Quad-City Area Labor-Management Council

Past Events

Discovery Through Discussion, Session 7

Dramatic readings from the play Last One Out of the Quad Cities, Turn Out the Lights , about 1980's Industry Exodus

On Thursday, March 30th at 7pm, QCALM hosted the sixth session of the nine-part Discovery Through Discussion series on the history of labor relations in the Quad Cities and the social and economic impact they have had in the building of our community: This event consisted of dramatic readings from the play Last One Out of the Quad Cities, Turn Out the Lights , written by Augustana Theater Arts professor Scott Magelsson and based on interviews and first-hand accounts of residents of the Quad Cities who were affected by the plant closures in the 1980's. The interviews were conducted by students of Augustana history professor Lyndol Calder and were performed by students of Scott Magelsson. The readings were followed by open discussion recognizing several audience members who were also laid off during the closures.

The event was covered by Eric Sumberg, photographer from for the Quad City Times, with a photo and short story appearing in the paper on the following day.

Discovery Through Discussion, Session 6

1950's Communism and the Struggle

Between the Farm Equipment Workers (FEW) and the UAW.

Verbal battle moments before free-for-all between the FEW and UAW, East Moline International Harvester plant. February, 1949.

On Thursday, November 10 at 7pm , QCALM hosted the sixth session of the nine-part Discovery Through Discussion series on the history of labor relations in the Quad Cities and the social and economic impact they have had in the building of our community: 1950's Communism and the Struggle between the Farm Equipment Workers (FEW) and the UAW. This event explored the fascinating history of labor-management relations and how a local labor leader was brought before the House Un-American Activity Committee in Chicago , Illinois ; as well as how the FEW (Farm Equipment Workers) and the UAW (United Auto Workers) went to blows over representing workers in our local community.

The session will be presented by Dr. Jeff Crump, associate professor of Housing Studies and Geography at the University of Minnesota . Dr. Crump's research interests include economic restructuring and urban policy, housing and mortgage finance and labor geography. His publications encompass a wide range of topics including rival unionism in the farm implement industry, the effect of deindustrialization on mid-size cities, and urban redevelopment in the Midwest .

Many articles and photos were contributed compliments of Burt Foster, labor activist of the era and formerly of Black Hawk College , Labor Studies Program.

The event was free and open to the public, and was held at the Bettendorf Library. Gordon Trampe, commissioner FMCS facilitated the discussion session.

(left) CASUALTY OF FIGHT – Ted Chilson, Detroit , UAW organizer rests on hospital cart and displays swollen eye after battle between rival CIO unions at East Moline works of International Harvester Company.

Discovery Through Discussion, Session 5

Rock Island Arsenal and Its Labor Relations History

Rock Island Arsenal and Its Labor Relations History: the fifth session of a nine-part Discovery Through Discussion series on the history of labor relations in the Quad Cities and the social and economic impact it has had in the building or our community was held Thursday, September 15, at 7pm at the Rock Island Arsenal Museum Theater.

This event explored the rich and dramatic history of Labor-Management relations at the Rock Island Arsenal from 1898 to 1919 and the present. As civilian machinists struggled with military leaders who wanted to institute the dreaded “piece-work” system, union, community and media involvement helped support and mount a successful organizing campaign. Labor-Management relations at the Arsenal were complicated by the boundaries between a civilian workforce and military leadership which brought into question issues of chain-of-command in decision-making and enforcement. Meanwhile, as the labor movement was drawing increasing attention, authority became an issue on a national level.

Special Guest Dave Webb, formerly with the IAM Union and presently employed at the

RIA civilian personnel advisory center, presented the PowerPoint presentation.

Boys working on making canteens at the Rock Island Arsenal

Machine shop

QCALM's Annual Golf Outing September 7, 2005

Was Held in Honor of C.A. “Corky” Kress

QCALM'S 2005 Golf Outing was dedicated to C.A. “Corky” Kress who died July 15, 2005 . Corky was known as an advocate for labor-management cooperation and served on the QCALM Advisory Committee since the 1980's while he was employed in industrial relations at Deere and Company. Corky was an avid golf enthusiast and for many years until his retirement he served as management co-chair for QCALM's annual golf event.

96 golfers attended the outing which was held Wednesday September 7, 2005 at Duck Creek Golf Coarse in Davenport, Iowa, followed by refreshments, a Steak Fry dinner, and awards and prizes at the Duck Creek Lodge. The event was open to its members, spouses and the public.

Golf Winners:

Lowest Team Scores: –

1) Roger Beine, Kerry Wouters, Rick Janecek, Greg Kitecki – Rock Island Arsenal

2) Steve Wohlend, Bob Schwieder, Dave Brieby, Don Seager – Deere & Company

3) Ed Timper, Bill Bray, Mark Wadsworth, Dave McCall – Rock Island Arsenal

Closest to the Pin: – Melissa Wood, Genesis Occupational Health

Longest Drive in the Fairway: - Michelle Kauh – Rock Island Arsenal

Holes were sponsored by the following:

UFCW District Local 431 Lujack Motors

Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield of IA AFGE Local 2119

Black Hawk College/AFT-IFT Local 1836 City of Davenport

The Hat Eatery & Pub Strieter Motor Co.

New Life Outpatient Center Genesis Occupational Health

Shapley, Shapley & Moorhead John Deere Seeding

Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield of IL Deere and Company

John Deere Harvester Works Mid-American Energy

John Thodos, Mayor, East Moline Senator Mike Jacobs

UFCW Local 431

With gifts contributed by:

AAA Chicago Motor Club Dispatch/Argus/Leader

Regalia Mfg. Company Kraft Foods Oscar Mayer Division

Julies Artistic Rose Trinity Hospital

QC Laminating & Trophy Co. Rhomberg Furrier

Dead Poet's Espresso 3M Products

McGivern Jewelry UFCW Dist. Local 431

Trevor Hardware Vanguard Distributors

Illowa Construction Christopher D's

First Midwest Bank Len Brown's North Shore Inn

Rock Island Arsenal Suggestion System Genesis Occupational Health

Discovery Through Discussion:
Session 4 - The Civilian Conservation Corps

This event explored the re-building of Watch Tower Lodge and the surrounding Black Hawk State Park area by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) beginning in 1933. In addition to the Lodge, the park includes 208 acres and 4 miles of hiking trails.We viewed the video "Work, Pride, and Pay" about the CCC and Black Hawk State Park, along with a PowerPoint presentation about the CCC, with many pictures of their work in progress and of their living quarters and customs.
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Special Guests were Ralph Carmichael, who was a member of the CCC and was stationed at the Rock Island Arsenal, and Sam Vasquez who shared stories of his brother's work with the CCC and his own experiences of visiting several CCC camps. Mr. Vasquez also brought many items of memorabilia to display. The audience participated in the singing of traditional CCC songs with local singer/songwriter Olenka.
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The session was facilitated by Gordon Trampe, commissioner FMCS

The event was held at the Watch Tower Lodge of Black Hawk State Park, in Rock Island Illinois. This event is sponsored by Quad City Area Labor-Management Council, funded in part by the Iowa Humanities Council and the Quad City Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.

The event is free and open to the public, and is sponsored by Quad City Area Labor-Management Council, with funding from the Iowa Humanities Council and the Quad City Federation of Labor AFL-CIO.

Future Discovery Through Discussion events will include The Rock Island Arsenal and Their Labor Management History (Sept. 8, Rock Island Arsenal), The 1950's Communism and the Labor Movement (Nov. 10), The 1980's Labor Relations play: Will The Last One To Leave Turn Out The Lights (Feb. 9, 2006), The Modern Labor-Management Movement in the Quad Cities (April 13, 2006), and International Labor Relations (June 8, 2006).

When: Thursday, July 14, 2005, 7pm
Where: Black Hawk State Park, Rock Island, IL
Contact us for details. (309) 794-9194

Quad-City Area Labor-Management Council Announces Scholarship Recipients

The Quad-City Area Labor-Management Council (QCALM) announces the winners of their Annual I. Weir Sears and Louis De Frieze Labor-Management Scholarship recipients. The annual presentation was held, Thursday, June 16, 2004 at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse, Moline IL.

This year there were three I. Weir Sears and Louis De Frieze Labor-Management Scholarship recipients: Debra Noe, Chelsea Rowan, and Nathanael O’Connell were awarded $1,000 each.

Debra Noe is a student at Rock Island High School with a GPA of 3.89. Her activities and interests include her school’s Environmental Club (Vice President, Secretary); Key Club (Treasurer, President); American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life (Team Captain), Teens for Tomorrow; Youth Symphony (cello), and Student Council (President). In college she plans to major in Psychology and get an advanced degree in research. She has been accepted into several colleges, including the University of Chicago and Grinnell College.

Nathanael O’Connell is a student at Davenport West High School. His activities and interests include football; F.I.R.S.T.; Robotics (runner-up, Chicago Regional 2004, and runner-up St. Louis Regional 2005) among other awards. Robert plans to study bio-chemical engineering and his career objective is to work at the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta. He has been accepted to Iowa State University.

Chelsea Rowan is a student at Moline High School with a GPA of 3.85. Her activities and interests include basketball; track; Latin club; Authentic Voices; book club; Convoy of Hope; and librarian aide. Chelsea plans to study library science and seek a career at college level or government research. She has been accepted to Augustana University.

Debra Noe Nathanael O’Connell Chelsea Rowan

QCALM Honors John Deere Davenport Works and UAW Local 281 For Exemplary Collaborative Work Practices

The 2004 Exemplary Labor-Management Cooperation Award was given to John Deere Davenport Works, Department 747, Motor Grader Assembly and United Auto Workers Local 281. The16th Annual Awards presentation was held at a luncheon at Johnny’s Italian Steakhouse Board Room, Thursday, June 16, 2005.

The John Deere Davenport Works, Department 747 and UAW Local 281 team worked cooperatively to create a work-balance plan that would allow the department to meet production schedules through a dynamic product start-up while addressing extreme changes in optionality that would have significant effects on the amount of work required in various assembly areas. Department 747’s CIPP maintenance team willingly accepted this unusual challenge. Together the team outlined a system of work zones, in which employees would equally share responsibility for completing a particular unit. Each day Department 747 looks at what is possible to achieve and works the hours at extra effort to achieve every unit possible. The group has achieved outstanding efficiency results given the start-up of a new model. This team proved they deserved the investment in the new series.

Discovery Through Discussion -
Summaries of past sessions:

Session 1: A Miner’s Life
(Oct. 16, 2004)

The first in the series of Discovery Through Discussion was A Miner’s Life, a narrative play with a facilitated discussion. A videotape of the play is available.

This narrative described the life of a miner and the working conditions for a young sixteen-year-old in the mines after his father had had his leg cut off by a coal car; how the company the housing and the company store; and the difficulties that the family encountered always being in dept to the company. The children did not have the opportunities of education because of the circumstances of having to go to work in the mine to help support the family after the father's accident. Music of the song "Sixteen Ton" introduced the narrative and a spotlight was used to focus on four scenes - the coal mine, the invalid father, the mother and sisters in the kitchen, and the company store -- during the narration. A videotape was made of the performance and it will soon be distributed to local libraries.

A Miner’s Life was held in conjunction with the Quad City Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO’s annual labor Breakfast, with 60 members of the public in attendance Saturday October 16, 2004, 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM The Lodge – Bettendorf, Iowa. Sponsored by QCALM and funded by the Iowa Humanities Council and Quad City Federation of Labor AFL-CIO

Session 2: Steamboats and Railroads
(March 31, 2005)

The Steamboats and Railroads Discovery Through Discussion series was held at the Davenport train depot (Union Station) March 31, 2005. Attendees learned about how the business of the steamboats, equivalent to Mom & Pop operations, was supplanted by railroads, the big box distributors of the time. The steamboat pilots founded a collective association much like an early union to control pay and working conditions. They secured a way to communicate with one another and eventually eliminated all scab pilots from working on the steamboats.

The railroads came in much like a corporate Walmart. They were part of a large organization and eliminated the Mom & Pop steamboat operations. It is believed that the Effie Afton steamboat that hit the first railroad bridge crossing from Rock Island, IL, to Davenport IA, was done intentionally to halt the progress of the railroad. The reason this belief exists is because at the exact same time that it hit, 70 steamboats were on the Davenport levee and coordinated a whistle-blowing at the exact time of the impact.

In July 1922 the Silvis Shopcraft Union went on strike because of wage reduction. Other strikes that followed were discussed.

Presenting this session was Roald Tweet, local historian, scholar and researcher who has presented more than 100 public programs on the Rock Island Lines, the Grand Excursion, Colonel Davenport and other notable historic figures from this region; and Mary Costello, teacher and author of three books, two on the Mississippi River bridges including the railroad bridge. Gordon Trampe, commissioner FMCS, was the facilitator.

Session 3: Building the Labor Temple and Labor Folk Songs
(May 12, 2005)

The attendees learned about the struggle for labor to organize and build the magnificent Industrial Home 94, a meeting place for labor who up to then had difficulty finding a place to meet. A Power Point presentation documented the architectural style with drawings by the architect George P. Stauduhar and photographs of the inside and outside of the Labor Temple along with the story of how the building served in the union, political, and social life of the labor community. Folk songs played a big role in organizing and maintaining the labor struggle in difficult circumstances, and the session included musical performances by local folk singers.

Presenting this session Sharon DeFrieze and folk singers Lucia Dryanski, Paul Cioe, and Chris Dunn.

The event was held on May 12th, 7pm, at IBEW Local 145 Union Hall, 1700 -52nd St., Moline, IL.

Upcoming Discover Through Discussion Sessions

Future Discovery Through Discussion events will include:
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) (July 14, Blackhawk State Park)
The Rock Island Arsenal and Their Labor Management History (Sept. 8, Rock Island Arsenal)
The 1950’s Communism and the Labor Movement (Nov. 10)
The 1980’s Labor Relations play: Will the Last One to Leave Turn Out the Lights (Feb. 9, 2006)
The Modern Labor-Management Movement in the Quad Cities (April 13, 2006)
International Labor Relations (June 8, 2006)

Each session will be held in a location that evokes the subject discussed (TBA).

750 Children Celebrated Their Participation In The “Don’t Laugh At Me” Anti-Bullying Program

Recognition Celebration and Workshops at the Capitol Nov. 9th and 10th 2004

On November 9th and 10th the Quad City Area Labor-Management Council sponsored a recognition celebration events and workshops at the Capitol Theater and Kahl Educational Center for 750 students who have gone through the "Don't Laugh At Me" anti-bullying program in their schools. Over the past two years QCALM has provided training for over 300 teachers, youth educators and volunteers on how to implement the “Don’t Laugh At Me” anti-bullying program.

These high-energy events featured special guest Steve Seskin, author of the book and song “Don’t Laugh At Me” which launched this anti-bullying program. Other performers include Ellis Kell and Olenka. The students sang a new hip hop version of the song and their enthusiastic voiced were recorded and can be heard at and downloaded from www.olenka.com/specialevents . Breakdancer Fernando Cruz used this new version to teach break dancing and the students from his workshop performed for the entire cheering assembly at the close of the event. Other educational and fun interactive workshops for the students included music, art and writing with presenters like Ralph Iaccarino, Jill Esbaum, Julie (Jensen) McDonald, Kunhild Blacklock, Joe Nobiling, Max Molleston, Jeanne O’Melia, and Native American music and storytelling for the whole assembly by Larry Lockwood.

This event, sponsored by QCALM, was provided at no charge to the students though generous donors such as Riverboat Development Authority, The Figge Foundation, Scott County Regional Authority, Quad City Arts, C. D. Wiman Trust, Roy E. Murray Trust, Lujack's Northpark Auto Plaza, Hungry Hobo, The Dispatch, The Rock Island Argus,and The Leader and Review Printing Co.

The “Don’t Laugh At Me” events included a fundraiser on Monday, November 8th, from 5 to7:30 at the River Music Experience, featuring Steve Seskin, Ellis Kell, Olenka, and Boys and Girls Club break dancers, Fernando Cruz, Jose Cruz, Erik Cruz and Isaac Mendez.

Poster-making workshop

125 EDUCATORS TRAINED IN FILLED-TO-CAPACITY ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAM

The May 3rd and 4th, 2004, training for the anti-bullying program “Don’t Laugh at Me”, facilitated by Jane Harrison of Operation Respect and sponsored by the Quad City Area Labor-Management Council, was filled to capacity. As extra tables were rolled in to accommodate the high numbers of registrants, many other interested educators had to be turned away and put on waiting lists for next season. 125 teachers, counselors, and youth worker volunteers are now equipped with strategies and materials, including workbooks, videos, and CDs, to bring this inter-active program into classrooms, after-school programs, and even Headstart in the Quad Cities and as far as Clinton, Iowa, and Cambridge, Taylor Ridge and Monmouth, Il.

The program consists of various creative interactive activities, including music, drama, and creative writing, that help children develop empathy, integrity, initiative, teamwork, friendship, responsibility, common sense, and problem solving. These traits dovetail the Skills for Life and 40 Developmental Assets – character education programs already in use in the Quad Cities.

“A motto from one of the other QCALM programs is ‘Change is an inside job’, and I think that applies to the ‘Don’t Laugh at Me’ program, as well,” said program coordinator Alexandra Olenka Gadzik. “Whereas concepts from Skills for Life and the 40 Developmental Assets, when taken by themselves, are the results of a fundamental shift in the personality, ‘Don’t Laugh At Me’ uses the arts and intuitive, right-brain activities to help create that shift.”

The generous funding that QCALM has received to facilitate this program has come from the Bechtel Foundation, Quad City Arts Community Access, Riverboat Development Authority, Roy E. Murray Foundation Trust, Bituminous Casualty Corporation, and McCarthy Bush.

Quad City Area Labor-Management Council (QCALM) hosted its 12th Annual Golf Outing at Duck Creek Golf Course at 11 A.M. followed by a Steak Fry at the Duck Creek Lodge, Wednesday, September 8, 2004. This event was QCALM's major fund-raiser for the 2004-2005 year. This was a great opportunity for labor, management, our associates and community leaders to get together for a relaxing and un-filled afternoon of golf followed by refreshments & a steak fry! Spouses and guests were welcome.

Quad-City Area Labor-Management Council Announces Scholarship Recipients

Mark P. Temple

Mark will graduate from Muscatine High School. He would like to attend Milwaukee School of Engineering and major in construction management and architectural engineering. He served on the student council and was class president in 9th and 10th grades. He is presently employed by Mike Stych Builders and has helped with Habitat for Humanity. Mark is in the top 15% of his class and is participating in a work based learning program. He is a positive role model for the students in the school and has a good reputation in the community, according to Phillip Fitzgerald, Workplace Learning Coordinator.

Mary E. Lease

Mary will be a graduate of Davenport West High School. She has a GPA of 3.951 and plans to attend Iowa State. She would like to major in Communications with a Master Degree in Industrial Relations. She hopes to work for a large corporation in labor relations. Her guidance counselor who was also her 7th grade math teacher writes that “Mary Beth demonstrates poise, integrity and confidence. Her attitude is her greatest quality. She makes a 100% effort in both academic and extra curricular activities. She is involved in numerous extra curricular activities and sports and was this year’s home coming queen candidate. Mary Beth’s interest in labor relations was sparked by her grandfather, Bernard Gillooly, who was for a time operation manager for Davenport Oscar Mayer. She recounts visits with her grandfather where he shared war stories of numerous contract negotiations with then president of District Local 431, UFCW, Louis De Frieze. Mary Beth’s grandfather spoke highly of Louis De Frieze and his professionalism and the manner in which management & labor were able to come to the bargaining table hammering out their differences and reach a contract which was mutually beneficial to each side.

QCALM PRESENTS AWARDS HONORING EXEMPLARY LABOR-MANAGEMENT COOPERATION

The Quad-City Area Labor-Management Council held its 15th Annual Awards presentation at The Lodge, Bettendorf, Iowa, Thursday, March 11, 2004, during our Annual Conference “Developing a High Performance Work Culture”. The 2003 Exemplary Labor-Management Cooperation Award were given to outstanding nominees. QCALM annually presents the Labor-Management Cooperation awards to local employers and unions demonstrating exemplary cooperating during the past year.

2003 Recipients

Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. and United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1546
John Deere Davenport Works and United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 281
Cab Division
John Deere Davenport Works and United Auto Workers Local 281
Wotan 3R Machining Center
Kathie Womack, Coordinator, QC Tri-County VoTech Regions
For her dedicated service to Labor and Management

From 2001 through 2003 Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc. and the UFCW have worked towards a number of efforts that would benefit each and every team member employed at the Joslin plant. Primary benefit is the respect they have come to give each other on a daily basis and respecting each others position. They have implemented joint training on important issues that impact their industry. They’ve worked together as good community partners. They worked together to raise over $6,000.00 in less than a week for a family who was involved in a life threatening fire. Assistance was also given with health insurance premiums. They raised over 5.000 pounds of canned goods to furnish the communities food pantries. Tyson matched this by providing 5,000 pounds of fresh meat products for the pantries.

They worked together to raise $15,000.00 for the “Great American Bake Sale”. The team members raised 25% of the amount donated to “Share our Strength” corporate wide. Our community received 37,000 pounds of chicken donated to local food pantries and meal sites. Last summer 8,000 team members and their families enjoyed a day at the Rock Island County Fair sponsored by labor and management. The day was filled with rides, food and laughter. They challenged management and labor to accomplish best practices in their workplace. They believe that although there may be differences it is the mutual respect and efforts made by all parties that will continue to provide long term results.

The Cab Division at John Deere Davenport Works experienced quality and delivery problems with the Backhoe Loader Side Console. With the potential of this part being resourced to another supplier, the backhoe assembly line requested the opportunity to bid on the work. In order to bid on this work, Jeff Fullmer, from the assembly line and Rom Rosario, Assembly Engineer tore down four side consoles and reassembled the consoles to establish the labor cost and the bid was moved forward based on their findings. Based on their proposal, the side console assembly was given to the Cab Division. Once the decision was made to assemble in house, it took less than a week for all parts and equipment to be transferred to the Davenport works. They modified the equipment to fit into the manufacturing space temporarily until operations were moved to a permanent location approximately two week later. Since then, the group has improved the quality of the side console and has met the cost estimate and continues to make improvement to the operation. This project required a significant amount of labor-management cooperation to meet the needs of the organization. It is a new and profitable works for the Cab Division and assists in meeting schedules, controlling cost and managing the quality of the product.

Wotan 3R Machining Center is a critical part of the production process for building the 4-wheel drive loaders. The machining center had three wotans, one recently refurbished and two older that were in need of replacement and were later discarded. These machines make frames for the loader assembly. Without the frames the entire production process and loader assembly line would by delayed or even shut down. If this were to occur it would affect customer delivery. They worked together with Wotan Maquinas LTDA Brazil to refurbish the old machine to a like new condition. Some of the results achieved were: Provided Skilled Trades employees with expertise and knowledge of the equipment. Increased Machine reliability reduced maintenance costs and increased production capacity (25%). Refurbished machine to like new condition resulting in a substantial cost savings. Employees were energized, passionate and had fun while producing extraordinary results. Employees made decisions, kept their word and realized it was up to every employee to accomplish the goal. Employees respected each other and created benefits for the workplace. Communication between Wotan representatives was an issue when the project started. This was resolved by the team when a second shift mechanic who is fluent in Spanish traded shifts with a first shift mechanic. The result was a tremendous improvement to communications which sped up the installation of the project. The first shift mechanic went to second shift which he did not have to do for the good of the company and the team.

Kathie Womack is a team player who’s always willing to go a little extra in whatever project she is involved in. She is dedicated to her job and the students in her region. She is involved in the Career Fest that gives students an opportunity to meet with professionals and have hands on experience. She has opened doors for collective bargaining training to be offered to high school students. She knows the true meaning of partnership and has worked with QCALM in numerous School-to-Work endeavors. She served on the original feasibility committee to bring School-to-Work to the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce. She is a QCALM Board member and had served 17 years in an advisory capacity to QCALM.

Quad-City Area Labor-Management Council
Rock Island Arsenal Bldg. #56, P.O. Box 1365
Moline, IL 61266-1365