Horace Santry, Community Outreach Educator atWichita Area Sexual Assault Center and sponsor of the Men ChoosingRespect initiative; Sharon Cranford, long-time activist with Fashionetta;Stormy Johnston, who took the time to identify family and return amysterious urn of ashes; and Fran and Jerry Hoggatt, in memoriam, fortheir many works of advocacy and philanthropy in the Wichita area.The program will begin at 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, atCabaret Oldtown, 412 ½ E. Douglas. Reservations are recom-mended and can be made at (316) 945-5826 or tickets will beavailable at the door. Ticket prices start at $20.

NOW is the largest, most comprehensive feminist advocacy group in theUnited States and undertakes actions to bring women into full participa-tion in society — sharing equal rights, responsibilities and opportunitieswith men, while living free from discrimination. www.NOW.org orwww.NOWwichita.org

Union Label Dished Out Beansand Prizes www.ksworkbeat.orgThe 2009 Wichita Union Label Chili Feed was a tremendous success.There was hardly room to park and hardly room to eat the delicious chiliand hobo stew.

But there wasenough room forbingo enthusi-asts—young andold—to win plentyof prizes.Pictured at left isTom Harkness,President ofKansas UnionLabel, with thesafe which theydonated as one ofthe many prizes.

Copy ThatA CEO was scheduled to givethe keynote address at animportant convention so hedirected one of his top em-ployees, Smith, to write him apunchy, 20-minute speech.When the CEO returnedfrom the big event, he wasfurious. “What’s the idea ofwriting me an hour longspeech?” he demanded. “Halfthe audience walked out beforeI was finished.”Smith was baffled. “I wroteyou a 20-minute speech,” hereplied. “And I gave you thetwo extra copies you asked for.”

plain dealer, 03/2009

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