Photo by Dennis B. Doris Jr.

Pres. George Tedeschi

In a pre-inaugural address, GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi told North American Newspaper Conference delegates he will try to make the union "work smarter" to meet the many challenges of the future.

The conference, held in Dearborn, Mich., on the Memorial Day weekend was held before his formal inauguration as GCIU president on June 4.

During the conference, Tedeschi formally resigned the top office after 21 years as conference president. Toronto 100M Pres. Brian Fletcher was elected to succeed him.

In his first talk to a major conference since his election, Tedeschi pledged a complete reevaluation of GCIU programs to determine if the members are getting the most efficient use of their per capita tax dollars.

A primary goal is politics

One of the major goals of the new GCIU administration is to make the union "a player" in politics, Tedeschi said, because, "Right now this union does little or nothing to support good candidates."

Although many members may not realize it, it is a fact that politics and who is elected does directly influence their welfare. "I used to think politics was not my concern, but during my career as a union member, I came to realize that some politicians are bad for working families and some are good."

It is obvious that working Americans and Canadians are the losers if their elected officials do not safeguard their rights, Tedeschi declared.

"If union workers voted as a bloc, we could elect anyone we wanted," he said, asking newspaper conference delegates to get behind the effort and work to get their local members politically active.

"Al Gore must get elected in the U.S. And union voters in places like Alberta, Canada – where conservative lawmakers have eroded worker rights – must get involved to improve things," Tedeschi said.

"Our first task is to get our members registered and get them out to vote." And it is vital to let members know the reasons and importance of supporting good candidates," he added. As one example of how politics affects GCIU members, he noted that Republican plans call for elimination of 25 percent of the jobs at the Government Printing Office – a fact that should sway many members.

Convention planning

Turning to the GCIU Convention in Las Vegas, Nev., Sept. 11 to 15, Tedeschi told newspaper conferees he had reviewed the plans he inherited from the Norton administration and trimmed expenses by eliminating unneeded frills, such as a big banquet dinner-dance with a big orchestra.

In its place, delegates and their guests will have a casual-dress cocktail social on Thursday, Sept. 14. In addition, costly decorations will also be eliminated from the convention hall, Tedeschi added.

Convention scheduling will also include time for a number of workshops designed to let the international leadership get up-close and personal with the ideas of the delegates and those they represent.

"We are going to have a women's caucus workshop. In light of the fact the GCIU is getting more woman members, we have to get them involved and ask them what they want us to do for them," Tedeschi said.

He also announced a similar workshop for minorities – to highlight the thoughts and priorities of Hispanic and African-American members. "Minorities are projected to be one of our union's biggest segments of growth and I think it is time we recognize that and see how we can represent them," he added.

Tedeschi also said local union officers and delegates will be workshop leaders – not International union officials – so local union members can develop their own agendas and International staffers can learn from them.

A workshop on organizing is also planned in Las Vegas. Noting that the GCIU spends $1.5 million per year on organizing, Tedeschi declared: "We need to listen to new ideas, and lots of locals have them. Let's ask the members and delegates how we should organize."

Education priorities

Another priority for the Tedeschi administration is technical education and training to qualify all GCIU members for jobs in the changing technology of the future. "We want to give our trainers whatever they need to train."

Tedeschi announced he would appoint Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff to oversee education and training issues.

Changing technology at newspapers makes it particularly important to upgrade training in that industry, Tedeschi added. "I hope to get Brian Fletcher and Ed Toff to work to improve education in the newspaper industry," he said.

Another educational priority involves educating local union officers. "This International union is made up of predominantly small locals, and we have to help the local officers." Tedeschi explained that officers of small locals with no training on how to run the local and help the members often get frustrated, resulting in a "revolving door," where they refuse to continue on the job.

"We will have a workshop on this at the convention, and Ed Toff is looking into setting up training programs for local leaders at the George Meany Center and universities around the United States and Canada," Tedeschi noted. "Teaching our local leaders labor law and their rights is very important to effectively representing our members," he added.

How to run a local union and handle a grievance and negotiate a contract is important training for those who are dedicated enough to run for leadership positions, he emphasized.

Globalization strategies

How we should deal with corporations in an era where globalization is costing jobs in North America is another priority for the new administration.

One possibility involves a network of attorneys to help smaller locals at reduced cost, Tedeschi said.

A survey of lawyers representing GCIU interests showed these labor lawyers would be willing to work for small locals at reduced rates, he said. This would help to equalize the legal playing field between big corporations and small local unions. "Let's try it," he said.

"All of these ideas are worth trying. We will hold these workshops at the convention and make a report and present it to the convention delegates. Then the General Board will evaluate recommendations and prioritize them," he continued.

"These are some changes we are thinking about, but the final word will be up to you, the delegates representing our members," he said.