Workers Press for Share of GE's Success as Bargaining Begins

IUE-CWA to GE: You Can't Brag to Investors and Cry Poverty to Workers

Hundreds of IUE-CWA members and community supporters in Lynn, Mass., turned out to rally along Western Avenue on Monday as national bargaining began with GE in New York City. U.S. Rep. John Tierney (D-Mass.) joined workers in their call for a fair contract.

As nationwide bargaining began this week for a new GE contract, IUE-CWA members and their negotiating team put management on notice that they expect employees to share in the company's increased profitability and performance.

GE's earnings and stock performance are the best in years thanks to its workers' efforts, said IUE-CWA President Jim Clark, chairman of the Coordinated Bargaining Committee of unions taking part in the negotiations in New York City.

Clark warned GE not to use tough economic times as an excuse for a bad contract. "You can't boast to investors that your portfolio of companies and earnings outlook is the best it's been in the last decade, and then come to the bargaining table crying poor," he said. "The numbers tell the story: GE stock outperformed the S&P 500 last year and so far this year."

IUE-CWA and other union-represented workers at GE have worked with management to achieve savings and increased productivity over the years, significantly contributing to the company's improved profits. The talks underway affect 16,000 union members, more than half of them represented by IUE-CWA.

Health care and pensions are major issues. IUE-CWA Conference Board Chairman Bob Santamoor slammed a GE proposal that fails to address illnesses and injuries that workers have developed over a lifetime at the company, including exposure to toxic chemicals.

At the opening round of bargaining, CWA President Larry Cohen called the company's health care proposal "bad medicine" and said GE's unions are united behind their negotiating team. "We will resist the health care proposal with all the resolve we have," he said, noting that GE was asked to help craft national health care reform. The company refused and now is paying the price, he said.

GE workers across the country marked the start of negotiations in a show of unity and strength. At the company's Lynn, Mass., plant a crowd of nearly 600 workers and supporters in the community rallied, showing support for their bargaining committee.