The City of Chicago had their Proposal Meeting at 4.30 pm right before the General Meeting. We were very disappointed in the turn out.  There were only about 60 people who showed up.  We feel you cannot complain especially about the contract if you don’t get involved.  We do understand and agree this was not the best time or day to have this meeting. That is why we requested in writing that the Present Executive Board have two more meetings.  One on a Friday night and one on a Sunday morning.  There was only a couple of Union Stewarts who showed up. They are supposed to bring your ideas to the table if you can not make it.  It is just very disappointing.  Another thing that bothered us was the so called slates that are running for office.  One slate proposed 3 changes.  The other slate didn’t even show up to this proposal meeting.  We were told later that that slate did hand in a couple of proposals at the general meeting.  Do they believe that the city of Chicago contract is a good one?  We sure do not.  That is why the Fighting For The Future Slate submitted 23 changes.  We came up with these changes after going through the contract book itself and talking with other members of our local.  We wish we would have had the time to talk with each member to get their input.  But until we win the next election, we will do the best we can.  The city of Chicago has the most members in our local and we need them to get involved to turn our local around.  We especially need all our members to come to the March 21, 2007 meeting at 6:30 pm, lower hall, to help us pass the 3 bylaw changes that are very important to all of our membership.  Here are the changes listed below:

726 BYLAW CHANGES

Number 1 

  

Section 10: Duties of thubmitted but did not read their one bylaw change.  This brought Brother Tenuto to his feet to ask a question. Why didn’t you read the bylaw change that you submitted? He asked.  Brother Tenuto said if you do not read the bylaw change, it cannot be voted on at the March meeting.  He was told he was correct, that the bylaw change was staying the same and nominations would be held at the October meeting for our election. 

One of the Brothers from the Tollway requested that the Present Executive Board show him how much money they spent going to the delegate election.  That was a good question.  Then he said he already knew but he wanted them to tell him.  If he already knew why didn’t he just tell us?  Then there was the usual back and forth between the Present Executive Board and this member.  Of course one of the Present Executive Board members who has nothing to do with this question had to interject and put his two cents in.  We wish this one particular Present Executive Board member would let the proper Executive Board member handle the questions.  Still we are trying to understand where this brother was going with this.  Maybe at the next meeting we will find out. 

Another Brother member from the Airport asked about his back pay.  He was told they were still checking into it.  He said you have it on your website; code 7182 gets back pay checks.  I am code 7182 where is my check?  They said they’d check into it.  He also requested that he be allowed to submit a letter with charges against a Union Stewart.  He submitted the letter and now we will see just how long it takes until they take care of this problem.

Brother Tenuto asked one of the Present Executive Board Members if after approximately one and a half years, if he ever filled out a grievance against CDOT about the 6 trucks still being driven by Laborers, Finishers and Carpenters.  He was told we are still talking with Management.  After a year and half of talking he was fed up.  He said I filled out a grievance on behalf of the members of Local 726, now you have a grievance.  Do something we are losing jobs all over the city to laborers and tradesmen.  We need to stop it now.  This Present Executive Board member just sat there with his mouth wide open. 

Another Brother Member from Towing was complaining about how they have been treated at work.  He has also asked for help because some drivers were being punished by not getting overtime in his department because they were on snow call.  He has asked about this since November and still nothing has been done or settled.  Snow season is almost over, so I guess that’s how they’re taking care of this problem.  I guess he does have a right to be pissed.

A Union Meeting is a place for all of us to get together, air our feelings and visions for our local.  By expressing yourselves in a union meeting, you keep everyone in touch with what is happening throughout our local.  We miss seeing people from all the other entities of our local at these meetings. 

We as a Slate would like to see more members at our union meetings.  We know it’s hard because the meetings are every third Wednesday at 6:30 pm.  We understand we all have families and have to go to work the next day.  So please, we are asking all the members throughout our union to come and help us on March 21, 2007, at 6:30 pm, to change the bylaws and bring the meetings back to Friday evenings at 7 pm.  This will make it easier for a majority of our members.  There are two more changes that will benefit all our membership.  So go back and take a look at the bylaw changes.  Remember, they’re for all our futures.  Have a voice in your future.  Come out and express it.

Hopefully w­e will see you at the next meeting and Thank you for visiting our website and reading this update.

So until the next Union Meeting, have a great month, stay safe and remember that this has been the views and opinions of some of the members that were at the last Union Meeting.

     

Thank you for your time-

Fighting For The Future Slate