OSA Newsline - September 29, 2003

Negotiations are taking place at the Municipal Labor Committee level and the local level as well, but it is the MLC that is very tense at present.

Locally, we are still due a small amount of old contract money, but we will get that eventually. The MLC, however, is facing major increases in health costs that the Mayor seems intent on inflicting upon us all. The Committee has now been meeting weekly for some time and subcommittees are meeting even more often. More news as it develops.

A number of our members have become active in support of a the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride, a rally and festival set for next week, Saturday, October 4th at Flushing Meadow Park. The rally is in support of immigrants who need to reunite with their family members. Recent policies on immigration seem unduly harsh and have affected a number of OSA members. Cardinal Egan of New York and one or more Congress members will be speaking at the rally.

OSA members interested in attending should meet our delegation at Shea Stadium, Gate "E." Our OSA banner will be the gathering point from 10AM to at least 10:30AM and participants will receive OSA caps and t-shirts. If you know you are coming, please call Noreen at the union office, (212) 686-1229, so we will be sure to have enough supplies on hand. For more information about the Freedom Ride, visit the Freedom Ride website.
OSA Newsline - September 22, 2003

Our union normally holds a general membership meeting during the last week of September. That meeting was delayed this year in hopes of some good news on the topic of negotiations. The Municipal Labor Committee is our main strength in negotiations and the MLC Conference was set for last week.

The fiscal crisis was receding, Mayor Bloomberg had agreed to attend the conference, and all of us were hoping that serious negotiations were about to start.

The Mayor arrived late and brought with him the press, television and radio media. He stood up before us and told us that he did not believe in negotiating in the newspapers. He then faced directly into the TV cameras and began to explain to us that there was no money for raises this year and that matters would be worse next year and the year after. He explained that we would have to cave in because he is going to be reelected in two years and that is all there is to it.

Municipal Labor Committee Chairperson Randi Weingarten has turned out to be a very effective leader of the assembled forces of organized New York City labor. At her request the Mayor was given a polite and orderly reception. At her request, the reactions to his insulting speech were moderate in tone.

There will be more details in the newsletter to follow, setting the date for a mid-October general membership meeting.

One bright note was sounded by Bill Henning of the Communications Workers of America. Bill reported on the major victory of the telephone workers and thanked all of the assembled unions for our very helpful support. Bill credited the solidarity of labor for CWA's victory and he was right.

Those of our members who now wish to take advantage of the Verizon offer sent out in the summer mailing can do so with the knowledge that they are standing in support of our brothers and sisters in organized labor.

Please mark your calendars for the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride on Saturday, October 4th, in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens. OSA is endorsing this rally and festival organized by the national labor federation, the AFL-CIO. A national mobilization to focus public attention on immigrant rights and the injustices of current immigration policies, the Freedom Ride is inspired by the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Buses will converge on the Park from all over the country as labor, religious and civic groups unite to demand legalization and a road to citizenship for all immigrant workers in this country, the right to reunite families, and protection of worker rights on the job without regard to legal status. OSA will be fielding a contingent at this rally. We encourage you to participate and ask that you call Noreen Fabre-Stahl or Bobby Lee at the union office (212) 686-1229 so we can gauge participation. OSA participants will receive an OSA t-shirt and cap. For more information about the Freedom Ride, visit the Freedom Ride website.
OSA Newsline - September 15, 2003

Last week was a quiet week at the union office. Nevertheless, there appears to have been a breakthrough with the $125 Drug Rider Reimbursement issue. We hope to have details and schedules at the end of the week.

The big event for this week is the Municipal Labor Committee Convention and Retreat which will be held this Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. At this time, the MLC is expected to take up the issues relating to citywide bargaining and the unified positions and strategies for unions in the round of labor talks for the next contract.

Real negotiations have not started nor will they really get underway for a while yet. Nevertheless, it is important for labor to start to think about how it will go about this effort and whether we are all in this together or are all going our separate ways. We will report on the event in the next newsline.

Please mark your calendars for the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride on Saturday, October 4th, in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens. OSA is endorsing this rally and festival organized by the national labor federation, the AFL-CIO. A national mobilization to focus public attention on immigrant rights and the injustices of current immigration policies, the Freedom Ride is inspired by the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Buses will converge on the Park from all over the country as labor, religious and civic groups unite to demand legalization and a road to citizenship for all immigrant workers in this country, the right to reunite families, and protection of worker rights on the job without regard to legal status. OSA will be fielding a contingent at this rally. We encourage you to participate and ask that you call Noreen Fabre-Stahl or Bobby Lee at the union office (212) 686-1229 so we can gauge participation. OSA participants will receive an OSA t-shirt and cap. For more information about the Freedom Ride, visit the Freedom Ride website.
OSA Newsline - September 8, 2003

Nearly 70 OSA members, retirees, family and friends turned out for a gorgeous Saturday march up Fifth Avenue in honor of America's labor movement. Under brilliant, cool skies, OSA's contingent assembled on 46th Street and Sixth Avenue and trekked north past the 69th Street reviewing stand to the parade's conclusion at 72nd Street. Following the parade, most of the attendees repaired to Dallas BBQ for a hearty meal. Ask those who attended. It was loads of fun and we hope to see you in the parade next year.

Here's who attended, according to our sign-in sheets: Nanette Beatrice, Regina Berry, Alyson Brown, Zi W. Chen, Ida Chin, Juanita Corsiglia, Joan Doheny, Noreen Fabre-Stahl, Almeta Gadsden, Shirley Gray, Richard Guarino, Al Gundersheimer, John Harper, Cheyenne Holley, Barbara Jones, Betty Lee, Tony Lee, Bobby Lee, Ron Lehman, Vyda Liaugaudas, Jie Ling, Joel Lutenberg, Marvin Lutenberg, G Manning, Myrtelle Mars, Nakiah Moe, S Moe, Hemsley Moe, Alice Moise, Leon Moise, Stephen O'Brien, David O'Brien, Dale Oliver, Stephen Parker, Charles Parson, Dolores Parson and Family, Ed Price, Helene Price, Wendy Richards, Ashok Sarecha, Debbie Smith, Thomas Smith, Michael Soto, Michael Spector Zaron Spector, Rob Spencer, Earlene Sperling, Joe Sperling, Valerie Stahl, Christina Stahl, Stephanie Stahl, Sallie Stroman, Edward Tennant, Sandra Thompson, Josephine Valentin, Kim Vann, Victoria Viguera, Idania Viguera, Karlos Viguera Jr., Carlos Viguera, Jay Warshofsky, Donna Watts-Williams and Michael Weiss.

Mark your calendars for the Immigrant Workers Freedom Ride on Saturday, October 4th, in Flushing Meadows Park in Queens. OSA is endorsing this rally and festival organized by the national labor federation, the AFL-CIO. A national mobilization to focus public attention on immigrant rights and the injustices of current immigration policies, the Freedom Ride is inspired by the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. Buses will converge on the Park from all over the country as labor, religious and civic groups unite to demand legalization and a road to citizenship for all immigrant workers in this country, the right to reunite families, and protection of worker rights on the job without regard to legal status. OSA will be fielding a contingent at this rally. If you'd like to participate call Noreen Fabre-Stahl or Bobby Lee at the union office (212) 686-1229. For more information about the Freedom Ride, visit the Freedom Ride website.