Support the UE-GE Workers

We are publishing this letter from our brother and sisters from UE-GE workers in the United States. Please show support by sending your message of support.

In Solidarity,

International Department

Dear KMU,

As you may know, negotiations begin next week with General Electric here in the United States. UE has represented thousands of General Electric employees under a UE-GE national contract since 1938. Today, there are 13 unions representing GE members in the United States which have joined together in the Coordinated Bargaining Committee (CBC) of GE unions.

In news that comes as no surprise, GE experienced yet another year of record profits and revenues. The company reported net profits of some $20.7 billion for 2006. This astounding sum represents an 11 percent increase from the previous year, and works out to over $2.3 million per hour of clear profit for GE – seven days a week, 365 days a year. GE predicts yet another double digit year of profit increases in 2007. Revenues in 2006 increased to $163 billion, a 10 percent increase over the previous year.

But that doesn't mean that negotiations will be easy. The company seems to have had little problem deciding what to do with much of this money. In addition to increasing the dividend to stockholders for the 31st consecutive year, GE spent another $8 billion last year simply buying back its own stock. So we know that we will have to fight for a good contract. The unions will be demanding higher wages, improved pensions and protection against GE's tactics job movement and elimination. We expect the company try to make us pay a much larger portion of health care costs and to deny important benefits to newly hired employees.

We are writing to ask for your support. On June 2, a CBC-wide major contract rally will be held, hosted by UE Locals 506 and 618, in Erie, the home of GE's locomotive manufacturing plant and home to UE's largest local. We are asking unions in other countries to send letters of solidarity that can be read at the rally -- to encourage our members and to show GE that we have friends throughout the world. Please fax your letter to UE Local 506 President Frank Fusco at 814-899-0666 or email.

Negotiations schedule

May 22 - New York City ­ Opening day of negotiations for a new UE-GE National Agreement at the Sheraton Hotel in midtown Manhattan.

June 2 - Erie, PA ­ CBC-wide contract rally will be held, hosted by UE Locals 506 and 618, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Erie Civic Center, followed by food and fun at the ballpark next door. (Additional details to come.)

June 17 - 2003-2007 UE-GE National Agreement expiration date.

June 19 - New York City ­ Meeting of UE-GE Conference Board to hear the report of the negotiating committee and then to make a recommendation of acceptance or rejection by the membership of the proposal for a new contract.

June 28 ­ Tentative deadline (subject to change) for locals to vote on the contract proposal.

For more information, visit the UE Local 506 contract page, the UE web site and the CBC Website ­ For more information about the CBC and how negotiations are conducted, click here.

Many thanks for whatever you can do!

In solidarity,

Robin Alexander