Local X Member Orientation Session 20111 Icebreaker Who

Local X Member Orientation Session 2/01/11

Icebreaker Who We Are – Why We’re Here q. How did you become a union member? q. What do you think the labor movement is all about? /What do you believe the union can do for you and others?

Program Overview q. Labor history q. Laborers Local X Operations q. Services and benefits q. Member rights and responsibilities

Labor History 1886 - Haymarket Square in Chicago

What Comes to Mind? q. John D. Rockefeller q. Andrew Carnegie q. J. P. Morgan

Early Issues for Workers & Their Unions q Hours of work - 8 hours/day q Factory conditions q Child labor q Voting rights q Public Education Mourners after Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire

q Fired Consequences of Union Activity q Blackballed q Run out of town q Arrested q Fined q Killed Ludlow Massacre Memorial No permissible labor law until 1935

Workers Right to Form Unions q. National Labor Relations Act 1935*** q. Workers have the right to form a union q. Select a representative of their choosing q. For purposes of bargaining collectively with their employer q. About their wages, hours and conditions of employment • *** but employers violate this right routinely with little to no penalties.

What are these? Where did they come from? q Social Security – retirement and disability income q Medicare and Medicaid – health insurance for the elderly and poor q Unemployment Insurance q Minimum Wage; Overtime after 40 hours q Equal Employment non-discrimination laws – Civil Rights Act 1964 q Workplace safety and health standards (OSHA) q Family Medical Leave Act q Americans with Disabilities Act

Unions Today q. More than 60 national unions q. More than 14 million union members q. More than 16 million represented by unions q. All working people benefit from a union’s presence

LIUNA History q International Hod Carriers and Building Laborers Union: 1903 q Shunned by other skilled craft unions q Unskilled and ethnically diverse

Local X’s Union History q. Charter date: q. Major events at the time q. Original membership q. Original industry composition

LIUNA’s Expansion into New Industries q. Public Sector (1960 s) q. Service Contract Workers (1970 s) q. Health Care (1970 s) q. Environmental (1980 s) q. Green Construction (2000 s)

2009 Membership Breakdown

LIUNA’s Structure IU 9 Regional Offices Canadian Sub-Region Mailhandlers Organizing Funds District Councils (44) Local Unions (415) Bargaining Units

Local Union Governance and Operations The Uniform Local Union Constitution is the guiding document for our operations.

Local X Officers q. Executive Board – Business Manager – President – Vice President – Secretary-Treasurer – Recording Secretary – 2 -3 more

Local X’s Representatives q. Field Agents or Representatives q. Organizers q. Stewards q. Auditors * q. Sergeant at Arms * q. Dispatcher q. Admin staff *elected by the members

Monthly Local Union Meetings q. Date: q. Time: q. Expectations: Members have the right to “attend and participate in meeting and functions of the Local Union”

Local X Operations q Hours of operation: q Hiring hall process: q Office Contacts: q Dues:

Laborers’ Local X Services q. Job referral/hiring hall q. Bargain your wages and benefits – Included in your contract or collective bargaining agreement q. Other terms and conditions of work – Show up pay, tool allowance, water on the job, etc. – In your contract or in a pre-job agreement q. Represent members whose rights are violated – Grievance procedure and arbitration

Local Union Dues q Monthly Dues: $/month q. Working Dues: insert formula Important to be on time.

How Your Union Dues Are Spent (create pie chart or list percentage for your local)

Laborers Local X Member Benefits q. Health Insurance q. Pension q. Training q. Legal Services

Health Plan* q# Hours of work to qualify for coverage – # hours for continuing coverage q. Covers spouses and dependents q. Transportable from job to job q. Negotiated contributions * General summary description only

Health Plan* q. Summary of coverage – Hospitalization – Doctors visits – Immunizations – X-rays and diagnostic tests q. Think you don’t need this? – Think again!!! *General summary description only

Pension Plan* q# Credits for coverage q. Minimum age: q. Vested after # years q. Think you don’t need this? – Think again! *General summary description only

Training Benefits q. Location of training center(s) q. Classes offered: – Scaffolding – Blueprint reading – Pipeline – OSHA 10 – Etc. q. No cost to the member Think you don’t need this? Think again!

What Else Laborers Local X Does q. Organizes more workers – More members means more power/better protections for you q. Organizes more employers – More union employers means more jobs for you q. Political action – More labor friendly politicians means better laws for you q. Coalition building/public service – Community allies and better communities to live in

Member Activities q. Walk picket lines q. Attend rallies q. Get out the vote q. Annual picnic q. Christmas party q. Etc

Member Rights* q. To participate in union activities q. Freedom of speech q. Set dues; authorize new spending q. To see your collective bargaining agreements q. To see union financial reports q. To elect union officials * Not complete; see Uniform Local Union Constitution for details

Member Responsibilities* q…To the Union – Attend union meetings – Attend union functions – Improve your skills – Provide constructive feedback – Maintain a unified front – Alert union reps of issues – Help out – Vote and encourage others to vote * Not complete; there’s lots more to do!!

Code of Performance q Ensures members meet high standards q. Attracts contractors to use LIUNA labor q. Responsibilities to: – Maintain skills – “ 8” for “ 8” – Work safely – Be on time – More …

Member Workplace Responsibilities All Union Members are judged by the actions of other union members: q. Work performance q. Work ethic q. Fitness in body and mind

Wrap Up q. List one piece of information about the labor movement, LIUNA, or Local X that you learned in this session q. What part of this session did you find most useful to you as a member of LIUNA Local X?