plaindealerVol. 91 Issue 12 “A Voice for Working Kansans since 1919” September 2009th

eThe PlainDealer

(316) 529-8513 3830 S. Meridian Ave.

Wichita, KS 67217–3704

IN THIS ISSUE...Top Five Health Care Reform Lies —3

Sometimes All You Have to Do is Ask —4Bill Hourigan: Organizing the Angels —5

USPS: Postal Service in Peril —8

longer carry the stigma of having the lowest minimum wage in the nation. This was a tremendous ac-complishment that would not have been possible without the leader-ship and commitment of organized labor. These accomplishments serve to demonstrate that despite the

Labor Day is the time set aside each year to celebrate the value of American workers and their contribution to our nation. Unfor-tunately, too many workers this year are hard pressed to fi nd much worth celebrating. Record high layoffs and unemployment rates around the country are hitting workers and their families hard. It’s something I see every day. The number of individuals entering the unemployment system has been growing at an alarming rate. For the fi rst six months of this year the number of initial unemployment claims totaled 147,558 – more than 120 percent from the same time a year ago when initial claims

totaled 66,334. And the people who enter the unemployment system are typically staying in the system longer. The total weeks for which compensation was paid in June of 2009 increased by more than 220 percent compared to the same time a year earlier.It’s times like these when it becomes clear just how vital programs like unemployment compensation are to our nation. Not only do the dollars paid out in unemployment benefi ts help keep families afl oat, they also help keep our economy afl oat. In June, we paid out $78 million in unem-ployment benefi ts to out-of-work Kansans. That’s $78 million that would not have been circulating in our economy were it not for the unemployment compensation program. Because of this program, we’re not likely to see the level of devastation so many families ex-perienced the last time economic conditions were this bad.We fi nd ourselves living through the worst economic period since the Great Depression, and it’s kind of hard to focus on the positive. But please let me mention a couple of accomplishments worth celebrating this Labor Day. In the last legislative session, we were able to lead an effort to improve our laws related to unem-ployment compensation. Effective Jan. 1, 2010, an alternative wage base period will be available for determining eligibility, allowing more people at the lowest income levels to be eligible for the protec-tion provided by unemployment compensation.Another provision of the legisla-tion allows for an extension of unemployment benefi ts for those who are enrolled and making good progress in approved training courses. This will help ensure more un-employed workers can complete training courses that will qualify them for skilled jobs which will be more likely to keep them off the

unemployment rolls for the long term. Last but not least, a major vic-tory from the last session was the result of a successful effort led by organized labor raising our state’s minimum wage to a level equal to the federal minimum wage. As of Jan. 1, 2010, Kansas will no

Statement from Jim Garner, Kansas Secretary of Labor:State of Labor in State of Kansas

challenges we face, there are still opportu-nities to make improvements in our state. And that is cause for celebration.I wish you and your families a safe and happy Labor Day.

September 20092 — The PlainDealer

Enjoy your Union-negotiated holidays!

The NLRB: POLICING Repeat Offenders with a Water Pistol Written by Erin Johansson, July 08, 2009 As a mother I’ve learned that regardless of his repeated assurances, my toddler will only stop harassing his little brother when there are real consequences to his misbehavior (i.e., no more train video). Yet when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charged Consolidated Biscuit with illegally harassing its union supporters–despite the company’s pledge to stop in two previous settlements—the agency didn’t provide any real consequences. Rather than pursuing an injunction and contempt-of-court charges against the company to prevent further violations, they decided to negotiate yet another settlement. This milquetoast response to a habitual union-buster illustrates why we need the Employee Free Choice Act, which would increase penalties for unlawful employers, and require the use of injunctions to curb employers’ bad behavior when there’s reasonable cause to believe that someone’s rights have been violated. Consolidated Biscuit’s case began with a 2002 NLRB election during which the McComb, OH, baking company illegally intimated workers into voting against union representation, though a majority had initially signed authorization cards with the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers union. After the election, the company continued to harass and fi re union supporters, despite two settlements and a 2004 administrative law judge ruling against it, which was upheld by a 2006 Labor Board ruling and a subsequent federal circuit court decision. When the NLRB Region 8 offi ce charged Consolidated Biscuit with more illegal activity in 2009 and sought a settlement, the union objected, urging the agency to pursue a tougher remedy and noting that “it is a sign of in-sanity to keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result.”* The case is now pending in the NLRB offi ce in Washington, DC. Right now, the law leaves workers completely vulnerable when they try to form unions. If they stick their necks out, they could face harassment and termination by their employers and receive little to no protection from the government. The Employee Free Choice Act would create real consequences for companies that break the law, and ensure that the NLRB fully utilizes all the enforcement tools at its disposal. *Letter from William Fadel of Wuliger, Fadel & Beyer, written on behalf of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and Grain Millers union, to National Labor Relations Board Region 8, 10 June 2009.

The PlainDealer — 3September 2009

HAPPY LABOR DAY to the folks who keep this country going!

The Plaindealer (ISSN 0898-4360)Periodicals Postage Paid at Wichita, KS POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Plaindealer3830 S. Meridian Ave. Wichita, KS 67217–3704(316) 529-8513Melanie Jenney, Editoremail: ThePlainDealer@D70iam.orgBoard 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 15th of each month. Subscription rates are $15 per year. Special rates available to union members and locals subscribing as a body.Founded in 1919 by Tom Tilma, the Plaindealer is the offi cial publication of the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, and covers news of interest to working people.Story suggestions and letters to the editor should be sent to the PlainDealer at 3830 S. Meridian Ave., Wichita, KS 67217–3704; by email to theplaindealer@d70iam.org, or call (316) 529–8513 with your ideas. To be considered for publication, letters to the editor must be signed and include the author’s telephone number. Views expressed in letters to the editor are not necessarily the views of the Plaindealer, its Board of Directors or affi liated unions.Published monthly by Plaindealer Publish-ing, Inc. at 3830 S. Meridian Ave., Wichita, KS, 67217.

Top Five Health Care Reform LiesLie #1: President Obama wants to euthanize your grandma!!!The truth: These accusations-of "death panels" and forced euthanasia-are, of course, fl atly untrue. As an article from the Associated Press puts it: "No 'death panel' in health care bill."4 What's the real deal? Reform legislation includes a provision, supported by the AARP, to offer senior citizens access to a professional medical counselor who will provide them with information on preparing a living will and other issues facing older Ameri-cans.5 Lie #2: Democrats are going to outlaw private insurance and force you into a government plan!!!The truth: With reform, choices will increase, not decrease. Obama's reform plans will create a health insurance exchange, a one-stop shopping marketplace for affordable, high-quality insurance options.6 Included in the exchange is the public health insurance option-a nationwide plan with a broad network of providers-that will operate alongside private insurance companies, injecting competition into the market to drive quality up and costs down.7If you're happy with your coverage and doctors, you can keep them.8 But the new public plan will expand choices to millions of businesses or indi-viduals who choose to opt into it, including many who simply can't afford health care now. Lie #3: President Obama wants to implement Soviet-style rationing!!! The truth: Health care reform will expand access to high-quality health insurance, and give individuals, families, and businesses more choices for coverage. Right now, big corporations decide whether to give you coverage, what doctors you get to see, and whether a particular procedure or medicine is covered-that is rationed care. And a big part of reform is to stop that. Health care reform will do away with some of the most nefarious aspects of this rationing: discrimination for pre-existing conditions, insurers that cancel coverage when you get sick, gender discrimination, and lifetime and yearly limits on coverage.9 And outside of that, as noted above, reform will increase insurance options, not force anyone into a rationed situation. Lie #4: Obama is secretly plotting to cut senior citizens’ Medicare benefi ts!!!The truth: Health care reform plans will not reduce Medicare benefi ts.10 Reform includes savings from Medicare that are unrelated to patient care-in fact, the savings comes from cutting billions of dollars in overpayments to insurance companies and eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse.11Lie #5: Obama's health care plan will bankrupt America!!!The truth: We need health care reform now in order to prevent bankruptcy-to control spiraling costs that affect individuals, families, small busi-nesses, and the American economy.Right now, we spend more than $2 trillion dollars a year on health care.12 The average family premium is projected to rise to over $22,000 in the next decade13-and each year, nearly a million people face bankruptcy because of medical expenses.14 Reform, with an affordable, high-quality public option that can spur competition, is necessary to bring down skyrocketing costs. Also, President Obama's reform plans would be fully paid for over 10 years and not add a penny to the defi cit.15We're closer to real health care reform than we've ever been — and the next few weeks will decide whether it happens. We need to make sure the truth about health care reform is spread far and wide to combat right wing lies.P.S. Want more? Check out this great new White House "Reality Check" website: http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/ or this excellent piece from Health Care for America Now on some of the most outrageous lies: www.moveon.org/r?r=51729&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=1Sources:1. "More 'Town Halls Gone Wild': Angry Far Right Protesters Disrupt Events With 'Incomprehensible' Yelling," Think Progress, August 4, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51733&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=22. "Fight the smears," Health Care for America NOW, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51729&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=33. "Palin Paints Picture of 'Obama Death Panel' Giving Thumbs Down to Trig," ABC News, August 7, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51728&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=44. "No 'death panel' in health care bill," The Associated Press, August 10, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51747&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=55. "Stop Distorting the Truth about End of Life Care," The Huffi ngton Post, July 24, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51730&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=66. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 11, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#i17. "Why We Need a Public Health-Care Plan," The Wall Street Journal, June 24, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51737&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=78. "Obama: 'If You Like Your Doctor, You Can Keep Your Doctor,'" The Wall Street Journal, 15, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51736&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=89. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#r110. "Obama: No reduced Medicare benefi ts in health care reform," CNN, July 28, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51748&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=911. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#s112. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#c113. "Premiums Run Amok," Center for American Progress, July 24, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51667&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=1014. "Medical bills prompt more than 60 percent of U.S. bankruptcies," CNN, June 5, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51735&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=1115. "Reality Check FAQs," WhiteHouse.gov, accessed August 10, 2009. http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq#c1

Sources for the Five Lies:#1: "A euthanasia mandate," The Washington Times, July 29, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51732&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=12#2: "It's Not An Option," Investor's Business Daily, July 15, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51743&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=13#3: "Rationing Health Care," The Washington Times, April 21, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51742&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=14#4: "60 Plus Ad Is Chock Full Of Misinformation," Media Matters for America, August 8, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51734&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=15#5: "Obama's 'Public' Health Plan Will Bankrupt the Nation," The National Review, May 13, 2009. http://www.moveon.org/r?r=51744&id=16778-9483026-RYJsu4x&t=16

Union Plus Scholarship

ProgramSince 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has

awarded more than $2.4 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue

their post-secondary education. Over 1,700 families have

benefi ted from this commitment to higher education. The Union Plus Scholarship Program is

offered through the Union Plus Education Foundation.The 2010 scholarship

application is available for download at www.unionplus.

org/statics/0000/2935/up-schol-arship-application-static.pdf

Deadline: All applications must be

postmarked by Jan. 30, 2010.

September 20094 — The PlainDealer

Enjoy your Union-negotiated holidays!

Sometimes all you have to do is ask.Melanie,On July 31, 2009, I sent an email to the Offi ce of the Governor of Hawaii and to the Liai-son offi ce of the Governor. Below is a copy of that email and of the response. On August 3, 2009, I received a reply to my question about President Obama’s birth certifi cate from the Governor’s Liaison offi ce. The attachment is the content of the link provided to hawaii.gov/health. I send this information to you as an answer to the question. All it took was an email to the Offi ce of the Governor of Hawaii. You may want to publish this information to help set the record straight and to counter the false information being spread by the losers of the 2008 presidential election.Gene GarmanMember, Plumbers and Pipefi tters Local Union 441, WichitaPittsburg, KS

-------- Original Message --------Laurie Yoshida:Does President Obama have an offi cial record of birth in Hawaii?Thank you,Gene GarmanPittsburg, KS

-------- Reply Message --------Subject: Re: President ObamaDate: Mon, 3 Aug 2009 09:54:47 -1000From: Laurie.Yoshida@hawaii.govTo: Gene Garman <ggarman@sunnetworks.net>

Yes he does. This link is to the statement from the Director of Health.http://hawaii.gov/health/about/pr/2009/09-063.pdfLaurie********************************************************Laurie L. K. Yoshida, Kaua`i LiaisonOffi ce of the Governor3060 Eiwa St., Room 106Lihue, HI 96766

Book-signing and Talk with Author Tom Frank at Watermark Books & Cafe!Wednesday, Sept. 16th, 7 p.m.Author of the popular political bestseller What’s the Matter with Kansas?, Thomas Frank will return to Watermark on Sept. 16 for a talk and signing to mark the paperback release of his follow-up bestseller The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Ruined Government, Enriched Themselves, and Beggared the Nation.Frank is founding editor of the The Baffl er, a contributing editor at Harper’s, a weekly columnist for The Wall Street Journal, a guest col-umnist for The New York Times, and he blogs at the Huffi ngton Post. In The Wrecking Crew, he combines historical research, criticism, interpretation, and po-litical polemic to argue and augury on the state of the nation.The Wrecking Crew is available now in hardcover and will be released in paperback on August 18.To pre-order the book or to have a copy held and signed for you, please call Watermark at (316) 682-1181.

The PlainDealer — 5September 2009

HAPPY LABOR DAY to the folks who keep this country going!

Organizing the Angels:Remembering Bill Hourigan Cessna Aircraft Shop Steward, Passed Away April 2008By Tammy Hourigan, Second Shift Plant Chair, Cessna AircraftI remember a funny story I wish to share with you. When Bill was very ill and in the hospital he was still trying to organize. The nurses taking care of him were all working long days. Many of them worked 12-hour shifts and were then required to stay longer until someone could come and replace them. Most of them were also working seven days a week. You would think that they would have decent healthcare, but they do not. Bill would hold little meetings with the staff and give them his points of view on belonging to a Union.Bill’s sister is a nurse and a family discussion was always part of a family visit. She would try to tell him that belonging to a Union would go against the oath she had taken as a nurse. She believed that in order to belong to a Union you would have to be willing to go on strike, and she would not want to leave her patients with no care. He would then explain to her how that was not the only option to negotiating. In his own way he would tell them every day that they needed to organize. They needed to organize to give their children a better way of life. They needed to organize in order to give themselves a better way of life. He became the patient known as the Union Man. When he passed away one of his friends commented that now Bill was in heaven organizing the Angels.That was a memory… As will our Union be if we do not organize. We need to remind non-members every day just what is at stake. We need to leave this world a better place than we found it for our children. If we continue to lose members, we will be the fi rst generation to do so. If we continue to sit and do nothing, then nothing will get done. Someone else cannot keep doing our jobs. Every member should be talking to their co-workers every day, reminding them how important their member-ship is, how important their benefi ts are and what is at stake. With new contract negotiations all over town, now is the time to let our Companies see our strength. In times like these the importance of organizing within our worksites is vital to the survival of our Union. With the loss of thousands of jobs here in Wichita and millions nationally, we as a Union fi nd ourselves once again fi ghting for the very things that our forefathers fought for. The outsourcing of our jobs to other coun-tries just so other workers can be exploited needs to stop. We need to fi ght harder for our jobs to remain in the United States. Please fi nd a moment in your day to talk with a family member, co-worker, friend or neighbor about the im-portance of joining the Union. Let’s make this a better world for everyone.

Letter to the editor:Don’t put contractors on city trade boardsWichita Eagle, Wed., August 12, 2009, Opinion Page 7AWichita City Council member Paul Gray recently proposed adding two general contractors to the plumbing, electrical and mechani-cal trade boards of appeals, even though there are no builders involved in most of the trades’ work.These trades require at least two years of practical experience before taking an examination. The contractors have no experi-ence requirement. This often results in tensions between the trades’ goal of installing systems correctly and the builders’ need to make a profi t.Making the opposition part of a board may bring more diversity of opinion, but does it best serve the public interest? Should we have two members opposed to historic preservation serving on that board? Two members opposed to libraries serving on the library board? Opponents of the arts on their boards? Park op-ponents on the park board?Diversity and opposition are not interchangeable.LONNY WRIGHT, Wichita

September 20096 — The PlainDealer

Enjoy your Union-negotiated holidays!

Direct PipelinePLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS LU441

Richard L. Taylor, Business Manager and Financial Secretary-Treasurer

LocallyAs we enjoy the Labor Day holiday with family and friends, keep in mind our Broth-ers and Sisters that have sacrifi ced in the past for the wages, benefi ts, and working conditions we now sometimes take for granted. These have all been gained over the years through tough negotiations and the dedication of the membership to apply their skills and abilities to a trade that demands craftsmanship, quality, and effi ciency. For many of our members this has been a diffi cult year with extended unemploy-ment and generally less hours worked overall. As the economy starts to slowly turn around and the job opportunities start to increase, we will be prepared to represent our industry with the expertise that has been gained and passed down through the many generations that have come before us. We will continue to move ahead and evolve to meet the needs of our contrac-tors and the industry through collaboration, measured progress, and research into best practices that can be integrated into our local union and training programs as we seek to remain viable in this competitive market. We have golf balls, tee shirts, and hats. Come by and get outfi tted 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 Alvin L. Frasier, 68, Retired Refrigeration Fitter, residing in Wichita, KS, passed away on August 5, 2009. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

PoliticalThere is not much activity on the local political front. The gubernatorial race for next year has still not produced a candidate for the Democratic ticket. We continue to monitor this progress. We will continue to build a long-lasting establishment in the political arena of our jurisdiction. We feel that it is critical to maintain a presence politically so that when issues arise; the local will already have an established voice that will be heard. Thank you to all Local 441 members for your support both through your participation in the PAC fund and your involvement and support with various political groups.

MeetingsLocal Union 441 meetings are being conducted on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Union Hall located at 1330 East First Street in Wichita. If other meetings are scheduled, you will be duly notifi ed. NOTE: We have recently upgraded our system used to teleconference the monthly Union meetings. Please take the opportunity to attend a meeting in your area. The new system has much better sound and video quality and is being provided at no additional cost to Local 441.

Retirees ClubThe next Retirees meetings will be Sept. 2, Oct. 7 and Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Hall. Please come and join us!Breakfast is the second Wednesday at 9 a.m. We meet at Spears Restaurant, 4323 W. Maple, from January through November. All retired members and their fami-lies are invited to join us. Come enjoy the fellowship!For more information, call Jim Wilbert at 722-6859.

Richard Taylor

At the Rail Column by Martin Hawver 7/27/09There’s an interesting little phenomenon crop-ping up in Kansas politics: The birth of political action committees that you can’t tell what or whom they are for or against.

For people who follow politics closely—closely enough to wonder who is for or against a candidate—the political action committees that con-tribute to the campaign is a tipoff of just who the candidate’s friends are.The whole idea of a political action committee is that it allows people to come together and pool their money to support candidates they believe will support issues that the contributors are interested in. It’s giving campaign money to folks who will help you—and a PAC has the ability to give enough money pooled from its contributors to infl uence candi-dates to support the PAC’s interests.That’s why businesses, doctors, lawyers, unions, homebuilders, nearly every specifi c interest group has a PAC in Kansas to support its favorite candidates.Know a candidate’s friends and you know something about the candi-date. Your mother told you that: You know a person by the friends he/she keeps, or maybe by the friends who give a candidate campaign money.Well, now comes the tricky part. Those PACs are required by state law to fi le reports with the Secretary of State’s offi ce that help people fi nd out what the PAC is about, requiring a name that refl ects the “trade, profession or primary interest of the committee.”So, when the Moving Kansas Forward PAC listed its primary interest as “promoting the election of responsible public servants,” the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission wondered whether that tells people anything. Probably not.Now, Moving Kansas Forward is a good idea, of course. But how do you do that? That’s what has Ethics apprehensive.If you organized “Mother’s Love” or “Gracefully Balding” or “Cute, But Not Smart” PACs, who gets the money, and what sort of public policy is the PAC trying to encourage? Hmmm…Yes, there’s a purpose for naming a PAC so you can tell what it is for or against, and even if the name is tricky, somewhere the PAC probably ought to say what it wants elected government offi cials to do or not do.A little thing? Maybe, but probably something that Ethics ought to fi gure out a way to manage so we know who’s getting money from whom for what.Because nobody goes bald gracefully…Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. www.hawvernews.com

Bombardier Learjet Donates Award Proceeds of $10,000 to the United Way Laid-Off Workers FundBombardier Learjet in Wichita is donating proceeds of a $10,000 corporate award to the United Way Laid-Off Workers Fund. The local Bombardier Learjet Strategic Transformation Project won this year’s Annual Accomplishment Award for a Large Scope Initiative. This project was up against 71 other projects across Bombardier Aerospace. “We really appreciate Bombardier Learjet donating their award proceeds,” said Patrick J. Hanrahan, president of United Way of the Plains. “This will help us to continue to help laid-off workers in our community.”The donation will help United Way of the Plains continue to provide emergency fi nancial assistance to local laid-off workers through the Laid-Off Workers Center. United Way has provided $105,735 in fi nancial assis-tance to families during the Laid-Off Workers Center’s June and July sessions. Donations to the fund can be made by checks payable to “United Way Laid-Off Workers Fund” and mailed to United Way of the Plains, 245 N. Water, Wichita, KS 67202. Call toll-free 2-1-1 for more information.

The PlainDealer — 7September 2009

HAPPY LABOR DAY to the folks who keep this country going!

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

Thursday, September 3Operating Engineers LU101— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaSaturday, September 5Be sure to attend the Labor Day Picnic at the Machinists Hall, 3830 S. Meridian Ave.! Monday, September 7, is offi cial USA Labor DayTuesday, September 8APWU Local 735— Regular Meeting,8 a.m, 6920 W. Pueblo, WichitaMachinists 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, September 9IBEW Local 1523— Regular Meeting, 5:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, Wichita Machinists 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, September 10SPEEA— Midwest Council Meeting, 973 S. Glendale, WichitaWichita Area Union Label— E-board, 6:30 p.m.; Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.mSaturday, September 12Machinists LL639— E-board Meeting 8 a.m., Regular meeting 9 a.m.Machinists 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, WichitaMachinists LL733— E-Board at 12:30 p.m.; Regular Meeting at 2 p.m.Sunday, September 13The AFL-CIO Convention will convene at 3 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh and continue through Thursday, Sept. 17.

Monday, September 14NALC Branch 201— 7:30 p.m., NALC Br 201 Union Offi ce 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 & Pipefi tters LU441– Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 1330 E. 1st, WichitaTuesday, September 15CWA Local 6402— Membership Meeting, 6:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaWednesday, September 16SPEEA/IFPTE Local 2001— Governing Documents Committee, 5 p.m., 973 S. Glendale, WichitaThursday, September 17Salina Labor Federation— Regular Meeting, 7 p.m., 2055 S. Ohio, SalinaSteelworkers Local 13417— Regular Meeting, 7:30 p.m., 530 E. Harry, WichitaSaturday, September 19Machinists 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, September 21SPEEA/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, KSThursday, September 24Wichita Hutchinson Labor Fed— 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., 3219 W. Central Ave., WichitaDistrict 70 Retirees— Luncheon, 11:45 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, WichitaSaturday, September 26Graphics Union Local 575— 10 a.m., 3830 S. Meridian, Wichita

Postal Service in PerilThe Postal Service, facing a $7 billion defi cit this year and next, wants to restructure a required $5.4 billion payment for future health care costs or future retirees. It also wants to end Saturday service, close hundreds of post offi ces and fi re another 53,000 workers.Union leaders oppose those moves, support the restructuring, but say they will have to turn against that, too, if a Radical Right GOP add-on – drastically changing collective bargaining – survives.

ERA REINTRODUCED: Women’s rights groups re-introduced the Equal Rights Amendment, 27 years after it fell several states short of being added to the U.S. Constitution. The Coalition of Labor Union Women backs it.