President's Report

July 2006

President’s Report

by Shelly Alvarado

In my short time as your Local President there is so much that I have already experienced and learned. I would like to take this opportunity to share some of these things with you. It is not my objective to take credit for these things but to try and reach out to the members as to what is going on in the Local. Some of the accomplishments that we have made as well as what changes lie ahead and in the near future.

Local Accomplishments

We currently have a Full-Time Workforce throughout the city due to the hard work of the officers, stewards and primarily our past President Rick Borsick. There are two people pending a full time status upon scheme training completion but when they pass we will have a 100% Full-Time workforce. This was all due to a Step 3 settlement received May 3, 2006 that went into effect June 24, 2006. Ten PTF’s were converted to Full-time regulars and the final two PTF’s are pending scheme training qualification. This also means that the next PTF hired will be hired as a full-time regular. This is an exciting time and a wonderful accomplishment for our local. I would like to express my sincerest heartfelt congratulations to all the new FTR’s.

After an exhaustive membership drive our Local membership is over 90% for the first time in our existence and we are still climbing with eleven non-members left to go. I don’t know what it is going to take for them to join but maybe you could ask them why it is that they refuse to pay their fair share! Job well done! To all of you that have signed up new members. To the new members welcome to the Aurora, Colorado Local. I would like to ask the membership for help and ask people to get involved in any way possible. Maybe by attending a general membership meeting, there are only four per year and we would love to see you there. We are currently looking for stewards and alternate stewards at many stations and volunteers for any of the various committees that we sponsor. You can even help by signing up a non-member or giving to COPA. Just give it some thought and let any Officer know.

Changes in the Local

Effective July 1, 2006 Tom Sullivan resigned as Secretary/Treasurer of your Aurora, Colorado Local and Dan Van Minnen has been appointed to the office for the remainder of the current term. Tom, I thank you for your years of service as Secretary/Treasurer to your local and your continued commitment to your local as a steward for the Altura Station. Tom has always done an exceptional job as Secretary/ Treasurer and steward for your Local. Tom thanks again.

Effective August 1, 2006 your local is looking for a committed volunteer to serve as a committee representative of APWU Clerk Craft on the Aurora, CO Social & Recreation Committee. Lori Bonamo has served in this position and I would like to express my gratitude on behalf of the Local. If anyone is interested please contact me at Fletcher Station.

We’re moving forward in 2006 and with the first half of the year in our rear view mirror we look ahead with contract negotiations being the business that we will address at the upcoming National Convention in Philadelphia and we will continue the fight locally to protect workers rights. What direction we move in is up to you the member so let your local officers and stewards know. They cannot be everywhere all the time so remember to request a steward on any contractual or safety violations that arise in the workplace. Help us protect your rights and our jobs! One way do this is by reading your contract and knowing what your rights are. Ask questions, request a steward or just pick up the phone and communicate with any of our Officers. You can even share your experiences with the membership by writing an article in the newsletters for the good of the Local. For those of you who are already an APWU representative or on a committee you could write an article for the newsletter. Finally, at the last Aurora, Co. Local general membership meeting we allocated some funds to have a membership function sometime between now and Oct. 31, 2006. What is it you would like to do? A picnic or dine out? Maybe some sort of family event or something for the community? As a local we should be out there serving our community as a group, again I ask are there any volunteers? The few that have committed to serve your Local are accomplishing wonderful things and we continue to move forward, but together we could accomplish so much more if we had more members stepping up and serving our local. Have you given to COPA this year? Did you know that COPA is like car insurance? Only it is job insurance! Due to the few that contribute to COPA (committee on political action) our local has always done well but with your help we can excel. Being a part of a Labor Union sometimes involves having influence on the political landscape and our membership dues cannot be used for any political reasons so that is why we continue to seek donations for COPA. Talk to your officers or stewards about COPA. Every member can afford to contribute at least $2.00 a pay period. It is in your best interest to do so.

Lastly, please let me hear from you. I want to hear not only the good, the bad, the positive & the negative but I am also interested in what you think we can do as Local Officers to make our Local stronger and more unified. I am here to serve the membership and to accomplish this we need communication from you the member.

In Unity and Solidarity

Shelly