USW Local 2-232

formerly PACE 7-232

Representing  employees at Briggs & Stratton Corp. and Strattec Security Corp. in Milwaukee, WI

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March Membership Meeting Recap

By Scott Godshaw

          The membership meetings were held on March 22, 2001 at 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. sharp, respectively at the AMF Bowlero.

          A motion was made under application for membership and 4 members were accepted unanimously by membership. Fue Yang (who was present), Lynn Mahutga, Brandon Hakenson and Paul Klahn were the new members.

Reports

          Ralph Schwieger read the Trustee report at both meetings. Joe Chambers, in his Financial Secretary-Treasurer report, said there were 2,050 dues paying members at Briggs and 375 dues paying members at Strattec for a total of 2,425 in February.

Communications

          There was a take note that a town hall meeting will be held on March 28th at 5:00 p.m. at the Washington Park Senior Center. A panel of local elected officials, including AFL-CIO Vice President Linda Chavez-Thompson, to hear what issues are important to working families and what do you expect from your elected officials.

          The Wisconsin Labor History Society will be holding their 20th annual conference on Saturday, May 5, 2001 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum. It is entitled redbaiting and blacklisting – McCarthyism and its impact on the labor and civil rights movements after World War II. The cost is $20.00 and the Local will reimburse anyone that attends.

          Milwaukee County Labor Council and Union Community Activist Network (U-CAN) will be holding a program entitled “Good Jobs in Milwaukee: Understanding and Changing the Local Economy”. The program will run for 6 consecutive Thursdays beginning April 5th and run through May 10th at the GCIU Building, 633 S. Hawley Rd. The cost is $45.00 and if you successfully complete the course, the Local will reimburse you.

          AFL-CIO Community Services will be holding their 12th annual Health & Hygiene Drive (see Article, page 4 in this issue). A motion recommended by the Executive Board was passed to send a $100.00 donation to this worthwhile cause. The donation helps to purchase hygiene items in bulk for shelters.

          On April 28th, Workers Memorial Day again will be held. A motion (recommended by the Executive Board) was made and passed to purchase 500 black ribbons with 500 stickers and an additional 1,000 stickers for a total cost of $210.00 to commemorate this special day, this year entitled “Mourn the Dead and Fight for the Living, Stop the Pain”.

          The Wisconsin State AFL-CIO will be holding their legislative conference in Madison on April 24-25. A motion (Executive Board recommended) was made and passed to send Paul Mueller from Strattec to join Colin Campbell and Mike Merrill, who were approved last month to attend this conference.

          Under reports of officials, President Greg Gorecki reported on the election results (see Page 1) and why one name was absent from the ballot. He also reported on Strattec’s up-coming negotiations and their new organizational structure. Other updates and reports were given by Grievance Representatives Karl Schneider, John Nalepinski and Mike Merrill and Strattec Bargaining Committee members, Al Belanger and Dennis Nowak.

Four Motions to Address

          Four motions were properly turned in to myself, the Recording Secretary, prior to the 12:30 p.m. meeting. The motions all came from Strattec members so President Gorecki ruled only Strattec members would vote.

          The first motions dealt with the Apprenticeship Program at Strattec. Due to discretion, I will not get into the exact nature of these motions. However, the first one passed and the second one did not. The third motion, which proposed allowing non elected members to observe Strattec Negotiations, President Gorecki ruled out of order due to the fact that our bylaws are quite clear on the make up of the Bargaining Committee.