The Organizer

UA Local 855's
Official Newsletter

  Word's of the quarter
  Brotherhood/Sisterhood; 1: the state of being brothers/sisters or a brother/sister 2: an association (as a labor union) for a particular purpose 3: the whole body of persons engaged in a business or profession

Grievance- a cause of distress (as an unsatisfactory working condition) felt to afford reason for complaint or resistance.
 
  Welcome Local 855 to the 3rd edition of The Organizer. I am happy to say that since the first issue, attendance has increased slightly at the Southern local meetings in Burlington. I want to thank everyone who have attended the meetings this year and remind those that haven’t been able to attend- the door is always open to all of our members of UA Local 855. You know the old cliché, “The more the merrier.” It truly has merit at a union meeting. There is no better place to get the facts! With that said, I must tell everyone again that there is no better time, then the present, to attend the meetings.

How can we get everyone on the same page, get the same facts, have the same procedures? A union meeting: of course. Is 100% attendance possible? Yes. Just not at 1 meeting. There are 9 meetings a year, 6 local meetings, and 3 statewide meetings. Three seems to be a magic number. If everyone could attend at least 2 local meetings a year and 1 statewide meeting a year, would that be asking too much? Think of it this way, 3 days a year out of 365. Not too much to ask for knowledge, facts and the direction of your future, is it?
Join us at our next meeting and help us increase attendance so that we may continue to enjoy our present lifestyles with each other and our families.
  ARTICLE IX - GRIEVANCE + ARBITRATION
  (a) Should any dispute or difference arise between the Company and the Union or its members as to the interpretation, application or operation of any provision of this Agreement, both parties shall endeavor to settle same in the simplest and most direct manner. The procedure shall be as follows (unless any step thereof is waived by mutual consent):
First: Between the Shop Steward and the District Manager or designees within 10 working days after the event giving rise to the grievance has occurred.
The grievance shall be reduced to writing prior to said meeting. The District Manager or designees shall give a written answer within 3 working days after the meeting.

Second: If the grievance is not settled at the First Step, the Union may make written request for a Second Step meeting within five working days after the answer at the first step. The Company shall set a meeting within five (5) working days after the request, or for such other time as is mutually agreeable. Said meeting shall be between 2 or 3 members of the Union, one of whom may be a Local No. 855 representative, and the Operations and Resource Manager or designees, and assistants. An employee discharged or disciplined may be brought into this meeting. The Operations and Resource Managers’ answer shall be delivered within five (5) working days after the meeting.

Third: If the grievance is not settled at the Second Step, the Union may make written request for a Third Step meeting within twenty (20) working days after the answer at the Second Step. The Company shall set a meeting within five (5) working days after the request, or for such other time as is mutually agreeable. Said Third Step meeting shall be between five representatives of the Grievance Committee, one or two representatives of Local 855, and the Vice President-Gas Delivery or designees, and assistants. The Company’s answer shall be delivered to the Union within ten (10) working days after the meeting.

Fourth: If the matter is not settled in the Third Step, the matter may be referred to arbitration by Local No. 855 provided the referral is made within forty-five (45) days after the answer at the Third Step is delivered. The matter shall be determined before the Arbitration Board within 120 Days from the date of notice of arbitration, except that in disciplinary cases, the determination shall be made within sixty (60) days from the date of the notice. The Arbitration Board shall not be empowered to add to or subtract from this Agreement or render any decision in conflict with this Agreement.

For (b) and (c) of Article X, see pages 33 and 34 of our contract.

(d) An employee disciplined or discharged may proceed initially to the Second Step of the grievance procedure. Grievances concerning such matters shall be filed in writing with the Operations Manager within 3 working days after the discipline or discharge, or shall be deemed waived. The Second Step grievance meeting on discharge or disciplinary matters shall be held within three (3) working days after the request unless other arrangements are mutually agreed upon.
This procedure is what helps to protect our Contract as well as help us keep management in “check.” We as individuals, armed with the knowledge in our Contract can have the power as a Union to overcome any attack from supervision no matter how big or small.
  UA Constitution
  SEC. 118. Each Local Union shall establish a Committee for Political Education. The members of the committee shall be appointed by the Business Manager or Business Agent. The duties and function of the committee shall be to educate the membership and the public on the issues and candidates in state, municipal and national elections; to encourage and assist members and their families to register and vote in elections; and to coordinate the Local Union’s political activities with the trade unions in the area.

If you believe your vote doesn’t matter or even count, think again Brother/Sister. With Healthcare and Social Security issues at hand there is a need for your vote. We must elect Representatives that are willing to help us working people. Representatives that will keep the American Workforce alive and well. There are way too many pensions being attacked by Corporations for us to sit back and wait for someone else to take care of the problems. Now is when we must get informed and act on that knowledge so that we may make the right choices on whom to vote for this coming November.
Register now before it’s to late. If you are unsure on how to register, see your Steward, contact a member of the Political Action Committee or Hector Morales, Trenton Steward at Nextel 62036. And remember, a small donation of $0.25 per week will greatly help fund the PAC in the endeavor of finding the right Politicians for whom we should vote for.