President's Corner/Final EditionThis is the last and in some ways the hardest letter to write to all of you. First I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve for the last six years as the President of Local 7804. Together with the previous nine years on the executive board it has been a rewarding and learning experience that I never imagined. I must admit that at times it was more than a challenge. It at times was frustrating and at times when we were successful helping an individual or maintaining some part of the contract or in an innovative way negotiating a change in the way the business was being run I believe that we represented the members of the local to the best of our ability. Not that all of you were in agreement with my decisions, I understand that the process dictates that we work for the majority of the membership and therefore we can not possibly please everyone. The individuals that will take control of the local after 12-13-05 are more than qualified to lead, but I encourage you to help with timely and insightful suggestions. Those with 20/20 hind site need not apply. What this local needs, always has needed and always will need is people to come forward and participate before the problem begins. I was extremely proud of the contributions that the membership made in this regard during contract negotiations this past summer. What isn't realized by some of you are how much of a difference you made with your participation. I would ask you to give the new leadership of the local that same support and input in the operation of the local. Take a stand in your future before it is the past and this local will continue to be the successful local that it has been for the twenty eight plus years that I have had the honor to be a member. The local has been passed from one group of leaders to the next successfully for all of those years and with your help and input it will continue down that path. Without your participation you are leaving someone else to make decisions that affect your earning power and working conditions. In my opinion that is a careless mistake. |
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At the time of this letter the votes from the local election are not counted and we do not know the outcome of the executive board race. There is a great group of people running and I wish them all luck. The officers were all running unopposed and you have three experienced and fine candidates to represent you. Treat them well, a little stroke for their efforts goes a long way when the going gets tough and kind words to them makes their job much easier. They certainly are not over paid for the work they perform so pay them a little respect in addition to the help and hopefully constructive criticism that you offer. Finally I want to make sure you all know that I considered this a labor of love, not one I choose to give up but one I release at the invitation of my doctors. The immense satisfaction that can be derived from successes and the remorse that comes with losses is at this time not something that I can continue to deal with. I will in some way continue to be an active part of the local though in a greatly reduced manner. I intend to support new President Grams, Vice President Garrett and new Secretary/Treasurer Williams to the best of my ability and would hope that all of the membership of the local will do the same. Thank you again for the wonderful six years you allowed me to lead this local. Sincerely, Clay Bowlby Outsourcing, is your job safe?We tend to think that our jobs are safe because we are within the continental U.S.A. and the laws protect us from non citizens from taking our jobs. Consider the plans on the table by several U.S. Airlines. First, they want to replace airline attendants with attendants from India not only for flights outside of the country but within the U.S. borders as well. They are asking for relief from the bankruptcy court and from congress to allow them to use non resident employees from India. The proposed wages for these employees would be $400.00 per month without benefits. The companies planning this little conspiracy are at this time but not limited to United, Delta and Northwest. We think these greedy companies deserve a resounding kick in the pants and are asking your help. Please email or write to you respective Senator or Congress person and express your outrage that good jobs are now being outsourced to low ball foreign employees. Additionally call the offending airlines and advise them that you will not fly their airline in the future. Please remember that the majority of these flight attendants are C .W.A members, affiliated with the A.F.A (Airline Flight Attendants) You may ask what this has to do with your job and answer is simple. How long before we start importing Mexican Nationals or Indian Nationals to do telephone work on work visas? If you think that this far fetched, I want to remind you that the present administration this past year increased the number of allowable foreigners into the country as nurses and high tech workers. What makes you think every other business isn't looking for an excuse to do the same? Clay Bowlby Get Mobilized for Dec. 10: International Human Rights DayAs part of International Human Rights Day, Dec. 10, the union movement is mobilizing to demand workers are guaranteed a fundamental human right: The freedom to have a union voice on the job. At rallies, town hall meetings, candlelight vigils and teach-ins across the nation, union members and their allies will highlight the obstacles workers face when seeking to join a union at work and showcase strategies for the overcoming those obstacles. International Human Rights Day commemorates the anniversary of the ratification of the U.N.'s Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which established the right of people in every nation to come together into unions and bargain contracts. The U.S. government had recognized those rights 13 years earlier with the National Labor Relations Act. But today, many workers say those rights exist only on paper. Workers may have the legal right to form unions to negotiate for better benefits, pay and safety standards-but employers across the country routinely block their efforts with threats, coercion and intimidation. To strengthen protections for workers' freedom to choose a union, the union movement worked with a bipartisan coalition in creating the historic Employee Free Choice Act. Introduced into Congress in April 2005, the act (S. 842 and H.R. 1696) would require employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers signs cards authorizing union representation. It also would provide for mediation and arbitration of first-contract disputes and authorize stronger penalties for violation of the law when workers seek to form a union. In 2003, nearly 38,000 workers, joined by nearly 140 allied groups, took part in 97 Dec. 10 actions in 72 cities. This year, U.S. unions and their members will be joined by brothers and sisters throughout the international trade union movement, as workers on six continents take action to support the freedom to form unions. Stop back often to check for events in your area and get more tools for making this Dec. 10 the largest-ever mobilization for a Voice@Work. Convention 2005 Resolution #1Throughout our great history, the Communications Workers of America has always been both proud of our traditions and capable of changing to address new challenges. We have continued to thrive through difficult times by this ability to adapt and grow. In the last 20 years, CWA has undergone an incredible transformation. Once almost entirely composed of telephone workers, our union has continued to diversify and grow. The telecommunications industry has become the major component of the information industry and will transform itself to include the media/entertainment industry in the next few years. We are poised to represent this entire industry through mergers with telecom and broadcast unions. Through other organizing victories and mergers, we are now a union that represents workers from virtually every walk of life. Today, in addition to telephone workers, we represent workers in the public sector, newspapers and broadcasting, customer service, airlines, health care, manufacturing and information technology. The economy, a hostile legislative environment, and corporate mergers and restructurings, have affected nearly all CWA members. To address these changes, we have developed innovative strategies: bargaining to organize through card check and neutrality agreements, building labor/community coalitions and leveraging collective bargaining strategies based on grassroots membership mobilization programs. Using the CWA triangle, we connect political action to building the union through organizing and workplace representation. Yet today, at this milestone moment in the life of CWA, we are confronted with one of the most serious challenges in our history. The percentage of organized labor is declining. It is below 8 percent in the U.S. private sector, and is higher, but still declining, in Canada. The political power of anti-worker politicians is destroying the communities and living standards of working families. CWA is not immune from this crisis. Both the international union and our locals are faced with increasing problems and declining resources. To address these pressing issues, we need to examine the structures and activities of our union at all levels, and we need to imagine our future together. We believe it will take the collective wisdom of every member to help us determine what is best for the future. It will require thought and discussion at every level of the union. These discussions should be far ranging, creative, and visionary. It is anticipated that such discussions might include, but would not be limited to: the structure of the union as it relates to national, multi-district employers; the relationship of members and bargaining units to districts and sectors; the roles and responsibilities of locals; the structure of union assets and resources; ways to engage greater participation by all union members, with special emphasis on our newer members; ways to more effectively deploy resources; and structures to represent industries new to the union, such as cable and wireless. No part of this union can or should be left out of the discussion, and every level of the union should be examined, including national, district and sector levels, councils, committees, conventions, meetings and locals. We must not be afraid to examine our union thoroughly and thoughtfully from top to bottom in order to best represent our members. In this far reaching review, there are no sacred cows. We must acknowledge the accomplishments of the past and be prepared to embrace the future. That will only happen if we are willing to engage in a forthright debate about what makes CWA relevant and important to the members now and in the future. Resolved: The 67th Annual Convention of the Communications Workers of America commits to embarking upon a process that will include the following: Between now and March 31, 2006, each local will hold discussions at executive board and membership meetings on ideas for structure, strategies and activities to meet the challenges of the present and future. Ideas for change, both at the local and international level, should be discussed. All ideas should be discussed and considered with the goal of improving our union and our ability to represent our members. We must not shy away from discussion of internal structural changes within CWA both on a local and national level. Options for mergers and consolidations throughout the organization should be considered. We must take a hard look at our finances and what our priorities should be in this regard. The CWA international will prepare a "discussion guide" for locals to be available by December 1, 2005, as well as a process for collecting local ideas. CWA will create a website for discussion of these issues where local unions can post their progress with opportunities for members to have input. Between now and May 1, 2006, each district or sector meeting will include a discussion of ideas for structures and activities to meet the challenges of the present and future. Each district and sector should create a process involving local officers working with the district to prepare options for change. Each district or sector should submit their ideas to the CWA Executive Board through its vice president. The CWA Executive Board will develop a draft "The CWA Strategic Plan for the Future" by June 1, 2006. The plan will include any constitutional changes and convention resolutions necessary to implement the plan. The plan will be posted on the website, in addition to the usual communications with local presidents. The 2006 convention will provide the opportunity for debate and adoption of changes. Service Anniversaries and RetirementsNovember: Bill McGee 40 yrs December: Frank Heard 10 yrs. Retirements: Barbara Jennings, Central Office Technician, Qwest - 40 years! Welcome New Members: Cory Haines, Nathan Skrei, Daniel Hubbard, Renee Brathwaite, Carol Miller, Tanya Ramseth, Leanna Schwartz, Jay Saucier, Anthony Mobley, Glynis Alaniz, Douglas Dix, Larry Daley, Brandie Verrett, Brian Hicks, Jesse Bartlett, Reginald Starkey, Kevin Iverson, Krystal Ballard, Denika Smith, Andrew Shores. Congradulations to: Michael Samuel on the birth of your new daughter! Kenny Kenyon on the birth of your new granddaughter! Congratulations to All! |
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