A Call To Action

This coming Monday, November 2, the County Board will be holding one last budget hearing session.  I have heard from many different and independent resources that the misnamed Citizens for Responsible Government are going to try to force the public out and stack the deck with their plants, in an effort to get Scott Walker elected to the governor’s seat.

We need to be there, and we need to be there in force.  We need to remind the County Board that it is their responsibility to make sure that the needs of Milwaukee County and its citizens are met in the most responsible fashion, and that their job is not to promote Walker’s campaign.

The hearing is November 2, 2009 from 7 pm to 11 pm at the Washington Park Senior Center, located at 4420 W. Vliet St.

Yeah, I know that this means a long night, but if we aren’t there in force, it will mean a lot of long nights as Walker gets his way and hundreds of workers are laid off.

This is just that important!

THE TIME TO ACT IS NOW!!

STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!

DON’T LET WALKER CONTINUE TO PLAY POLITICS WITH YOUR JOB AND THE SERVICES WE PROVIDE TO THE COMMUNITY!!

JOIN IN THE FIGHT BACK PROTEST!

OCTOBER 4, 2009

1:30 P.M.

SERB HALL

5101 W. OKLAHOMA AVE.

Contract Vote Tuesday, 9/22

The Milwaukee County Board Personnel Committee approved a tentative contract.  We will be voting on it this coming Tuesday.  A copy of the contract proposal is in route to your home as I write this.

More details as soon as I get them.

Happy Labor Day!

Special Membership Meeting Scheduled

Please note that there will be a Special Membership Meeting of Local 645 held on Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 6:00 p.m, at District Council 48, located at 3427 W. St. Paul Ave.  The Board will meet at 5:30 p.m.

The meeting will include nominations and election for Delegates to the PEOPLE Convention being held Obtober 16th-18th in Green Bay, WI.

There will also be updates on the Contract Negotiations.

Please plan to attend.

Support the Patrick Cudahy Workers

From the inbox:

Immediate Release

July 6, 2009

UFCW LOCAL 1473 ASKS FOR DONATIONS FOR PATRICK CUDAHY WORKERS

On July 6^th 2009, the five alarm fire continues to blaze at the Smithfield owned, Patrick Cudahy plant in Cudahy , Wisconsin . The United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 1473 (UFCW), represents approximately 1,400 Patrick Cudahy workers at this location.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the workers and their families at the Patrick Cudahy Plant and for the safety of the firefighters. We will work closely with Smithfield management in order to minimize the impact of this fire on our members and their families,” said Local President John Eiden in a statement earlier today.

City officials have evacuated the area surrounding the plant and there is still no word on total damage. As the workers wait for the plant reopening, UFCW Local 1473 has established a hardship fund and is accepting donations to help the Patrick Cudahy workers and their families.

“Local 1473 has a long and proud history of coming to the aid of fellow brothers and sisters in the Labor Community. Today we ask that fellow union brothers and sisters and community members to help our members and their families in the aftermath of this tragic event; in their time of need,” said President Eiden.

If anyone wishes to make a monetary donation to the UFCW – Patrick Cudahy Worker Relief Fund to help the workers and families at the Patrick Cudahy plant make checks payable to Patrick Cudahy Workers Relief Fund care of UFCW Local 1473. The Union is also accepting non-perishable food items.

Please send checks and non-perishable food items to:

Patrick Cudahy Workers Relief Fund

UFCW Local 1473

2001 N. Mayfair Rd.

Milwaukee , WI 53226

International Workers Memorial Day

Worker’s Memorial Day:

Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in working conditions. But the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains enormous. Each year, thousands of workers are killed and millions more are injured or diseased because of their jobs. The unions of the AFL-CIO remember these workers on April 28, Workers Memorial Day.

The first Workers Memorial Day was observed in 1989. April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the day of a similar remembrance in Canada. Every year, people in hundreds of communities and at worksites recognize workers who have been killed or injured on the job. Trade unionists around the world now mark April 28 as an International Day of Mourning.

General Membership Meeting

Remember that this coming Thursday, February 5th, there will be a general membership meeting.  It will begin at its usual 6 pm start date.

We’ll will be taking votes on the proposed constitutional amendments and on posts within our local.

See ya there.

Holiday Party

NOTE:  Ticket sales end Wednesday, February 4th at 5 pm.  Hurry up and get yours before it’s too late!

Come enjoy an evening of food, fun, prizes, music and dancing with Local 645

at

Alioto’s Restaurant

3041 North Mayfair Road

Friday, February 6, 2009

Cocktails: 6:00 PM

Dinner: 7:00 PM

Admission: $12.50 per person

For more information, contact:

At Coggs:

Sundrus Jordan 289-5972

Theresa Engl 289-6182

Enaida Alvarado 289-6556

Joan Kennedy 289-6888

Taunya Thomas 289-6149

Vera Mannery 289-6525

Minerva Roman de Giblian 289-6302

Betty Linder 289-6946

At DOA:

Charlotte Hutchins 289-5782

At CCC:

Pat Rogers 257-5738

Constitutional Review Committee Proposals

Here are the proposals from the Constitutional Committee that will be up for a vote at the February 5th general membership meeting:

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS – SECTION 3

Presently reads as follows:

The quorum for meetings of this local shall be twenty-five (25) members of the local body in good standing.  Within fifteen (15) minutes of the scheduled start if 25 members are not present the meeting shall be adjourned for the lack of quorum.

The committee proposes that the quorum number be reduced to fifteen (15), to increase facilitating more quorums, and the ability to conduct business.

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS

Presently reads as follows:

This Constitution may be amended, revised, or otherwise changed by a two-thirds vote of the membership voting on such proposed change and such change shall take effect only upon written approval of the International President.  Proposed amendments to this constitution must be read at a regular or special meeting of the local union and read and voted on at a subsequent meeting of the local union, adequate and proper notice having been given to the membership prior to the date on which the vote is taken.  A written copy of the proposed amendment shall be furnished to every eligible voter at the meeting at which the vote is taken.

The committee proposes changing two-thirds vote to majority vote for the purpose of amending, revising or otherwise changing the constitution, as the suggested constitution in the International Constitution recommends a majority vote.

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS, NOMINATIONS, AND ELECTIONS

ARTICLE VII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD

That a position of sergeant-at-arms be created.

A 15 day notice must be mailed out to the membership notifying them of the proposed amendments to be read and voted on at the next meeting.  The meeting can be a regular membership meeting or specially called meeting.  If the amendments are passed by 2/3 vote, it is then sent to the AFSCME International Headquarters for approval.  The changes don’t go into effect until we receive revised constitution from the International.