Annual Audit in July

I want to share with you some issues that have been keeping this office busy for the past three months. The Local is going through its yearly audit, where we have an independent auditor come in to look over all of our financial documents from the previous year. This usually takes a better part of a week. The auditors go over all the finances of the Local, and each and every payment that comes into or leaves this office. They will then present the Local and the Trustees with a final report with recommendations on how we may best financially run our Local.

It is hard to believe, that we are already three months into 2008. This year and the subsequent one, promise to be two more busy years for Local 369. This year with four contracts expiring, we will again be working around the clock to negotiate an agreement with three separate employers; National Grid, Distragas and Entergy. By including members directly in all aspects of negotiations, we will insure that the members’ collective voices will be heard. Having negotiated at least two dozen contracts in the last 5 _ years I have seen first hand, the results that have been produced. Once again some of the issues that the committees will be faced with are healthcare, pensions, and job specifications to name a few.

Recently I received a call from a member regarding the care that they received from their company’s medical department. The member was upset at the way that they were treated and thought that they were being harassed among other things. Unfortunately when you are dealing with medical problems it is usually a doctor/patient issue and the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) handcuffs the Local’s ability to investigate these grievances.

As many of you have experienced, the latest way for corporate America to increase their bottom line and raise their stocks value is to attack sick days. If they can reduce the days that their employees are using they can show Wall Street and the stock price goes up, this is done with total disregard for their employees, our members. However there are ways to fight back. The Family Medical Leave Act is a law that was enacted February 5, 1993 that may help you and your family. The key to this law is that you must apply through your company and meet certain criteria. In general, an eligible employee shall be entitled to a total of 12 workweeks
of leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following:

Local 369 and Entergy Settle Medical Overcharge Arbitration

Secretary-Treasurer Dan Hurley summarizes some of the important benefits UWUA Local 369 workers are entitled to.