Celebrating Labor Day

LABOR Celebrating

IN NORTHWEST OHIO

David Green Director, United Auto Workers Region 2B

John Clemons President, Toledo Port Council

Kevin Dalton President Toledo Federation of Teachers Local 250 Executive Secretary/Treasurer, Greater NWO AFL-CIO

Matt Butler Regional Director, AFSCME Ohio Council 8

Mark Schmiehausen

President, Teamsters Local 20

Shaun Enright

Executive Secretary, Northwestern Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council

2023 Labor Day Parade sponsored by THE UNITED LABOR COMMITTEE

LABOR Celebrating

NORTHWEST OHIO

SHEETMETALWORKERS

The Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 Toledo District is a labor union that represents skilled Sheet Metal Workers in the Toledo, Ohio area. Our members are trained in various aspects of sheet metal fabrication, installation, and maintenance. We work with a wide range of materials, including steel, aluminum, copper, and other metals, to create and install various products such as ventilation systems, ductwork, roofing, siding, and more. Our work is crucial in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning).

Our community involvement and charitable activities at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 often involve various initiatives to give back to the communities we serve.

While the specific activities and donations might vary over time, here are some common ways Local 33 contributes to our community:

1. Volunteer Work: Local 33 members volunteer their time and skills for community projects, such as building shelters, renovating community centers, or providing technical expertise for local infrastructure improvements.

2. Charitable Donations: We consistently contribute financially to local charities, nonprofits, and community organizations. These donations support causes such as education, healthcare, disaster relief, and much more.

3. Apprenticeship and Training Programs: The Toledo Area Sheet Metal Training Center is a Platinum accredited program certified by the International Training Institute. Our training facility offers apprentices a 4-year program that is crucial to developing the skills that are required by the sheet metal industry. Not only do our apprentices learn while they earn, but they also get certifications in welding, OSHA 30, State signaling and rigging, Fire Life Safety, Indoor Air Quality, aerial lifts and much more. By providing quality training, our apprentices develop valuable skills that benefit our contractors, our industry and the community as a whole.

4. Scholarships: Local 33 is part of our national scholarship fund that supports members' children who are pursuing higher education.

5. Partnerships: The Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 are partners with many other organizations, government agencies, and businesses to collectively address community needs and challenges.

6. Advocacy and Outreach: Local 33 also uses our collective voice to advocate for policies and initiatives that benefit the local community, such as improved worker rights, safer working conditions, and fair wages. We fight for the American worker!

If you are interested in serving an apprenticeship with the Sheet Metal Workers Local 33 Toledo District, or have experience in our industry, please go to sheetmetaltraining.org to sign up. Being a Local 33 member is not a job, it is a career!

AFL-CIO

State Issue One takes its place alongside Senate Bill Five as shorthand for the power of organized labor in Ohio. It is a model that we must understand and be ready to replicate – a unified nonpartisan effort that took the time to reach any who would listen and defeat legislation that was bad for all Ohioans.

While Labor Day entails a day off, barbecues and parades, at its core, the holiday is a tribute to the workers who keep our country moving forward and functioning. Unions protect workers rights and have guaranteed weekends off, paid vacations, the abolition of child labor and many other enhancements to the American way of life. Toledo City Paper spotlights the groups who have supported the American worker with a salute to Labor Day.

Over and over we pressed the message, vote what’s on the ballot. Don’t vote on proxy fights, don’t vote on what you’re being told is there. Good trade unionists read contract language, and know how those across the table spin what any plain reading is obviously bad for a contract. Here, a plain reading of Issue One was clear to 57% of Ohio voters to be undemocratic and unwelcome.

Organized labor is a mighty force. Working with our allies on issue

campaigns in Ohio is a proven way to win for working people. We can defend rights when they’re threatened, and we can push for more. This Labor Day look around at the brothers and sisters marching with you. United, we have great power, and we’ll never give it up without a fight.

We look ahead now to 2024 and the work being done by retired Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor to level the playing field and undo gerrymandering that decides a winner before any candidate declares.

Labor Day Parade Theme: Women in the Workplace

The United Labor Committee is excited to announce that the 2023 Labor Day Parade Grand Marshall is Women in the Workplace. This year, the goal and emphasis of the parade is to acknowledge the importance of women in the current labor movement. Whether in various construction trades, government, private sector, transportation, automobile manufacturing, hospitals, schools/classrooms, at the port or on the road, female members of Northwest Ohio Local Unions are essential to society continuing to function and operate. “One Voice One Struggle” is the slogan for the 2023 Labor Day Parade which perfectly captures the importance of female workers in Northwest Ohio.

UAWREGION2B GOSSER SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO TWELVE STUDENTS

Twelve outstanding high school seniors from Region 2B UAW families have been awarded a $10,000.00 college scholarship by the Richard T. Gosser Scholarship Awards Program.

The Gosser Scholarship Awards Program, named in honor of the late UAW Vice President and Regional Director, Richard T. Gosser was established in 1962. The scholarships will be presented Wednesday, May 10, 2023, by Ken Lortz, President of the Scholarship Awards Program at a luncheon to be held at the Region 2B, UAW Regional Building located at 1691 Woodlands Drive, Maumee, Ohio (Arrowhead Park) at Noon.

This year, seven (7) Scholarships will be awarded in the name of Richard T. Gosser and one (1) Scholarship each will be awarded in the name of Ruthann GosserHarrison, Joseph Tomasi, Jack Sizemore, Lloyd Mahaffey and Ken Lortz.

Including the 2022-2023 winners, 404 students have received Gosser scholarships. An additional 159 students have received runner-up scholarships. In all, $3,250,000 in scholarships have been awarded since the program began in 1962.

The 2022-2023 Scholarship Winners:

Julia Elizabeth Schleeter, a senior at Ottoville High School, Ottoville, OH, who ranked 1 out of a class of 23 students. Kevin Schleeter, father, is a member of UAW Local 1765 and works at Dana Corporation, Lima, OH.

David Alexander Sheets, a senior at Adams Central High School, Monroe, IN, who ranked 9 out of a class of 70 students. Kimberly Sheets, mother, is a member of UAW Local 2209 and works at Avancez, Roanoke, IN.

Alyssa M. Burgei, a senior at Continental Local High School, Continental, OH, who ranked 1 out of a class of 31 students. Craig Burgei, father, is a member of UAW Local 2209 and works at GM Ft Wayne, Roanoke, IN.

Madelyn Grace Lands, a senior at Springfield High School, Holland, OH, who ranked 8 out of a class of 238 students. Alicia Lovett, mother, is a member of UAW Local 5242 and works for Toledo Public Schools, Toledo, OH.

Elden Tristan Leedy, a senior at Anthony Wayne High School, Whitehouse, OH, who ranked 2 out of a class of 372 students. Elden Leedy, father, is a member of UAW Local 5242 and works for Toledo Public Schools, Toledo, OH.

Elizabeth Lucile Lytle, a senior at Kokomo High School, Kokomo, IN, who ranked 5 out of a class of 340 students. John Lytle, father, is a member of UAW Local 1302 and works at Stellantis ITP1, Kokomo, IN.

Sofia Margaret Cetrone, a senior at Homestead High School, Fort Wayne, IN, who ranked 17 out of a class of 528 students. Vincent Cetrone, father, is a member of UAW Local 2209 and works at GM Ft Wayne, Roanoke, IN.

Samuel R. Ratkos, a senior at Homestead High School, Fort Wayne, IN, who ranked 51 out of a class of 528 students. Phillip Ratkos, father, is a member of UAW Local 2209 and works at GM Ft Wayne, Roanoke, IN.

Grayson Fox Gallaher, a senior at Clay High School, Oregon, OH, who ranked 3 out of a class of 288 students. Diana Fox Gallaher, mother, is a member of UAW Local 5242 and works for Toledo Public Schools, Toledo, OH.

McKailyn Mary Lort, a senior at Northrop High School, Fort Wayne, IN, who ranked 2 out of a class of 550 students. Daniel Lort, Jr., father, is a member of UAW Local 2209 and works at GM Ft Wayne, Roanoke, IN.

Amanda Fay Silver, a senior at Kokomo High School, Kokomo, IN, who ranked 8 out of a class of 340 students. Michael (Mike) Silver, father, is a member of UAW Local 1302 and works at Stellantis, Kokomo, IN.

Jonathan Timothy Mitchner, a senior at Nordonia High School, Macedonia, OH, who ranked 15 out of a class of 297 students. Jonathan Mitchner, father, is a member of UAW Local 1005 and works at GM Parma Stamping, Parma, OH.

In addition, Region 2B Retired Workers & The Richard T. Gosser Scholarship awarded eight ($1,500.00)

One-Time Awards to the following:

LOCAL55

Ironworkers Local 55 has been building better, building stronger, building communities for 120 years strong! How have we done that? Let’s take a look.

BUILDING BETTER:

Joseph Bruns 2391 Auria Ronald Bruns

Jesse Morgan 1302 Stellantis Christina Morgan

Elijah CookKlockowksi

12 Hollywood Casino Teresa Klockowski

Elisabeth Johnston 211 GM Powertrain Jamie Johnston

Megan Brown 14 GM Powertrain Merle Brown

The selections were made by a seven-member Board of Judges composed of:

Joe Balderas, Director, Sofia Quintero Art & Cultural Center

Vallie Bowman-English, Clerk, Toledo Municipal Court, Toledo, Ohio

Timothy Kuhlman, Judge, Toledo Municipal Court

Thomas Luettke, Re-Entry Coordinator, Criminal Justice Coordinating Council

Jack Puffenberger, Judge, Lucas County Probate Court

Sandy Simon, University of Toledo-Retired, Toledo Public Schools Career Coach

John Tharp, Retired Lucas County Sheriff

Locals who had winners this year

LOCAL 1005 GM Parma Stamping, Parma, OH

Participation since 2008 (9th Winner)

LOCAL 1302 Stellantis, Kokomo, IN

Participation since 2012 (#9th & #10th Winners)

LOCAL 1765 Dana Corporation, Lima, OH

Participation since 1984 (8th Winner)

LOCAL 2209 Avancez Maintenance, Roanoke, IN Participation since 2013 (1st Winner)

LOCAL 2209 GM Fort Wayne, Roanoke, IN

Participation since 2013 (5th, 6th, 7th & 8th Winners)

LOCAL 5242 Toledo Public Schools, Toledo, OH

Participation since 2017 (3rd, 4th & 5th Winners)

The members and signatory contractors of Ironworkers local 55 have building our region better by our long standing, established training programs and outstanding skill sets of our craftsmen and women. Our industry and market is a thriving snapshot in time be in the trades and we pride ourselves on remaining on the forefront of this. Our forefathers built this city and we have added our stamp on these times with our footprint of projects that are on display everyday as you drive around our region! From the Cleveland Cliffs project, to the expansions at First Solar, to the multitude of schools, we have had a contributing hand in all of this along with our award winning contractors!

BUILDING STONGER:

Ironworkers local 55 builds stronger. Strength is earned. Strength happens by our members work ethic and delivery of successful, on-time, underbudget and safe projects to serve our region. Plain and simple.

BUILDING COMMUNITIES:

The members of our strong standing, 120 year organization have been intentionally pouring into the communities they live and serve in for many years. Not only are we physically building our communities, but with the hard earned living wages and benefits, we are able to be a contributing partner to the communities. Our state accredited apprenticeship offers a successful career path for a candidate to thrive and flourish in the field and in the community. Our organizing efforts have allowed the unrepresented worker to have an opportunity to join our organization and rise higher, both personally and professionally!

abor Day isn’t just about celebrating the end of summer and cooking out. It’s a day to celebrate all hard-working men and women in America. It serves as a memorial to the battle workers have waged for respect, dignity and the better lives they have worked hard to earn.

Born out of mass protests against child labor, sweatshops and worker exploitation in the 19th century, Labor Day was a protest and a celebration – a day of unpaid leave where workers came together to celebrate their labor and show employers exactly who made industries and shops run. It wasn’t until a massive railroad strike forced congress and President Grover Cleveland – a sworn enemy of working people – to make Labor Day an

So Labor Day, much like the weekend, the eight-hour workday, minimum wage, child labor laws and many other things we take for granted today, is a victory delivered to our nation through the collective organizing and courage of workers and unions.

As we take the day off or work (with holiday overtime), it is important to reflect on the sacrifices of our union brothers and sisters that made this day possible. It is important to honor them by rededicating ourselves to the collective success of our union and every worker in our industries and beyond. It is important to honor ourselves, our labor and our contributions - both to our workplaces and our communities.

And it is most important to remember that all these victories, all these benefits, all these contracts, laws and regulations were won by our sacrifice and solidarity,

never given. American labor has raised the nation’s standard of living and contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known and the labor movement has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation’s strength, freedom and leadership – the American worker.

Onward to more victories.

In Solidarity, Kevin C. Garvey President, UFCW Local 75

Bryon O’Neal Secretary-Treasurer, UFCW local 75

We Are the Union

Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future of Toledo Federation of Teachers

By Therese Gordon TFT Board of Directors Member

A Story of Service

Toledo Federation of Teachers Local #250 celebrated 90 years of service to Toledo this year. TFT has always been committed to supporting members in the classroom and out in our community. TFT leadership, along with the collective voice of its members, has successfully advocated for better working and learning conditions in our schools, positively impacting the decisions that most affect the students and families that the Toledo Public Schools serve.

A History Lesson

The Great Depression hit Ohio especially hard. The state’s unemployment rate reached 37.3 percent in 1932, according to Ohio History Central. Because of this, many Ohioans were forced to default on their property tax payments, which then deprived public school districts of their primary source of revenue. A retrospect from TFT archives describes various school programs in the Toledo Public Schools district being attacked, labeled both frivolous and unnecessary. TFT historians go on to tell a story both difficult yet inspiring in its outcome.

When the Toledo Chamber of Commerce pressured the TPS Board of Education to cut programs to reduce the cost of operating the schools, the Board passed a series of resolutions to eliminate entire courses. Industrial Arts, Home Economics, and even Kindergartens were dropped across the district. New materials including books, desks, and other resources students and teachers needed in their classrooms were not purchased and supplied.

In addition, the Board passed a resolution that required teachers to live within the school district, dismissed all women from payroll whose husbands were also employed by the district, and mandated that siblings living in the same household could not teach. Those who taught high school were paid on a different, higher salary scale than elementary teachers, despite having similar workloads and the same academic credentials. Contracts between the Board and teachers were not upheld. Unfair, unsafe, and discriminatory practices against students and teachers went unchecked.

Mission Statement: Toledo Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that advocates for the social and economic well being of our members and the children and families in our community. We are committed to advancing these principles through community engagement, organizing, collective bargaining, political activism, and especially through the work of our members.

During the 1931-1932 school year, salaries were cut by 10 percent. A 2012 article in the International Journal of Community Currency Research notes that the Toledo Public Schools district was allowed by the Marshall Act of 1933 to pay teachers in “Marshall Scrip,” named for an Ohio senator who proposed that teachers be paid in this “currency” instead of American dollars. Marshall Scrip was accepted by governmental agencies for mortgages, taxes, and water bills, but was discounted and sometimes refused by many stores and other businesses. For up to three years during the Depression, 66 to 75 percent of a teacher’s salary was paid in scrip.

These and other hardships were vigorously challenged by the collective action of TFT’s early unionists who brought changes to the school system through direct negotiation with the Board. On February 11, 1933, a small group of Toledo teachers signed the charter for Local #250, establishing the Toledo Federation of Teachers, and then began organizing and signing up other teachers as members.

Between 1933 and 1940, 90 percent of the teachers hired by Toledo Public Schools joined TFT as members, with 95 percent ultimately joining in 1968 and later when TFT acted as the bargaining agent for teacher protections.

Early and Ongoing Achievements

During this difficult time in American history, the TFT union helped create new programs within the community, such as a blood bank and the Toledo Teachers’ credit union, which still operates today under the name of Educational Community Alliance Credit Union.

Members reported in the TFT archives retrospect that, in the decades that followed, TFT continued to work for progress: The union established the first teacher intern program in the United States. It won recognition and a contract for paraprofessionals. It fought for Jewish teachers to be able to observe their religious holidays with pay, and negotiated a school holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. TFT negotiated maternity leave benefits before federal court decisions paved the way. It negotiated the first fully-paid hospitalization program for teachers, lobbied successfully for Ohio tenure law, and secured a severance pay program for teachers – the first in Ohio. Unionists partnered with charitable agencies to provide Toledoans with food and clothing, worked to gain instructional planning time during the school day to increase standards of learning, and fought to re-establish a 10-month school year.

TFT was the first local teachers union in the state of Ohio and the first to negotiate a single salary schedule for both men and women teachers. It maintained a vision of what teaching could and should be, where teachers’ earnings were enough so that they could devote all their energy during the school year to teaching instead of getting second jobs, and use their summers for professional development to plan for the upcoming school year. The unionists saw that limited class size and up-to-date materials would greatly benefit students and sought to advocate for spaces conducive for greater learning.

The union formed a natural and beneficial link between Toledo Public Schools and labor groups in Toledo. It was always called upon to meet with labor leaders when tax levies were on the ballot.

By 1968, TFT joined the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, which consists of 56 national and international unions representing more than 12 million workers and retirees. This decision continues to allow for many opportunities for a better quality of life for teachers and their families.

Leadership

Through the decades, union leaders have inspired and strengthened the ideals of unionism with action. From the very first TFT president, visionary Raymond Lowry, to the amazing legacy of Dal and Fran Lawrence, to the unwavering dedication and tenacity of current president Kevin Dalton, TFT presidents have always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with TFT members who together make up the union.

TFT has always been more than just an institution. It has been and remains an everpresent advocate for equity and representation for all. TFT members can be found participating in local government and community events throughout the year. It is a respected and invaluable community resource that provides both local and national research-based professional development for teachers and paraprofessionals, peer review of its members, and promotion of fair labor practices. TFT hosts free book giveaways to increase literacy in the community, assists students with meals and supplies, and insists upon high quality education, instructional integrity, and safe schools.

TFT strives to be a beacon of change and hope in the lives of its members and within the community. With personal and collective stakes, each member represents the call to action for a purpose, to achieve something that is greater than what individuals can accomplish alone. The union motto of teamwork is clear – “Together, we can do anything.”

David Green, from the Production Floor

to the UAW Region 2B Director

David Green was elected in November 2022, to lead UAW Region 2B, in the organization’s first ever ballot election. He will represent over 180,000 active and retired UAW members in Ohio and Michigan.

Green began his union career as an auto worker in 1989, working as a summer helper for GM in Lordstown, Ohio. He continued his UAW career being elected as a Trustee of UAW Local 1714, before becoming the Local’s Vice President. David was sworn in as President of UAW Local 1112 in May of 2019. Six months later GM announced they were closing the plant. He then spent three years working for UAW Local 440 in Bedford, Indiana.

Mr. Green knows that it’s local Union members and their leaders that make the UAW strong.”I look forward to working with and for the UAW members in Ohio and Indiana, to make sure all the workers have dignity in their jobs” said Green.

The UAW has a strong presence in Toledo. They represent auto workers, casino workers, Clerk of Court employees, hospital maintenance, support and technical workers, nurses, parts suppliers, title agency employees and 911 operators.

Labor Day 2023

Commissioners honor and salute the women and men of labor who work to move our community for ward

David Green, UAW Region 2B Director

UAW Local 12 Members do more than build cars

UAW Local 12 has always been known for its role in servicing the Toledo Jeep Plant and its suppliers but a little known fact is UAW Local 12 also represents non-automotive workers around the community. Local 12 is a diverse amalgamated union which encompasses workers from the public sector, financial institutions, food services, casting industries, industrial cleaning equipment builders, healthcare workers and also gaming entertainment workers. Local 12 takes pride in servicing working families and supporting several hundreds of workers with their unique union needs.

Fun facts about a few units of UAW Local 12:

„ When you visit the Hollywood Casino and play a table game, the dealer is a Local 12 Member.

„ If you bank and handle your financial needs with Toledo Metro, Jeep Country or Glass City federal credit unions, your transactions are being processed by a Local 12 Member.

„ If you buy food at the University of Toledo’s cafeteria which is operated by Chartwells, you are served by a Local 12 Member.

„ Emergency calls to 911? That operator on the line is a UAW Local 12 member who will then dispatch EMS and those EMS workers who fight to save lives, are also Local 12 members.

„ If you find yourself paying a traffic ticket or paying court costs at Toledo Municipal Court, the clerks processing and filing your information are Local 12 members.

„ When you pay your property taxes or need a real estate appraisal, you are being assisted by Local 12 members working for the Lucas County Auditor’s office.

„ When you go to the Lucas County clerk of courts office to get your auto or boat title, you are being assisted by a Local 12 member.

„ City of Rossford Municipal and Marina workers are also Local 12 members.

„ Should you need medical care at St. Vincent hospital, the LPN’s, X-Ray technicians, Respiratory therapists and Service workers are Local 12 members.

„ When you visit your dentist or local jeweler did you think of Local 12? Well, the workers at Ransom & Randolph Co. who make the moldings or castings for jewelry and dental needs, are Local 12 members.

„ Local 12 members at National Super Service (NSS), make high quality industrial cleaning machinery that is used throughout the United States in many commercial and industrial settings.

„ Local 12 members at Toledo Testing Labs (TTL) test soil, construction materials and perform on-site drilling before any buildings are built.

UAW Local 12 members have many talents and are dedicated. This was evident while they worked through the pandemic. The members are experts in their field and provide quality services and products. Most of the members have lived in Toledo all of their lives and some commute. The community supports these workers because they support the community with taxes, charitable contributions, and services. The community benefits from organized labor and has been ever since UAW Local 12 started in 1936.