Screw That Bulb' IUE-CWA: High-Tech Bulbs Should Be U.S.-Made

It's fine to promote a new, more efficient light bulb, but to make it only in China at the cost of thousands of American jobs? IUE-CWA and the 13-union Coordinated Bargaining Committee say, "Screw That Bulb."

That's the name of the campaign they've launched to protect the jobs of 1,200 IUE-CWA members who work at General Electric lighting plants and hundreds more who belong to the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers union (UE) and the United Steelworkers.

Union locals have mobilized a Stewards Army to spread the message to the media and general public that GE's compact fluorescent light bulbs, or CFLs, are only made abroad. They are urging people to ask GE to do the right thing and make the bulbs here.

Their message:  GE, which invented the new environmentally friendly — but costly — bulb, is channeling investment in its most innovative technology to China rather than to U.S. communities struggling with a steep decline in manufacturing jobs.

"GE isn't allowing us to have technology that will create sustainable jobs," said Rita Bugzovich, president of Local 84734 in Austintown, Ohio. Her local represents 68 workers who make filaments for incandescent bulbs. "It's fine to go green, but we want to have a future in this country, too."

Chuck Masilonis, president of Cleveland, Ohio, Local 84707 said, "If GE had made the right choice and invested in equipment in our plants, we could be making the very same CFL bulbs."

The company has added the ultimate insult: asking GE employees to sign pledges to buy CFLs for the good of the environment — while putting themselves out of a job. GE's production of incandescent light bulbs in the United States has fallen by 68 percent

"We've been led to believe that research and development of cutting edge technologies by U.S. companies like GE is what sustains our economic leadership and creates jobs," IUE-CWA President Jim Clark said. "But here we see American innovation, investment and jobs going directly offshore.  We're not talking about the loss of old and inefficient manufacturing processes — we're losing our future as well."

The unions have run ads in newspapers saying going green should not result in pink slips for American workers. And they're asking union members and the public to petition GE:

"Save the environment — or save a U.S. job? Don't Make Me Choose," reads the petition to GE management, asking them to make the new bulbs here in the United States.

To learn more and to sign the petition, visit the website at www.ScrewThatBulb.org.