UAW Local 31

Donna Birks

Brothers and Sisters,

First I would like to again welcome our new UAW Local 31 members.  It was nice to see new members at our March union meeting.  We can never have enough involved members.  As the saying goes, “None of us is as strong as ALL of us.”

An issue I addressed at both the active and retiree’s union meeting I want all our members to be aware of.  UAW #710, (the parts Local in Kansas City) was approached in October 2007 by the dealers at the Argosy casino about organizing and they wanted UAW to be their union.  They had also approached the Teamsters, but they chose UAW instead.  The UAW already represents 8,000 casino workers in the U.S. Rick Klingenberger, UAW organizer asked the dealers why they didn’t go to the Seafarers Union, who already represents 500 employees at the Argosy.  They said in their 14 years at the Argosy, the Seafarers had never approached them to organize, plus they preferred the UAW.  When the UAW did a card-check (proper protocol when organizing), 70% of the dealers had signed cards authorizing the UAW.

Unfortunately, the Argosy brought in anti-union lawyers and did an anti-union campaign on the dealers about the UAW.  It scared the workers and they lost the vote.

My problem is the article that the Labor Beacon (the only union paper in K.C.) published about the organizing drive.

“UAW Local #710 lost its organizing drive at the Argosy Casino and might have ruffled some labor feathers while they were at it.  Apparently the organizing attempt was being criticized by the Seafarers Union who represents nearly 500 employees of the Argosy.”

This was irresponsible journalism by Kevin O’Neill (editor and publisher of the Labor Beacon).  During one of the rallies at the Argosy, Kevin came down and asked Rick how the UAW got involved with the drive.  Rick told Kevin he was not at liberty to talk about it at the time, but once the drive was over, he would call him and give him the information.  After the drive was over, Kevin never called Rick before he printed this article.

There are other casinos in the U.S. where the UAW has members along with 2 or 3 other Unions that represent other workers in the same casino, so we were not in the Seafarer’s territory.  Those workers chose the UAW over the Seafarers who have had a presence in that casino for over 14 years.  Rick also called the Seafarers and they told him they did not want to get involved.  If they had had a problem with the organizing drive, they never said a word to the UAW.

I believe it is a shame when you can get a nice article out of the Kansas City Star about the organizing drive and the “labor” paper prints misinformation.

I’m not advocating that you should not gamble at the Argosy because they are still the only Union casino in K.C., and after a period of one year the dealers want to try to organize again.  I just wanted to set the record straight in case you are approached by a Union member who receives the Labor Beacon.
                                   
Donna Birks

It shall be the duty of the Financial Secretary to receive all dues, initiation fees, readmission fees, and all other income of the Local Union for any fund from any source and to give official receipts for same, as provided in this Constitution. Financial Secretaries of Local Unions having a check-off arrangement shall issue one (1) receipt for the check received from the company, and otherwise use the procedure outlined above for any other income. No receipt shall be issued to individual members unless the company does not show on the check stub or pay envelope the amount of the deduction and the reason therefor.

The Financial Secretary shall write all checks drawn on the Local Union funds and report in writing every month at a regular meeting of the Local Union giving the amount of monies received and paid out during the previous calendar month, divided as between the various income and expenditure classifications, and the remaining balances in the fund accounts of the Local Union.

The Financial Secretary shall deposit all collections either with the Treasurer, taking a receipt therefor, or in such banks as Local Union Trustees may direct, with advice to the Treasurer as to the amount so deposited.  

The Financial Secretary shall by the 20th of each month, send a report to the International Secretary-Treasurer on blanks furnished by the International Union, together with the correct amount of money due the International Union for the preceding month which begins on the first and ends with the last day of the month. S/He shall receive applications for membership and notify the candidates of their election or rejection. S/He shall assist the International Union in seeing that all members receive the official publication regularly when eligible, provide each member with an official receipt for all monies paid and make available to each member a copy of the International Constitution and bylaws of the Local Union. Union membership cards and/or dues buttons may be issued at the option of the Local Union.

The Financial Secretary shall furnish the International Secretary-Treasurer with the names and addresses of all the officers of the Local Union. S/He shall keep a record of all members initiated, suspended, expelled or deceased, transfers in and out and reinstatements, during her/his term of office and notify the International Secretary-Treasurer of same, and perform such other duties as the bylaws prescribe or the Local Union may direct. There shall be maintained by the Financial Secretary a complete record of all active members of the Local Union. This record shall have the date of initiation, the date and cause of suspension or expulsion, the date of reinstatement, together with the date of death, home address and such other matters as may be deemed necessary to keep a record of the continuous membership of a member of the Local Union.

The Financial Secretary shall not make said record of all active members (membership list) available to anyone except pursuant to the provisions of Article 37, Section 9 of this Constitution.

The Financial Secretary shall keep an inventory of all records and property of the Local Union, the same to contain, when possible, date of purchase and amount paid for each article. S/He shall notify all members in arrears of the amount of their indebtedness and turn over her/his books to the Trustees for audit and approval when called to do so. S/He shall, on the demand of the International Secretary-Treasurer, produce her/his books for examination and audit and shall comply with the provisions of this Constitution. 

Should it be proven that any Local Union Financial Secretary has willfully and intentionally failed to report monthly the full membership of her/his Local Union to the International Secretary-Treasurer; or should it be proven that any Local Union President, Treasurer and/or Financial Secretary willfully and intentionally refuses to sign a check to send in the full amount of per capita tax on the same number of members who have paid dues to the Local Union, the Local Union may be suspended from all privileges and benefits until the deficiency is made good and the officer or officers responsible for such failure shall not be allowed to again hold office in the organization for a period of two (2) years.