1969 Strike Remembered

 

‘ANGUS BARKS’
By Jeff Francis
AEG Executive Board
1969 Strike Remembered
 
 
Forty years ago today, huge picketlines ringed the Riverworks. Inside
the plant, production lines lay silent. Outside on Western Ave, blazing
firebarrels lit up the night. Union members who spent a lifetime punching
the clock, were instead, pounding the pavement.
This was the middle of the famous 1969 strike. It started in October
’69, stretched thru Thanksgiving, went past Christmas, continued deep into
winter, and wasn’t settled until Feb ’70. Local 201 members survived 101
days on $25/wk strike benefits, side jobs, and the generosity of neighbors.
Only 100 current members remain from the membership who
participated in that strike. Their history is your history. No other single
battle with GE has more influence on the living and working conditions GE
workers enjoy today.
Do you believe you get good pay, affordable benefits and dignity on the
job because the boss likes you? If so, you don’t know your own history. How
did those members in 1969 endure that long winter? Why did they choose to
fight such a powerful employer? Are you tough enough to have walked in
their shoes?
 
UNIONS UNITED
In the 1969 strike all unions in the GE chain struck GE at the same
time. It was a co-ordinated effort. UE picketers from Erie PA visited
picketlines in Schenectady NY. IUE picketers from Lynn visited UE
picketlines in Lowell MA, and IUE picketlines in Burlington VT. Everyone
was sick and tired of GE’s take-it or leave-it attitude at the bargaining
table, called Boulwarism. Under Boulwarism at GE, unions were uninvited
third parties. Workers were second-class citizens.
Unity between unions defeated Boulwarism in the 1969 strike.
 
RESOURCEFUL MEMBERSHIP
A committee of spouses sponsored Local 201’s children’s Christmas
party at St. Mike’s. Dial-a-Santa started at the Union Hall in 1969. Both
traditions continue in 2009. In thousands of ways, friends, relatives and
community organizations helped friends, relatives and organizations on
strike. When GE started a back-to-work movement in January, it failed
miserably. The AFL-CIO launched a nationwide consumer boycott of GE
products.
 
WHAT WAS WON
WAGES: equaled 6.5%-4%-4% for average 201 member. COLA: For
first time, a consistent formula based on consumer prices. SKILLED
TRADES: Best adjustment ever won. SICK PAY: It took a strike to win 2-5
measly sick and personal days. GE complained to the Lynn Item these were
unneeded ‘to-hell-with-it’ days. Never improved since. VACATION: 4 weeks
for 15 years. RATE PROGRESSION: Established automatic progression. In
the past 2 years, the majority of grievance payments to our members were
based on this language. MEDICAL COVERAGE: made in-hospital expenses
covered 100%. Exactly what GE is now trying to change.
When you count your blessings this holiday season, remember the
brave unions and their members who conducted the 1969 strike.