plain dealer, 04/2009

plaindealerVol. 91 Issue 7 “A Voice for Working Kansans since 1919” April 2009th

e

The PlainDealer(316) 529-8513

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

IN THIS ISSUE...VOTE: WHLF Election Endorsements —2

VP Biden: EFCA Key to Middle Class —5Union Voices in Eagle Reader Views —7

WSU Student Labor Week of Action Events —8

The nation’s largest food drive tocombat hunger will be conductedthis year on Saturday, May 9.Letter carriers will collect non-perishable donations from homesas they deliver mail along theirpostal routes. This year, much ofthe food that is collected in ourarea will go to laid-off workersthrough the Help Center for Laid-Off Workers.The 17th annual National Associa-tion of Letter Carriers (NALC)National Food Drive to “StampOut Hunger” is the largest one-day food drive in the nation.Carriers collected a record 73.1million pounds of food in lastyear’s drive. The drive is heldannually on the second Saturdayin May in over 10,000 cities andtowns in all 50 states, the Districtof Columbia, Puerto Rico, and theVirgin Islands.Donations will be collected bymore than 1,400 local branches ofthe 300,000-member postal unionand delivered to food banks,pantries and shelters that servethe communities where they arecollected.

Letter Carriers’ Annual Food Drive May 9Donations Critical as Thousands Join Hunger Rolls; Effort Will HelpFeed Laid-Off Workers and Families By Drew Von Bergen, NALC, (202) 662-2489, [email protected]

NALC President William H. Youngemphasized that as successful asthe food drive has been in thepast, it simply must be even betterthis year. “Millions and millions of familiesare suffering – struggling to makeends meet and put food on thetable,” Young said. “More thanever food banks, pantries andshelters need our help this year.As families count on them forsupport, they’re counting on usand we must not back off on ourcommitment.”Young also noted that donationsare particularly critical at this timesince most school lunch programsare suspended during the summermonths and millions of childrenmust find alternate sources ofnutrition.Mario Cervantes, AFL-CIOCommunity Services Liaison tothe United Way, is looking forvolunteers to help out on Saturday,May 9, at seven post officelocations.Please contact Mario at (316)267-1321 ext.4222 for moreinformation.

Bank Gets $25 Billion Bailout, Then Hosts Anti-EFCA EventThree days after the Bank ofAmerica received $25 billion infederal bailout funds, it hosted aconference call with anti-unionactivists and business officials toorganize opposition to the U.S.labor community’s top legislativepriority, the Employee Free ChoiceAct (EFCA).According to an audiotapeobtained by the websiteHuffington Post, participants onthe October 17 call — including atleast one representative fromanother bailout recipient, AIG —were urged to persuade theirclients to send “large contribu-tions” to groups working against

EFCA, as well as to vulnerableSenate Republicans, who couldhelp block passage of the bill.Home Depot co-founder BernieMarcus led the call along with RickBerman, an aggressive EFCAopponent, founder of the Centerfor Union Facts, and longtimelobbyist for a variety of conserva-tive causes. Over the course of anhour, the two framed the legisla-tion as an existential threat toAmerican capitalism, or worse.“This is the demise of a civiliza-tion,” said Marcus. “This is how acivilization disappears. I am sittinghere as an elder statesman and I’mwatching this happen and I don’t

believe it.”Donations of hundreds of thou-sands, if not millions, of dollarswere needed, it was argued, toprevent America from turning “intoFrance.”“If a retailer has not gotteninvolved in this, if he has notspent money on this election, if hehas not sent money to [formerMinnesota Sen.] Norm Colemanand all these other guys, theyshould be shot. They should bethrown out of their g*%$*&njobs,” Marcus declared.Earlier he argued: “As a share-holder, if I knew the CEO of the

[Bank Bailout continued on page 3]

Help your laid-off brothers and sisters!

April 20092 — The PlainDealer

Workers Memorial Day 2009 is April 28: Honor those killed or injured on the job

“If you ever saw a cat and a dog eating out of the same plate,you can bet your ass it was the cat’s food.”

—Congressman William Clay

The PlainDealer — 3April 2009

www.AFLCIO.org/issues/safety/memorial/

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 FederationTim 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.

Biden to AFL-CIO: Employee FreeChoice Act Key to RebuildingMiddle Class By James Parks On March 5, 2009Vice President Joe Biden told the AFL-CIO Executive Council March 5that returning our economy to health means restoring the basic right tojoin a union and bargain collectively. And the way to do that is bypassing the Employee Free Choice Act.He quoted President Obama saying: ‘”I don’t buy the argument thatproviding workers with collective bargaining rights somehow weakensthe economy or worsens the business environment.If you’ve got workers who have a decent pay and benefits, they also arecustomers for your business. So let me add to that and say that I have asimple, basic belief, one that we’re going to work hard to put into action:If a union is what you want, a union you’re entitled to have.”The vice president quoted AFL-CIO President John Sweeney’s recentremarks in his column expressing basic truths that should guide the AFL-CIO in 2009:“We can’t fix the economy by hurting workers. Rescuing the economywill require investments in jobs, infrastructure, health care. When you’rein a deep hole, you need a long ladder. Rebuilding our broken economygives us the opportunity to get it right and reward workers. Progressive,pro-family, pro-worker candidates won. So isn’t it time that we haveprogressive, pro-worker, pro-family priorities that win, too?”Biden, who heads the White House Task Force on the Middle Class<http://www.whitehouse.gov/strongmiddleclass>, told the council theObama administration is dedicated to rebuilding the nation’s middleclass.“You can’t have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement.We will judge the success or failure of our administration at the end ofour four years, based on whether or not the standard of living of themiddle class has increased or not. That’s the bottom-line measure. Andguess what. Neither one of us believes it can get better without yougetting stronger.The people Teddy Roosevelt used to call the “doers of deeds” — thepeople who teach our children, protect our neighborhoods, protect ourhomes. The people who staff our hospitals, who work on the line — onthe lines that a few are working on these days. The people who are ournation’s heart and soul, and I would add, our nation’s spine. They arethe spine of the nation.”For too long, Biden said, we’ve failed to have a White House that putsfamilies front and center in our economic policies. That’s why the Obamaeconomic recovery program focuses on jobs, he said, and the administra-tion is pushing for real health care reform. He also said the Obama-Bidenteam would never have won without the support of working families.Biden’s visit to the Executive Council followed a two-day visit fromLabor Secretary Hilda Solis, who participated in a town hall on Sundayand met with the union leaders Monday.

Obama Budget Proposal:Workers to See Tax Reduction While Wealthiest Face IncreasesWorking people will see animmediate and permanent cut intheir taxes beginning in April,while the wealthiest Americans–that 5 percent of householdsmaking more than $250,000 a year–will see their taxes rise, accordingto President Barack Obama’sbudget plan for 2010.Those features were among thehuge list of remedies for theAmerican people and the nation’seconomy in the plan released Feb.26.To meet his campaign pledge of taxcuts for most Americans, Obamawants to make permanent the $400annual tax cut due to start show-ing up in workers’ paychecks in

April that was approved as part ofthe $787 billion stimulus packagepassed by Congress.Obama’s budget also extends themiddle class tax cuts passed bythe Bush administration in 2001and 2003: they were due to expireat the end of 2010. If Congressapproves Obama’s recommenda-tions, the Bush tax cuts wouldexpire only for couples makingmore than $250,000 per year. Theywould expire as well for individualsmaking more than $200,000.The estimated $318 billion thatwould be raised by the highertaxes on the wealthy would gotoward laying the groundwork foruniversal health care by expanding

health care coverage to some ofthe 48 million currently uninsuredAmericans. Another $316 billionfor expanded health care wouldcome from curtailing payments tohospitals and insurance compa-nies under Medicare and drugpayments under Medicaid.The overall budget proposed bythe president came in at a record-breaking $3.55 trillion, reflectingthe cost of beating down the worstrecession the nation has seensince the Great Depression.Commenting on the Obamabudget, AFL-CIO President JohnSweeney said: “President Obamasaid from day one that he’s goingto tackle the tough issues quicklyand decisively, yet people inWashington seem shocked thatthe president is doing exactly whathe promised to do... Workingfamilies wholeheartedly applaudPresident Obama for leading theway towards a better and securefuture for everyone.”

company wasn’t doing anythingon [EFCA]... I would sue the sonof a bitch... I’m so angry at someof these CEOs, I can’t even believethe stupidity that is involvedhere.”At one point, relatively early in thecall, Marcus joked that he “took atranquilizer this morning to calmmyself down.”“This bill may be one of the worstthings I have ever seen in my life,”he said, explaining that he couldhave been on “a 350-foot boat outin the Mediterranean,” but felt itwas more important to engage onthis fight. “It is incredible to methat anybody could have thechutzpah to try and pass this billin this election year, especiallywhen we have an economy that isa disaster, a total absolute disas-ter.”

The law would require employersto recognize a union if a majorityof employees signed cardsrequesting representation. If theworkers wish, they could have asecret ballot election instead.Under current law, employersdecide how the workers make theirchoice.“Bank of America is now not onlygetting bailout money. They arelending their name to participate ina campaign to stop workers fromhaving a majority sign up [provi-sion],” Stephen Lerner, Director ofthe Private Equity Project at theService Employees, toldHuffington Post writer Sam Stein.“The biggest corporations whohave created the problem are, atthe very time, asking us to bailthem out and then using thatmoney to stop workers fromimproving their lives.”

[Bank Bailout continued from page 1]



Tentative Pact Set for 24,000 Oil, Petrochemical WorkersThe United Steelworkers (USW)has reached tentative wage andbenefit terms across the U.S. oiland petrochemical industries for24,000 workers, effectively settinga three-year pattern for refineries,pipelines, transportation, andother downstream services.The contract calls for 9 percent inraises over the term plus lump sumpayments, but the union said itwas “deeply disappointed that theindustry did not take seriously theneed for more stringent safetyprocedures.”Union President Leo Gerard said:“Our main focus in this round ofnational oil bargaining was healthand safety, but the industryrefused to allow us to be equalpartners with them in resolving thehealth and safety problems thatpersistently are not being ad-dressed across the whole industry.The oil companies were not willingto work with us to improveprocess safety.”

The USW says it will not give upon improving health and safety.“Let it be clear,” said USW VicePresident and head of Oil Bargain-ing Gary Beevers, “we are notfinished with our struggles formeaningful change in the healthand safety arena.”The tentative contract wasreached with lead company RoyalDutch Shell and its joint-ventureoperations in Austin, Tex. twodays after the Feb. 1 expirations of70 local agreements.The USW and the oil industryagreed to rolling, 24-hour contractextensions on January 31 to avertmass strikes. The tentative accordmeans there will not be any majorpetroleum walkouts for the nextthree years, although disputes cannow arise on local levels.Besides the 24,000 USW oilworkers with collective agreementsexpiring 1 February, another 6,000members have contracts expiring

in the coming months, and theaccord sets the pattern for them aswell.In a statement, the USW said,“Rather than launch a nationalstrike over health and safety thatwould have hurt the Americanpeople at a time of economic crisis,the USW withdrew its health andsafety proposal and focused onthe economic package.”That economic package contains 3percent salary increases on 1February in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Italso includes a $1,000 ratificationbonus and a $500-per-yearpayment to each worker to offsetout-of-pocket health care costs.The USW said nothing gained inprior negotiations was given up,including company-paid healthcare at an 80 percent level.The union also said it retained jobsecurity and successorshipprinciples, the latter meaningcollective agreements are assured

and maintained in the event of asale or takeover.The pattern agreement was senton to some 86 oil and petrochemi-cal worksites operated by suchcompanies as Shell and its

operating partners, ExxonMobil,ChevronTexaco, ConocoPhillips,BP, PDVSA, Valero, Tosco, Tesoro,Sun, Sunoco, LyondellBasell,Marathon, INEOS, Holly, andseveral other companies.

Hammond Inducted Into ABA Collegeof Workers’ Compensation LawyersWichita attorney Tom Hammond was honored with induction as aFellow of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers.Hammond handles legal matters for District 70, IAMAW, andserves on the board of directors for The PlainDealer. He is onlythe second attorney from Kansas to be inducted into the College,and the first attorney who represents injured workers to beinducted from Kansas.At a ceremony in New Orleans sponsored by the CWCL and theABA, Hammond was recognized along with judges and counselfor all parties from across America as among the best in theprofession. Membership is by invitation, and each Fellow’squalifications are considered by an impartial committee of Fel-lows.The College was established to honor those attorneys who “havedistinguished themselves in their practice in the field of workers’compensation” and who have demonstrated for over 20 years that“they possess the highest professional qualifications and ethicalstandards, character, integrity, professional expertise and leader-ship... (and that they) have shown significant evidence of scholar-ship, teaching, lecturing, and/or distinguished published writings onWorkers’ Compensation or related fields of law.”“I’m so pleased that Tom was honored with induction into theCollege, but not at all surprised,” said Steve Rooney, District 70President/DBR. “After 25 years working with us at the District,he’s become a friend as well as a trusted professional.”Kip Kubin of Kansas City was also inducted as a representativeof the Respondents and Carriers.



New Report Shows Global Gender Pay GapBigger Than Previously ThoughtStudy also covers the impact of the economic crisison women’s jobs and incomes and reveals costs ofviolence against women(Washington, DC March 5, 2009) – A report released by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)on March 8, International Women’s Day, revealed that the pay gap between men and women worldwide may bemuch higher than official government figures.The report, “Gender (In) Equality in the Labour Market,” is based on survey results of some 300,000 womenand men in 20 countries. It puts the global pay gap at up to 22%, rather than the 16.5% figure taken fromofficial government figures and released by the ITUC on March 8 last year.The report also confirms previous findings that union membership, and particularly the inclusion of womenin collective bargaining agreements, leads to much better incomes for both women and men, as well as betterpay for women relative to their male co-workers. The study, which follows the March 8 ITUC Global GenderPay Gap report, was written by London-based pay specialists Incomes Data Services and is based on internetsurveys conducted in industrialized and developing countries in 2008 by the Wage Indicator Foundation.“This report clearly confirms the advantage which men and women workers gain from union membership,which is all the more important in the current global economic crisis when jobs and living standards for millionsof workers are under severe threat,” said Guy Ryder, ITUC general secretary.Other key findings in the report include confirmation that women with higher educational qualificationsactually experience a larger income gap compared to males with similar qualifications, that the pay gap is less inthe public sector than in private employment, and that the pay gap increases with age.“There are a number of reasons why women still earn so much less than men, including overt as well as subtlediscrimination against women in the labor market and in the workplace, the way that employers, especially inthe private sector, handle promotions to better-paid jobs, and lack of maternity protection for women andparenting leave that both men and women can access,” said Sharan Burrow, president of the ITUC and of theAustralian Trade Union Centre ACTU.Impact of Economic Crisis on WomenThe report also examines the impact of economic recession on women’s access to employment and incomes.Previous downturns have had a particularly negative effect on women in developing countries working inexport industries and agriculture. Any reductions in government spending on health, social protection andeducation also often hit women hardest. Special attention must be given to the impacts of policy responses onwomen in the context of government action taken to tackle the current crisis.“The global trend towards regular employment being replaced by contract labor and agency employment hashad a particular effect on women, and these precarious jobs are the first to go as employers reduce theirpayrolls in this global recession. Millions upon millions of women working in domestic service and as migrantworkers are facing unemployment or have already lost their jobs, and already-struggling households aroundthe world are being hit hard because of this,” said Ryder.A special chapter in the report also tackles the appalling human and economic cost of violence againstwomen, taking a close look at the impact of violence against women at home, in society and at work. Thereport cites WHO figures indicting that in some countries a majority of women experience physical assaultand psychological intimidation, while a global average of some one-third of women suffer from violence atsome stage in their lives. Along with the lasting physical and mental damage caused by violence againstwomen, the report advances clear evidence of its economic effects on women’s employment and economicsituation. Examples are given of the total economic cost of violence against women in several countriesindicating that the total global cost is likely to be in the tens or even hundreds of billions of dollars.“Unions around the world are working to stop violence against women, through government action, raisingawareness and also action in workplaces. We are calling on governments to work together to build a completepicture of the causes and effects, including analysis of the huge economic costs which add to the impacts onwomen themselves and on society,” said Burrow.[This report is produced as part of the Global Unions ‘Decent Work, Decent Life for Women’ Campaign.To see the full report: http://www.ituc-csi.org/IMG/pdf/GAP-09_EN.pdf. The ITUC represents 170 millionworkers in 312 affiliated national organisations from 157 countries including the AFL-CIO.http://www.ituc-csi.org http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI]

KKFI 90.1FM:Listen to Streaming Radio Labor Newson your computer!Live streaming (listen “real-time”) at www.kkfi.org andarchived shows (anytime!) at www.heartlandlaborforum.orgOn the March 19 show:· Molly interviewed Jane Anne Morris and got a history lesson on howcourts implemented corporate rule in America. Jane’s book is “GavelingDown the Rabble.”· Weber questions whether Buy America is help or hokum? He talks toBill Holland of Public Citizen’s Global Trade Watch and Mike Mitchellfrom the Alliance for American Manufacturing.· Jan Brill feature with another installment of “Don’t Be Ladylike,” moretales of hell raisin’ women!Listen to the archived show at www.heartlandlaborforum.orgFuture programs include More Employee Free Choice Poster Children:Nurses at Centerpoint Need a First Contract and a former Fox 4 Reportertalks about what happened when they tried to organizeIn the Kansas City area? Listen to 90.1FM KKFI Community RadioKansas City on Thursdays from 6-7 p.m. and Fridays from 5-6 a.m.Workers Independent News segments at 4:57 a.m., 7:57 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Update & Action:Raise the WageThe House Commerce and Labor Committee recently passed an amendedversion of SB 160 to raise the minimum wage. The only amendedchanges were to match the federal language on employees under 20years of age to be paid less during the first 90 days of employment, andto give the Kansas Secretary of Labor the power to automatically raisethe state minimum wage every time the federal minimum wage increases.This is a huge victory! The hurdle now is to get the bill to the Housefloor for a vote. To make that happen, we need to tell House SpeakerMike O’Neal and your house representative that it’s TIME TO GIVEKANSANS A RAISE!Spread the word FAR AND WIDE. Encourage phone calls or emails toSpeaker of the House Mike O’Neal: [email protected] or 785-296-2302Tell him to let SB 160 GO FOR A VOTE on the House floor.LET’S RAISE THE WAGE THIS YEAR!www.RaisetheWageKansas.org

Cool Labor Website:Cool Labor Website:Cool Labor Website:Cool Labor Website:Cool Labor Website:InInInInInvvvvventorentorentorentorentory ofy ofy ofy ofy of American LaAmerican LaAmerican LaAmerican LaAmerican Labor Landmarbor Landmarbor Landmarbor Landmarbor Landmarksksksksks

http://www.laborheritage.org/landmark.htmThe Inventory of American Labor Landmarks, directed by Saul Schniderman, is a catalog ofsites in the United States commemorating the history and heritage of America’s workers. These

include: monuments, memorials, historic markers, union halls, historic buildings, restored dwellings,public sculpture, museums, history tours, heritage projects, preservation areas, and murals.



Direct PipelinePLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LU441

Richard L. Taylor, Business Managerand Financial Secretary-Treasurer

LocallyWe are working closely with our Contractors to secure more work for Local 441 members.The downturn in the economy continues to affect projects here locally. Several projectshave been postponed or canceled that had selected Local 441 Contractors to perform thework. Most of this work will come back at some point in the future, but obviously no onecan determine when that will be. We are fortunate to have sister locals nearby such asKansas City and Springfield that will be able to provide some relief for our out of workBrothers and Sisters.Just a reminder, we will be voting at the May Union meeting how to allocate the $1.50increase scheduled for the Wichita Zone effective June 1st. There will be a notice coming out prior to theUnion meeting calling for a Special Order of Business meeting to be held during our regular Unionmeeting in May. We will be opening negotiations in the Topeka, Lawrence, and Frontenac areas prior toJune 1st with wage openers only to be negotiated in those areas.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 Marvin R. Edmonds, 81, Ret. Plumber, residing in Topeka,passed away on March 2, 2009, and John M. Rush, 76, Ret. Pipefitter, residing in Winfield, passed awayon February 25, 2009. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with their families.PoliticalBy the time this publication comes out we will be heavily involved in attempting to override the ex-pected Governor’s veto on the Energy Bill which would allow the badly needed Holcomb project to goforward. Please go to the home page of our Local 441 web page, www.ua441.org and click on SUPPORTTHE HOLCOMB PROJECT. Follow the simple instructions and you can very easily send an e-mail insupport of the project to your Legislator.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 each month at 7:00 PM at theUnion Hall located at 1330 East First Street in Wichita. If other meetings are sched-uled, you will be duly notified.NOTE: We have recently upgraded our system used to teleconference the monthlyUnion meetings. Please take the opportunity to attend a meeting in your area. Thenew system has much better sound and video quality and is being provided at noadditional cost to Local 441.Retirees ClubThe next Retirees meetings will be on April 1st, May 6th, and June 3rd at 10 a.m. at the Hall.Please come and 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 3/23/09Buckle up and we’ll take you briefly into theworld of heavy-duty, full-contact insider politicsof the Kansas Statehouse—the stuff the general

public never hears about.Let’s take that little resolution that would call for an amendment to theKansas Constitution that would guarantee the right of Kansans inalmost every situation to own firearms.Now, that sounds pretty uncontroversial, doesn’t it? And isn’t there a 2nd

Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that guarantees the right to keepand bear arms? Sure there is. But, the state constitution doesn’t have asimilar amendment, and well, doggone it, why not?The fix? A proposed Kansas constitutional amendment that voters couldconsider at an election next year:“A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self,family, home and state, for lawful hunting and recreational use, and forany other lawful purpose.”It sounds pretty harmless. Can’t hurt to double-up on those constitu-tional rights, can it?***Now, the back-story.The resolution calls for the amendment, if it passes the Legislature (andthe governor doesn’t have any role in this at all), to wind up on the 2010general election ballot…for now.But what insiders are watching is whether the amendment stays on thegeneral election ballot or is shuffled to the primary election ballot, whereit becomes an explosive political issue that ignites massive voter turnout.If conservatives in the Legislature manage to move the vote to theprimary election in 2010, it becomes a rallying issue that draws floods ofconservatives to the polls, likely ousting any GOP candidate who hasever voted against a gun-rights bill (think concealed-carry).Based on a primary election gun-rights voter surge, moderate Republi-cans lose at the primary election, conservatives win, and well, in Republi-can-heavy Kansas, more Republicans and more conservative Republi-cans get elected in November 2010. The general philosophical tilt of theKansas House moves to the right—on not just guns but a raft of othersocial/fiscal issues. For House conservative Republicans, it also weedsout those pesky GOP moderates who tend to vote with Democrats.It’s using one issue to change the face of the Kansas House. (TheSenate isn’t up for election in 2010).That’s the back story. Whether the amendment makes it through theLegislature, well, nobody knows yet. And which ballot the questionwould be printed on isn’t decided yet.But political insiders are watching…Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawveris publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. www.hawvernews.com



LOCAL UNION BULLETIN BOARD

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

•THOMAS E. HAMMOND

•JAMES B. ZONGKER

•DAVID H. FARRIS

Cases involving:Workers Compensation,

Auto Accidents,Injury and Wrongful Death

NO RECOVERY • NO FEEFREE INITIAL CONSULTATION

262-6800727 N. Waco • River Park Plaza • Wichita

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

Keep up to date on local and national union news at www.KSWorkbeat.org

Thursday, April 2Operating Engineers LU101— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaAPWU Local 735— Regular Meeting,7:30 p.m, 6920 W. Pueblo, WichitaSaturday, April 4Machinists LL639— E-board Meeting 8 a.m., Regular meeting 9 a.m.Machinists LL733— Regular meeting at 10 a.m.Wednesday, April 8IBEW 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, April 9SPEEA— Midwest Council Meeting, 973 S. Glendale, WichitaWichita Area Union Label— E-board, 6:30 p.m.; Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.mSaturday, April 11Machinists 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, April 13NALC 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, April 14Machinists 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, April 15SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001— Governing Documents Committee, 5 p.m.,

973 S. Glendale, WichitaThursday, April 16Salina Labor Federation— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 2055 S. Ohio, SalinaSteelworkers Local 13417— Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaSaturday, April 18Machinists 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, WichitaMonday, April 20SPEEA/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, April 21CWA Local 6402— Membership Meeting, 6:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaSaturday, April 25Graphics Union Local 575— 10 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaTuesday, April 28Wichita Hutchinson Labor Fed— 5:45 p.m., Machinists Hall (preceding WMD event)Workers Memorial Day event at the Machinists Hall, 3830 S. Meridian Ave., WIchita.Workers in the United States and around the world willmark Workers Memorial Day on April 28, to honor thosekilled and injured on the job and to call for improvedworkplace safety. The theme this year is “Good Jobs.Safe Jobs. Give Workers a Voice for a Change.”

Thursday, April 30District 70 Retirees— Luncheon, 11:45 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, Wichita

READER VIEWS ON WORKERS’ COMPWichita Eagle Opinion, Friday March 20, 2009, pg 6A

Workers’ Comp Bill Could Affect YouThe Legislature has a chance to do something good for working families, but will it? For now, Senate Bill 258sits idle in the Senate Commerce Committee.Inadequate workers’ compensation benefits could change your life or the life of someone you love. Benefitcaps have not been adjusted for inflation since 1987. Kansas is one of only four states in the country that capsbenefits for a person who suffers permanent total disability on the job, and we have the lowest cap amongthose four states.If through no fault of your own you were to become permanently disabled, in as little as 4½ years your benefitscould be exhausted. Like many others, your family would have no choice but to look to public welfare. Somestates provide lifetime benefits for the same condition.Why must Kansas always distinguish itself in this manner? Urge your senator to support Senate Bill 258,which simply provides for benefits based on today’s cost of living.RICHARD L. TAYLORBusiness managerPlumbers and Pipefitters Local 441Wichita

READER VIEWS ON CEOS AND UNIONSWichita Eagle Opinion, Friday, March 20, 2009, pg 6A

Give Union a ShareGreedy CEOs and high rollers have finally come to light for everyone to see. Not too long ago, I read a ReaderViews letter saying that CEOs deserve their massive bonuses and pay and that union workers are greedy. Well,I am a union worker who does fight to receive a living wage. If my union was in fact greedy, I can assure you Iwould not be part of it. Am I greedy just because I would like a wage that allows me to raise my children andsend them to school? They’ll have to pay for college, as I don’t have that kind of money.I’m not saying that CEOs may not deserve good wages or bonuses. I just ask that blue-collar workers get a fairshare. If there is enough money being made that CEOs can give themselves and the board members massivebonuses, why not give a speck of that to the workers? Unions make concessions when a company is goingthrough hard times, but there’s something just not right when the big boys are still giving themselves raisesand bonuses.SHAWN SCHOENTHALERDouglass

Pro-union students at WichitaState University are planning anarray of exciting events for the2009 Student Labor Week ofAction.In 2008, WSU students partici-pated in the national campaignorganized by Jobs with Justice forthe first time.Students will be asked to sign a“Support Workers’ Rights,”banner, to take the “tomatochallenge”to learn what Florida farm workersexperience, and experience the“Student Debt Machine.”Wichita/Hutchinson LaborFederation Director Jake Lowenwill be the featured speaker at aforum on April 2.New this year is a labor filmfestival. From Monday, March 30,through Friday, April 3, the WSUStudent Labor Action Week willfeature documentaries about thelabor movement.A differentlabor-themedfilm will beshown atnoon eachday in theRhatiganStudentCenter.

WSU Student Labor Week of Action:Labor Film Series, Worker Support KeyBy Stuart Elliott, Webmaster, www.KSworkbeat.org

Monday, March 30:Viva La CausaTuesday, March 31:Mother JonesWednesday, April 1:At the River I Stand (Mar-tin Luther King, Jr. andthe Memphis SanitationWorkers Strike)Thursday, April 2:Sacco and VanzetiFriday, April 3:Film- Mardi Gras:Made in ChinaThe Student Labor Week ofAction will begin on Friday,March 27, with a “Supportworkers’ rights” bannercreated with paint andmarkers.Chris Hicks, a WSU politicalscience major said, “We aremaking a large banner that reads“Support Workers’ Rights” andwhich will feature current state andnational issues, like increasing theKansas minimum wage andpassing the Employee Free ChoiceAct. Our hand prints on thebanner symbolize the workersusing their hands. We will havestudents sign this outside the

student union,and also askstudents tosign postcardssupporting theEmployee FreeChoice Act.”On Sunday,March 29, thestudents willbe part of theCesar ChavezCelebration atEvergreen CityHall from 3-5p.m.

The celebration will featureWichita Premiere of the Documen-tary Film “Viva La Causa: TheStory of Cesar Chavez and a GreatMovement for Social Justice” plusmusic and refreshments!On Tuesday, March 31, the focuswill be on supporting farm

workers. This date is targeted by isthe Student Farmworker Alliance,which is an active partner of theStudent Labor Action Project.Axel Chacon, President of theWSU Young Democratic Socialistssaid, “We had a great response tothis last year and because we haveso many new members we decidedto do it one more time so theycould be part of it. We will havetwo buckets filled with red waterballoons that weigh 32 pounds,and students will have to run the150 feet and back holding thebucket and then we will pay themthe average 45 centsfor doing this.We have also set upa meeting withSODEXO, WSU’sfood-serviceprovider that theCoalition ofImmokalee Workersis now targeting.”Jackie Sewell, anactivist with YDS,said, “We arestarting Thursday offby renting two cash cube moneymachines (the glass boxes youstand in while money blowsaround and you have to grab asmuch as you can in a minute) andinstead of filling it with money, weare printing our own “StudentDebt” that looks like money andhave students grab as much as

they can. To make sure there isincentive for them to do it, we will

throw in a fewrandom slips thatsay “Collect 1dollar.” We will thenhave students sign apetition in supportof the currentproposed tuitionfreeze proposed byour Board ofRegents and ifthey’d like to co-sign a letter to the

President of our University we willlet them.”On Thursday evening, JakeLowen, Political Director of theWichita/Hutchinson LaborFederation will present a work-shop that focuses around theEmployee Free Choice Act andanswers the question of whyunions matter.

Chris Hicks, WSU YDS

Axel Chacon, President of WSU YDS,at October 2008 NAFTA protest

Jackie Sewell, WSU YDS

The Tomato Carry event demonstrates farm workers’ plights.Buckets are filled with red water balloons and students carrythe 32-pound buckets over a course and are “paid” 45 cents

for their labor.

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