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IBEW Turns On Light Bulb Factory Workers

November 25, 2003

In a significant victory for IBEW organizers, the union decisively won a National Labor Relations Board election November 19-20 at a light bulb manufacturing plant in Kentucky, reaffirming the IBEWs presence in the manufacture of a key symbol of the trade.

The majority of 213 workers at the Osram Sylvania Glass plant in Versailles voted for the IBEW. They will become the new IBEW Local 92.

"This is a particularly important victory for the IBEW since it demonstrates that news of our demise in the manufacturing sector has been greatly exaggerated, despite the plans and policies of the present administration," said IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill.

Fourth District International Representative Dave Appleman said the victory comes only a few months after the IBEW lost an election at the plants sister facility, which produces lamps. A group of more than 100 workers at the glass plant sent workers at the lamp manufacturing facility a letter of support during its campaign. "They started to talk to us then and said we should come over and help them next," Appleman said. Drawing from the glass workers experience five years ago during an unsuccessful organizing campaign by an unaffiliated union, they warned the lamp plant workers not to be fooled by the companys promises.

"At that time, the company made lots of promises to fix things if they didnt vote for the union," Appleman said. "Well, they didnt. They reneged on those promises. The glass plant workers said dont do what we did."

Those lessons were reinforced following the August defeat of the IBEW in the lamp plant election. The glass plant election followed closely thereafter and the organizers benefited because they knew exactly what to expect from the same union-busting consultant. The volunteer organizing committee and the rank and file were prepared for the inevitable litany of threats and promises. Organizers say they have not given up on the lamp plant and continue to talk with workers there.

Issues at the glass plant center around respect on the job, specifically involving favoritism. "I think that tends to be one of the problems in every nonunion workplace because without an agreement they can treat whoever the want however they want," Appleman said.

The spiraling cost of health care also contributed to the dissatisfaction of the workers, Appleman said. Workers have been struggling to pay skyrocketing premiums that have shot up more than 300 percent in the last few years.

Appleman said he and fellow organizer Larry McGlamary helped advise the glass plant workers during the campaign but the new members themselves did all the work. "If anyone should get credit, it should be them, the ones who stood in the face of an employer who threatened and coerced them," McGlamary said. "Its got to be frightening."

Also particularly helpful with this effort was Local 2220, Lexington, Kentucky, which lent its union hall to meetings and provided office space to organizers, as well as members of Local 369 in Louisville and Local 1627 in Lexington, who helped talk to the glass workers, Appleman said. Fourth District International Vice President Paul Witte leant valuable resources to the ultimately successful campaign.

"You need so much moral support because an organizing campaign is such a roller coaster," McGlamary said. "It was truly a district-wide victory."

A division of Germany-based Osram GmbH, Osram Sylvania has 20 manufacturing facilities in North America producing a variety of consumer and commercial lighting products.

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