Karon Waites Jr
UAW Local 1050
Civil-Human
Rights Chairman
216-641-4444
*2284
UAW 1050 CIVIL HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMITTEE REPORT-MARCH 2015
I apologize to my
committee and the membership for not
having a civil human rights report out
in a long time, especially the holiday
edition. Not only was I very busy but I
did not want to report so much
negativity to you all. It has, as you
all know, been difficult to work with
some of the salary people here. Anyway
I’ll try to start with some positivity
then work my way down to some BS…
I want to
thank everyone that supported our
committee and also thank the committee
itself that participated in our events
in 2014 from: volunteering at St.
Michael’s Church-helping them in their
pantry and doing yard work; they
received $400. Metrohealth Hospital
Children’s Division-they received $600
to help them with many events throughout
the year that benefit young patients.
Peace In The Hood, a community
organization that helps young teenagers
during after school hours and during the
summer months with mentoring programs
and doing projects by using computers;
they received a $3000 Alcoa Action Grant
that will help them a great deal. We
also did a food drive for the Cleveland
Food Bank and the committee donated
money so that I and my kids could
participate at the annual Bowl For Kids
Sake sponsored by Big Brothers Big
Sisters. Your Civil Human Rights
Committee will continue to do events in
2015; we’ll keep you posted. The money
donated for these events is set aside
via our Contractual Bargaining
Agreement.
On March
6-7, Region 2B, the UAW, many people,
organizations, churches and many in the
civil rights movement met in Selma, AL
to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of the march across the
Edmund Pettus Bridge also known as
Bloody Sunday where over 600 people,
mostly blacks, were beaten trying to
obtain the right to vote. In 1965 the
Voting Rights Act was passed and signed
by President Lyndon B. Johnson. The
right to vote is one of the most
important rights that we have in this
country. The United States Supreme Court
in 2013 struck down section 4 of the
VRA;
Shelby County v Holder by a 5-4
vote. Basically there will be continued
discrimination when minorities try to
vote. We also have that problem in our
Ohio Constitution, not much voter
protection. Many unions and
organizations are trying to get Ohioans
to sign petitions so that voters can
decide on November’s ballot
if they want their voting rights
protected… it is called the Ohio Voters
Bill of Rights. Please see me to sign
petitions. You can also text OVBR to the
number 30644 or call 614-207-7490 for
more information.
On
Thursday, April 30th is the
13th Annual Minority Men’s
Health Fair from 5:30p-8:30p at
Cleveland Clinic’s Glickman Tower/Miller
Pavilion. They offer free screenings and
info on topics such as: blood pressure,
cholesterol, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, heart
disease, prostate cancer and many other
health concerns. For questions call
800-223-2273.
Last
April was the last time me, Vice
Chairman Al Ford, President Don Mohn,
Wheel Plant Chairman Al Castillo met
with the company to discuss concerns on
civil rights. The CBA states that we are
to meet at least every quarter and more
than that if needed (Article XV). Only
3-4 of us met this past January. We are
scheduled to meet on March 26. In the
meeting last year I proposed language to
the company to see if they were in
agreement (again Article XV of CBA) to
commit to non-discriminatory issues to
be addressed immediately. I still have
not gotten a response. Obviously Alcoa
Cleveland Works was not ready at that
time to change its behavior on issues;
they seem to be getting a little better.
They don’t even reply to questions in
person or on emails, a lot of these
concerns were addressed in the focus
assessment/ micro-trigger session this
past December (#11- keeping people
waiting). Hopefully this training
session will be the first of many
classes that is needed here at the job
for everyone to take part in. Many of
you have asked the committee when
diversity training will take place; I
hope to get an answer this week. Alcoa,
at times,
allows a certain ‘class’ of
people to do one thing while ‘others’
have to do the opposite (#14-favortism
or unfair treatment). Of course the
company doesn’t see it that way, but
many of you know BS when you see or
smell it. By the way the evaluation from
this assessment session came in
recently. We plan on discussing the
report soon and what is to be done next
with this information. I’ll address it
at our next membership meeting.
Finally,
on Friday, April 17th our
local will do a gate collection for the
March of Dimes at all gates from
5:30a-7:30a and 1:30p-3:330p; volunteers
are needed. Our UAW Region 2B Director
Ken Lortz is the March for Babies Labor
Industry Chairman for our region. Region
2B has over the last few years collected
the most money, at least $250,000+; the
UAW, as a whole, has raised a total of
$1 million. Our local has not been
involved in the past so I believe it was
time for us to raise money for a great
cause that we all have benefited from. I
will have fliers out soon to promote
this event. I also have raffle tickets
for a 2015 GM Cadillac ATS; tickets are
1 for $30 or 3 for $60. The drawing is
this June and I only have less than 40
tickets remaining and all the proceeds
go to the March of Dimes. Thank you
again for your continued support of our
committee and please look out for each
other. Peace.
In
Solidarity,
Karon
Waites Jr
UAW
Local 1050 Civil Human Rights Chairman
UAW
Region 2B Vice President of RACOCHR
Regional
Advisory Council On Civil Human Rights
UAW
LOCAL 1050 CIVIL-HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Karon
Waites Jr- Chairman, Vice President of Region 2B
Regional Advisory Council on Civil Human Rights * Operator Tech/ FSW
Al Ford- Vice Chairman
* Electrician/Thermal
Debra Bohanon- H – Etch Line
Rick Crosby- H- Saw Operator
Vince Davis- H Saw Operator
Miguel Rios- 120 Thermal Operator
Terry Jackson- A- Large Aerospace
Charles ‘Taz’ Tazewell-H
Hot Inspector
Michelle Taylor- H Chip and Trim
Rick Peck- H
Electrician
Eric Umphrey- H Die
Shop
Tyrone Dumas-H Press Helper/ CVW
Al Castillo - Bargainiing Committee Advisor
Don Mohn -
President/Ex-Officio
UAW
Mission Statement:
The job of the Local Union Civil-Human Rights Committee
is to assist, educate and mobilize local union members
and officers against ALL forms of discrimination in the
workplace, community and the nation.
Your
Membership on this committee represents your commitment
to equal rights and social justice, as prescribed in the
UAW Constitution. Your valued participation enhances the
vision of our UAW and equal rights for ALL workers.
To remain
Strong and United, our local unions must guard the
rights of all its members.