Date: 11/17/2015
GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Pledge of Allegiance: Cameron Galpin
Quorum: Yes
Visitors: No
(CR) Please take a few moments to review the review that reports in the back.
Any questions or concerns about minutes. Motion to accept minutes, Second Cameron Galpin.
Officers and Eboard present: Chris Roberts, Tosha Broadnax, Orlando Gonzalez, Darryl Sykes,
Carlos Muñoz, Cassie Beach, Ed Luna, Rick Becerra, Mike Heyenga
Report of Officers:
Darryl Sykes: This month I have been working mostly on Mobilization. I have attended several
trainings on procedures and structure for the upcoming expiration of the AT&T contract. We put
out our Local surveys to all groups and had them returned and counted to get an idea of what
all work groups wanted to fight for in the upcoming contract. The District surveys were passed
out last week to the majority of our Local with only a handful of members that have not had the
opportunity to voice their opinion. We should have them taken care of within the next week. I
am now in the process of collecting them back and getting ready for the count so that we can
make our district timeline. This will be a tedious process so all help is needed to encourage our
members to fill them out and return them so that we aren't behind. There is a district wide call
weekly where we are getting updates and sharing information between locals so that we can be
on the same page when the fight begins. I have also been working with the Organizing
Committee as Directv date quickly approaches
Carlos: Meeting with all the yards, specifically PremTechs. El Centro techs have been asking
for more training, this is something that I am working. DTV training has been focused in San
Diego, they, El Centro, want to make sure they are not being left behind. Recent changes in
yards, in terms of transfers. We will have more stewards now in yards where we were lacking.
Digital Life talks for organizing, getting calls from riverside. I was informed that I will be
working to organize UDW. They are Union staff. I have been helping Darryl with mobilization
with mobilization, especially new members. Concerns about walking out, but Premtechs who
were new then and experienced striking have been a great help. Cricket wireless, very new to
Union world. Mike and I have been working close to assure contract is being followed. Pending
grievance for wireless tech that was surplussed. I am working with sales reps in the Mission
Valley store to support them because of ongoing complaints regarding working conditions.
Working on bargaining HGH contract with Bob and Abigail. Lastly in terms of SEIU. We just
received an offer for him to be returned.
Tosha: Copy from Eboard report. One person out on DB, was sent 5 day letter. He was
separated from Company. Within two days he was put back in payroll, so we did not lose that
member. We attended the Mobility conference. One of the things we talked about, is visiting
the mobility stores more often. We received complaints from mobility store in mission valley,
Carlos was sent there to resolve issues. District 3 won a big grievance with MSOC.
Orlando: Along with day to day business, I received a second subpoena for a second
termination lawsuit against ATT. The request is not as elaborate as the first subpoena but ATT is
fighting the request so I am waiting for go-ahead.
About half of GSI members are not paying dues. The Company feels that they met their
obligation to CWA by sending us a monthly membership list. The list in our system had not
been updated in years, so I took on the lengthy process of cleaning out many names that were no
longer members. I sent GSI a formal complaint about their practices regarding dues. Bob and I
will have a conference call by end of week.
The accountant the Local a document request for the coming audit and end of year filings. The
request is considerable and I am about 90% finished with it. This time also allowed me to update
our recorded inventory, by removing items such as a VCR. She will likely not be in until
January to complete.
Lastly, I sent a formal letter to one of our members who has not paid dues in 2 years and refused
to sign a payroll authorization card. I have not heard a reply yet. I will send a second letter this
month.
(CR) Any questions for Orlando?
Melinda Hawkins: I have two questions. Question on Profit and Loss for October 2015,
specifically 5110 Officer Expenses – Meals & Meetings: $2751.51. Can you give us a
breakdown of the expense?
(OG) The expenses were a combination of a breakfast we hosted for Trade St. members, we also
hosted the 2015 Mobility conference, food for El Centro members and food for our Stewards
meeting.
(MeH) Do you have the exact breakdown of the expense?
(OG) I do not have the exact breakdown.
(MeH) Do you have information on how many people attended breakfast?
(OG) No I do not.
(MeH) Why a breakfast for Trade, and not the other work groups?
(CR) I can answer that. In regards to techs, it is easy for us to talk to most of them before a
tailgate, as opposed to Service Reps who have a multitude of start times. We targeted Trade
directly since we don’t have the same access as we do with yards.
(MeH) I need a full breakdown for the specific expense on next membership meeting.
(OG) Okay
(MeH) Second Question: Why are you not printing out last month’s General Membership
Meeting minutes for us to review?
(OG) During officer training, I was instructed to do as I am doing. Going forward I can print
out.
(MeH) Well I am going to need all the Membership Meeting minutes starting from the month
you took office.
(OG) You can come to my office at any time.
(MeH) I need the copies printed.
(OG) I will print them out for you.
(MeH) Print out copies for the membership present.
(OG) No, I will only print out for you and those that request it from me.
(MeH) Are you refusing?
(OG) I said I would print them out for those who express interest.
(MeH) So are you refusing?
(OG) Listen, I am in charge of policing the finances of the Local, it would a waste of money to
print out documents that members are not interested in having.
(CR) We will have the documents available on our website within 30 days, so you can read.
Chris: Training for bargaining at the District together with Carlos and Abby. Company creating
storm conditions. President Art Gonzalez and I made it clear to the Company that it better be
emergency conditions. Liz shared what she could. More than likely we will have a big chunk of
loaners to San Diego. Made it clear that if we have loaners that our guys will have unlimited
overtime. Jody Garcia, majority of that focused on Leverage Rep title. We have a giant war,
and it was not going well with both 2nd levels. The Director had several violations of the
contract. The attrition rate, mostly related to resignations, have been atrocious. About 30% of
reps have left.
Robert Brooks informed us that they wanted to take work from Appendix D. The majority of the
works is housed by us and 9510. That work will go from Appendix D to Appendix A. We
received in writing that this change would not result in a subsequent surplus. Did a grievance
recently, was able to bring back a core tech that was dismissed due to driver license issues
(members applaud). Our Local has brought back the most technicians dismissed for driver
license related issues. We have brought back 6 in total. There will be a genuine change.
Attended Mobility conference, we did incur some costs, however the District commended us.
The last thing, CCT techs, small group. We received a call from that group stating that
contractors are completing their work. We are about a week into it. The vendors are still there.
We have contacts know with District 3 and northern California. We have a call on Thursday.
Kami: Will the loaners have to members. (CR) Yes
Cameron Galpin: So on the work load. Clarification: What work load. (CR) Core side, not
you guys. (CG) Any work on why our work has stopped. (CR) Basically there is a number of
things. Basically, AT&T they stopped pushing Uverse product back in March. Orders have
dropped 20% accounts for some of the lost work. In addition getting the PremTechs trained on
DTV. As this improves, I have made it very clear, make sure the word is out that if the
Company is paying you to sweep yard that you do it.
Committee Reports:
LPAT: (BB): Basically, we had a meeting yesterday with the San Diego Labor Council. We
voted on a candidate for District 9. One of the problems with Democrats is that they turn on
Labor when we need them. They don’t feel that they need to pay us back. So that’s what we did
yesterday. The person that came from a Union, was Sarah Saez. We still have advantage in city
council with democrats. (KD) Is this the same woman that was an attorney (Araceli Martinez)
who said she would not take Union’s money? (BB) No.
Organizing: (CM) Conference call with technicians. We are getting the DTV techs to open up
to conversation with us. We are getting contact information, even though at the present moment
we don’t have a lot of information to offer. (DS) If you see techs on the outside please try and
get contact information. (DH) Do we know where the ISM office (department that takes care of
calls regarding DTV and PremTechs work being scheduled). (CM) Don’t know
Education: (JA) We had an Education Committee plan to visit Mission Valley Mobility
representatives last Sunday. We received a call at about 5pm, and that meeting was called. We
are trying to get out there Saturday and Sunday to not charge lost time wages. (CR) Our vendors
(SAGE and APT) are getting space on our website, linking their website. Most of the
information will now be on website.
Community Services: (No report) The Chair, Troy Hamilton, was working
Finance Oversight: (EG) We, the Committee, met last week after stewards meetings. We went
over expenses and cross referencing them with the budget. I have nothing to recommend at this
moment.
I am also one of the MAP advocates. Domestic violence is a hot item during the holidays.
Please let us know if you hear anything.
Equity: (MH) Conference call with District. Had a conference call. We discussed items that did
not pertain to our Local. Issues in other Locals, for example, are customers making racial
preferences regarding technician visits. We, the Committee, will start having quarterly meetings.
Safety: (FL) Another month of safety. Everything seems okay just an influx of vehicle
accidents. The Company reached out to us, they want possible answers. We need to take our
time, slow down. Go 5 miles per hour below speed limit. Also, traffic tickets creeped up. We
are responsible for those. (DN) Are u aware that they are putting 40’ ladders on Company vans?
(FL) They are 36’ and I brought it up in Ruffin. The racks are capable of holding that weight.
Yes, however those ladders are to be handled by two people.
Are u aware that they have VP staff following people around for safety? (CM) Not aware.
Membership: Chair, Dave Mattero not present. (CR) We are finalizing a list of non-members.
We had a number of people drop-off last contract. We don’t anyone crossing the picket line.
Dave will work with these persons for the possibility of bringing them back as members. This
will start first week of January.
Womens: (ES) We are currently doing a couple of things. Donations of socks and coats are
being requested. We have boxes, but I would rather take it personally. We go to Father Joes
first. The Breast Cancer walk was October 18 and we raised 2100 dollars. We also had a
competition, Ed Tibbs raised the most 115.00.
Bylaw: (JA) I wanted to report, that we received a Bylaw change proposal on October 14.
There was some revisions made to the original proposal made on the last General Membership
meeting. The proposal was made by Orlando. The revision of Bylaw is on the table, in the back.
Old Business:
(CR) We have two bylaws to go over. Since one was amended, it will be posted on website. For
the other, we will vote on it tonight. The Committee recommended?
(JA) Yes, we recommended
(CR) Now we will speak on the proposed amendment to Bylaw. We need people for and against
at each microphone.
For: Orlando, because of the dates involved would have to wait till next year to be able to make
a change. The actual process hinders the local from being able to make changes. Jesse verified
from the district the current language.
Against: Melinda couple things to bring to the membership. There is already language that were
changes that are in need of immediate can be done during the year. Is that what you are saying?
Orlando Janine looked at those and are also wrong.
Melinda the bylaws committee will review and prepare a recommendation the amendment would
need to be voted on the next month and not today. The local has 2200 members and several bu.
And we have about 50 members that come to the membership meetings. This bylaws excludes
many of the members.
Recommendation is to follow the CWA constitution and present it and have a referendum and
mail out to all members and allowed them to send in their vote.
Mike: the bylaw proposal allows that members can make the change. We should fix the bylaws
straight up and if someone feels that there is a need to change we should be able to change it.
And it would be more inclusive and not exclusive.
Craig: I also want to say its not fair for 40-50 people to make changes on the bylaws change. All
members should be able to vote and make sure the responsibility to make sure that all members
know of the change on the chief stewards.
Gavel turned over to Tosha
Chris: it was verified with the district and it was illegal. This is in-line with the process. It says
in the bylaws that it needs to be posted on the website. We cant be able to combat the apathy of
members not showing up. We can fully agree people have access to the internet.
We don’t have an agenda, we were told this was illegal. And this is in-line with what we were
told.
Daniel: I commend the local for wanting to make the changes and they are good. Members
should be able to make changes and put them through. My issues is with the members and they
don’t even know what a bylaw is or what the website is. To make sure they all know and
making sure that.. . I don’t feel voting on this during a general membership meeting isn’t
correct. I think there should be provisions for the voting of it.
Chris you talking about the process of voting. We have to correct this and we made sure that all
people
Hans: Call the question.
Chris if all in favor of making the bylaws amendment.
Yeas 22- Nays 6 it passes. No old
Nominations and elections:
I did appoint Art Franco as steward.
One of the members that was elected that was elected to be on Eboard. He elected to leave for
personal reasons. Eboard has nominated Ed Tibbs to replace Mike Parry. No discussions.
All in favor of Ed Tibbs replacing
(DN) Question on nomination. Did Ed Tibbs run for Eboard? The final election he did not.
(CR) The criteria that we used, extremely important to have a PremTech, to have Eboard
represent group. I wanted a strong leader. His base knowledge is considerable since he has
Good and Welfare:
Survey results (Cameron Galpin)
Its not completed yet. We have until this Friday as a soft date. We are charged with tabulating
our own results. With those timelines, we will still attempt to collect surveys. We are still in the
process of collecting surveys.
(DN) For the good of the membership. I would like to see more planning as to Article 7 and
Safety meeting planning. (CR) So noted, I am big on article 7. The process that we have, we
will text out asking questions and concerns to address in article 7.
(CR) We will be posting VSB information for interested members. Deadline of the 30th.
Adjournment: