Local 18 Welcomes Two Units to Our Union

I am very happy to welcome members of DWP’s Technical and Professional Units into the Local 18 family. We look forward to serving you in any way we can, and we hope that you will participate in our Union’s activities as we keep working to improve your benefits and wages, and jobsite conditions and families’ security.

Three Units Taken Away

On August 13, 2003, National AFL-CIO President John Sweeney notified our I.O. that IBEW Local 18 must “forthwith and unequivocally disclaim interest in representing [the Department of Water & Power’s] Supervisory Professional Unit, the Supervisory Technical and Business Administration Unit and the Administrative Unit.”

This ruling on the part of the AFL-CIO culminates (and negates) an on-going effort by Local 18 to organize members of the Engineers and Architects Association (EAA) who are in these three units. As you know, we began our organizing effort over nine months ago, and had seemingly received enough support from unit members to allow them to become part of our Union.

However, the EAA, which had long remained outside the House of Labor, affiliated with the International Union of Police Associations (IUPA), which is an AFL-CIO member union. Accordingly, because of the filing of petitions, in which we won handily in all the contested units, the IUPA filed charges of unfair organizing against the IBEW. Such tactics, sometimes called “raiding,” are barred among AFL-CIO unions under the provisions of the Federation’s Article XX.

The I.O. strongly defended Local 18’s attempts to organize the EAA members, stating that our efforts were not in violation of Article XX. For months we had been at an impasse in this matter, with neither the Impartial Umpire nor the Appeals Subcommittee of the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO reaching a decision over the organizing/election.

But on August 13, the national federation ruled that “the [Appeals] subcommittee concludes that the affiliation between the International Union of Police Associations and the Engineers and Architects Association was effected in compliance with the requirements of Article XX before the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers representation petition [which was] filed on December 19, 2002.”

Accordingly, under this ruling, Local 18 cannot represent the employees in these units. We have no choice except to obey the directive from the national AFL-CIO, as communicated to us by our I.O. We have notified both the Department’s Employee Relations Board and appropriate management representatives about our compliance. We are very disappointed that we cannot represent these DWP employees—especially those who had voted to join our Union.

The recall election against Governor Gray Davis is set for October 7. It is a waste of time and badly needed money. It is a side show that distracts serious Californians from the truly pressing issues at hand. It undermines our democratic system of elections and governing which holds our state together.

The recall is bad politics, worse policy, and the worst news. We must do everything we can—as union members, family people, concerned voters, and pro-democracy Californians—to stop the recall.

• On November 5, 2002, in a fair and legitimate election, Californians re-elected Governor Davis for another four-year term.

• But now, rich anti-union politicians and business interests have financed this recall in order to overturn that election.

• They are doing this because they want “their kind of governor,” someone who will abolish daily overtime, the prevailing wage, the workers comp system, paid family leave, job safety, and health-care protection.

• We cannot let this happen!

The recall is a waste of money

• The recall wastes scarce state funds. California faced a huge budget gap of $38.2 billion this year, and already faces a multi-billion dollar deficit for next year.

• Now, because of the recall, it must conduct a statewide election that will cost some $65-70 million dollars! There are dozens of pressing, people/family-oriented priorities on which this money should be spent!

The recall strikes at democracy

• If the recall wins—even if the governor gets half the vote—one of the challengers could be elected with barely 15% of the vote. This is unfair and undemocratic!

• California is the national trend setter. If we toss an elected official out of office, then we begin to subvert basic democracy throughout the United States.

What might we get?

• How will anyone who might replace Davis treat organized labor? Won’t some of those who want to replace him be under a lot of pressure to undo much of what he has done for us?

• The recall is not about the governor; it is about attacking the interests of working people and families.

The recall is wrong

Every IBEW member must ensure that his or her family, neighbors and friends are registered to vote, and that they turn out on October 7 to vote NO on the recall.

The recall serves neither the State of California nor its residents. Whatever you think of the governor, the recall is a much worse option; the “cure” truly is far worse than the “disease!”

In unity,

BRIAN D’ARCY, Business Manager