Charlie's PageTo: All Members of Teamsters Local 926 From: Charlie Byrnes Subject: Retirement Date : February 7, 2010 Dear Sisters and Brothers: It is with some regret and some joy that I am announcing my retirement from office in your Local Union effective April 1, 2010. During the past eighteen years it has been my pleasure to represent you. Together we have been through many battles and some good times. With your help and support, Local 926 has negotiated some of the best labor contracts in their industries, in which, you are employed. Employers and members alike recognize Local 926 as a strong, intelligent, member oriented Union. We have installed procedures and programs to educate our stewards, protect our members and their rights. Since I assumed the Secretary Treasurers duties, we have grown from approximately 1,000 members to today's almost 3,000 members. Our net value has grown from a low of just under $5,000.00 to $312,179.65 as of December, 31, 2009. We have successfully organized thousands of new members and had two locals merge with us. But those are numbers; my fondest memories are of people who I have come to know. The families I have helped and the injustices I have helped to reverse. I thank you for those opportunities and will always be proud of my years of service to you and the Teamsters Union. I am equally certain that those who step up to steward your Local Union will continue the progress that we have enjoyed. They share my love for you and have promised to fight for and support your interests as the years go forward. Fraternally yours, Charles M. Byrnes Secretary Treasurer |
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Employee Free Choice Act Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) The Labor movement is the only voice for what is left of the middle class in America. The Bush Administration had been on a mission to fulfill the wishes of Business and Multi National Corporations. Since Mr. Bush became President real wages have fallen, employees must pay for much of their health care, defined benefit pensions are endangered, people are loosing their homes, and we are being told that social security may not be there, our children are dying in foreign countries because there "were weapons of mass destruction" and Labor Unions are fighting for their very existence. This is the first generation that cannot say that their children will be better off than their parents. Recent surveys have revealed that 50 million workers would choose to join a Union if they were protected from Employer retribution. Those same studies revealed that; 1. In 30% of all organizing campaigns Employers fire pro Union employees 2. 40% threaten to close the business if the Union gets in 3. 82% bring in Union busters to threaten and coerce employees 4. 92% require one on one mandatory meetings All of these practices are illegal and all of them go on without much opposition or punishment by the National Labor Relations Board. Labor has proposed the Employee Free Choice Act which would require company's to allow workers to form Unions without intervention and to recognize the union if a majority of the employees sign authorization cards. The legislation passed the House of Representatives but the Senate was intimidated by a threatened veto by Bush. History has shown that America works best when it has strong Unions. Our economy is vibrant when the middle class has spendable income and jobs are created. We must fight for the American Dream. We must stand up and fight for our way of life. No worker can call him or herself a Unionist if they are not politically active. There is no excuse for failing to register and vote. There is no excuse to allow other issues to cloud our goals. We must hold politicians accountable and we must demand a different America. D.R.I.V.E. As Teamsters we have the ability to contribute to D.R.I.V.E., the political arm of our Union. Our fight cannot be won without money. Every one of us can afford one ($1.00) or two ($2.00) dollars per week to put worker issues on the table and to turn the clock back. We must reverse the downward spiral we find ourselves in. D.R.I.V.E. Representatives will be in our Local Union in the near future. Please sign up and help in the fight.
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