“Your Vote is Your Voice, Every Member Counts in Local 1101”

By Jim Trainor, Secretary

The proposed by-law changes are now entering the final stage, which is a vote by the entire membership. After months of meetings, discussions, proposals and debates the Executive Board proposals are being presented to the membership. The proposed bylaw changes will be mailed by the American Arbitration Association. Every member in CWA, Local 1101 should receive a ballot and every member should vote.

The Executive Board has been conducting meetings throughout the local to discuss and explain the current by-laws proposal. Many of the members at our meetings were unaware of the facts behind some of these changes and members are not aware of our diverse membership and how these changes would impact representation. We have received a positive response throughout the local. More meetings are scheduled and we look forward to our membership involvement.

On Tuesday, November 23rd, there was a general membership meeting held at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan. The purpose of the meeting was to explain the current by-laws proposals. Since we have not had a by-laws change since 1984, the Local felt it was prudent to hire an arbitrator to serve as a Parliamentarian. Arthur Riegel, a highly respected and experience arbitrator, was recommended by the National union to serve as our parliamentarian. Arthur’s opening statement assured the membership that his role as a Parliamentarian was to assist in conducting the meeting and to interpret any motions which may be presented at the meeting.

The Executive Board’s decision to have the proposed by-law changes conducted by a referendum was sustained after repeated attempts by some members to conduct the election at the general membership meeting. The Executive Board took a strong stand against all attempts to deny every member the right to vote. These by-law proposals are too important a decision to be left to a minority of the membership.

Nine of thirteen members of the Executive Board supported your right to vote on this current by-laws proposal.  The following Executive Board members voted for your right to a referendum of the current by-laws proposal.

Joe Connolly – President                                          Angel Feliciano – Exec. Vice President

Terry Daly – Treasurer                                            Jim Trainor – Secretary

Joe Manley – Vice President                                     Martin Shannon – Business Agent

Thomas McGill – Business Agent                               Bob Pyzeski _ Business Agent

Tony Fiumano – Business Agent

The following Executive Board members voted against your right to a referendum of the current by-laws proposal.

Joe McAleer – Vice President                                    Al Luzzi – Vice President

Pat LaScala – Business Agent                                    Pat Gibbons – Business Agent

The entire membership needs to vote. The proposed by-law changes will structure the local to handle the needs of our diverse membership for the decade ahead. These long-overdue proposals will eliminate unnecessary positions on the executive board and add necessary representation at AT&T Mobility, Education and Health Care. These changes would put the local on a sound financial path and they do so without increasing our dues structure. 

The overwhelming majority of the Executive Board believes;

 Fair and equal representation with a strong and financially secure local requires you to vote yes on all of the by-laws proposals.

YOUR VOTE IS YOUR VOICE – MAKE IT COUNT!

The Need For Our By-Laws Change

Update Your Home Address 
If you didn’t receive a notice for the Membership Meeting in the mail please update your home address. Fax the completed form to the Local.  fax: 212-633-8337