Word is the House Ways & Means Committee has today released a Supplemental Budget which includes the funding for the NAGE Unit 1,3,6....
....next stop Senate Ways and Means.
I understand that the supp can be passed in an informal session..... so it should pass without much fanfare.
I thinks it's apparent that someone made their point, but it was not appropriate to continue to punish the members for whatever the union may have done to piss someone off.....
you heard it here first.
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Will this raise include retro?
ReplyDeleteYes, it will include retro.
ReplyDeleteGovernor is expected to sign it within the next week.
Probably take 3-4 weeks for A&F, Comptroller, HRD, etc to arrange for payment....
MIDDLESEX SHERIFF’S PLACED IN TRUSTEESHIP BY NAGE
ReplyDeleteEntire Leadership Removed After Filing Decertification with LRC
NEW ENGLAND PBA CALLS HOLWAY A “COWARD”
September 29, 2006 – In a cowardice act of retaliation, SEIU/NAGE President David Holway imposed a seldom used maneuver in order to try and keep control of the precious union dues SEIU/NAGE garners from the 430 members of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Department. In a letter signed by President Holway, he mentions no specific reason for imposing a trusteeship over the local and removing the elected members of the union leadership from office. In fact, rather than supplying the membership with the essential details and particular facts; Holway rests his so-called case on the standard misfeasance and malfeasance rhetoric so-commonly used by management when imposing discipline. But, what would you expect from someone who’s only law enforcement experience was an appointed position as Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Correction. The next step in the trusteeship process is a kangaroo court hearing before a Holway appointed hearings officer; to see if the trusteeship was properly imposed and should it remain in effect. Guess what the answer to those questions will be?
On September 11, 2006, the New England Police Benevolent Association, Inc., I.U.P.A. Local 9000, AFL-CIO filed a decertification petition with the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission on behalf of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Department employees and submitted well-over the required 50% of show of interest cards and they are currently awaiting a hearing date before the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission (LRC). Remember, this local was in an “Open Period” because their contract had expired on June 30, 2006 and they were simply exercising their rights under the law. Yet, their leadership has stead-fast refused to be bought off with promises of positions, stipends and/or other union sponsored trips.
Apparently, SEIU/NAGE imposed this rarely used option because they were so frustrated and infuriated with the leadership of this local because they refused to be “bought off” and they had the audacity to sign a petition on behalf of their membership requesting an election. Even though over 80% of the membership signed a previous document requesting this executive board look at other options besides SEIU/NAGE and to actively pursue and interview other labor organizations, after their current contract expired. In fact, on June 30, 2006, when the current contract did expire this same executive board did as instructed by the body and interviewed several other labor organizations. After several meetings, they recommended the New England Police Benevolent Association, Inc., I.U.P.A. Local 9000, AFL-CIO and requested they address their body at a monthly union meeting of the membership to explain their difference in philosophy and their benefits program. Shortly thereafter, the required show of interest cards was signed and the petition was filed with the Massachusetts Labor Relation Commission requesting an election.
New England PBA President Bryan W. McMahon called the implementation of the trusteeship and the removal of the current executive board, “A desperate act by a desperate organization that is clearly motivated by greed and is only concerned about monetary issues; rather than the concerns of its members. This futile attempt at retaining control of a local through dictatorial means flies in the face of what a democratic society is and what democratic unionism is all about. So, instead of letting the members vote on whom they want to represent them – SEIU/NAGE acts like a schoolyard bully”.
New England PBA Executive Director Jerry Flynn stated, “This is the same gutless and cowardly rhetoric that SEIU and NAGE are famous for; the leadership of this local has always placed the interest of its membership over any self-interest; and we will vigorously defend this baseless assertion and obvious retaliatory action in a court of law.” In the 1990’s, NAGE/IBPO imposed the same type of retaliatory actions against the Newton, MA Police Union. However, the current Newton Police Union President Jay Babcock led the charge and was not only victorious in court; but saw an onslaught of revolt by numerous IBPO locals in that area who soon followed suit and also decertified from NAGE/IBPO. History does have away of repeating itself, so perhaps President Holway should keep in mind the mistakes of his predecessor!
Lets go Winston, keep the ball rolling. There are a million stories in the naked city that is NAGE...
ReplyDeleteSo I heard Nage is having a party at the Red Rose in Springfield for the court employees they are trying to fool into joining their sinking ship.
ReplyDeleteWhen was the last time they threw a party for their own members? Or even had a meeting with us? Is this where our $2/week is going?
Time to join NEPBA!!!!!
ReplyDeleteActually, they are having a Party at THE BREWERY EXCHANGE in LOWELL on October 5, 2006 between 4:30-6:30pm to try and get the Local 6 Trial Court people to join their sinking ship too. Wait until they see the picket lines out front from the Middlesex Sheriff's & all the police groups that have left nage! REVENGE IS A DISH BEST SERVED COLD!
ReplyDeleteReally..... is this information publicly available?.... did NAGE do a mailing?
ReplyDeleteI can't find anything on the NAGE web site.....
The comment that NAGE NEVER holds any meetings for it's own members is right on target...
Once these skunks gain control by imposing that joke of a "constitution", the only thing the members get is "milked" for their dues.....
sad but true..... I hate to see more lambs (the court officers) led to slaughter....
Just in case you might wonder where our leadership acquires its bad habits: (from www.nlpc.org)
ReplyDeleteSERVICE EMPLOYEES (SEIU)
New York Health Care Union Parties Hard, Hands Members Tab
Local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union is the largest local union in the U.S. Representing more than 275,000 active and retired health care and hospital workers in New York, Maryland, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia, it collects about $500 per member in annual dues. That added up to about $110 million last year. And while most of that money went into organizing, education and lobbying, a not too shabby portion was routed toward entertainment. An investigative report by Douglas Feiden, published in the September 24 edition of the New York Daily News, revealed that the local spent more than $2 million on parties and out-of-town conferences in 2005. Given that the powerful New York City-based local represents some of the lowest-paid employees in the Northeast, one has to wonder about its priorities.
Nobody will deny this union knows how to have a good time. Dennis Rivera, Local 1199’s president since 1989, happily admits as much. “To be very honest,” he says, “not only are we good at politics, but nobody throws a party like we do.” It’s hard to argue with that point. Reviewing all last year’s expenditures in amounts of at least $5,000, Feiden uncovered a lot of large living. Slices of the good life included: $300,000 for a five-day getaway at a Westchester County, N.Y. resort; $465,000 for a summer retreat at Lake Placid for 700 staffers; and $280,000 for a Christmas party at the Cocacabana Club on West 34th St. in Manhattan (a figure that did not include the roughly $200,000 to defray transportation and lodging costs of Boston, Baltimore and Buffalo delegates). Victory celebrations figure heavily here. When Local 1199 strong-armed the New York legislature into restoring more than $1 billion in Medicaid cuts proposed by Governor George Pataki, it marked the win by spending $44,857 on a dinner party at New York City’s Pier 60 restaurant. And after the union picked up 12,000 new members in the Boston area through a merger of two locals, it shelled out $183,038 for a shindig at the Boston Convention Center, with $73,150 of that going for food.
It’s easy to rationalize living in the lap of luxury like this. First, and most obviously, living well isn’t illegal. Second, as the union bosses note, rank-and-file members are eligible to attend such events as a reward for good performance. “We have a point system, like an airline frequent-flier program, and you don’t attend unless you’re involved in at least 20 union activities over the year,” remarked George Gresham, Local 1199’s number-two man. Third, the union’s party tab is likely modest compared to other unions. “I’ve seen a lot more extravagances in other unions,” said veteran union negotiator Bruce McIver, “and I’ve been negotiating with them for 15 years.” (The Daily News’ Feiden might have a lot more investigative reports ahead of him, come to think of it). And fourth, it’s only natural to celebrate during good times, budgets be damned. “It’s a way to thank our activists who sacrifice and give their time to build the union,” said President Rivera. “What price do you put on that?”
On the surface, these explanations sound attractive, especially given the many corporate leaders with lavish spending habits of their own. But it’s worth remembering that the union represents low-wage workers who might want some of that fun money going for collective bargaining – or onto their paychecks. “Partying at the Copa while your members clean bedpans and foot a bill they can’t afford is outrageous,” observed Rick Berman, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based organized labor watchdog group, the Center for Union Facts. It’s also worth remembering that all of the union’s members are in non-Right to Work states, which means the few nonunion workers among them have to pay union “agency fees” to keep their jobs. Such workers, reluctantly or not, will join to get the full range of benefits. It’s true that the U.S. Supreme Court several times during the last 30 years has ruled that dissatisfied union members may withhold the portion of their dues not going for collective bargaining, contract administration or grievance settlement. But in practice would-be dissenters are too intimidated by their union to make a go of it. Besides, why would anyone want to sit home knowing their friends are attending the ultimate Christmas party?
SEIU Local 1199 chieftains readily admit they need to get control over hotel spending, which ran well over a combined $1 million in 2005 for events at Midtown Manhattan’s Hilton and Crowne Plaza hotels. They note that their current headquarters nearby on West 43rd Street lacks the space to hold mass meetings. To avoid having to spend the big bucks renting ballrooms, the union plans to raze the 16-story structure and replace it with an ultra-modern facility, replete with a 3,000-seat auditorium and a 5,000-square-foot conference center. The project, to be developed by Cushman & Wakefield, also would include a mixed-use retail, commercial and condo complex. The project could wind up costing a fortune, even with the sale of existing headquarters reaping a windfall. But this is a union with a long history of success, overcoming any number of ethical challenges that may stand in the way. (New York Daily News, 9/24/06).
ROOFERS (RWAW)
Local in NYC Pleads Guilty to Corruption; Mob Boss Sentenced
Prosecutors for the State of New York now are finding out how good it feels to get a conviction from its anti-racketeering “enterprise corruption” law. Fittingly, one of New York City’s most corrupt labor unions, Local 8 of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers, has broken the ice. On September 19, the Genovese crime family-connected local admitted through its lawyer before the New York State Supreme Court that it was a criminal enterprise. The guilty plea was the culmination of an indictment in July 2004 of the entire local leadership, following a five-year investigation. In addition, a Genovese captain, John Barbato, was sentenced by the court to two to six years in prison for his role in an extortion scheme that enriched Local 8 bosses by $2 million at the expense of rank and file.
It began as extortion and morphed into bribery. Barbato, 72, a resident of Staten Island, led a shakedown operation of several New York City contractors to make sure they hired Local 8 labor. But after a while, contractors realized they had an opportunity on their hands to cut labor costs. Contractors paid union leaders the requisite money to buy “labor peace,” and then, with the blessing of the union and the mob, hired nonunion workers at less-than-union-scale wages, pocketing the difference. This scam actually represented a second wind for corruption. Back in 2000, two local business agents and several contractors had been indicted for similar offenses. Genovese family-linked Local 8 members rigged an election that elevated Anthony “Tony Muscles” Guardino to local business manager. Once in office, Guardino installed his own loyalists and transmitted the labor payoffs to Barbato.
As part of its guilty plea, the union must forfeit $200,000 and pay another $50,000 to finance the work of a court-appointed monitor with broad powers to root out corruption from the union. The national leadership of the Roofers union, based in Washington, D.C., has appointed a trustee to run Local 8 with the court monitor’s oversight. As for Barbato, his trip to prison follows in the footsteps of the two previous local business agents who pleaded guilty. Five other persons have pleaded not guilty, and are awaiting trial. (Associated Press, 9/19/06; other sources).
1199 Parties! All of those parties were for members, not big wigs or coperate types. The annual Xmass party is attended by more than 15,000 members and is the biggest xmass party in New York City. Also 1199 members have the best contracts and pay with 100% paid health insurance, free college tutition, childcare benefits and the highest pay rates of any hospital and nursing home workers. I am sure any union member would be happy to have thier union pay for partys for the members as long as they also get the benefits that 1199 members have
ReplyDeleteCorrection to anonymous' comments on 1199......
ReplyDeleteThe members aren't invited to the parties.... they are "eligible" based on a "point system".... (in other words the union "leadership" determines who will be rewarded with an invitation)....
Members certainly were not invited to the " $300,000 for a five-day getaway at a Westchester County, N.Y. resort; $465,000 for a summer retreat at Lake Placid for 700 staffers"
The other benefits claimed by anon for 1199 (free insurance, free college tuition for children!, etc....) are certianly very impressive, IF TRUE.
But in any case it's just another unfavorable in comparison to what we get form NAGE 1,3,6.... which is nothing....but taken for our dues.
Hay I'm all for your blog.. But i think it would be better if presented in a standard text and color.
ReplyDelete