July 3, 2008

 

Mr. Jose Moreno, Business Manager

Northern California District Council of Laborers

4780 Chabot Drive, Suite 200

Pleasanton CA, 94588

 

Dear Sir and Brother,

 

I tried to call you the day after the union meeting but you weren’t in, I wanted to know why you choose to put so much money on dues check off and organizing for the Hod Carriers Agreements. When I asked Cedric Porter, Assistant Business Manager of the Northern California District Council of Laborers, at the Hod Carriers Union Meeting, he said “I didn’t come here to answer your questions”

 

The action you and the delegates took will forever effect organizing in Northern California. Mr. Moreno you make over $300,000 a year, your Assistant who accused me of being disgruntled makes $260,000 a year, neither of you will pay the amount of dues you assessed working Hod Carriers in Oakland and San Francisco. I am not disgruntled I am disappointed and disgusted and find your actions despicable.

 

Who do you think will join a union with a $124.00 a week dues?  hell you can’t organize them now for free and these kinds of actions are why.

 

A Plaster Hod Carrier will pay $2.00 an hour dues check off and a whopping $1.10 an hour for organizing that works out to $80.00 a week in dues check off and $44.00 a week in Organizing for a total of $124.00 a week and $37.00 window dues for a total of $533.00 a month to work as a union Hod Carrier.

 

A Plaster Hod Carrier in San Francisco will pay $1.50 an hour dues check off and $60.00 a week and  $10.00 for Organizing for a total of $70.00 a week and $37.00 window dues for a total of $317.00 a month to work as a union Hod Carrier.

 

A Masonry Hod Carrier in Oakland will pay $1.60 per hour check off $64.00 a week and .60 an hour for organizing $24.00 a week for a total of $84.00 a week plus $37.00 window dues for a total of $373.00 a month

 

A Masonry Hod Carrier will pay a $1.70 an hour dues check off and .16 cents an hour for organizing for a total of $74.40 a week plus $37.00 a month window dues $334.60

 

For the record Brother Moreno these members have to pay health care coverage in the amount of $800.00 a month for Cobra once their our of work more that 3 months if they have families the Cobra rate goes up.

 

These members are struggling to get buy in a recession if laid off they are forced to live on $450.00 a week unemployment. They are worried about rent, foreclosures, and the price of food and energy rising everyday.

 

Brother Moreno being a full time officer you have a recession proof job the same as every delegate who supported a motion made by you to increase Hod Carriers union dues without a vote of the rank & file Hod Carriers membership. We believe you violated THE LMRDA ACT. But what you really violated was the trust union members gave to you. I seconded your nomination at the convention for LIUNA International Vice President At Large. So my disappointment is heart felt.  

 

I am requesting copies of the New Plaster Agreements you have implemented for Oakland and Alameda Counties and San Francisco Counties, I am also requesting copies of the New Masonry Agreements for the same areas. It is imperative we have these agreements because nobody has informed us on how we registered for work when laid off, or if roll call is still in effect, I showed up at the Daly City hiring hall on July 1, 2008 and was told by field rep Ben Calcote the hall is closed all dispatches are being made by telephone we closed Oakland to.

 

I would also like a copy of the District Council minutes to see how this was explained to the delegates and which delegates voted.

 

Sincerely yours,

Alex Corns