I ran across this website asking for our opinion. I say we give it to them.
Vent: Voice Your Opinion Should public employees be allowed to strike?
http://www.thirdage.com/news/politics/votevent/1003802087.html
posted by Fran Poe Saturday, October 27, 2001

This is a very moving memoir dedicated to the victims and their families of our recent tragedy.It takes a few moments to load but is well worth the wait!!!
posted by Kelly Michael Thursday, September 20, 2001

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

I am the flag of the United States of America.
My name is Old Glory.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor,truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher, my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am worshipped - I am saluted.
I am loved - I am revered.
I am respected - I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war for more than 200 years.
I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appamatox.
I was there at San Juan Hill,
the trenches of France,
in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome,
and the beaches of Normandy, Guam, Okinawa, Korea,
and KheSan, Saigon, Vietnam now me.
I was there.
I lead my troops.
I was dirty, battleworn, and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me and I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled
on the streets of countries I have helped set free.
It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned and torn and trampled on
the streets of MY country.
And when it's by those whom I've served in battle - it hurts.
But I shall overcome - for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth
and stood watch over the uncharted froniters of space
from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness
to all of America's finest hours.
But my finest hours are yet to come.

When I am torn into strips
and used as bandages
for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent
at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.

MY NAME IS OLD GLORY
LONG MAY I WAVE.
DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN
LONG MAY I WAVE.
posted by Linda Mathews Sunday, September 16, 2001

Subject: Joe Glazer on the air

Joe Glazer, Chairman of the Board of the Labor Heritage Foundation and
author of Labor's Troubadour (University of Illinois Press), will be
interviewed on C-SPAN on Labor Day, Monday Sept 2, on the role of music
in the labor movement. He will be on the air for about 45 minutes,
sometime between 8 am and 10 am, and will be answering questions and
singing labor songs.
Joe will also be heard briefly on Labor Day on National Public Radio at
7:40 am on the program Morning Edition with Bob Edwards.

posted by Fran Poe Saturday, September 01, 2001

No progress seen in strike at Illinois power plants

SAN FRANCISCO, July 6 (Reuters) - A strike by union workers at 12 coal-fired Midwest Generation power plants in Illinois headed into a second week on Friday with neither side reporting progress toward opening direct talks.

Bill Starr, president of Local 15 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, said a federal labor mediator wanted to set up a meeting on the dispute and the union was ready to attend.

A spokeswoman for Midwest Generation said, however, that no meetings were planned. She said the company "believes things have to cool down on the picket lines'' before there can be talks. The company has attempted to limit the number of pickets outside the plants.

Midwest Generation is a unit of Mission Energy, which in turn is a subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE:EIX - news), of Rosemead, California.

Management employees continued to operate the plants, which account for about one fourth of all electricity generated in Illinois.

The 12 plants -- seven large stations and five smaller ``peaker'' units for high-demand hours -- produce about 9,300 megawatts, roughly enough to power 9.3 million homes.

Union employees had rejected a company-proposed pay increase as inadequate and, according to the company, demanded contract provisions that would ``compromise the company's ability to operate and maintain its facilities.''

The union, which represents 1,150 workers at the plants, said Midwest Generation had refused to bargain with the union in good faith. The union had been working without a contract since April 1.

Chicago-based Midwest Generation purchased the 12 plants from Commonwealth Edison Co. in December 1999.
posted by Linda Mathews Saturday, July 07, 2001

UMWA Welcomes Utility Workers in Missouri

The UMWA scored an important victory on May 3 when employees of the Macon, MO., Municipal Utility voted 31-5 to join the union's growing ranks, culminating a three-month drive.

The need for better wages and working conditions motivated Macon's power plant and water and sewer department employees to vote overwhelmingly for UMWA representation.

"We are delighted to be joining the UMWA, and we look forward to a fruitful contract between our employer and our union," said Gary Ronchetto, a laid-off L.U. 7866 coal miner who helped organize his colleagues at the municipal utility. "Missouri is the "Show Me' state, he added, "add the UMWA showed us that it is the best union to represent our needs and achieve our goals."
United Mine Workers Journal/May-June 2001
posted by Fran Poe Tuesday, July 03, 2001

This area will be used by officers and members as contributing editors for our site.
posted by Linda Mathews Sunday, June 24, 2001