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Joint Steering Committee: Statement on Negotiations

Published January 30, 2012 | By Administrator

Joint Steering Committee 

Statement on Negotiations

     _________________________________________________

                      Joint Steering Committee Statement on Negotiations As you know, talks took place over the weekend between executives of Sempra-SoCalGas and national officials of both the Utility Workers Union and the International Chemical Workers Union Council. While the members of the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) were not actually in the room, they were in the hotel, available for consultation. The Union and the Company have reached a tentative agreement based on those talks, and the JSC, even though it believes the few improvements are a long, long way from sufficient, has decided (not unanimously) to recommend that the membership ratify it.

                 Why? Improvements have been made that increase the wages, protect more than 60% of the membership from the Company’s proposal on post retirement medical, and reduce the impact of those proposals aimed at the Union as an institution. But it is clear by their insistence on cash balance and their version of catastrophic sickness allowance (among others) that the Company has declared war on the Union and its members and intends to continue that war. The Union has agreed “to recommend a ‘yes’ vote during the ratification process.” We wanted to ensure that you get to vote on this revised settlement, and we believe we are better off fighting back against the Company’s war on its workers while having paychecks, a minimum level of benefits, and the protections of arbitration. We feel we have no choice but to work with a contract and continue to fight back in every way under the contract and law to protect our rights. The alternative in all likelihood would have meant many more months of campaigning and a strike, with no arbitration procedure for members who get fired.

                  Each local is planning to meet with its shop stewards before sending out a ballot. Local 132 will meet with its stewards this Saturday, February 4th. We know that even what we have been able to extract was achieved only because of the solidarity and determination of the membership. We intend to continue to organize that solidarity as we take the fight to the Company over the next weeks, months, and years. There is no question this is a very bitter pill for all of us who have fought so long and hard. We knew from the beginning that we were up against a very rich, powerful, ruthless corporation making enormous amounts of profit in an economic climate where vulture capitalism is the norm and not the exception. We have learned a lot more about the lengths to which the Company will go to disrespect its employees; they will have to learn that we will not take it lying down.

Posted in Uncategorized

Negotiations Update 1/18/2012

Published January 22, 2012 | By Administrator

 

Posted in Uncategorized

Negotiations Update 1/11/2012

Published January 22, 2012 | By Administrator
Negotiations Update
January, 11, 2012
   
                        In an attempt once more to reach an agreement, the Union gave the Company 8 revised proposals on range of issues including on the term of the agreement, what the pay raise should be (we proposed 3.5% in each year of the Agreement), creating the ability for part-time workers to earn vacation time and holiday credits, moving closer to the Company on vacation carry over, and various other issues.  The Company on its side, said it had nothing to give us, no more responses to the more than 30 proposals given to them by the Union before Christmas. 
                     On one of the most contentious, who can be a union representative and how union representatives can gain access to the property to meet with members, the Union made another stab at getting agreement.  We both attempted to reassure the Company any access to company property would not be by unknowns, but asserting once again that it would be the Unions who chose their own representatives and defined what a representative is, and not the Company.  The Company has been insisting with great arrogance that it define who a union representative is.
                  We pointed out to them that they allow all kinds of people on the property of whom they have little or no knowledge (contract employees of various types, natural gas vehicle owners, masseurs, sales people, etc.)  In its usual arrogance the response was that they don’t allow contractors in the building to talk to their employees, making it clear once again that what they are really concerned about is the Union’s ability to communicate directly with the members.
               We will be meeting with the Company again Thursday morning, and will give them more proposals as we attempt to reach an agreement.  At least one side in the room is attempting to reach agreement. The Company seems interested in doing nothing but failing to reach agreement, and figuring out how quickly it can do that.  We note again that between November 18th and December 14th, the Union gave the Company more than 30 proposals, and in its most recent Last, Best and Final package proposal, they responds to approximately 5. 

And they had nothing to give us today again.
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A Message From President Frias

Published January 22, 2012 | By Administrator
 
Brothers and Sisters,
               
                 Congratulations! This Sunday over 500 Shop Stewards, Activists & Volunteers gathered in Whittier, California. This was the biggest gathering of union members in a meeting that was NOT suppose to be a Mass Meeting. Members from every union filled a room designed to hold 500 people; there was standing room only in the halls, back of the room and along the meeting room walls. I have attached the power point presentation if you were unable to attend.   
                     Members were told that the Joint Steering Committee were given the green light by their executive boards to call for a work action if negotiations are not productive and continue to attack benefits we have enjoyed and fought so hard for.
                       In 1994 we had a one-day strike, which cost the Company millions and was supported by 94% of all employees who came downtown for the largest work action of gas co. employees ever.  It made it clear to the Company that we can strike and that we are united.  It also got a huge amount of publicity, and brought pressure on the Company from both politicians and other unions.  There are a lot of people who want to support us, but unless we support ourselves, show unity and power, they cannot stand with us. 
                   Finally, we want to remind you:  It is illegal for managers or supervisors to threaten you with any type of retaliation if you join a strike or picket.  It is also illegal for managers or supervisors to promise better working conditions to employees if they do not join in Union activities.   Whether you are full-time, part-time, probationary, or in training, the Company cannot discriminate against you or retaliate against you in your employment with the Company because of your Union activities.
Your best protection is to report any threats of retaliation or promises of benefits to the Union.  Let us know who the manager or supervisor was, when the threat or promise was made, what was said, and who witnessed it. 

Stay strong, stay united, as we defend of our contract and our families.

Defending our contract jan 8th meeting

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A Message from President Frias

Published January 22, 2012 | By Administrator

To All Shop Stewards and Activists

     All-Union Shop Stewards Meeting on January 8th to prepare for Strike Action
As a result of the Company’s continued time wasting and other unfair tactics at the bargaining table, increasing numbers of members have been demanding to know why we are not shutting the Company down.  We now feel we have no choice.  The Company’s most recent “Last, Best and Final” offer continues in the same line as previous Company rip-off proposals aimed at undermining our wages, our pensions, our post-retirement medical, our sick-time and the strength, unity and power of our union.
 
     While we are not yet willing to telegraph to the Company the exact date of any strike action, we are putting all the pieces into place right now, including doing the internal organizing that is necessary to bring out 5,000 members in two unions and seven locals.  Recently at Alhambra base, a lead organizer announced that we are planning a strike and the base erupted in applause and desk pounding!
      That is why we are bringing all stewards together on January 8th.  We want to hear views from all shop stewards and activists (regardless of Union/Local), of how best to organize the upcoming strike and the follow-up that will be necessary.
  
The meeting will be held at 1 pm until no later than 4 pm at the Whittier Radisson, 7230 Greenleaf Ave, Whittier CA, 90602. We will pay mileage if you carpool and parking is free. 
             You became a shop steward to help the membership and help protect them when the Company attacks us and our families.  That is exactly the situation today.  The Company wants to drastically cut in one attempt what took us decades to win. Your members need you now more than ever.  I look forward to seeing each and every one of you on January 8th.
                Stay together, stay strong. We can only lose if we quit, and I don’t believe any of our stewards or activists are quitters.
 
Yours fraternally,
Arturo Frias
President Local 132, UWUA
 
Posted in Uncategorized

Negotiations Update 12/20/2011

Published January 22, 2012 | By Administrator
Please read the attached Negotiations Update.
Thank you.
Posted in Uncategorized

Please read the attached Negotiations Update.

Published January 22, 2012 | By Administrator

Posted in Uncategorized

A Message from President Frias: Stop TakeAways!

Published January 22, 2012 | By Administrator

Join Us for a Rally to FIGHT FOR OUR FUTURE and STOP CORPORATE GREED 

Join Us for a Rally to FIGHT FOR OUR FUTURE and STOP CORPORATE GREED 

Thursday, December 15th 

COMPTON HQ: 3:30 – 5:30 PM    701 North Bullis Road, Compton 90221   VISALIA BASE: 5:30 – 7:30 AM   404 North Tipton Street, Visalia 93291  

The GAS CO.TOWER: 4:00 – 6:00 PM  

555 West 5th Street, LA 90013  

ANAHEIM HQ: 3:30 – 5:30 PM  

1919 S. State College Blvd., Anaheim 92806   

REDLANDS HQ: 3:00 – 5:00 PM  

1981 W. Lugonia Ave., Redlands 92373 

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A Message from President Frias

Published January 22, 2012 | By Administrator
Dear Members,
                   
                   I wanted to congratulate all those who have ignored the insulting and demeaning efforts of the Company to brow beat our members into accepting their takeaway bonanza.  First, you came out on a Sunday and voted in numbers never seen before to authorize a strike.  Then you voted down the Company’s outrageous “Last Best and Final” package by more than 6 to 1.  And now, as you have seen in the United Action, members in Redlands HQ, San Luis Obispo, Monterey Park HQ, San Pedro, Murrieta, 182nd St., San Dimas HQ, Palm Desert and a host of other locations across the system are “stickering-up” and taking it to the streets with picket signs and banners. 
                         The Company is trying desperately to take money away from us both now and in the future, and undermine the Union we and those who went before have built to protect us.  In their latest act of desperation, despite allowing us to wear uniforms in the course of our everyday lives, and despite a past practice of picketing in uniform during other periods without a contract, the Company is desperate to stop the picketing by threatening members for wearing their uniforms while picketing or even trying to prevent some of us wearing stickers at all.  They want to put their hands in our pockets and now they want to undress us. 
                    We believe they are trying to enforce a discriminatory uniform policy which only applies to you if you are doing concerted activity with other members; but we are sure we have met our legal obligation by covering up their logos with jackets or t-shirts over the uniform.  It is critical that you keep doing what you are doing and even do more of it. 
               Remember, we are escalating for an Action Day on December 15, next Thursday!  We will be blocking the streets around the Tower, coming together in Anaheim, Visalia and other locations. 
 

Our Time is Now!

Stay United, Stay Strong.
Arturo Frias – President
UWUA, Local 132
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From President Frias: Please see attached.

Published January 21, 2012 | By Administrator

Please see attached.

Negotiations update Nov.23

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