635 - IATSE Local 8 Philadelphia

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with various Funds Office personnel to review the deficiencies of the current website. After carefully studying various potential remedies, it has been determined that the most effective course of action is to redesign the site. Over the next year, the new architecture of the site will be designed and some of the key features will be: A participant dashboard will be designed which houses a single screen giving a participant a full view of each Fund they are enrolled in and their status in that Fund. Data will be sent from the Funds main operating system to the website in “real time”. As contributions are entered, as benefit balances change etc. the data on the website will update immediately. An ad hoc reporting function for local unions will be created. This will allow each authorized Local representative to request reports in an order they choose and with the data they need. All routine reports that are regularly sent by the Funds will be viewable or downloadable from the new site eliminating the huge amount of paper that is currently generated. Small employers will be able to report information via the site and wire transfer benefit contributions, thus eliminating mail lag and getting dollars into participant accounts much more quickly. President Loeb, who is the unionside Chairman of the Funds noted that with total assets of $780 million, the National Benefit Funds are now very substantial in size and he thanked the Trustees for the amount of work each one of them puts in to ensure the continued success of the Funds. IATSE-PAC REPORT Appearing before the Board to present an update on the activities of the IATSE-PAC were members of the IATSE Political Action Committee, including Vice Presidents J. Walter Cahill, Anthony DePaulo, Thom Davis, John Ford and Timothy F. Magee, Retired Vice President Michael J. Sullivan, Assistant to the President Deborah A. Reid, West Coast Counsel James G. Varga, and PAC consultants Chuck Rocha and Anna Durrett from Solidarity Strategies. It was reported that since the launch of the PAC’s Stand Up, Fight Back campaign back in May 2011, three PAC training seminars were conducted for local unions, a teletown hall/webinar PAC training session was held, PAC starter kits were distributed to every U.S. local union, and a PAC-related direct mail campaign for IATSE retirees was launched. In addition, Solidarity Strategies and the International followed up, via phone, with a number of local unions to monitor the implementation of the Stand Up, Fight Back campaign and requisite PAC fundraising guidelines, offering assistance and information as needed. It was noted that while many Locals face challenges, other Locals reported that they have taken action, or plan to do so by conducting a) membership mailings, b) payroll authorization PAC check off signups for local union officers and staff, c) raffles, d) robocalls/Press 1 phone campaigns, e) social media, email and newsletter communications, and others. Since the Stand Up, Fight Back campaign got underway it was reported that the IATSE-PAC has received contributions from 700 members, representing 134 local unions. Of particular note was that 200 of the 700 contributors have committed to monthly contributions. From left to right: Assistant to the President Deborah A. Reid and PAC consultants Chuck Rocha and Anna Durrett from Solidarity Strategies. Of particular importance to the Stand Up, Fight Back campaign was the chance to become eligible to win the Grand Prize trip to Hawaii. Any member who pledged a monthly PAC contribution of at least $10.00 was automatically entered in the contest. This contest was a component in the first stage of efforts to increase the funds of the IATSE-PAC and it was reported that based on projections, contributions will have nearly doubled. As announced during the course of the contest, a drawing for the winner was held at this Board meeting and the first ticket pulled was for IATSE In-House Counsel Samantha Dulaney. True to form, Counsel Dulaney advised President Loeb that rather than accept the prize, she wanted to donate it back to the IATSE-PAC. President Loeb expressed his appreciation and Counsel Dulaney received resounding applause for taking this action. The second ticket pulled was for Brother Alan Rowe of West Coast Studio Local 728 who was notified that he was the winner of the 2011 PAC contest and should pack his bags for his trip to Hawaii. Entering a very challenging 2012 election year, a brief overview of the political landscape of the U.S. was provided. It was reported that there are many competitive House seats in play, as well as many Senate and gubernatorial marginal seats. In the coming legislative session, state lawmakers will attempt to pass bills that cut good jobs, lower wages, threaten job safety, attack collective bargaining rights, weaken unions and harm workers and organized labor, in general. These challenges make it even more important to raise funds for the IATSE-PAC so that the IATSE can play a bigger role during these difficult times. In the months ahead the International, along with Solidarity Strategies will work to assist local unions by providing them with resources to identify and cultivate activists within their Locals to join PAC and increase their involvement in political work. To that end, President Loeb has asked that Mr. Rocha attend the 2012 District Conventions (United States only), where he will be able to make a presentation on issues directly pertaining to location and industry, and work with local union leaders to build effective, self-sustaining PAC programs for their specific membership. Creating a community among IATSE members and employees who will work on the Locals’ program promises to build a strong and responsive political program within the IATSE. It was also noted that information about the IATSE-PAC is also available on the International’s website at: www.iatse-intl.org/pac/pac.html, and, questions and orders for contribution forms may be made by email to: iatsepac@iatse-intl.org President Loeb thanked all those reporting on this important issue and stated that he is committed to continuing the work of the International in the political arena so that the voice of the IATSE is heard loud and clear on issues of importance to our members. POLITICAL REPORT Appearing before the Board to present a report on the IATSE’s activities since the 2011 Mid-Summer meeting were International Vice Presidents J. Walter Cahill and John M. Lewis, Assistant to the President Deborah Reid, Tradeshow Director William E. Gearns, Jr., Retired International Representative Thomas J. Kiousis, Jr., District 14 Secretary-Treasurer Kimberly Bowles, District 3 Political Director John Gates, Local 251 Business Agent Chris Gauthier, Local 491 Business Agent Jason Rosin, and the AFL-CIO’s Strategic Planning and Technology Director Michael Noonan. At the onset of the report, it was reported that the state battles against anti-worker attacks continue throughout the United States, from the Governor recall in Wisconsin, to legislative issues affecting areas such as New Hampshire, Ohio, and the most recent disappointing news out of Indiana with passage of right to work legislation. A number of other states where anti-worker bills are looming include Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Minnesota, Michigan, and Idaho. It was noted that we are also facing redistricting issues in various states that will add more challenges going into the 2012 elections. Florida Studio Mechanics Local 477 had recently advised President Loeb that back in November 2011 it became clear that the Democratic Party was in particular need of funds to maintain opposition pressure during the ongoing redistricting battle in the state, and its members and others throughout the workforce contributed funds to the Committee of Professional Film Makers to the extent that they were able to send a $5,000 contribution to the Florida Democratic Party. Wisconsin Brother Gauthier reported that since June 2011, the state of Wisconsin has lost 27,600 jobs, more than any other state in the country. A socalled “budget repair” bill, Act 10, was 46 Official Bulletin First Quarter 2012 47
proposed by Governor Walker that included ending collective bargaining, cutting employees’ retirement contributions by the employer, and requiring caps on health care contributions made by employers. Act 10 would effectively also reduce take-home pay for hundreds of thousands of people by an average of nearly $3,000 each. The state budget for 2011-2013 cuts about one billion dollars a year from education, city and county operations, medical care, elder care, child care and protection, park and environmental maintenance and more. This budget cut aid for low-income families occurred while taxes were reduced for corporations. Governor Walker has raised about $5.7 million to defend himself against the recall with more than half of that amount coming from sources out of state. This is a clear warning that this can happen elsewhere. Ohio Retired Representative Tom Kiousis reported on his assignment to work with the Ohio State AFL-CIO and Locals on the campaign to repeal Senate Bill 5. He stated that the IATSE was a part of a coalition of Labor, We Are Ohio, Working America, and many community groups assembled to fight the arrogance of Governor John Kasich and the loyalists, in attempts to crush organized labor, starting with the members of the Public Sector Employees. The message was clear that Public Employees were to be first, and then the private sector unions. WE ARE OHIO was initially the lead agency for the coalition, at least until late October 21 when the AFL-CIO assumed control of the campaign. In December 2010 the national AFL-CIO held a conference in Cleveland with various State Federations and International Unions. Special Representative Joseph Short and Retired Representative Kiousis attended the conference where it was reported that the AFL-CIO anticipated that antiworker legislation would be at the top of the agenda in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri where Democratic control of the Governor’s office, the House of Representatives or the Senate was lost. The main thrust of the conference was that the newly empowered Republicans would initiate Right to Work legislation. Shortly after Ohio’s new administration was sworn in, Senate Bill 5 was introduced and, within two days it became law. The protests by labor started almost immediately at the State House. While most of the Locals supported the rallies, it was noted that Columbus Stage Local 12 was out in force for the IATSE. The Ohio AFL-CIO held a kickoff rally to repeal SB 5 on July 21, 2011 in Columbus after which Representatives Kiousis and Joe Short, along with Local 12 Business Agent Richard Shack, were assigned to work with the IATSE Locals in the state on this campaign. Representative Kiousis worked closely with representatives of the IBEW and CWA and efforts grew throughout Ohio with volunteers gathering signatures on petitions to have SB 5 placed on the ballot in November 2011. Over 900,000 signatures were declared valid and SB 5 was on the ballot as Issue 2. Campaign efforts continued with worksite flyers, tele-town hall meetings, phone banking and other grassroots efforts to repeal SB 5. It was also reported that the International made a significant financial contribution to the Ohio AFL-CIO for the campaign, and President Loeb held a conference call with officers of all IA local unions in the state during which he emphasized the dire need for the Locals to be involved in this campaign. At a meeting in Cleveland, General Counsel Dale Short explained that the consequences of a failure to repeal SB 5 would be devastating. Throughout the campaign all the Ohio Locals were extremely mobilized and the election results were successful for the repeal of SB 5, by a vote of nearly 2 to 1. Indiana Tradeshow Director William E. Gearns, Jr. presented an update on the state of Indiana on behalf of International Representative Joanne Sanders who was unable to attend the Board meeting. He reported that since the first of the year, Indiana was ground zero for the Republican efforts to infuse ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) legislation across the country, in particular, “Right to Work for less”. On Friday, December 30, 2011 the Governor issued an Executive Order that no more than 3,000 people could enter the statehouse at any one time during the forthcoming session, which number included employees and registered lobbyists. Thus members of the general public allowed to enter their statehouse was relegated to less than 1,300. Under claims of “public safety”, only one entrance was designated as public. On the opening day of the General Assembly, working people en masse arrived at the Statehouse early in the morning to protest the ruling. Democrat Representatives and Senators came out to greet the crowd and commiserate about the lock-out. Very quickly the Governor realized he was in a negative political position and rescinded the order. Gradually, more than 7,000 people entered the Statehouse. The decision to close the Statehouse to the public was clearly exposed as the political ploy it was. The real goal was to ensure passage of “Right to Work for less” with little if any public scrutiny. On opening day, the Speaker called the chamber to order, and the Democrats stayed in caucus and did not enter the chamber, thus denying a quorum. This action continued for more than two weeks. From the outset, the Indiana AFL-CIO, in collaboration with the release staff provided by the National AFL, staged lobbying days bringing hundreds and thousands of working people to the Statehouse, with coordinated efforts to schedule meetings with legislators and pass messages into the Chamber. A compromise was arranged to allow Democrats to submit amendments to the bill in the House. In return, they would be present in the Chamber to constitute a quorum. On that day, the Senate amended its bill and it passed to the House. Nine Republican Senators joined with Democrats to vote against it. The House, however, defeated the amendments proposed by Democrats and on February 1, 2012, the Indiana Governor signed the Right to Work bill into law. New England Area As Chairperson of District 3’s Political Action Committee, Brother John Gates reported on various activities in the New England states, stating that 2011 was a tough election year for organized labor and that the mood of discontent permeates our country and our members. Brother Gates noted that every Republican candidate for President has clearly stated their support for Right to Work and they were shouting their anti-labor rhetoric for several months in New Hampshire where labor faced tough races for Governor and Congress with a largely hostile state legislature. In New Hampshire and Maine, anti-worker legislation is already on the agenda for the 2012 legislative session. It was pointed out that Right to Work legislation would be the law right now were it not for just 12 votes sustaining New Hampshire Governor Lynch’s veto of the bill. Governor Lynch is not seeking re-election in 2012, making it a critical race particularly with no strong candidate emerging thus far to fight the three Tea Party-affiliated gubernatorial candidates. Brother Gates noted that Maine is in even more danger of Right to Work legislation and there is currently no single pro-labor legislative leader in Maine. Other critical races in New England include the U.S. Senate seat held by the labor unfriendly incumbent Scott Brown seeking re-election to full term; U.S. Senate seat in Rhode Island where labor-friendly incumbent Sheldon Whitehouse is seeking re-election; and the U.S. Senate seat Appearing before the Board to present a political report on the IATSE’s activities are (from left to right): Local 251 Business Agent Chris Gauthier, Retired International Representative Thomas J. Kiousis, Jr., International Vice President John M. Lewis, District 3 Political Director John Gates, AFL-CIO’s Strategic Planning and Technology Director Michael Noonan, Assistant to the President Deborah Reid, District 14 Secretary-Treasurer Kimberly Bowles, Local 491 Business Agent Jason Rosin and International Vice President Walter Cahill. 48 Official Bulletin First Quarter 2012 49
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635 - IATSE Local 8 Philadelphia

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