LOCAL MEMBERSHIP
MEETING
OCTOBER 6, 1998
(It Came, It Went)
The normal order of business was interrupted to allow two (2)
representatives from the AFL-CIO to give a special presentation. The two
representatives gave a spirited talk to encourage the members to become
involved in the national election this year. It was downhill after
that!
The President called the meeting to order and that "union train"
rolled right down the tracks almost as quick as it has ever rolled. The budget
for the next fiscal year (Oct. 1, '98 thru Sept. 30, '99) was approved with
nary a whimper let alone a question. This action of the membership (all 50-60
of them) gives the local's administration a cool million to do with as they
please. [From my perspective it would be fine if the bankroll were used for the
greater good of all instead of the greater good of a few].
The "Queen of
Hearts" (President) gave her standard report. [Return to the
meeting
index and pick a month to see what she reported this month]. The
Secretary-Treasurer mentioned the budget (already approved). There were two (2)
Committee reports:
Equity Committee reported on it's mission to
investigate the alleged acts of racism lodged by members Boyd, Clark and Hill
at the last (August '98) meeting and the removal of Sylvia Boyd as a Steward.
On the allegation of racism and/or racist remarks the committee found no
evidence of this type of behavior after their investigation. There was a brief
splash of laughter heard by this reporter around this time. Why did this come
as no surprise?
Regarding Sylvia Boyd stewardship: The committee
reported that she was removed because of complaints and refusal to abide by the
direction of the local (whatever that means). It was done according to the
Bylaws of the local. At this point there was a motion to accept the report of
the Equity Committee which was seconded. A question was asked about the Bylaws
and a committee member read the section regarding the duties of the President
and actions taken by the President with respect to appointment and/or removal
of stewards. The committee member explained that the Executive Board was there
to "approve the shit" the President does! The motion then carried. [It should
be noted that the Equity Committee included several members the complainants
had made the allegations about!]
Old business was the 'membership
identification' issue from the last meeting. It had been handed off to the
Executive Board to come up with a plan to insure that guests or visitors would
not be voting on issues that might 'upset the apple cart'! The plan developed
by the Executive Board was to have a card check to gain admittance. If there
was a close vote on an issue there would be a division of the house and all
guests would be asked to remain seated.
Under 'New business' came the
other Committee Report. The report from the Legislative Committee came in the
form of a couple of motions. The first was to donate $1 per member to the
"Labor '98 Program" for election year '98. The motion passed. The second was to
donate enough money in lost time wages (LTW) to allow for a person to be off
full time for 17 days to work with the Central Labor Council as needed. Several
questions were asked regarding who it would be. (there were a few volunteers).
This (questions and volunteers) is what probably led to the defeat of the
motion.
After we sashayed into 'Good & Welfare' a member who had
been 'asleep at the wheel' (or so he stated) during the acceptance of the
Executive Board actions had a couple of concerns. [The Executive Board had
approved an expenditure of $25 per member, in the form of a certificate, to be
redeemed at a local supermarket chain. The certificates would be given to each
member contingent upon them coming to the local office to pick it up.] In a
rare show of humanitarianism he wanted to make sure any member who had a
pending grievance over a termination would get their certificate. He said there
were a few terminations that were still in the grievance process. Since they
would no longer be on the records as members, they might be deprived of their
certificate or somebody would complain because a certificate was given to
someone who was not on the membership list. [Rest easy readers, the members
agreed that anyone under those conditions would get their
certificate!]
The meeting adjourned around 8PM.