Sunday August 17

is the first annual Local Lodge 743 summer party. Too often we immerse ourselves in work related activities and

forget how to get together and just have fun! This is a great opportunity to kick-start a real sense of solidarity and ca-maraderie between all of our union sisters and brothers. Every member of Local Lodge 743 is welcome, along

with their spouse and children. There is less than two weeks left until party time so seek out your union rep and get your tickets! Plenty of food, fun, sports and music await you! This is a big step in the right direction by our new leadership. We need to support these types of events if you want to see more of them! Hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken, salads, soda and lots of fun. Where can you get all that for $5.00? Hope to see you on the 17th! BYOB.

Local 743 Picnic By Karen Blanchard

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

AUGUST, 2003

The UNION NEWS IAM Local Lodge 743 Newsletter

IAM LODGE 743

Local 743 Picnic 1

Tribute to GLR Kevin Pope

1

Union Dues 2

Member Profile Charles Spinelli

2

Overtime at Risk 3

Safety Report 4

Unemployment Stamps 4

The Union Label 3

INS IDE THIS ISSUE:

“There is no substitute in a free society for collective bargaining” LOCAL 743

http://LL743.goiam.org

August 10, 2003

At 10 AM 2 Concord

Way

Grand Lodge Representative Kevin Pope Will be Missed By Mark Hebert On July 14 the IAM and the Eastern Territory lost a great leader. Kevin Pope joined Local Lodge 1871 in 1969 while employed at General Dynamics. In 1981 he was elected Directing Busi-ness Representat ive of Local Lodge1871, appointed special represen-tative in 1987 and then Grand Lodge Representative in 1990. Kevin’s current assignment was servicing District 26 and Local Lodge 743. Kevin was a true friend and supporter of Local 743 and was always there when we needed him. In our last negotiations he was instru-mental in winning back the “overtime after 8 hour” language, getting the “alternative work week” off the table, and helped our membership keep health care costs to a bare minimum. Kevin’s

hard work and sincere dedication to our members will be missed greatly. On behalf of Local Lodge 743 and its members, we extend our sincere condo-lences to his wife Donna, and family.

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2 PAGE 2

I often hear people complain about their union dues. They don’t understand why they go up, or why they pay so much, or who decides how much they have to pay. This article is intended to briefly explain why your dues may increase, and where your money goes. The amount of dues you pay is determined by the IAMAW Constitution Article I, Section 8: “The minimum monthly dues to be paid by mem-bers shall be no less than two times the average hourly earnings, or $12.00, whichever is greater. The dues shall be adjusted on January 1 of each year, and shall be based on the hourly earnings in effect on the preceding 31st day of August.” Your union dues are dispersed to five different groups. Of your $48.72 paid each month: $19.60 goes to the IAMAW, $7.85 to IAM District 26, $0.66 to CT. AFL-CIO, $0.55 to the CT. State Council of Machinists.

The remaining $20.06 goes directly to Local 743. These organizations receiving a portion of our union dues provide us with the support and services we need to fight for our rights as IAM Members. Our support groups are up against corporate and government interests who seem to have an endless supply of money when it comes to waging war on the interests of working Americans. The reason union dues may need to increase is basic. A strong and normal growing economy is one that inflates in value. Our negotiated wage increases enable us to keep up with an inflating economy. Just as we need raises to sustain our way of living, the organizations that support us also require an occa-sional increase in funding to ensure we don’t lose ground. Each time your dues go up, that means the aver-age hourly wage has increased. It also means that more funds are going to the important organizations that are fighting for our interests as IAM members.

When Charlie Spinelli joined his high school’s rifle team in 1957, his team-mates quickly started noticing the team’s over-all average score going up. In the 1960’s, shooting in the Industrial League, Charlie

achieved the “Highest Average Competitor” for the Brookhaven National Laboratory Pistol Team. In the 70’s and 80’s, Charlie was proving his ex-pertise with 22 and 45 caliber pistols as a member of the Connecticut State Pistol Team. In 2000, he won the Senior State Indoor Championship with a 22-caliber pistol and for 20 years, from 1980 to

2000, he held the highest average of any shooter on his team. Today you’ll find Mr. Spinelli target shooting in Police and Military Style Competitions and the Bull’s-eye Competition as a member of the Metro-politan League of Hartford. In addition to these highly specialized shooting techniques, Charlie also enjoys participating in the “Cowboy Style Competition”. This is a competition using a single-shot, Colt-style 45 caliber pistol all while riding his horse, Chief (like his heroes, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry). Charlie is an NRA certified pistol and rifle instructor, and an avid motorcycle rider, having visited all of the lower 48 states. He works in the Electrical Fabrication Lab and has been the Shop Steward in Space Land and Sea for 13 years.

Member Profile: Charles Spinelli By Steve Pouech

Union Dues: Why They Increase and Where They Go By Gary Pierkowski

THE UNION NEWS PAGE 3

Why Look For The Union-Made Label? AFL-CIO.org

Talking Points on the Comp Time Bill AFL-CIO.org

· We understand and support workers' desire for more work-family flexibility. Working families are under a lot more pressure than in the past. Workers want more flexibility and choice when it comes to balancing their work and family lives. We recognize the need for new ar-rangements in the workplace. · But we have real concerns about abuses by employers. Fair overtime compensation is a basic em-ployee right. True flexibility can only ex-ist when workers have a real right to choose how they'll be compensated. While workers want more flexibility and choice when it comes to balancing their work and family lives, they're concerned about los-ing income and worried about losing con-trol over their schedules. · The Republican bills introduced don't represent flexibility for workers. These bills aren't about flexibility for employees. They're about flexibility for employers. For example, employers maintain ultimate control over when to grant their workers comp time -- and no matter how far ahead of time an employee puts in for comp time, an employer can deny the use of comp time if it claims the firm would be "unduly disrupted." And, under the Senate bill, overtime wouldn't begin until an employee had worked 80 hours in two weeks.

· The Republican bills don't expand Family and Medical Leave benefits. If they want to ease the burden on working families, they should increase family and medical leave bene-fits. That would give workers the flexibility they need

to balance work and family -- with no loss of income or control over their schedules. · Polling data on how people feel. By nearly three to one, most working Americans prefer to be paid for overtime in money, not comp time. (By 64 percent to 22 percent, according to a poll of registered voters that Peter Hart Research Associates conducted last spring.) By a 48 percent to 27 percent margin, those polled believe employers would coerce workers to take comp time vs. employees having a real choice. Young voters and em-ployees actually eligible for overtime felt

ever more strongly. Among young voters, it was 63 percent to 27 percent. Among employees eligible for overtime it was 57 percent to 25 percent. And working women with children said so by 57 percent to 17 percent. Overall, 71 percent have big concerns about coercion. Log on and take action before its too late.

www.unionvoice.org/campaign/senateOTrider

The "Union Label" on a product, the "Union Shop Card" or the "Union Store Card" placard in a place of business, the "Service Button" worn or exhibited to solicit patronage for union establishments or union members -- all signify quality products and services. Moreover, these symbols of quality demonstrate that the union employees who make the product or provide the service are skilled workers who are treated fairly and decently by their employers. These symbols of quality are found everywhere -- from washing machines to baked goods, from shoes to sky-scrapers, from clothing to barber shops. The union label shows that labor and management have signed a binding contract, with each side guaranteeing their best -- their best work, their best

compensation, their best benefits and their best safety. It's a "win-win" arrangement for everyone -- labor, management, consumers and the community, where the economy benefits from the paychecks and taxes of well-paid workers. So, look for the Union Label whenever and wherever you shop!

Union Label Week September 1-6

Local 743 Executive Board

Mark Hebert - President

Mike Walsh - Vice President

Tony Walter - Recording Secretary

Mike Gonzales - Secretary/ Treasurer

Clyde Gould - Trustee

Tom Cosker - Trustee

Glen Garfield - Trustee

Paul Duff - Conductor/Sentinel

Mark Hebert - Shop Committee

Tony Walter - Shop Committee

Charles Spinelli - Shop Committee

Ken Wilson - Shop Committee

Jacqueline Bond - Shop Committee

Newsletter Editors:

Gary Pierkowski & Steve Pouech

LOCAL LODGE 743 International Association

of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

Concorde West Professional Center

2 Concorde Way, Bldg. 4.

P.O. Box 3218

Windsor Locks, CT 06096

(860) 292-8577 Fax (860) 292-8506

Did you know that Metal Removal Fluids (MRFs), can cause cold or flu like symptoms? The respiratory effects of breathing MRF mist are not entirely understood, but recent studies done at GM and Ford Motor plants by the UAW and NIOSH ( National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health ) show that MRF mist can cause irrita-tion of the eyes, nose, and upper air-ways. The studies also show that groups working in MRF environments, have higher rates of respiratory symp-toms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath, than comparison groups. Although not all individuals exposed to MRF develop such respira-tory symptoms, it is important to main-tain the MRF in your machine tool to reduce health risks and prolong the life of the MRF. Some of the simple things you can do are: 1. Avoid breathing vapors or mist. 2. Keep MRF as free from contamina-tion as possible. 3. Don't allow coolant to puddle and stagnate.

4. FIX OIL LEAKS! Keep oil skimmed from top of coolant as much as possi-ble. The importance of this cannot be overstated. 5. Maintain concentration levels. 6. Keep MRF filtration and chip re-moval systems working properly. 7. Use only as much coolant flow as needed. 8. Turning and grinding machines should have a mist collector. Also for your own personal protection you should always keep MRF off the skin, away from your eyes, and avoid breathing MRF mist whenever possible. Change work gloves often, especially if they get wet! Report any skin or respiratory irritation to your supervisor and medical personnel immediately. If you have any difficulty resolving MRF maintenance issues ask to speak with your Union Safety Representative. After all it's your own health!

Safety Report By Pat McCann

Unemployment stamps are issued for the purpose of aiding members to main-tain their good standing in the IAMAW. The unemployment stamp option works as follows: If you are out of work for the major-ity of the regular working days of any given month and you suffer a total or proportionate loss of earnings due to sickness or disability, furlough or lay-off, but not vacation, you are entitled to an unemployment stamp for that month at the cost of $2.00, and thereby ex-cused from payment of regular dues. For example, if you had worked 11 or 12 regular working days, (depending on the major portion of working days in

the month that you were out), you must pay full dues for that month. The set monthly dues rate for 2003 is $48.72. The matter of reporting your request for unemployment stamps is entirely the responsibility of the member. To do so, just call the local at (860)292-8577 and request to have a form mailed to you, or you may pick the form up at the union hall. When you return to work check your dues deduction on your payroll stub. If you feel your dues deductions are in-correct please call the union hall and ask to speak to the Secretary-Treasurer to request a refund.

We are on the web at

LL743.GOIAM.ORG

Unemployment Stamps By Mike Gonzales

270 Days Remaining

Until your Contract Expires. Are You Prepared?

Plan Ahead, Start your strike fund today.

“The Labor Movement...The Folks That Brought You The Weekend”