Changes to the Headlight

As of June 1, I became the editor of the Headlight. The new Bylaws made the Recording Secretary and

Financial Secretary part time, and added the Editor’s duties to the Recording Secretary Job. The Bylaws also changed the publication of the Headlight from bi-monthly to monthly, effective January 1, 2008.

During the Bylaws debate, the Editor was requested to compare rates of publishing the newspaper to try to find ways to lower the cost. We are in the process of getting bids to compare with our current rates.

You will notice a few changes in the newspaper that will save some expenses. The newspaper will stay at eight pages, while in the past it has been as large as 16 pages.

We will be printing in black ink only. I have talked or will talk with the Officers and retirees, and others who routinely write articles in the Headlight. The retirees agreed to work together to make a smaller edition possible.

The goal of the newspaper is the same – to educate our members about labor issues. Like most publications these days, we will be urging people to go to our website for more information. For example, if there is a forum held at the Union Hall, we will run a notice of it in the paper, but provide more details, including photos, on the website. Don Wilcox, our webmaster, has done a spectacular job with our website.

Also, we are working on getting extra articles by Officers, retirees and members on our web page. We are working out the details and will keep everyone informed. Another aspect you may notice is our efforts at making information more readily available to you. In future editions, we will be running an anchored column on page 2 with information about Local 599. It will include the members of the Executive Board and their contact numbers. It will include the Officers and their contacts, our editorial policy, change of address directions and other details. We will still run everyone’s favorite, the want ads.

NAFTA – Lower Wages for Everyone

When NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was drafted in 1993, we were told it would raise the wages and working standards of people in Mexico up to our standards. It turns out, just the opposite has happened. The Associated Press reported not only U.S. wages are dropping, so are those of workers in Mexico. The Mexican Unions are offering two-tiered wages now, with the second tier equal to what is paid in China. This lowers their wages from $6.00 per hour to about $1.50 per hour.

The AP report said nothing in NAFTA stops the drive to the wage floor. It reported: “The treaty requires countries only to enforce their own minimum wage laws, which in Mexico means about $5 per day.”

Contact Me

If you have Workers’ Compensation or unemployment questions, contact me at (810) 238-1616, ext. 15.