At the April 2010 meeting I placed an amendment to our Constitution and By-Laws on the floor with the intention of providing real relief to the many unemployed members of our Local.I was under the impression that our leadership would be happy to be proactive the same way our International was when it voted to waive the $35.00 in monthly Per Capita fees to all unemployed members throughout the country.It was my hope that this measure would be debated and voted on at the June meeting which would be well attended due to our General Election taking place on the same day.If the amendment was passed, it would have provided immediate relief for unemployed members for the 3rd quarter starting in July.The combination of this amendment and the PC Tax relief would lower an out of work members Dues to roughly $10.00 per quarter provided they fit the criteria laid out in the language below.Unfortunately,at the sparsely attended May meeting, Brother Lenny Legotte passed a motion to suspend the June meeting thus killing the vote until September.No chance of relief for the unemployed until the 4th quarter.That extra $405.00 would have surely helped our out of work members buy some groceries.Since the amendment is STILL nowhere to found on the "Official" Local One website, I have posted it below:

 ARTICLE IV : DUES, FINES & ASSESSMENTS

ORIGINAL LANGUAGE:

SECTION 7. A member being incapable, from any unavoidable cause, to pay his dues, fines or other monies, shall report his case to the Secretary-Treasurer, in person or in writing. The members may exempt him from paying the same by a two-thirds vote or grant time extension.

Whereas: the current dues structure places a financial burden upon an unemployed member.

Be it resolved:

Any member in good standing who has been employed less than 80 hours in any calender month for any of the following reasons: Laid off for lack of work, Disabled due to any injury whether work related or not, or Disabled due to long term illness, shall be required to pay only Per Capita Tax fees to the International Union and any other Per Capita Tax fees to other trade organizations the Local pays on the members behalf in its jurisdiction for that calender month. The member shall retain all rights as a member in good standing under this provision.

The Per Capita fee schedule shall be furnished to any member on demand.

The member will only be obligated to pay the Emergency Relief and Death Benefit assessments. No other assessments shall be levied for the length of the members unemployment.

In the case of unemployment due to lack of work, the member must be ready, willing and able to work and seeking employment through the hiring hall. Any member who refuses a job referral in His/Her class shall not be eligible for dues relief under this section.

In the case of disability due to injury or long term illness, the Secretary-Treasurer may request the member furnish supporting documents signed by an M.D.

If you are unemployed or know a brother or sister that is, tell them to attend the September 2010 meeting to participate in the debate and cast their vote.

Congradulations too all the newly elected officials!!!!!

 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE NEWLY ELECTED OFFICIALS.

RESULTS OF ELECTIONS

VICE PRESIDENT/BUSINESS AGENT: 

                                      NY           NJ       TOT

Gary Riefenhauser             1115       450       1565

Fred McCourt                     1085      486       1571

Denis Kilduff                     1048      474       1522

Steve Mazza                      965       431       1396

Mike Stanley                     488        111       599

Charles Novak                   501        124       635

EXAMING BOARD

Tom Whooley                   956             438          1383

Tommy Coyne                   376             111          487

Rob Mazza                       1026            461         1487

Brendan Loftus                 946             437          1383

CORRESSPONDENT

Dan Andrews                    870             430          1300

Dan Kuhn                         321             63            394

Kerry is one of the goods guys.  I wish him the best.  Bobby Adams also sends his wishes for a speedy recovery. 

I would like to wish Kerry a speedy recovery. I would also like to wish everyone running for office Thursday good luck.

I would also like to wish Kerry Connolly a speedy recovery

While I had hoped to see this amendment debated and voted on at the now suspended June meeting,I am compelled by Brother Tom Murphy's questions about the proposed Constitutional change to respond in this forum:

1) Don't unemployed union members now pay half dues if they are experiencing long term unemployment.

I can only answer this based on my own experiences of 27 years in Local 1 and having dealt with the policies of this administration as well as and previous ones. As of now the existing language (from 1959) in our Constitution and By-Laws states:

A member being incapable, from any unavoidable cause, to pay his dues, fines or other monies, shall report his case to the Secretary-Treasurer, in person or in writing. The members may exempt him from paying the same by a two-thirds vote or grant time extension.

While I personally don't recall any votes on a members inability to pay their dues, the above language might have very well been the standard practice in granting dues relief for many years prior to the last major work slowdown in the early 1990's when the policy was that members were expected to pay full dues or risk expulsion. However, that was offset by the working members being assessed to cover the extended medical benefits for unemployed members. If you remained in good standing, then at least you didn't have to cover your medical benefits on top of your dues. Once work started to pick up, the assessment was dropped and anyone who was still unemployed was allowed to pay whatever they could afford to until they were back to work. When the member returned to employment, they were expected to pay the balance of what they were in arrears for within a few weeks of their return to work. As the Locals administrations changed, so too did the policy.

Currently. The Local grants dues relief to those members who request it in writing after they are unemployed for more than 6 months, which is down from the 12 months that was the previous standard. The Secretary-Treasurer then reads the names to the membership at a general meeting and, barring any protests from the members present, relief is granted. The unemployed member must pay half dues in order to remain in good standing. Half dues rounds out to $160.00 per quarter because of the IUEC internationals foresight to eliminate Per Capita Tax ($100.00 per quarter) for all unemployed members across the country for 1 year. Otherwise, half dues would be $260.00.

If the amendment passes, an unemployed member that meets the criteria set forth in the language of said amendment, will only be obligated to pay $10.00 per quarter (after speaking to Brother Mike Riegger, he confirmed that the Locals Per Capita Tax to our other affiliates amounts to roughly $10.00 per member quarterly) for the balance of 2010. If the International reinstates the Per Capita Tax in 2011, then the out of work member will be obligated to pay $110.00 per quarter plus the Death Benefit and Emergency Relief assessments to remain in good standing. Every member will know their obligations in advance of any lay off, injury or illness and no longer be subject to the whims of any future administrations.

 2) What would the economic impact of this dues decrease be to members who are working. Logically it would follow that the dues of working members would have to be raised to offset the loss of revenue to keep the union solvent.

If you follow the logic that the members must foot the bill for everything, then yes, something might have to be done to make up for the loss of revenue. However, if our elected official's “think outside the box” as they like to say, then I am sure that they could find areas of the Locals approximately $1.7 Million dollar payroll or $3.8 Million in operating costs to trim and make up for any loss of revenue. Should our Officers lack the will to do so, future amendments by the membership could do the job for them. It's important to remember that they work for us, the members, and not the other way around. Our Union is a Democracy. The membership has the power to determine via motions, votes and amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws the salaries and number of officers the Local needs to maintain the efficient representation of its members. Take a look for yourself at http://erds.dol-esa.gov/query/ . With a few keystrokes and clicks any member can see for themselves Local 1's expenses as well as compare our costs and dues structure to any other Local in the IUEC as well as the Internationals operating costs. The LM-2's for the last 7 years are there for anyone to see.

3)(a) How much of an increase would working members have to absorb?

In my opinion, NONE. I believe all the members, working or otherwise, have given enough. Just because a member is employed doesn't mean that they are not feeling the pinch of our sputtering economy. Project Labor Agreements, furloughs and forced vacations are just a few examples of what the working members are dealing with. All Apprentices were hit 2 years ago with a dues increase based on Construction Journeyman wages. Our Officers should be looking for ways to trim expenses. If this amendment passes and acts as an impetus for cost cutting , then it will also serve to benefit our Treasury when the work situation improves. If the working members are expected to do more with less in the field, then why shouldn't our Officers be expected to do the same. Regardless, and this is important to note, any dues increase would have to be made by an amendment to Article IV Section 1 of our current Constitution and By-Laws (again at http://erds.dol-esa.gov/query/ ) which would require a 2/3 majority vote of all members present at the third reading to pass. The other alternative would be to assess the working members. That would also require a majority vote by secret ballot. Either way, the membership has the power to determine its own dues structure, not the Officers, who are employed by the members.

3)(b)Also in the interests of full transparency the person who is proposing this change should disclose that he will benefit economically from the change being enacted.

I think what you mean by “Transparency” is “Full Disclosure”. Since I have been laid off since June 2009, the answer is yes, I will. So will the several hundred other unemployed members of our Union struggling to pay their bills and medical coverage premiums. That extra $50.00 a month in our wallets would certainly help out with the groceries.

Transparency is another matter entirely, best taken up with our Officers. Why do the members need to search this website and others to get information that should be made available on the Locals “Official” website? I'm aware of our Officers claim that the unemployment list was stripped due to managements “cherry picking” for new hires, but what's the excuse for not posting the amendment in the secure area? Or the LM-2's? That is transparency. Better yet, why not post the formula that determines the Officers salaries and expenses? What's the worst that could happen? Management asking Corporate for a raise?

The amendment vote will take place at the September 2010 meeting. Our General Election vote will take place June 17, 2010. All the current Officers and Candidates will be there asking for your vote. It will be the members opportunity to ask them where they stand and why.

Stay Interested, involved and Informed.

I would like to wish brother Kerry Connolly on a speedy recovery. Kerry had triple bypass surgery on friday. The bypass went well and THE K-MAN is on his way to recovery. K-MAN we miss you my brother over at Schindler. Get well soon.....WORK SAFE BROTHERS.

Thanks Joe for another great trip.

Hello Mike, I couldn't agree more with your post. If elected, I intend to share our local events in the constructor. I am counting on some input from our brothers and sisters so I can report the good things we do, rallies,parades picnics and charities ect..Work Safe   Dan andrews

1. To all running for office opposed, Goodluck I know all of you have this locals best interests at heart. I need to address the two correspondents that are running. The job you are seeking is a tough one because you have to go out (yes out) to union functions and cover OUR guys and gals in this union. You are a roving reporter not a couch potato reading articles on line or watching the news waiting for some item that might concern the union man. It is not a place to excercise your first amendment right ither. This is called "Local Roundup" for a reason. The membership wants to hear about the members they don't see regularly or the retirement parties they couldn't make. Get on your soap box somewhere else as far as I am concerned and let's get back to some solid reporting like Carl Debellas did and other good union men.
2.   Good luck to whoever and I hope you heed my words. For unions sake!

ORIGINAL LANGUAGE:

SECTION 7. A member being incapable, from any unavoidable cause, to pay his dues, fines or other monies, shall report his case to the Secretary-Treasurer, in person or in writing. The members may exempt him from paying the same by a two-thirds vote or grant time extension.

Whereas: the current dues structure places a financial burden upon an unemployed member.

Be it resolved:

Any member in good standing who has been employed less than 80 hours in any calender month for any of the following reasons: Laid off for lack of work, Disabled due to any injury whether work related or not, or Disabled due to long term illness, shall be required to pay only Per Capita Tax fees to the International Union and any other Per Capita Tax fees to other trade organizations the Local pays on the members behalf in its jurisdiction for that calender month. The member shall retain all rights as a member in good standing under this provision.

The Per Capita fee schedule shall be furnished to any member on demand.

The member will only be obligated to pay the Emergency Relief and Death Benefit assessments. No other assessments shall be levied for the length of the members unemployment.

In the case of unemployment due to lack of work, the member must be ready, willing and able to work and seeking employment through the hiring hall. Any member who refuses a job referral in His/Her class shall not be eligible for dues relief under this section.

In the case of disability due to injury or long term illness, the Secretary-Treasurer may request the member furnish supporting documents signed by an M.D.

Over the next couple of weeks you will no doubt be visited by officers and candidates running in the General Election. I urge you to ask them what their position is on this measure and what they have done or intend to do to help our unemployed Brothers and Sisters.

Tomorrow is June 1 and we still haven't received our year ending 2009 annuity statement.  I know they use an abacus to calculate the return, and I guess they must use the Pony Express to send them out.  I would have fired the people who are in charge of our annuity 15 years ago.  Hopefully we will receive our 2009 statement and even our first quarter 2010 statement before the summer officially starts.

The death toll in Afghanistan has just reached 1000 this week. Please remember that this is the reason for the holiday on Monday. Also remember all of the other BRAVE men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we enjoy today. Freedom is not Free!!!

Take some time and think about all of our BROTHERS and SISTERS(LOCAL ONE) that are hurting real bad right now. Don't be scared to call one of them and see how they are doing. Maybe you can take them grocery shopping, etc. It might make you feel good. Try it!!!

GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!!