June 24, 2008
Mr. Terence M.
O’Sullivan, LIUNA General President
905 16th
Street NW
Washington D.C. 20006
Dear Sir and Brother,
Since my last letter
to you we just received another dues increase from Local 166 Business Manager,
Samuel Robinson. I am faxing you the wage scales to review.
The dues check off
went up 50 cents an hour for a total $1.50 and organizing .25 so the members
pay $60.00 a week now for dues check off and $10.00 for organizing. So $70.00 x
4 = 280.00 plus 37.00 is $317.00 we should feel blessed.
The Oakland Plaster
Agreement dues check off went to $2.00 an hour $80.00 a week for dues and
$44.00 for organizing $124.00 a week $496.00 a month plus $37.00, $533.00 a
month union dues a $216.00 a month difference in dues within an 8 mile radious.
We believe Business
Manager Samuel Robinson is in violation of the LMRDA Act.
Title 1 – Bill
of Rights of Members of Labor Organizations (29 U.S.C. 411)
(3) Dues, Initiation
Fees and Assessments- Except in case of a federation of national or international
labor organizations, the rates of dues and initiation fees payable by members
of any labor organization in effect on the date of enactment of this Act shall
not be increased, and no general or special assessment shall be levied upon
such members, except-
(A) In the case of a
local organization,(i) by majority vote by secret ballot of the members in good
standing voting at a general or special membership meeting, after reasonable
notice of the intention to vote upon such question.
One can only assume
from the constant dues increases that Hod Carriers Local 166 has financial
problems that may require your immediate attention under Section 302 of the
LMRDA. Act.
Correcting Corruption
or Financial Malpractice, Assuring the Performance of Collective Bargaining
Agreements, Restoring Democratic Procedures, Otherwise Carrying Out the
Legitimate Objects of the Union.
I personally have no
complaint about $10.00 a week for organizing, that’s fine, members can
live with it. But each and every member who pays that money deserves
accountability from the officers The Laborers International Union and The
Northern California District Council of Laborers Organizing Department if they
are the ones getting the money.
For the record I spoke
against decertification at the picnic, over the last couple of months I have
been accused by Carlos Lujan and I assume his legal team and now Mr. Robinson
uses the same quote.
“…to
refrain from attempting to cause succession by the Local union from the
International Union; to refrain from assisting an organization threatening to,
or undermining the representational rights of the International Union or any of
its affiliates; and to refrain from advocating or seeking the division of funds
of the Local Union”
We both know who is seeking
the division of union funds and it’s not Alex Corns.
For the record I have
never worked non union or crossed a picket line or dispatched a member to a non
union job. I have never gone against another union craft for personal gain or
tried to steal any other crafts work at a lesser rate of pay.
In late October 2006,
the California Apprenticeship Commission (CAC) voted 8- 7 to approve state
funding and certification for a Carpenters Union apprenticeship program to
train Plasters.The only union member on the CAC that voted in favor of the
Carpenters program was Cedric Porter, Business Representative for the Northern
California District Council of Laborers. Anne Quick, director of apprenticeship
for the anti union Golden Gate Chapter of The Associated Builders and
Contractors voted with Cedric Porter.
Well, Mr. General
President Terence M. O’Sullivan, those Carpenters are currently training
Plasters and Hod Carriers in Hayward California. You and I both know the
Carpenters have approached the Plastering Contractors Association and at some
point will take work in Northern California in the Plastering Industry.
Fraternally yours
Alex Corns: