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By-Law Results
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The Members Have Spoken
By Jim Trainor, Secretary
The Local 1101 Membership has voted to amend the current by-laws. The By-Law proposal as recommended has been overwhelmingly accepted by the membership. (see results)
The American Arbitration Association conducted the election. Ballots were mailed to every Member at their homes. Ballots were to be returned by January 11th and were to be counted on January 12th. The count was postponed due to the snowstorm until Thursday, January 13, 2011.
The democratic process, in which every Member has the right to vote, was carried out and the Members' voices will now be implemented. There are many opinions and opposing views concerning our by-laws, but, with the determination of the majority of your Executive Board, THE MEMBERSHIP'S OPINION AND VOTE IS THE FINAL VOICE WHICH DECIDES ON THE CHANGE TO OUR BY-LAWS.
Your Executive Board will now move to carry out the desire of the Membership. (See related story on CWA Prosecutor.) Every Member should respect the results of the referendum. The debate is over...the Membership has decided and, once again, the democratic process has prevailed.
It is time for us to move ahead with the important task of running the Local and preparing for the struggles and confrontations ahead. We have much work to do and we will need everyone's input and support.
In the summer of 2011, we will be engaged in contract negotiations with Verizon, Arms Acres and ConiferPark. Mobilization plans are now being developed and will be implemented in the months ahead.
In the upcoming Verizon negotiations, Angel Feliciano, Joe Manley and Jim Trainor have been elected to represent Local 1101. Angel will serve on the Regional Bargaining Team, which he's been a member of since 1998. This will be his 6th time at the table and his experience & knowledge of our contract is second to none. Joe Manley will serve on the Local Pant table and Jim Trainor will be responsible for Empire City Subway.
We are planning on beginning mobilization training in February & March for Verizon, Arms Acres and ConiferPark. Details will be made available shortly and Members will be notified by mail of your Local's plans. |
A Member's right to vote in the privacy of their home on issues that affect their union, which ultimately affects their livelihood, is sacrosanct. We believe our By-Laws are clear on this issue and we believe the Membership Meeting was conducted in accordance with the CWA Constitution and our By-Laws. Nothing should ever overturn the decision of the entire Membership.
The CWA Constitution and the Local 1101 By-Laws allow Members the right to appeal decisions of their Local Executive Board. Two Members filed charges against the Local Executive Board over the procedure at our November 23rd General Membership Meeting.
The agenda for the November 23rd General Membership Meeting included an explanation of the current By-Laws change proposal, which was conducted on January 13, 2011. The Local has not changed the By-Laws since 1983, and we wanted to ensure the meeting would be conducted in the most transparent way possible. We sought guidance form the Local's attorney as well as the National Union. We requested a parliamentarian for the meeting and were provided by CWA with a list of four Arbitrators from which to choose.
The Local chose Arbitrator Arthur Riegel to serve as the Parliamentarian and instructed him of the time and place for the General Membership Meeting. Mr. Riegel was provided with copies of our By-Laws and the CWA Constitution. The Executive Board met Mr. Riegel approximately 30 minutes before the start of the meeting. No one on the Executive Board had ever met Mr. Riegel prior to the November 23rd meeting. The purpose of Parliamentary Procedure is to:
- Ensure majority rule
- Protect the rights of the minority, the absentees and individual members
- Provide order, fairness and decorum
- Facilitate the transaction of business and expedite meetings
We sought the help of an arbitrator who had no ties to our Local or the National Union to be the Parliamentarian.
At the General Membership Meeting, a motion was made and passed unanimously to conduct a vote on the current By-Laws. The motion to have the By-Laws voted upon individually was adopted and the election was eventually conducted by the (AAA) American Arbitration Association.
Members have a right to appeal decisions, and the National Union has an obligation to adhere to the CWA Constitution. The Local will cooperate with the investigation and provide all documentation requested by the CWA prosecutor.
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Local 1101, CWA
275 Seventh Avenue (17th Floor)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 633-2666 FAX: (212) 633-8337
COMMUNICATIONS WORKERS OF AMERICA
THANK YOU!!!
We want to thank all of the Members who participated in our By-Laws referendum.
Whether you voted for or against the proposals you participated in the democratic process, which is the foundation of our Union.
Two sectors of our Local will have direct, elected representation for the first time, and that will strengthen our fight.
As we move forward from this vote, we must begin to prepare for the challenges that lay ahead. We must mobilize for our contracts with Verizon, Arms Acres, and ConiferPark. Those members have spoken and are ready for these fights. We as the leadership are prepared to do everything and anything it takes to secure good, fair contracts.
We must also all pull together now, and be the strong united Local we have always been. That will send a clear signal to all the employers, that, like any family, we may squabble, but when it comes time to take them on WE ARE ALL ONE.
Joe Connolly, AngelFeliciano,
President Executive Vice-President
Chairperson, By-Laws Committee
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CWA Local 1101
275 7th Ave., 17th Floor New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-633-2666
Fax: 212-633-8337 WORK SAFELY, DO A QUALITY JOB, BE ON THE JOB
AND DO YOUR OWN JOB. |
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