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GENERAL SECRETARY-TREASURER’S REPORTA Resolution for the New YearIwant to thank all of the IUPAT membersand their families who voted and mobilizedduring the election. However, nowis not the time to say we won, and getcomplacent. We must continue to educateour members, along with our friends andneighbors. We must stay mobilized andactive. I implore you to stay engaged withcommunity and faith based groups to workon issues of common interest.Maintain the dialoguewith our local elected officials.Don’t let them forgetour issues or the people whohelped them get elected untilthe next election when theyneed us again. Don’t limityour activism to politics andgovernment intervention.Get active assisting the districtcouncil or local union with organizing.Even if you are workingsteady or retired, you can make a difference inorganizing, increasing market share, and your ownwork opportunities.Over 20 years ago, as a local business manager,I met with a regional family restaurant chain who wasabout to renovate more than 400 restaurants. Most ofthe work was painting and wallcovering. After offeringa light commercial agreement and getting somesignatory employers to bid, the first three restaurantswent non-union and the chain executives informedme that our contractors’ bids were $500 to $1000too high per restaurant. I then recruited retirees andGEORGE GALISGeneral SECRETARY-TREASURERunemployed members to assist during the week andworking members to assist on Saturdays. We took30-35 people to a restaurant at 11:30 a.m. andeach of us got a table for 1 and only ordered coffee.We sat there until about 1:15 p.m. The chain lostout on 3 or 4 lunchtime crowds and that cost themmuch more than the difference in price between ourcontractors and the non-union contractors. The chainrelented and the rest of the restaurants were done byIUPAT contractors and members. This is just one smallexample of how your activism can create work opportunitiesand strengthen our union.I use this example only to encourageyou to get involved and stayinvolved.There are other ways to stayactive. Attend union meetings,ask questions, and stay informedand educated about the issueswe face. Attend journey workerupgrade classes, health andsafety classes and seek any certificationsyou can obtain. Byenhancing your skills and knowledge,you are more employableand our union is stronger bybeing able to supply what we saywe can. That is the best trained work force in theindustry. As we approach the New Year, we have anopportunity for another fresh start. If we all resolveto do our part and stay active in our union, we canplay a role in protecting our work opportunities, ourwages and benefits, and our industry. The electionserves as an example of what we can do when we allengage in the process.I don’t know if this will reach you before the holidaysor not. Nevertheless, I want to take this opportunityto wish all of you and your families a MerryChristmas and God’s Blessings in the New Year.6OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2012 • J ournal