local 1-2 · september membership meeting was ... meeting to build on this momen ... some of our...
TRANSCRIPT
2
The RecordUtility Worker Union of America,
AFL-CIO, Local 1-2
Harry J. FarrellPresident
Andrew O'ConnellVice President
Lucia E. PaganoSecretary-Treasurer
Senior Business AgentsJohn Capra
Robert FarrellJames Slevin
Business AgentsPaul Albano Bruce Farina
Dominic MarzulloAnthony Pedagna
James ShillittoRobert K. Stahl
Darryl TaylorAnthony Vallone
Lisa Vella
Financial ObserversStephen AndrewsLawrence FlynnShawn James
Executive Board Chairman - Richard McNally
Secretary - Donald Weidmann
Paul Caminiti Norman RussellVito Carbonara Raymond SherwoodDorothy Curry William SmithEmilio Frederick James SprySalvatore Guercio John StadtmullerSean Hearte Rocco Talarico Christopher Katzmann Justo Vega Vincent Kyne Richard VelocciLinda Lesnewski Marc VingelliDesmond J. Loughran Frank Vivola John MacNeill Robert VuonoJoseph Mussillo Jean Washington
Thomas Zummo
EditorHarry J. Farrell
YYoouurr VViieewwssAAnndd CCoommmmeennttss AArree WWeellccoommee
The American Labor Movementhas consistently demonstrated itsdevotion to the public interest. It
is, and has been, good for allAmerica.
-- John F. Kennedy
TTHHEE RREECCOORRDDLLOOCCAALL 11--22 Vol. LXI, No. 523
November 2011
THE UNION’S ON YOUR SIDEBy Wayne McCallum (2006)
In an age of no values, no shelter, nofriends
No rest or harbor for the working menWhere women work streets and children
are slavesWhere the bosses will work you till
you're dead in your graveIf you want your freedom you'll need to
fightYou'll need good help as you push for
your rightsJoin together and stand there with pride
You've got the union on your side
November 2011 Book:Book 10/4/2011 10:51 AM Page 2
3
FROM THE DESK OF ……HARRY J. FARRELL – PRESIDENT, LOCAL
FROM THE DESK OF ……HARRY J. FARRELL – PRESIDENT, LOCAL 1-2
Brothers and Sisters.Over the next eight months whatwe do, how we do it, and howunited we are will determine thefuture - maybe even the contin-ued existence - of Local 1-2 aswe look toward 2012 contractnegotiations with Con Edison,our largest employer.
We have made a goodbeginning, starting with theLocal’s record attendance at thisyear’s Labor Day Parade. Thetremendous turnout at theSeptember Membership Meetingwas heartening, too, as we gearup for what is shaping up to bethe most combative, contentiousand perilous negotiations wehave ever faced.
At the same time, the all-day By-law vote was a tremen-dous showing as well. The pro-posed By-laws were reported outof committee and recommendedfor passage, and were favored
by a vote of nearly 2-to-1 at thepolls. Our existing By-laws,though, require that any new By-law must pass by a two-thirdsmajority to be enacted.
Most of you understoodthe need for the proposed By-laws, including keeping yourelected leadership at workshould a smaller bargaining unitbe forced to strike. The over-whelming majority also voted togrant the Executive Board theability to fill a vacancy, subject toapproval by the Membership.
These measures missedby less than three dozen votes,even though they had over-whelming Membership support.You have spoken at the ballotbox.
While there is no time forsecond-guessing, the voting wasmarred by a vicious, cowardlycampaign of disinformation thatwas fomented by “anonymous”Member(s), who did not havethe guts or intellectual integrityto stand-up and voice theiropposition in public. For thisalone, they should be con-demned. Nobody likes a Rat, letalone one who hides in the darkcorners.
So, I urge you, Brothers
and Sisters, to attend theNovember Membership Meeting.Stand-up and be counted! It isonly by working together for thegood of all that our Union canremain strong and united.
We need a record turnoutat our November MembershipMeeting to build on this momen-tum. Without all of us joiningtogether and sticking together,Con Ed will attempt to makemincemeat out of us all and ourCollective BargainingAgreement.
How do we know this?The signs are all around you.
Here are some examples:Con Ed removes off-street park-ing for Members at the BrooklynThird Avenue Yard, then sendsout a memo reminding everyoneto rely on public transportation,then tries to call in everyone todeal with Tropical Storm Irene-when ALL public transit hadbeen shut in a 100 mile radius-and then suspends Memberswho could not get to the Yard.
(Continued page 4)
November 2011 Book:Book 10/4/2011 10:51 AM Page 3
4
Or, did any senior Con Edmanagers have to answer for thetragic accident at the LearningCenter in Queens this summerwhen one of our Brothers nearlypaid the ultimate price becauseof a lack of safety controls andoversight? The answer to thatquestion is a resounding “No!”That’s right, not one person insenior management - where theypreach “Safety First” - has had toanswer for a near fatality.
On the other hand, if youcan’t get to work because publictransportation is out? That’s asuspension.
And do not forget thatwhile the Con Ed bosses areconcentrating on nickel-and-dim-ing you on the street, they’resending lawyers to the PublicService Commission to try toram through a Rate Case by the
end of the year. Why? Con Ed isvery frank in that answer, theywant the paper work all wrappedup before they enter negotiationswith Local 1-2.
In other words, Con Ed isclearing its decks and gettingready for war.
If Con Ed is going downthat road, shame on Local 1-2 ifwe do not respond in kind.
This is why, over the nexteight months, we will be mount-ing the “Whatever It Takes” cam-paign.
Do not forget, that out ofall the trade unions, what setsapart the Brothers and Sisters ofUWUA Local 1-2, is that we lookout for each other. We have eachothers’ backs. And now, as neverbefore, our pledge to you is thatwe will do “Whatever It Takes” todeliver to you, our Brothers and
Sisters, the best return we canfor the work that you do.
But Local 1-2 leadershipcannot do it alone. We needeach of you to join in the fight todo “Whatever It Takes” to seethat we are treated fairly and withdignity in the workplace.
It is only by stickingtogether, it is only by showing aunited front, and it is only bylooking out for one another thatwe will prevail.
Look for continuing Local1-2 “Whatever It Takes” updatesover the coming months.
Apathy is lethal. Getinvolved. Show up for Local 1-2.Show up for your jobs, your fam-ilies, and your country. Be willingto do “Whatever It Takes.”
FROM THE DESK OF …… cont’dHARRY J. FARRELL – PRESIDENT, LOCAL 1-2
THE LABOR MOVEMENTYOU KNOW -
THE FOLKS WHO BROUGHTYOU THE WEEKEND.
IT’S YOUR UNION, GET INVOLVED!
November 2011 Book:Book 10/4/2011 10:51 AM Page 4
The state of the Union is
of great concern to all.
However, the state of your
union, Local 1-2 is what you
expect to read when you look at
this publication. Therefore, I will
not bore you with facts and fig-
ures that can easily be Googled
on the internet.
As President Farrell has
stated, we are in the fight of our
lives. Every day you deal with
arrogance and frustration while
trying to do your jobs. It’s no
different as a Local 1-2 officer.
We feel that same pain.
Remember it is us that you
have elected to represent you
and that means when you’re
hurting we are too.
Our employers hurt us
by administering discipline. The
grievance and arbitration
process is how we as a Union
have agreed to resolve our dif-
ferences with our employers.
This process is relatively the
same no matter what collective
bargaining agreement you are
bound by. It is imperative that
you fill out a grievance and initi-
ate the grievance process if
you’ve been denied a benefit
that you’re entitled to or if you
feel you’ve been treated unfairly
by your employer.
It does not stop here, your
Union has an obligation to
move this grievance through
the steps in an attempt to reach
a settlement. If no settlement
has been reached, the Union
then makes a decision to either
bring the grievance to arbitra-
tion or not. Whatever that deci-
sion is, you as a grievant will be
notified.
The overall cost of pro-
cessing a grievance and bring-
ing it to arbitration is rarely con-
sidered. However, these costs
mount quickly and in these eco-
nomic times, we as a Union are
struggling with managing those
costs as well. We have a
responsibility to you to expedite
the settling of grievances as
well as keeping down costs
which ultimately keeps those
inevitable dues increases to a
minimum. Implementing and
sustaining a process that allows
this to happen is what I’ve done
and will continue to do. I can’t
do this alone I need help. I
need help from you, as well as
the Stewards and Agents who
process your grievances.
Together we can make a differ-
ence. Together we can make
the grievance and arbitration
process work the way it was
designed to.
Stay alert and stay alive.
5
FROM THE DESK OF ……ANDREW O’CONNELL – VICE-PRESIDENT, LOCAL 1-2
November 2011 Book:Book 10/4/2011 10:51 AM Page 5
10
NATIONAL INCOME LIFE INSURANCE CO.
Some of our Membership may not be aware that Local 1-2 provides a no-cost minimal death and dismemberment lifeinsurance policy to every Member (below). In turn, National Life Insurance Company, which holds the policy, mayoffer to sell additional coverage to individual Members. Like any other private insurance or investment, considerwhether such additional services are right for you and your family before making any purchase of added coverage.
November 2011 Book:Book 10/4/2011 10:52 AM Page 10
LOCAL 1-2UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA, A.F.L.- C.I.O.
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGPLACE: THE MASONIC HALL- GRAND LODGE ROOM
71 WEST 23TH STREET, 3RD FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY(BETWEEN 5TH & 6TH AVENUE)
DATE: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2011TIME: 6:15 P.M.
ADMISSION ONLY TO MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDINGBY UNION CARD OR COMPANY I.D. CARD
Fraternally,
Lucia E. PaganoSecretary-Treasurer
IT’S IMPORTANT
UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICALocal 1-2, Affiliated with AFL-CIO5 West 37th Street, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10018
DATED MATERIAL - DELIVER IMMEDIATELY
NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE
PAIDNEW YORK, N.Y.PERMIT NO. 1615
UNIONUNIONMEETINGMEETING
November 2011 Book:Book 10/4/2011 10:52 AM Page 20