By Susan Zachem

Graphic Communicator photo by Susan Zachem

GCIU Vice Pres. Leonard E. Adams asks local representatives to be vigilant in policing the GCIU label.

International Vice Pres. Leonard E. Adams urged local unions and members to get involved in community services and help the International enforce the use of the GCIU label.

Adams, who chairs the General Board Community Services Committee, asked locals and members to get involved in community affairs to help the non-union public understand who union members are and what unions do.

"Generally, the press we get in our locals and in our cities is not good press," Adams said. "The only time we get in the papers is when we have a strike, and then the press we get is generally bad.

"If you get involved in your community, you can get some good press which can help you instill some good feelings about your community members toward the labor movement," Adams said. As the community becomes familiar with the union and its members, he noted, this increases understanding and support when a local is trying to negotiate a contract.

Adams asked GCIU locals and members to support the National Association of Letter Carriers' national food drive on May 8. In most areas, letter carriers will pick up donated canned goods on that Saturday to be distributed to food banks around the nation.

Contributions are urgently needed for the GCIU's Disaster Relief Fund, Adams said. The fund, which relies on member donations, helps GCIU members and their families who are the victims of floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and other natural disasters.

On the GCIU label, Adams reminded conference participants that only the International secretary-treasurer's office may issue the label. To obtain use of the GCIU label, an employer must apply to the International and sign an agreement on its proper use before a label number is assigned to the employer's shop.

Adams asked all locals to be vigilant to help police the use of the GCIU label. Before the International can initiate a lawsuit over improper label use, he said, he needs to have the name of the company, the name of the company president or chief executive officer, the company's address, and a copy of the material that was printed with the alleged illegal label. "I really do need your help to do it," he said. "I can't do it from my position in Washington."

Among the problems with GCIU label use cited by Adams are shops where not all production units are organized. According to GCIU label rules, all production must be performed by GCIU members for material to bear the label. He noted this includes work done in shops in right-to-work states, where some workers may not be GCIU members and therefore cannot work on jobs bearing the GCIU label.

"We have several cities yet where the press room may be organized but the prep area isn't organized," Adams said. "And they continually run the label jobs through there and nobody complains about it until they get into negotiations where they're having a bad problem. Then they come to me, and I send off to the employer a 'cease and desist' and he says, 'what's wrong with you? We've been doing it this way for years.'"

"We've got to enforce the label at all times – not just when it's convenient," Adams stressed.