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PRESIDENT'S PAGE
I would like to wish every member
and their family a happy New Year. Lets continue to work together to make this
Union strong. Thank you for voting the Executive Board back into office. We
promise to work hard to serve our members. It is an honor to serve our members.
We continue work hard and improve
the strength of our Union by getting involved with our community and other
Unions. We are working to get grievances scheduled in a timely manner and have
started preparation for the 2010 contract. Strength will also be improved by
training opportunities within the Union, building our political relationship,
and continuing to put the power back into the true strength of our Union -
“Members”!
We moved into our new building and
sold the old Union building. Open house will be from 1 pm – 4 pm on February
11, 2009 and our first Union meeting will follow at 5:15 pm. We are organizing
the building generating ideas for the future of the new hall. Please stop out
and visit us. This is a huge step in strengthening the Union and moving
forward together.
I know that our economy is weak and
the future is unclear but we do have a President that recognizes the important
issues and is going to work hard to get this country back on-track. President
Obama became president at a time this country has not seen since the great
depression. Where our country is going is all over the news - House
foreclosures, unemployment increase; jobs going overseas, big company bailouts
they have all created very uncertain times for our future. It is time that
government listens to the working class Americans and Unions. Let’s work
together and support our President to help make the right changes to fix what
the Bush administrative has left. We should support the Employee Free Choice
Act and let people chose to organize without the threat of being fired. We can
make a difference, the time is now and we need to stand together.
I would like to welcome Brother
Cliff Hixson back to work and back into the Union. Cliff was a Steward in OPP
janitorial. He was terminated for unjust reasons and false accusations. Cliff
stayed strong during the long process and believed in the Union. Thanks for
standing strong and thanks to the members who helped him get his job back -
Another great reason to be a proud Union member!
Penn State has announced a raise
freeze for all faculty and staff employees, however they will honor our contract
and we will get our raise increase on July 1, 2009. The raise freeze for
faculty and staff is another indication that the economy is in bad shape.
The Union had 5new jobs added from
the Java grievance. This brings the total new jobs to 16. The additional jobs
are in the dining halls at the coffee shop. A great big thank you to the
members who help with this grievance and stayed committed.
Good luck in the New Year and thank
you for giving us another 3 years to serve you. We will always put are members
first.
Fraternally Yours,
Jonathan Light
President and Business Agent
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