GE, union leaders agree on pact Contract would provide 16% pay hike over four years BY STEPHEN SINGER The Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. — Workers at General Electric Co. will receive a 16 percent pay increase over four years if unions ratify a contract agreed to on Sunday, GE and the unions announced Wednesday. The proposed contract between the Fairfield-based industrial conglomerate and the unions — the International Union of Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers-Communications Workers of America and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America — also would improve health care benefits while limiting the increase of health care costs borne by employees. In addition, the contract improved formulas used to determine pension benefits for current employees. In one formula the top benefit rate will increase from $60 to $70 a month for each year of service and higher pension pay for many other employees. The two sides also agreed to add Veterans Day as a paid holiday, which a union representative said is no small matter for workers with family and friends serving in the military at a time of war. A union ratification vote is scheduled for June 28. Bill Conaty, GE’s senior vice president for human resources, said the contracts “provide significant improvements in pensions, deliver strong increases in wages and maintain and improve our health care and job security benefits.” The IUE-CWA and its locals represent about 10,030 GE employees and the UE represents about 4,050 workers. Terms of the new contracts will be extended to nine other unions with local contracts with GE. The contracts cover more than 20,000 employees nationwide. Carm DePoalo, business agent for International Union of Electrical-Communications Workers of America Local 301 in Schenectady, said the board of directors for his union voted unanimously to recomend its members approve the tentative contract agreement during a general membership vote on Tuesday. He said he was pleased that the tentative agreement includes a holiday for Veterans Day and that it maintains the special early retirement options. “Health care we took a bang on, but we expected [that],” DePoalo said. “Overall I think it was real win for the union from where we started because when we started there was nothing on the table and through some hard negotiations we showed them we were unifi ed as a union and we did well.” “This was very difficult because of some very tough issues,” said Al Hart, a spokesman for UE in Pittsburgh. He said the unions were negotiating to improve contract terms for younger and older workers. Younger workers will receive an additional week of vacation sooner than in the current contract and won higher pay for night shifts. Older workers won protections for pensions and health care in retirement. The new contract will provide two early retirement opportunities for employees aged 55 to 59 with 30 years of service. Five hundred employees may take advantage of the option this year and 400 may do so in 2009. The union had one setback. Employees hired in the future will not have supplemental Medicare health insurance provided by GE after age 65. Gary Sheffer, a spokesman for the company, said the provision matches policy for nonunion employees. Improved health care benefi ts include added coverage for preventive care such as routine physicals, screenings and vaccinations, and expands coverage for clinical trials for serious illnesses. The proposed contract will require workers to pay more for their health insurance, but the union said GE will not substantially shift costs. The proportion paid by workers now is between 18 percent and 19 percent, which will rise to just over 20 percent in the new contract, said Lauren Asplen, a spokeswoman for the unions’ coordinated bargaining committee. “When you see what’s going on around you, it’s not unexpected,” she said. Asplen said the Veterans Day holiday was an issue because many union members are veterans and family and friends are in Iraq. “It’s something we always fought for. It’s a pretty big thing,” she said. “It’s not just another day off.”
By PAUL NELSON, Staff writer Last updated: 11:09 p.m., Thursday, June 21, 2007
SCHENECTADY - A lawsuit seeking billions from General Electric alleges the company was negligent when it exposed scores of former and current employees to dangerous levels of a known cancer-causing chemical that caused them serious health problems.
The two separate civil actions, brought by 486 past and 590 present workers at the company's main plant in Schenectady and in Rotterdam, were filed earlier in state Supreme Court of New York in New York County.
Additionally, there is a class action suit, initiated on behalf of several property owners within a five-mile radius of the company's 628-acre site.
GE spokeswoman Jan Smith said Thursday night that the lawsuit is groundless.
"There is absolutely no merit, and we will vigorously defend our position," said Smith, adding GE has been working with the state Department of Environmental Conservation for more than a decade on cleanup efforts.
She said PCBs were not used to manufacture products from the Schenectady location. "There is not evidence to suggest any basis that PCBs have migrated from the site," Smith said.
The civil action, which also names Monsanto Co., Solutia, Inc and Pharmacia Corp. as defendants, seeks billions of dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.
Westchester County lawyer Lawrence Biondi, who is representing the plaintiffs, said Thursday, that a federal court judge earlier this week consolidated the three lawsuits.
The court document contends the employees were exposed to PCBs, which was designed, manufactured, and sold by GE.
To bolster its case, Biondi said tests were done that showed high levels of PCBs that exceeded recommended state standards.
As a result, the past and present employees suffered "severe and permanent" injuries, ranging from cancer and liver disease to heart dysfunction. The suit says GE purchased PCBs containing various products from Monsanto which were used in the manufacture of a variety of products, including electric motors and generators, gas turbines and microwave tubes among others.
SCHENECTADY — Three lawsuits alleging General Electric Energy in Schenectady was negligent in exposing employees and neighbors to the cancer-causing agent PCB were consolidated Friday by U.S. Southern District Court Judge Victor Marrero. One suit was filed by 486 past GE Energy employees, another by 590 present employees and the third was a class action suit filed on behalf of residents within a five mile radius of the company’s Erie Boulevard plant. All three suits will now be represented by attorney Lawrence Biondi of Westchester County. A secretary in Biondi’s office said he could not be reached Friday. The suits collectively seek billions of dollars in damages. Chemical manufacturer Monsanto Co., Solutia, and Pharmacia Corp. are also named as defendants
Gee, don't the resident feel good about that representation? How does someone living in Westchester County know anything about living in GE's backyard. Oh, that's right, it's probably part of anybody's "conversation" they've had with Ms. Hillary!
She said PCBs were not used to manufacture products from the Schenectady location. "There is not evidence to suggest any basis that PCBs have migrated from the site," Smith said.
What did they use to inject and feed the animals they used during researching???.....and what happened to those "treated" animals???.....weren't they given to the poor folk of Schenectady as a token of big business being concerned for the welfare of the area that supports them?? A little tid-bit from our local elderly folks....
...you are a product of your environment, your environment is a product of your priorities, your priorities are a product of you......
The replacement of morality and conscience with law produces a deadly paradox.
STOP BEING GOOD DEMOCRATS---STOP BEING GOOD REPUBLICANS--START BEING GOOD AMERICANS
You are right Senders. And they were feeding this so called 'food' to the 'legal immigrants', who didn't know any better. I'll tell ya, the 'illegal immigrants' actually get treated better today than the legals were back then.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
Union members ratify GE contract BY STEPHANIE REITZ The Associated Press
HARTFORD, Conn. — Members of the two largest unions representing General Electric Co. employees have ratified new contracts affecting more than 20,000 workers nationwide, the company and the unions said Thursday. GE’s union workers make aircraft engines, appliances, locomotives, medical equipment, power turbines and other products across the country. The terms cover GE workers in Schenectady as well as Arkansas City, Kan.; Louisville, Ky.; Lynn, Mass.; Erie, Pa.; and elsewhere. Almost 80 percent of the voting members approved the deals, which replace contracts that expired June 17. They include a 16 percent pay increase over four years and improved health care benefits, while limiting the increase of health care costs borne by workers. The Fairfield-based industrial conglomerate reached the tentative agreements this month with its two largest employee unions: the International Union of Electrical, Salaried, Machine and Furniture Workers-Communications Workers of America and the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. The IUE-CWA and its locals represent about 10,030 GE employees, and the UE represents about 4,050 workers. Terms of the new contracts will be extended to nine other unions with local contracts with GE. The contracts cover more than 20,000 employees nationwide. “We are happy that the majority of members agreed with the national bargaining committee and conference board in recognizing the value that this contract brings to them and their families,” said Bob Santamoor, the IUE-CWA conference board chairman. GE officials said they were informed Thursday morning that the contracts were approved in ratification votes that concluded late Wednesday. “We are confident that these contracts are good for our employees and good for GE. We are gratified that our union-represented work force agrees,” William Conaty, GE’s senior vice president for human resources, said in a written statement Thursday. Besides the pay raises and health care cost changes, the contracts update formulas used to determine pension benefits for current employees. In one formula, the top benefit rate will increase from $60 to $70 a month for each year of service and higher pension pay for many other employees. The two sides also agreed to add Veterans Day as a paid holiday. The agreements also include higher pay for night shift and an additional week of vacation for younger workers, which they will receive sooner than in the current contract. Older workers won protections for pensions and health care in retirement. The new contracts provide two early retirement opportunities for employees aged 55 to 59 with 30 years of service. Five hundred employees might take advantage of the option this year, and 400 might do so in 2009, officials have said. But employees hired in the future will not have supplemental Medicare health insurance provided by GE after age 65. Company officials have said the provision matches GE’s policy for nonunion employees. Improved health care benefits include added coverage for preventive care such as routine physicals, screenings and vaccinations, and expands coverage for clinical trials for serious illnesses. The contracts will require workers to pay more for their health insurance, but the union said GE will not substantially shift costs. The proportion paid by workers now is between 18 percent and 19 percent, which will rise to 20 1 /2 percent in the new contracts. GE also has negotiated local contracts with the Machinists union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, auto workers, steel workers and other unions. GE shares rose 6 cents to $38.12 Thursday.
GE may open service center California newspaper story says company plans new operation in Schenectady
By LARRY RULISON, Business writer Click byline for more stories by writer. First published: Tuesday, July 17, 2007
SCHENECTADY -- GE Wind is planning to open a new wind turbine service center in Schenectady, according to a story in The Bakersfield Californian newspaper. GE executives won't talk about the plans, but the Bakersfield, Calif.-based daily quoted a GE spokesman saying that some employees at the GE Wind service center in Tehachapi, Calif., would be offered jobs at a new service center being created here.
Although that story ran in Friday's editions of the Californian, on Monday, GE officials here and elsewhere were tight-lipped about the plans. A new GE Wind service center would likely mean new jobs for Schenectady.
GE Wind's Tehachapi plant employs 200 people, and a GE spokesman told the Californian that about a quarter of them work in the service center.
"Right now, we don't have an announcement to make," said Thomas Schwendler, a GE Energy spokesman in Schenectady.
GE's Schenectady operations, which employ 3,200 people, have become a major focus for GE's renewable energy practice. GE Wind is headquartered there, and GE's vice president for renewable energy works in Schenectady.
Mayor Brian U. Stratton said Monday that he was unaware of any of GE's plans to put a wind turbine service center in the city, but he said he has been watching as GE's energy division has boomed.
"I know that they're doing well," he said.
Schwendler said he did not know how many people GE Wind employs in Schenectady, but he said it includes engineers, marketing executives and project managers. GE's employment Web site shows that there are openings in Schenectady for wind turbine engineers and technical leaders.
Putting a wind turbine service center in the Capital Region might make a lot of sense for GE. On a regular basis, wind turbines that GE manufactures in Brazil come through the Port of Albany for destinations in the Northeast and Canada.
Linda Parker, executive director for Kern Wind Energy Association, a wind energy advocacy group based in Bakersfield, said the wind-energy sector can barely keep up with demand.
"They're growing," she said. "It's very difficult to fill orders."
She said the GE Wind service center in California does service work on turbines GE sells, including work required under warranty.
A wind turbine service center would also help bolster the region's growing renewable energy sector, something that has been promoted by the New York State Apollo Alliance, a renewable energy advocacy group that includes labor unions, environmental groups and businesses.
Jeff Jones, state coordinator for the New York State Apollo Alliance, said he wasn't aware of GE's plans, but he said anything like a new service center would help the state rebuild its manufacturing base.
SCHENECTADY Job postings prompt GE Wind buzz BY JASON SUBIK Gazette Reporter Reach Gazette reporter Jason Subik at 395-3198 or jsubik@dailygazette. net.
GE Energy in Schenectady is posting job positions for GE Wind in Schenectady, although company offcials won’t confirm reports out of California that personnel for GE Wind’s service center in Tehachapi will be moving to Schenectady. A California-based newspaper, the Bakersfield Californian, reported Friday that General Electric spokesman Tom Rumsey said some Tehachapi service center employees are expected to move to the new service center in Schenectady. However, no such service center exists or has been announced. “All I can say is that we look at our operations all of the time in terms of how best to serve our customers, and right now, we don’t have any announcement to make,” GE Energy spokesman Tom Schwendler said. “I can’t confirm [Rumsey’s comments in the Californian]. He’s in Europe right now.” According to its Web site, GE Energy posted an open position in Schenectady on Monday for a “Commercial Manager-Wind” to work on sales. The job responsibilities in the posting included supporting sales by providing technical expertise to customers. Qualifications included power generation industry experience, with specific wind segment experience desired. On July 5, GE posted a job opening for a “Leader, Wind Configuration Management” to assist with “... warranty, parts and service groups with approaches to improve service to customers.” And on June 20, the company posted an opening for a “Product Service Engineer,” with the desire that candidates have prior work history with “... wind technical experience and or product service engineering experience.” Carmen DePoalo, business agent for Schenectady’s Local 301 of the IUE-CWA, said Monday that he could not confirm rumors he has heard about a planned relocation of GE Wind personnel to Schenectady. GE Wind already employs some personnel in Schenectady, including turbine engineers. According to General Electric’s Web site, GE Wind operates manufacturing and assembly facilities for its wind turbines in Germany, Spain, China, Canada and the United States. In 2006, GE Energy reported production of 8,650 wind turbines as part of its renewable resources power generation, which includes solar and biomass.
GE Energy adding 150 jobs Company’s wind business expanding BY JASON SUBIK Gazette Reporter
GE Energy announced Thursday that it has begun a five-month push to hire 150 new white-collar professionals to staff a new wind energy product management and customer service center to support its Renewable Energy Global Headquarters in Schenectady GE Energy’s Vice President of Renewables Victor Abate said the expansion is the result of a double-digit growth rate in the conglomerate’s wind energy sector. “If you look at the wind business today, this year we’ll be at over $4 billion and we got into this five years ago when it was under $1 billion,” Abate said. Company officials reported that GE is expected to have more than 10,000 of its 1.5-megawatt wind turbines operating around the world by the end of 2008. GE Energy’s renewable energy division concentrates mainly on solar and wind energy. The announcement ends speculation about a planned expansion at GE’s Erie Boulevard facility that was spurred by media accounts of comments made by General Electric spokesman Tom Rumsey to the Bakersfield Californian newspaper. Rumsey was quoted as saying some employees at GE Wind’s plant in Tehachapi, Calif., might transfer to a new wind center in Schenectady, following job cuts in Tehachapi. GE officials had declined to comment about any possible expansion since Rumsey’s publicized remarks, but the company began advertising sales and wind engineering positions in Schenectady on its Web site in June. Abate said the vast majority of the jobs will be filled with new hires, not transfers. “Out of 150 if there are four people who want to go from the West Coast to the East Coast and we backfill those four positions on the West Coast, that’s fine,” Abate said. Abate said he views the new support center as an East Coast position to help manage double-digit growth in GE’s wind energy sector. “These 150 jobs will be [for] product management. As a product business it’s all about the strategy for the next generation product and how you add features and improve performance … as well as customer support and customer service relative to the fleet size and issues and questions as the fleet grows,” he said. GE officials offered a partial breakdown of the new positions: 30 new leadership jobs will be devoted to analyzing information on customer and market demands and developing business strategy. More than 50 employees will be added for a customer support operation, which will feature a remote diagnostic facility that GE reports will be capable of monitoring performance of wind turbines around the world. Abate declined to estimate the total payroll for the new positions. “These are high-end jobs. They will be paying well,” Abate said. This is the second time in the last several months that GE has announced growth in the Capital Region. General Electric Healthcare announced plans in May to build a $135 million manufacturing plant in the Rensselaer Technology Park in North Greenbush and hire at least 100 new workers plus 50 GE Global Research transfers at an estimated annual payroll of $10 million. The growth has prompted some local leaders to wonder if the glory days of GE’s role in the local economy might slowly be returning. “Schenectady is the original home to Tech Valley, and GE the original catalyst,” Center for Economic Growth President F. Michael Tucker said. “GE Energy’s decision to open a new Wind Product Management and Customer Support Center in Schenectady is further validation of Tech Valley’s emergence as a highly desirable location for the world’s leading companies in the world’s most promising industries, especially in clean technologies like wind energy.” Local officials, including Mayor Brian U. Stratton and Schenectady County Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage, praised GE’s decision Thursday at a news conference in front of the Schenectady County Office Building. GE officials did not attend the event and no government incentive package was involved in the expansion. Savage said in the past there has been a combative relationship between Schenectady County and its largest industry but those days are over. “When [GE] is looking to expand we’ve asked that they consider doing it here,” Savage said. GE also announced it will begin to offer hands-on wind turbine training for employees and customers at its Learning Center in Niskayuna and will partner with GE Global Research to develop advanced renewable technologies. “By bringing product strategy, advanced technology, customer service and training all together in one location, GE hopes to create a world-class renewable energy showcase that will further advance its leadership position in the industry,” Abate said.
Whoopee do GE is going to throw us a bone and create 150 jobs, Von Roll just created 50 and that's not going to put enough good paying jobs on the market to pull this city[area] out of the toilet. We lost thousands of good paying jobs do to out-sourcing, down-sizing, and moves to other countries for cheap labor. We need a lot more than this if we're ever going to get back to anywhere near what this area once was.
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