National Talks Open With General Electric

May 21, 2007

NEW YORK – National negotiations between IUE-CWA and General Electric opened this afternoon with the union declaring "it's a new day" and vowing that by the end of the talks GE will be thoroughly educated on the needs of working families.

"Job security is our members' number one demand," Bob Santamoor, chairman of the IUE-CWA GE and Aerospace Conference Board, told GE. "We are willing to sit at the table and determine the future of our employees, their wives, husbands and children, if you are willing to accept that responsibility as well."

Also at the table were representatives from the Coordinated Bargaining Committee of GE Unions, a group of 13 unions holding contracts with GE. The unions negotiate jointly with IUE-CWA. In total, 23,000 workers will be impacted by the talks.

"This set of negotiations finds us at a crossroads," said IUE-CWA President Jim Clark. "We need to turn around manufacturing and it starts here with GE."

Clark called on GE to join the union by being "new and innovative" in devising solutions to the problems facing the union and the company. "Those that survive and prosper aren't the corporations that drive down the wages and benefits of workers," he observed. "The corporations who come out on top recognize the value their workers bring to the process."

CWA President Larry Cohen challenged GE to show leadership in the health care and workers' rights arenas.

"Middle class people are rising up and putting forward a new vision for America. What side of the line will GE be on?" he asked.

The contract expires June 17. Updates will be posted at geworkersunited.org.