 |
| January 22, 2002 As you know, there are thousands of oil workers across this country represented by our Union who’s Locals are negotiating with the companies they work for at this time. Not all those negotiations go very smooth. Sometimes, workers are locked-out by or forced to strike their employer. In situations like these, those members get support from our Adopt-A-Family program. With 320,000 members in this Union, a program like this works extremely well. Support comes from every corner of the country. The following letter was sent to our Local a few years ago from an OCAW Local in Illinois that was on strike. Our struggle continues with the UNO-VEN Company, and as it is truly appreciative of your Local to assist us in the way that you have. Please share with your membership our many thanks in an effort to fight corporate greed. We continue to fight the fight for Unionism. Thank you again for your contributions to our cause. It means more than you know. Enclosed is a letter from a member in which your support in the Adopt-A-Family program has helped. The program does work. In Solidarity, Wilmer F. Wittig Local 7-517 Dear Brothers and Sisters of Local 2-470, I can not begin to tell you how much it means to me to know there are so many good people out there who care enough to help in times like this. I have been a member of the OCAW for most of the past 24 years. I belonged to Local 7-222 from 1972 to 1981 and Local 7-517 since 1982. I’m presently going through a divorce, so as you may guess my morale is pretty low to begin with. When my wife moved out she took my children with her, but she left me many unpaid bills. Thanks to your help some of those bills can be paid. I have a hard time expressing my feelings both verbally and in writing. And to say “Thank You” just doesn’t seem to be enough to express how much your help means to me and the many others that this program is helping. In Solidarity, Thank You Donald Furlier January 19, 2002 No Negotiations Scheduled. The tone for these negotiations (or lack thereof) was set in November when local management arbitrarily chose not to apply the insurance subsidy increase to represented employees. It was further exacerbated at the meeting of January 9th, when the Union gave the company a list of 10 "Items" for negotiation, and the company responded with a list of 12 "DEMANDS". Relations deteriorated further when the Committee was given a 30 minute time limit to return to the refinery . . . . a feeble attempt at intimidation. The terms "Human" and "Resources" have traditionally been incongruent terms at this refinery -- they don't belong together in the same sentence. This department exists as a resource to help employees -- not be in an adversarial position on every single subject! Management's actions thus far have shown a total lack of respect toward the Commtitee, and the people we represent. Meaningful negotiations will resume only when Management recognizes the Union as a viable entity at this refinery. |
| ExxonMobil Group NEGOTIATION UPDATES |
|
| January 19-23 |
| January 19-23 |
| January 23, 2002 Although talks are not happening here, the other ExxonMobil locations in negotiations are at the table with their local managements. Representatives from each of these Locals, including Unions other than PACE, got together this past weekend to discuss various issues. One thing is obvious; the former Mobil locations certainly have a much easier time getting to the table than we do. Since the tiger has almost finished devouring the horse, you have to wonder if this will be different for them by the time the next negotiations comes around. None of these locations have their local issues wrapped up, but some are close. This might seem strange to us, but when both sides take it seriously and devote the proper amount of time to it, agreements can be reached. Our local Union certainly considers our collective bargaining agreement a serious issue. |