Local 369 has faced many challenges thus far in 2008. I am proud of how the Local’s elected and appointed Leadership, including the Officers, Executive Board Members, Chief Stewards, Stewards and Committee Members have handled this adversity. We have proven time and again how combining a strategic plan with union solidarity is a successful combination. Coming right off the successful NGrid Contact Center negotiations, immediately into Entergy and Distrigas negotiations was a challenge that this Local more than met.

There were many challenges with each of these negotiations and we approached them through well thought out strategies and hard work. Now that we have addressed all our contracts for 2008 we are focused on the 2009 Contracts including NSTAR. We have no illusions that NSTAR will once again attempt to take back what we have fought so hard to gain. We will be ready for NSTAR and …

This past month the Local sent a delegation down to the Entergy Shareholders meeting in Louisiana. The delegation was charged with educating Entergy shareholders on our “Say on Pay” shareholder resolution and to persuade them to support it. And support it they did!! It was a first time resolution that wasn’t supposed to get much support. Other first time resolutions received 3% or 4% support where Local 369’s resolution received a remarkable 43% support. If the Local decides to re-file for 2009, we are optimistic it will be successful.

As amazing as all the support our resolution received there was another event that, in my opinion, dwarfed the resolution activities. Entergy CEO Wayne Leonard delivered a recap of where the company has been and his vision of where it needs to go. It was enlightening, but it wasn’t what stuck me as UNBELIEVABLE. What struck me as unbelievable is when Mr. Leonard showed a slide of a storm cloud and told the shareholders that “with out a doubt the greatest storm cloud coming at society is the erosion of the middle class.” Mr. Leonard went on to describe the issues facing the middle class. Issues like oil and gas prices and household debt being greater than income etc…

I almost thought I misunderstood him. I didn’t think he could possibly be saying what I thought he was saying. No way! Just 24 hours before this speech his negotiating team was demanding take-a-ways like our meal periods. So to recap – the guy, whose salary was almost doubled from $14 million to over $26 million and was warning us about the erosion of the middle class, was trying to take-a-way a meal period that our members earn after working 10 hours?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

This is what we are up against Brothers and Sisters. This is beyond corporate greed. It is delusional thinking and it makes dealing with these companies very difficult. The people at the top of the house are out of touch with the reality of what working men and women face. If you need confirmation just ask your supervisor who has no protection or representation how they are being treated.

In closing I wish you and all your families a safe summer.