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August 17, 2007
Volume 07 No 32
MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
6:30 p.m.
Local Office—5321 First Place NE, Washington, D.C.
(Walking Distance from Ft. Totten Metro Stop)
CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SERVICES
"Wage Increase"
Effective back on July 1, 2007, it was agreed upon by the agency
and the union that the annual increase (2%) would be increased by
another .5% as a result of significant movement in the CPI-W.
Article 6, Section 1 of the general agreement calls for the
discussion between the agency and the union in the event the CPI
exceeds the agreed upon percentage by one percent. As a result, it
was agreed by both parties that the 2.5% increase effective July 1,
2007 was reasonable.
EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT UPDATE
"Governors Urge Passage"
In a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and
Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 18 Democratic governors called on
the U.S. Senate to support the Employee Free Choice Act and urged
the lawmakers to restore workers’ rights:
| Bill Ritter, Colorado |
Jon Corzine, New Jersey |
| Rod Blagojevich, Illinois |
Bill Richardson, New Mexico |
| Chet Culver, Iowa |
Eliot Spitzer, New York |
| Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas |
Ted Strickland, Ohio |
| John Baldacci, Maine |
Ted Kulongoski, Oregon |
| Martin O’Malley, Maryland |
Edward G. Rendell, Pennsylvania |
| Deval Patrick, Massachusetts |
Chris Gregoire, Washington |
| Jennifer Granholm, Michigan |
Joe Manchin, III, West Virginia |
| Brian Schweitzer, Montana |
Jim Doyle, Wisconsin |
UNION MEMBER RIGHTS
"Under the LMRDA"
The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA)
guarantee certain rights to union members and impose certain
responsibilities on union officers. The Office of Labor-Management
Standards (OLMS) enforces many LMRDA provisions while other
provisions, such as the bill of rights, may only be enforced by
union members through private suit in Federal court.
Bill of Rights – Union members have:
- Equal rights to participate in union activities
- Freedom of speech and assembly
- Voice in setting rates of dues, fees, and assessments
- Protection of the right to sue
- Safeguards against improper discipline
Copies of Collective Bargaining Agreements – Union members
and nonunion employees have the right to receive or inspect copies
of collective bargaining agreements.
Reports – Unions are required to file an initial information
report (Form LM-1), copies of constitutions and bylaws, and an
annual financial report (ForMLM-2/3/4) with OLMS. Unions must make
the reports available to members and permit members to examine
supporting records for just cause. The reports are public
information and copies are available from OLMS
Officer Elections – Union members have the right to:
- Nominate candidates for office
- Run for office
- Cast a secret ballot
- Protest the conduct of an election
Officer Removal – Local union members have the right to an
adequate procedure for the removal of an elected officer guilty of
serious misconduct.
Trusteeships – Unions may only be placed in trusteeship by a
parent body for the reasons specified in the LMRDA.
Prohibition Against Certain Discipline – A union or any of
its officials may not fine, expel, or otherwise discipline a member
for exercising any LMRDA right.
Prohibition Against Violence – No one may use or threaten to
use force or violence to interfere with a union member in the
exercise of LMRDA rights. |
