Joseph Ambrosini - Secretary-Treasurer
Ronald B Nobili - Business Manager
Phone: (203) 335-7943
Fax: (203)335-1261
Office Hours Monday thru Friday 8:00 A.M.
- 12:00 P.M
Brothers & Sisters:
I am proud to inform you that Local 665 in
Bridgeport has settled its lawsuit against the Connecticut Laborers'
District Council.
This settlement is a big step forward for
Laborers, and unionists everywhere, who believe unions should
be run by the members and for the members.
We have enclosed a complete copy of the settlement
agreement. Please look it over. You'll see for yourself that it
represents a "sea change" in the way the Laborers Union
in Connecticut operates.
SECRET BALLOT ELECTION
For the first time in CLDC history, union
members will have the right to vote a dues increase up or down
in a secret ballot election.
Until now, the officials who control the
District Council would raise your dues as they saw fit, with little
or no regard for fiscal responsibility. From now on, the rank-and-file
will have the final word, at least regarding working dues.
PROPORTIONAL WORKING DUES
For the first time in CLDC history, working
dues flowing to the Local unions will be proportional to the number
of hours worked by each Local's members. In the past, your dues
were siphoned off by the District Council and given in the form
of subsidies to other locals.
Members of certain locals were hurt the worst.
Obviously, ours was one of them. You went without a pay raise
for six years. But the immediate-past president of the District
Council, who represented on of the smallest locals, was making
a six-figure income, (over $100,000 not including benefits) from
your hard-earned dues money with a membership of less than
250. The District Council was simply taking your working dues
and giving it away.
From now on, all Local union officers will
have to manage their Local's finances without subsidies. This
will force them to be more prudent with members' money.
STANDING TALL
One of the things we're proudest of is the
simple fact that we at Local 665 took a stand against these injustices.
When we first started this fight, many were concerned. But we
were determined to do the right thing.
This is by no means the end of the fight
for democracy within our union. The message is clear fro our example,
however, that you can and must take a stand against tyranny in
order to make progress.
With contract negotiations upcoming, this
is the time for all Laborers to demand justice. We've got to insist
that members get a significant pay increase. And we've
got to demand the right to vote on the contract and all
contracts in the future. Our rallying cry should be--"members
must have the right and opportunity to ratify contracts".
Please call me directly if you have any questions,
or if you want to talk about these issues. My telephone numbers
is (203) 335-7943.
Ronald Nobili
For the Brave Plaintiffs and
Our Executive Board