Setting the Record Straight….Again
Yesterday, Carla Katz and some members of the Executive Board of Local 1034 put out a flyer claiming that the Local was placed into trusteeship and that a Temporary Administrator was appointed by the National Union, because Katz opposed the last contract. Here are the facts:
* Rae Roeder, the president of Local 1033, vociferously opposed the last contract. The National Union Executive Board has taken no action against Local 1033 in response to that opposition.
* In the past, other locals have opposed ratification of contracts. In fact, Local 1034 opposed ratification in 2003 as well. No temporary administrator has ever been appointed because of such opposition. Members vote and decide and their decision is respected.
* Jonathan Berg, Linda Kukor and Dan Antonellis, who filed the internal union charges and the request for a trusteeship that led to Monday's action, also opposed the contract.
* 565 members of Local 1034 signed a petition supporting the request for a trusteeship that was made by Board members Jonathan Berg and Linda Kukor. Shop steward Dan Antonellis, along with Kukor and Berg, filed charges against Katz and Local 1034 Board members for misappropriation, violations of the bylaws and CWA Constitution, and for suppression of dissent. Over 300 members of the Local signed petitions demanding that Katz pay back misappropriated funds.
* The CWA National Union Executive Board reviewed an extensive report from the union prosecutor appointed to investigate the charges filed against Katz. Katz and the Local 1034 Executive Board were fully informed of the charges and of the request of the National that the Local be trusteed and were given every opportunity to cooperate in the investigation. The prosecutor found probable cause evidence of the following:
** Misappropriation of Funds: The Local 1034 President misappropriated union funds to support her own personal interests, including her own election campaign for District One Vice President, recruiting persons to campaign for her and using local dues money to pay for their travel, lodging and other expenses.
** Financial Malpractice: Local 1034 engaged in financial malpractice by permitting its President, with no oversight by other Local Officers or its Executive Board, to alone disperse Local funds, contrary to the Union's Bylaws and between October 2005 and May 2008, made more than $700,000 in political campaign contributions with union funds, including to candidates in areas where the Local has few members.
** Suppression of Dissent: Local 1034's Executive Board suspended an Executive Board member for voicing his concerns about Local policies and expenditures, and the Local's President threatened a dissident member's employment and otherwise engaged in retaliatory conduct in violation of federal laws and provisions of the CWA Constitution that are intended to protect local union democracy.
** Failure to Keep Time Records: The Local 1034 President has not maintained legally-required time records to establish what she has been doing on behalf of the Local's members.
In accordance with the CWA Constitution, a hearing will be held on July 22 to determine whether or not the Temporary Administration will remain in place.
Any member of CWA is free to express their opinion about a contract or about any other matter that impacts the union. Neither Katz nor Local 1034 executive board members may use treasury dollars for union elections; suppress dissent or prevent others from speaking out; or violate the Local's Bylaws and the CWA Constitution.
The National Union has acted responsibly and within its authority. Members of Local 1034 will be kept fully updated as to the facts and progress of the trusteeship.