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LOCAL 1-2Vol. LXI, No. 539 February/March 2016

We Are GiversNot Takers,

Unless You Comefor Our Jobs

Local 1-2 Members stand in front of food donated to feed the hungry, see page 6

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

Utility Workers Union of AmericaLocal 1-2

James SlevinPresident

James ShillittoVice President

John CapraSecretary-Treasurer

Senior Business AgentsAnthony Pedagna

Robert StahlLisa Vella

Business AgentsBruce Farina

Emilio FrederickVincent Kyne

John (Scotty) MacNeillRichard McNallyJoseph MussilloWilliam SmithDarryl Taylor

Jean Washington

Financial ObserversSheryl Bradley-Coleman

Michael CrispinoMichael McCann

Executive BoardChairman - Donald Weidmann

Secretary - Christopher Katzmann

James Bambina Thomas MartinPaul Caminiti Arcangelo MinettiJoseph Caradonna Norman RussellVito Carbonara Raymond SherwoodWilliam Connolly James SpryDorothy Curry John Stadtmuller Robert DeMascio Rocco TalaricoCraig Dickson Justo Vega Larry Dwyer Richard Velocci

Ricardo Irizarry Frank VivolaLinda Lesnewski Robert Vuono

Milagros Valentin-Grantham

EditorJames Slevin

Your Views And

Comments Are Welcome

THE RECORD

LOCAL 1-2

WHAT’S INSIDE

President’s Message................................. 03

Vice President’s Message. ....................... 04

Rosary Hill Charity .................................... 05

Vets Committee Drive ............................. 06

Stewards Workshop ................................. 07

Rank and File ............................................. 08

3rd Avenue Yard Helping Hands ............ 09

NRG and the PSC ............................. 10 & 11

Tree Trimmers CBA .................................. 12

Local 1-2 Finances .............................. 13-16

Union Plus Ad ........................................... 17

Shop Stewards Class Flyer ...................... 18

Membership Meeting ...............................19

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

As we prepare this issue of The Record, the United States Supreme Court is hearing arguments that propose to overturn the law of the land which recognizes public sector

Local 1-2 NYPA employees-have a right to have unions and the fair share

bargaining.

This issue was decided nearly forty-years ago by Eisenhower and Nixon era appointees who ruled that even if you are not a Union member, you should have to

be Members of any Union, but when a Union bargains on their

This seems reasonable. It even seemed reasonable to

who are our Bosses. Like Trump, our Bosses would like nothing

Brother Member against Brother Member. This is why they

is paying for that lawsuit, through various front groups, so that it can starve Unions of the money needed to bargain, to

pulled in 2012.

spoon in their mouths. Most of us end up working and scraping

job. This gives us some parity. It gives us some leverage. It gives us some stability and some money in the pocket with which to raise a family, buy a home, make a good life.

has been at war for a decade and a half with no end in sight. But the

brunt of the killing-they leave that to us, your Union Brothers and Sisters

they ask us to pay a blood price to

only way to insure a fair break for the regular working man or

only luck we have.

have in 2016 and demand the fair share we deserve.

Super PACS, designed to protect the rich, then you have not

Rubios or the Cruzes out there who bray like donkeys about freedom and rights.

for the Bosses to keep workers under their thumbs. They want the right to keep all the money which we, the workers, produce

2016. And always remember: The Boss is Not Your Friend.

A MESSAGE FROM

OUR PRESIDENT

JAMES T. SLEVIN

Workers do not have to be Members of any Union,

but when a Union bargains on their behalf, they do

have an obligation to pay their fair share.

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THE RECORD • FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016 THE RECORD • FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

“Without unions, workers will lose many of the protections against abusive employers. Wages for all will be depressed, even as corporate profits soar. The American Dream will be destroyed for millions. And we will have a government of the corporations, by the already powerful, for the wealthy.” —Kenneth Bernstein, teacher-2011

Not much has changed since 2011 when Kenneth Bernstein made the observation seen above about Wisconsin’s battle to strip state workers of their Union rights. It happened to workers there and the rich are trying to see that it happens across our land as President Slevin pointed out in his column.

Now, closer to home, we have a looming contract expiration with our largest employer Con Edison, a company that is the epitome of a rich and powerful corporation-a darling of the Wall Street crowd for more than 120 years.

Brothers and Sisters now is the time to get your financial house in order. Now is the time to lay aside financial resources to see you and your families through some lean times. If you think that the Lockout of 2012 was a one-time happening, think again. Con Edison has been planning for June 26, 2016 since July of 2012. Everything is on the table for them-lock us out again, force a strike, refuse to bargain in good faith, demand the unthinkable. Con Ed management can do that because they have the money to outspend and outlast us if we let them.

All we have is ourselves, our own Brothers and Sisters in Local 1-2. In the coming months, if you enjoy the wages and benefits you have today, you must become willing to fight tooth and claw to keep them and THEN ask for more!

This can only happen if we remain a single voice, if we speak in Solidarity and Unity. These are not empty slogans, these are the words that set us apart as Trade Unionists and give us the power to demand more.

If you have never been to a Membership Meeting, if you have never spoken to your Shop Steward, if you don’t know your Business Agent or your Senior Business Agent, don’t waste any time. Get to know them NOW!

Midnight, June 25, 2016 will be here in a figurative minute and if you are not ready Brothers and Sisters, Con Ed will take us all to the cleaners. Con Ed would like nothing better than to have no permanent employees and no UNION.

President Slevin warned you 2016 promises to be a rough ride. Not only because of the Con Ed contract, but also because it is a Presidential Election year. These two items are strongly related. Big businesses like Con Ed are smelling blood and they will be pumping cash to the candidate that supports their interests of no corporate taxes and sticking it to the little guy.

So, get involved in your Union. Get involved in your communities. Come to the Membership Meeting, time is running out.

A MESSAGE FROMOUR VICE PRESIDENTJAMES SHILLITTO

Download the 2017 UWUA Scholarship Program Form HereThe 2017 UWUA Scholarship Program will continue to accept entry forms from students who will graduate high school and enter college in 2017. However, in order to qualify for the competition, they must have taken the PSAT/NMSQT on October 14 or 28, 2015. Students who were unable to take the October 2015 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) have until March 1, 2016, to request alternate testing procedures for the 2017 program year

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

Conratulations to the Stewards and

members of Bronx/Westchester who

participated in the fund drive for

Rosary Hill

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

Local 1-2 Vets CommitteeFeed the Hungry

Your Local 1-2 Veterans

Committee went all out this

past Holiday season to insure

that the less fortunate had

food in their bellies. As these

pictures illustrate the open

hearts of the Brothers and Sis-

ters of Local 1-2 go above and

beyond in helping those with

no means. It shows that “giv-

ing back” is not just a hollow

phrase but takes hard work,

commitment and a willingness

to treat all people with dignity

as human beings.

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

Local 1-2 Stewards Workshop

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Local 1-2 Rank and File

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

FEBRUA

Local 1-2 Holiday Helping Hands Bring Holiday Joy

back some of what you gave me, and someday help another Brother or Sister to feel this feeling of benevolence and family that

rd Ave Yard. None of this would be possible if not for your generosity and compassion. Thank you!

rd Avenue Yard in Brooklyn where the Union spirit is strong as shown in the pictures.

Ravenswood members helping out

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THE RECORD • FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

That URL is: http://eepurl.com/5iIcD

ALSOfollowusat:

Onourwebsitehttp://www.uwua1-2.org/

OnourFacebookpagewww.facebook.com/uwua.local12

OurTwitteraccountUWUA_LOCAL_1_2

AndonourYouTubechannelwww.youtube.com/user/uwualocal12

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

LOCAL 1-2 TREE TRIMMERS HAVE NEW CONTRACT,

FIVE-YEAR CBA SEES 15.9% PAY INCREASE

the Union and Lewis Tree Service and Trees Inc. that employ Local 1-2 Members.

Paid sick leave will extend to taking care of a sick child or other family member and there will be enhanced clothing and mental health and substance abuse policies.

good, fair, steady jobs are possible.

way in preserving and improving the American workplace and make it possible to work, raise a family and enjoy the fruits of our labor,” Slevin said.

Slevin said that unity and solidarity were the only means that working men and women have to ensure that their

You can sign up for our mobile text alerts by:

Texting UWUA to 877877

You can also stop at any time by texting clear to 877877

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016 13

FEBRUARY/MARCH 201614

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

,

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

Local 1-2 Membership Meeting

President Slevin has made it a tradition that new Members are sworn into Local 1-2 at our Membership

Meetings with their new Union Brothers and Sisters witnessing. At the November 2015Membership Meeting

President Slevin brought all Local 1-2 military veterans to the stage to thank them for their service in honor

of Veterans Day. An added highlight was a visit by UWUA National President Michael Langford who always

brings a boost to our Union Solidarity!

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FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016

UNION MEETING

LOCAL 1-2UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICA, A.F.L. - C.I.O.

MEMBERSHIP MEETING PLACE: THE HIGH SCHOOL OF FASHION INDUSTRIES 225 WEST 24TH STREET, NEW YORK, NY (BETWEEN 7TH & 8TH AVENUE)

DATE: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2016 TIME: 6:15 P.M

ADMISSION ONLY TO MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDINGBY UNION CARD OR COMPANY I.D. CARD

Fraternally,

John Capra IT’S IMPORTANT Secretary-Treasurer

UTILITY WORKERS UNION OF AMERICALocal 1-2, Affiliated with AFL-CIO

DATED MATERIAL - DELIVER IMMEDIATELY

NON-PROFIT

ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

NEW YORK, N.Y.