Freedom became the theme of the 4th Quadrennial GCIU Joint Conference, hosted by Boston 3N. The host city is significant in the struggle for American independence and the birthplace of the craft of printing in United States.

That spirit of printing was evident for the 99 delegates of the North American Newspaper Conference, the 27 delegates of the Commercial Conference, and the 23 delegates of the Specialty Conference meeting jointly to conduct business.

A bagpipe procession by the Boston Police Gaelic Column was followed by renditions of the Canadian and United States national anthems by "the voice of the Boston Bruins" Rene Rancourt (including "Oh, Canada" in French).

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino welcomed the delegates to Boston. Menino urged the delegates to explore "Newspaper Row" on Washington Street, which had been the home of most of Boston's newspapers in Colonial times and "Pie Alley"–named for pressman who threw their old type set into the street. He urged the delegates to take some time to enjoy "all Boston has to offer."

The delegates met at the Omni Parker House, not far from where their revolutionary brothers met more than 200 years ago to discuss the injustices of government.

Discussion quickly turned to the injustices of government today and the need to defend the GCIU and other labor unions from the Patriot Act II–a current bill being presented by the Bush administration.

The act, designed to defeat "domestic terrorism," goes too far, by ignoring basic liberties outlined in the Bill of Rights.

Denis Mosgofian, a retired member of San Francisco 4N, addressed conference delegates regarding the Patriot Act and its new big brother–Patriot Act II.

Patriot Act II is the Domestic Security Enhancement Act of 2003. If enacted the act could "expand law enforcement and intelligence gathering, authorize secret detentions, create a secret DNA database, and empower the government to strip citizenship from Americans who belong to or support disfavored political or labor groups."

According to Mosgofian, that includes "all members of labor unions" and their daily business. Mosgofian said the "legal definition of domestic terrorism is now so broad that it encompasses traditional forms of job actions and concerted activities by unions such as non-violent picket lines, civil disobedience or strikes."

Mosgofian warned that Patriot Act II would have "tremendous implications for organized labor." He distributed a packet containing information from various groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the San Francisco Labor Council. The packet also contained form letters for members to send to their congressman urging them to repeal the original Patriot Act and vote against Patriot Act II. Mosgofian said: "All the rights in the Bill of Rights are being threatened by the act. This legislation is intended to make everyone shut up–to make everyone scared."

Mosgofian said the government has already used Patriot I outside its intended purpose. He cited the government bullying of the recent dockworkers strike in California. "Union leaders were told that a strike would be a threat to national security", he said. Government officials implied that troops would be used to keep the docks open. Also, more than 170,000 workers were stripped of their union rights when transferred to the recently created Department of Homeland Security.

Midwest 128N Pres. Robert J. Bryan called the act–and the actions of the Bush administration regarding labor–"a violation of not only law but basic human principles."

The delegates of the Newspaper, Specialty, and Commercial conferences unanimously passed a resolution "urging the GCIU officers and Executive Board to do everything in their power to defeat the proposed Patriot Act II, repeal the Patriot Act, and work with the AFL-CIO to do the same."

The enlisting and training of new members was another topic of great interest. In response to growing requests for a new apprenticeship program, delegates heard two presentations on the future of apprentice training.

The first, from a team headed by Philadelphia 14M Education Coordinator Robert Theisen, was put together in June in collaboration with the George Meany Center for Labor Studies. The program, though not yet operational, will integrate on-line tutoring with hands-on training. It includes links to various Web pages, an apprentice chatroom, and e-mail, so coordinators can communicate with apprentices regularly. The program will continue to rely on apprenticeship coordinators in the shops.

The second program, developed by the Graphic Arts Training Institute (GATI) in British Columbia, is operational. British Columbia 525M Pres. Brain Cormier and Jim Duff from GATI introduced the program, which is more computer oriented than the first. The 15 courses (exact course numbers are based on equipment being used) each require 20 to 25 hours to complete on-line.

Apprentices will be taught by videos, graphs, charts, and demonstrations. The home page displays a model of a press with tutorial categories linked to corresponding areas of the press. For example, to obtain the lessons about the press folder, the apprentice clicks on the folder at the top of the screen.

The section includes interviews, complete instruction manuals available for downloading, as well as charts and graphs that guide the apprentice through various lessons. The end of each section contains a quiz. A wrong response automatically directs the apprentice back to the video or display containing the correct information. A final exam completes the program.

Questions still remain concerning the cost effectiveness, implementation and differences in equipment of both programs. The union has not made a decision about a uniform apprentice-training program. Most are hopeful that the two programs can be integrated under the watch of Vice Pres. Edward J. Toff.

Delegate Edward Shown, who chairs the Conference Apprentice Committee, was impressed with the progress of "turning obsolete correspondence courses into modern day realities."

GCIU Employee Retirement Fund Administrator Mathew Wenner updated delegates regarding the condition of the retirement fund and the fund market. While the plan continues to operate, it has felt the troubles of the economic downturn.

According to Wenner, the plan is "not alone in looking at whole new set of circumstances." Wenner explained that the entire pension fund industry is struggling due to a number of factors, including Sept. 11, corporate accounting scandals, and the war in Iraq.

Wenner said the plan would continue to "protect the benefits and stay well diversified" while looking for new ways to make a recovery. According to Wenner the only answer for now, may be to work longer until the economy and the markets make a full recovery. (A full update appeared in the May-June issue of the Graphic Communicator.)

Delegate Roger Carbo of New York 2N extended New York hospitality to all planning to attend The 48th North American Newspaper Conference next year in New York. Carbo said that Local 2N is proud of the opportunity to host the conference. "We come from a long sense of tradition," he said. He promised to bring that tradition to the delegates.

In closing, NANC Pres. Brian Fletcher, president of Toronto 100M, thanked the Boston local for "going far above" any expectations.

More importantly, he thanked the delegates who attended, saying: "You people make this conference what it is today."