Members of GCIU locals 505M and 6M voted overwhelmingly to approve merger of the two locals. Both locals voted by margins of more than 70 percent to join together for a stronger future.

Kenneth O. Truemper

Local 505M Pres. Kenneth O. Truemper will continue as president of the merged union local. He said the amalgamation was prompted by the realization that joining together would result in much more efficient operations and strengthen collective bargaining cooperation.

"We [the two locals] have been working together for years, and we have four major employers with workers from both our unions. So, we realized that the time has come to get together," Truemper explained.

The result will be a bigger local, representing 2,550 active members – 1,700 from Local 505M and 850 from Local 6M, he said.

With the vote to merge, officers of the new local will include: Pres. Truemper; Secy.-Treas. Richard H. Wisniewski (former 6M secretary-treasurer); Vice Pres. A Don Crowe Sr. (former 6M president); Vice Pres. B Ralph T. Bruns (former 505M vice president) and Vice Pres. C Chico Humes (former 505M vice president/treasurer). They will serve in the offices until Jan. 14, 2003 new elections.