District One Council
Meeting Has a Lot to Say
WILKES-BARRE, Pa.
(Editor's Note: This article has been substantially
modified from the original, which appeared in the printed version of the UE
News in November, 2000. The original version mentioned union-endorsements
pertaining to candidates for federal office, which we cannot
post on the UE Web ...)
Meeting only a few weeks before the November elections,
delegates to the District One Council meeting here Oct. 20-21 had plenty to
say about political action. But there was also considerable attention to
pressing union business.
Delegates endorsed a 50-cent increase in the district per
capita and the formal inclusion of North Carolina within the district’s
geographic jurisdiction. Both proposals, recommended by the constitutional
committee, now go to the locals for ratification.
The delegation from Local 150, North Carolina Public Service
Workers Union, gave a presentation on how their union is being built in a
so-called "right-to-work" state that bars collective bargaining with
state employees. In recognition of the UE local’s growth, the District
Council voted to hold the next meeting in North Carolina.
UE currently has active organizing campaigns in Virginia and
New Jersey, reported Intl. Rep. Bruce Klipple.
CONVENTION FOLLOW-UP
Following up on the UE Convention’s policy action
recommendations, the UE leaders from eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, New
Jersey, Virginia and North Carolina considered how to develop regional UE
stewards’ conferences, join the defense of public education and help
popularize the Labor Party’s Just Healthcare campaign. Barry Rideout,
Local 120 led the discussion.
District Pres. Connie Spinozzi encouraged participation
in the November elections, regardless of individuals’ choice of
candidates.
"We owe it to ourselves and families to vote for the
candidate who best represents our interests," declared Duane Yaindl,
District One’s political action coordinator. "It’s a question of
capital vs. the working class," he said. "They are different
interests! ..."
Yaindl pointed out that the duopoly of Republicans and
Democrats have blocked any third party that questions corporate domination.
Ralph Nader has challenged corporate rule most of his life and he supports
universal healthcare, he said, concluding, "I’d rather vote for someone
I wanted and have them lose than vote for someone I didn’t want and have
them win."
Genl. Sec.-Treas. Bob Clark underscored the union’s
commitment to building independent political action.
Delegates elected District One’s officers: Connie Spinozzi,
president; Bob Miller, vice president; Barry Rideout, recording
secretary; Tim McCambridge, financial secretary; Seretha Taylor,
treasurer; Duane Yaindl, political education director; Tom Dininny,
sergeant-at-arms; and Bob Holbert, Barbara Prear and Joe Miglino,
trustees.
UE News - 11/00
