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The Western Kentucky Worker | |
Official newsletter of the Western Kentucky Area Council, AFL-CIO
Prepared by Berry Craig, KEA-NEA and AFT Local 6038
Volume 8, Number 8, September, 2007
Monday's Labor Day parade is expected to be lengthy
Monday's 32nd annual Labor Day parade may be one of the longest ever.
"We've got at least 55 entries, including the traditional floats, bands, fire engines, antique vehicles and other favorites," said Frances Willey, treasurer of the Western Kentucky Labor Day Committee Inc.
Willey's all-volunteer group sponsors the annual holiday procession. The parade is the main attraction of the committee's three-day weekend program.
The parade, which goes up Broadway, begins at 9:30 a.m. The route is from 2nd to 17th streets. “People should come early so they can get a good place to watch,” Willey said.
Wayne Chambers, vice president of Steelworkers Local 665 and an Area Council trustee, is grand marshal. "Local 665 has always been a strong supporter of the parade," said Jeff Wiggins, council president. " Wayne was not only a leader in his union; he also is a leader in the union movement statewide.”
Local 665 was the union at the big Continental General-Tire plant in Mayfield, which recently closed. "Local 665 may be gone, but we will never forget them," Wiggins added.
The customary Labor Day political speaking will start at 1 p.m. in Carson Park . "We expect most of our labor-endorsed candidates will be there," said Wiggins, who is also the Labor Day Committee vice president. "We need to have a big turnout of our members to support our candidates."
Candidates endorsed by the Kentucky State AFL-CIO are Steve Beshear for governor; Daniel Mongiardo, lieutenant governor; Jack Conway, attorney general; S. Bruce Hendrickson, secretary of state; Crit Luallen, auditor of public accounts and Todd Hollenbach, state treasurer.
Willey said bleachers for listening to the politicians will be set up under trees to beat the heat. "There should be plenty of shade," she added.
Labor Day weekend festivities start at 10 a.m. Saturday with a flea market and band music at the park. Sunday afternoon's program features gospel music and a motorcycle poker run.
The Labor Day schedule also includes a picnic and music at the park.
The Western Kentucky Labor Day Committee works year round to raise money from unions and other sources to host the Labor Day program. "We don't get any money from the city or state," Willey said.
Admission is free.
The city's first Labor Day parades date to the 1890s. The processions lasted until after World War II when they stopped for reasons not clear. The parade was resurrected in 1975, Willey said.
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Jeff Wiggins is Zone One coordinator for Labor 2007
Council President Jeff Wiggins will be wearing another union hat until election day.
The Steelworker is the Zone One labor coordinator for the Labor 2007 campaign. “I will be meeting face-to-face once a week with every local president in the zone,” Wiggins said. His territory stretches from Henderson and Franklin west.
Wiggins, who is also on the state AFL-CIO Executive Board, is charged with helping boost support for labor-endorsed candidates. They are Steve Beshear for governor; Daniel Mongiardo, lieutenant governor; Jack Conway, attorney general; S. Bruce Hendrickson, secretary of state; Crit Luallen, auditor of public accounts and Todd Hollenbach, state treasurer.
All of the union-endorsed candidates are Democrats. “But I can't be affiliated with the Democratic Party while I am out working as Zone One coordinator,” Wiggins said. “My job will be to talk to union members about our issues.”
Wiggins is one of five zone coordinators in the state. “We are going to reach out to union members who are straddling the fence,” he said. “We are going to try to bring them back home. It has been noted that when members get something in their hands from their local union about labor-endorsed candidates, they will vote for those candidates 92 percent of the time.”
Wiggins said the Labor 2007 campaign is based squarely on accountability. “I have to report on what locals are doing what and what locals are not doing what,” he said. “If you are not doing what you are supposed to do, the international presidents will be sending people down to find out why.”
Wiggins said his job as coordinator is on the line, too. “If I don't what I am supposed to do, I will be replaced.”
Meanwhile, Wiggins said he needs volunteers to go door-to-door, staff phone banks and pass out handbills at plant gates. “I am working with the national AFL-CIO to get us some cell phones,” he added.
Wiggins can be reached by cell phone at (270) 564-6303 or by email at westkyaflcio@bellsouth.net .
Wiggins said the national AFL-CIO has made the Kentucky governor's race a top priority. Polls show Gov. Ernie Fletcher, a Republican, lagging far behind Beshear.
“But we've got to run Labor 2007 as if our endorsed candidate is 20 points behind and the race is tomorrow,” Wiggins said. “I want us to be able to say, ‘Labor made a difference in bringing us a labor-friendly governor.'
“Union members are only 6 percent [of the workforce], but 70-percent of us will go out and vote. If we could get that number up to 85-percent we might not be 6 percent anymore.”
Unions consider Fletcher to be one of the most anti-union governors in state history. Last year, he backed a right-to-work law and called for repeal of the state prevailing wage law on public construction contracts.
Wiggins urged delegates to get members of their unions to sign up to vote. “We have 9,000 members who are not registered in Zone One,” he said.
Wiggins added, “If every local union in this end of the state can pledge me at least three or four people for every one of these jobs we've got to do before this election cycle, we can get this job done.”
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Area Council endorses IAM's U.S.-made flag proposal
The Council unanimously approved a resolution from the Machinists' union calling for the display of only U.S.-made American flags over the Capitol and other state government buildings in Kentucky .
“Last year, $5.3 million worth of flags sold in the United States were made overseas,” said Benny Adair, council vice president. “This resolution is to bring the American flag home – made by our people and for our people.”
The resolution was adopted by the Kentucky State Council of Machinists. Adair is council president.
The proposal calls on the state legislature to pass a bill requiring that “only Flags made in the USA …fly over the Kentucky State Capitol and offices of the State Government.”
Adair added, “We want to also take this to the national level and ask Congress to do the same for U.S. flags flying over the U.S. Capitol and federal government buildings.”
Jeff Wiggins, Area Council president, called Adair's proposal “a good idea and the right thing to do.”
The resolution says the flag is “the symbol of America 's Freedom” and “has flown over our Nation's Capitol, our Battlefields, Our School Grounds, over Sporting Events and led every Parade.” The flag, also according to the resolution, “symbolizes and secures the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and serves as a constant reminder that we are one Nation, Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.”
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Council votes $100 for the IAM's guide dogs program
The Kentucky State Council of Machinists' Annual R. Thomas Buffenbarger Skeet Shoot is set for Sept. 22 at the Calvert City Gun Club.
Buffenbarger, IAM international president, is expected to attend the event, which raises money for the Guide Dogs of America Fund. The program supplies guide dogs to blind people.
“Tom is an avid skeet shooter,” said Benny Adair, Machinists council president. “He always enjoys coming to western Kentucky , too.”
The program starts at 8 a.m. and goes until 4 p.m. “All shooters are welcome,” Adair said. “Bring your shotguns and have some fun with the Machinists union.”
The shooting fee is $25 and checks should be made payable to “Guide Dogs of America,” Twenty and 12-gauge shot shells will be provided, Adair said. “A barbecue lunch will be served for shooters and guests,” he added.
Prospective shooters are asked to contact Adair. “The first 100 shooters will be guaranteed to shoot,” he said. Adair can be reached by cell phone at (270) 559-8752. His work number is (270) 395-7195. Adair's mailing address is P.O. Box 408 , Calvert City , Ky. 42029 .
The Council voted to donate $100 to the program at its August meeting.Return to Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council Home Page
State Machinists to meet at Calvert City Sept. 20-23
More than Machinists are expected at the annual fall meeting of the Kentucky State Council of Machinists at Calvert City .
“Once again, we will invite candidates to speak,” said Benny Adair, Council president. “We expect most of our labor-endorsed candidates to be there.”
The gathering starts Sept. 20 with an Executive Board meeting. Political candidates will get the chance to speak from 5 to 7 p.m., Sept. 21, at the IAM District 154 Lodge in Calvert City . “Everyone is invited,” Adair said.
The program also features a Sept. 21 golf scramble at the Calvert City Country Club and a Sept. 22 skeet shoot at the Calvert City Gun Club (See story elsewhere in the newsletter.). Both events are designed to raise money for the Guide Dogs of America Fund, a program that provides guide dogs for people who are blind.
The golf outing starts with a 7 a.m. breakfast. Play will begin at 8:30 a.m. and a fish dinner will be served between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Prizes will be given. The entry fee is $50 per golfer or $200 a team. Holes can be sponsored for $100 each.
More information about the meeting is available from Adair. His cell phone number is (270) 559-8752 and his work number is (270) 395-7195. Adair's mailing address is P.O. Box 408 , Calvert City , Ky. 42029.
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Watkins supports Employee Free Choice Act petition
The Area Council wants county judges and other local officials to sign a resolution supporting the Employee Free Choice Act.
“We'd like to be able to present this at our Labor Day program,” said Jeff Wiggins, council president.
City Commissioner Gerald Watkins pledged his support at the August council meeting. “I am pleased to sign the petition,” Watkins said. “I am behind you 100-percent.”
The Employee Free Choice Act has bipartisan support in Congress and “would level the playing field for workers and employers and help rebuild America's middle class,” according to the national AFL-CIO.
The measure would restore workers' freedom to choose a union by:
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