Director of Communications Richard Kline and International Representative Hector Sanchez recently met with offi cers and members of Local Union 77 as they toured the Owens Corning Corporation plant in Delmar, New York.

The facility, located on Feura Bush Road in Delmar, opened in 1976, sits on 300 acres and has two production lines that run 365 days per year. GMP Local 77 members have been making fi berglass insulation at the Delmar plant since 1977.

As Kline and Sanchez toured the plant, they spoke with GMP members at their workstations and learned about the members’ concerns. Currently, one line is down and over a hundred GMP members are laid off. These conditions are the result of a housing market decline.

Local 77 builds unity among its members by supporting such events as: the local United Way Campaigns, an annual golf outing that raises funds for the Labor Parade held each year in Albany, New York, and the “Hands on Capital Land” project in which volunteers go out into the community helping with various projects. The local union sends delegates to the Albany County Federation of Labor (ACCFL) and is also active with the Albany Advisory Board to the Occupational and Environmental Health Center (OEHC). Local Union 77 President Robert Krisanda sits on the Executive Board of the Capital District Area Labor Federation (CDALF).

This past August 2007, Owens Corning Corporation in Delmar, New York, celebrated 30 years of operation by hosting an open house picnic.

Approximately 320 GMP Local 77 members are employed at the Owens Corning Delmar facility. The offi cers of Local 77 are - President Robert Krisanda, Vice President Steven Rekemeyer, Recording Secretary Mike McCormick and Financial Secretary-Treasurer Louis Smith. Local 77 was chartered in 1977. The Local 77 Union Hall is located on Third Street in Albany, New York.

Seen here at his workstation during the tour of the Owens Corning facility in Delmar, NY, is Mark Prignon (packaging operator assistant). (L-R): Dave Marble (POA) and Mike Gilday (packaging operator).

Paul Wolf (packaging operatormachine). Andy Marro (quality control) and Local 77 President Bob Krisanda. Bill Piternick and Tom Geraldsen (maintenance technicians). (L-R): Krisanda, Sanchez and Local 77 Vice President Steve Rekemeyer.

(L-R): Krisanda, Mark Fitzgerald (maintenance technician) and International Representative Hector Sanchez. Kevin Kennedy (packaging operator).

Dick Seebode (warehouse). (L-R) Sanchez, Local 77 President Krisanda and production operator assistants Mike Johnas, Andy Paloga and Carl Neal. Wes Wellington (maintenance technician) and Krisanda. Jim Martley (auto shop maintenance technician). Sanchez, Gary Stone (production operator assistant) and Krisanda. Maintenance Technicians at lunch. Tim Pasieka (training committee department). (L-R): Krisanda, Sanchez, Eric Crump (Production Manager) and Tony Williams (HR Leader). Dave Winans and Gary Auclaire, both in the training committee department, and Krisanda.

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