2005 Labor and Work

In early 2004, I had been elected President of the Chemung Schuyler Labor Assembly. This is an organization that is comprised of over 40 local AFLCIO unions who represent over 10,000 members. I had really started to become active in politics and social causes as they affected working people. In the fall, we hosted our first ever meet the candidates’ night. We invited everyone from Presidential to town board candidates. I’ll be honest I had no idea how crazy it was going to be. At one point I was lying under a stainless tank at the cheese factory installing a valve when my phone rang. It was the President’s office calling to inquire about details. When it was determined that President Bush was unable to attend, they offered to send a letter. I suggested the topic be how much he had done for workers during his term. I never received that letter. In the course of that election, I met Senator Clinton as well as the NYS Governor and other officials. One thing I learned early on is that if you say labor, politicians’ heads swivel around, and they give the appearance of listening. Maybe I was supposed to not work for the past three years so that I could get so involved with the Labor Assembly. By 2005, I had attended many conferences and had learned to speak in public without throwing up. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In March, I was once more back to Nine Mile. I was so comfortable there that it almost didn’t feel like traveling. I was able to get home to see the kids and check on the house on my day off. I would have dinner with friends and re-visit old haunts. In May I started with Kimble the company who had laid me off at Sullivan Park and who I thought would never hire me again. As it turned out the foreman Bill R, had been an apprentice a few years ahead of me. I overheard him tell someone he would rather have me on the job than many of my brothers. I knew I was qualified and a good worker, but sometimes just getting hired on the job is a challenge. The job was a major renovation at Ithaca College’s Garden apartments; new plumbing pipe and fixtures, as well as heating. It was a good job with good people. We had the tools and material we needed and everything ran pretty smoothly. The part that wasn’t great was that I in my infinite wisdom had decided to run for Business Agent after the death of our beloved BA, Steve White. There were 4 Southern Tier members running. Bryan A. ran together with Greg L and Brad W. I really felt Bryan was too young and inexperienced, though I knew he had a good union heart. Obviously others didn’t feel the same since he was elected with a wide margin. At the end of July, I left for an AFLCO convention in Chicago representing the Labor Assembly. My first night there I met President John Sweeny at a Students against Sweatshops fundraiser. He offered to introduce me to UA Pres Bill Hite. Well for three days I kept trying to meet him but apparently the UA contingent would stay for the morning speakers and then leave. So I left my card at his seat with a note reading, “Would like to discuss diversity within the UA.” A few minutes later I get a call from his assistant, Pat Perno. He informs me that the UA is diverse as Hell. I didn’t know whether I should laugh or cry. I looked over at the dozen or so old white guys sitting at the UA table and knew they didn’t reflect the diversity of the country. Women comprise less than 3% of my union and minorities only slightly more. I said it then and I say it now; the UA has a long way to go in regards to diversity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After returning home, I was unemployed again. One Sunday night in late August, I was playing euchre online which I do a lot! My playing name is Pegdafittr. Frequently UA members see my name and stop to chat. Lucky for me Gary W, from Local 23 sat at my table that night. He said they had work at Byron Nuclear Plant and told me to have my BA call. First thing Monday morning Brad called. Next thing I know I am on my way to Rockford IL with a job and a place to stay with Gary’s sister in law. Gary and became good friends and still talk to each other regularly. From there, I went to Salem NJ for another Nuke. It is always hard to try something new, but I was fairly confident and competent in my skills. I discovered that nuclear workers tend to travel in packs, so that you frequently work with people you know. With the advent of cell phones and computers, communication with home was easier. But with all my traveling, nothing makes me happier than being home in my own bed with my babies! It drove my ex-husband crazy to have to take care of the kids, although he had help from his mother, but staying home wasn’t an option. Bryan never seems to be able to keep me working. I am perpetually on the short list of members not working.