Minutes submitted by Secretary Mikhail Romanov (cwaromanov@gmail.com)
Present: Sheila Lindsay, Amy Lampkin, Tim Fitzgerald, Mikhail Romanov, Mark Pattison, Matt Losak, Mark Gruenberg, Chris Stergalas, Elise Bryant, Steve Cooke, Alan Troyan, Cet Parks, Rick Ehrmann, and Paul Reilly.
Absences: Keith Barnes, Lauren Byers, Ben Cooper, Scott Dance, David DeJesus, Seth Dietz, Laura Francis, Ed Fortney, Gabe Gonzalez, Fred Kunkle, Renato Mendoza, Sam Nelson, Anthony Wilson, Karma Zurkhang.
Excused absences: Gabe Gonzalez, Yvette De La Cruz.
President Lindsay calls the meeting to order at 7:20 pm.
I. Financials – February and March 2017
Cet Parks provides a review of the local’s February financial report. Chris Stergalas moves, Mark Gruenberg seconds to approve the February financials. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Cet Parks provides a review of the local’s March financial report, noting the five-week payroll period, rent expenses, and legal expenses generated a loss for the month. Mark Gruenberg moves, Mark Pattison seconds to approve the February financials. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Cet Parks provides a review of the local’s invoice from attorney Bob Paul.
II. New Business
2017 CWA Pediatric Aids Foundation
The local entertains limited discussion of the union-to-union program. Sheila Lindsay tables the item without objection.
2017 Community Services Foundation
The local discusses potential delegates. Amy Lampkin moves, Jazmin Gargoum seconds to approve the $275 delegate fee to send Hafiz Rashid. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Guild Rep to DC Jobs with Justice
Sheila Lindsay notes the Jobs with Justice DC affiliate seeks a representative for its executive board from the Guild. Amy Lampkin moves, Mark Gruenberg seconds to send Sheila Lindsay as the Guild’s delegate. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Peggy Browning Fund
Chris Stergalas moves, Jazmin Gargoum seconds to donate $250 to the Peggy Browning Fund. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Multi-District Council Meeting
Sheila Lindsay explains the local typically sends Sheila Lindsay, Mark Pattison, Mark Gruenberg, and Tim Fitzgerald, and Cet Parks. Mark Pattison notes he has a scheduling conflict. Sheila Lindsay notes the regular schedule of the multi-district council meetings will from now on be posted on the TNG website.
Amy Lampkin moves and Mark Pattison seconds to send Sheila Lindsay, Mark Gruenberg, Tim Fitzgerald, and Cet Parks. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Per Capita Tax Increase
Sheila Lindsay notes this should be the last increase the local is obliged to incur to meet the increase passed at the 2015 TNG Sector Conference. Mark Gruenberg questions whether the top reporter minimum wage is an appropriate formula. Cet Parks provides a review of the history on calculating the per capita tax.
Expulsion of Matt Losak
Sheila Lindsay states any member that accepts a position “actively serving the interest of employers of another labor organization as against the interest of the Guild or CWA shall be ineligible for membership” and reviews the April 28, 2017 letter sent by the local to Matt Losak stating it will rescind his Guild membership. Matt Losak submits a correction that he is not a member of on organization that has a Guild bargaining unit, noting he provided the correction to the local upon receiving the April 28, 2017 letter. Jazmin Gargoum asks where Matt Losak is employed, Sheila Lindsay asks Matt Losak what his title is, and Matt Losak notes he is employed at the Community Services Agency as the Executive Assistant Director. Mark Gruenberg notes there is no collective bargaining agreement at the Community Services Agency. Chris Stergalas asks Matt Losak if the Community Services Agency is independent of the DC central labor council and Matt Losak explains the Community Services Agency is 501(c)3 separate from the central labor council, which is a 501(c)5. Amy Lampkin notes Matt Losak shares the same work address and email domain as members in the AFL-CIO bargaining unit. Cet Parks explains the relevant section of the bylaws was adopted during a particularly contentious bargaining round at the AFL-CIO unit when former AFL-CIO members that had been promoted into management retained at-large membership in the local and that the local decided to institute the relevant language to remove conflicts of interest. Jazmin Gargoum requests additional explanation of the allegation concerning Matt Losak. Chris Stergalas asks if there is a cost-sharing agreement, Jazmin Gargoum asks if any staff is shared between the organizations, and Matt Losak explains there is no cost-sharing agreement and no staff is shared between the Community Services Agency and the central labor council. Amy Lampkin notes a member was removed in the past for being a manager at the Transportation Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. Matt Losak explains community services agencies are typically affiliated with their parallel central labor councils but remain independent, unlike the Transportation Trades Department. Chris Stergalas questions whether the Community Services Agency is truly independent. Chris Stergalas asks how the Community Services Agency is funded and Matt Losak explains it is funded through private donations. Chris Stergalas asks if the Community Services Agency takes any money from the central labor council and Matt Losak explains it does not. Steve Cooke asks if Matt Losak is responsible for managing bargaining unit employees or is consulted by management at the central labor council on issues regarding the Guild and Matt Losak explains he is not. Mark Gruenberg asks if Matt Losak qualifies as management under the National Labor Relations Act. Matt Losak notes he is not responsible for hiring or firing and that he does not qualify as a manager under the National Labor Relations Act. Mikhail Romanov notes the bylaws does not speak to ambiguous situations but only to those instances in which an individual is a manager at an employer with a collective bargaining agreement with the Guild or CWA and that Matt Losak is thereby not barred from membership by the bylaws. Cet Parks provides further review of the history of the bylayws. Amy Lampkin notes she raised the objection to Matt Losak’s membership to Cet Parks. Mikhail Romanov moves, Steve Cooke seconds for the local to withdraw the April 28, 2017 letter to Matt Losak and to rescind its consideration to expel. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
III. Old Business
May 3, 2017 CWA District 2-13 Request for Information Regarding WBNG Election Complaints
Cet Parks explains complaints filed regarding the local’s 2017 election of officers have advanced to CWA District 2-13, the he received a request from CWA District 2-13 on May 3, 2017 for materials concerning the election to aide its investigation regarding the complaints, and that he drafted a response to the request at Sheila Lindsay’s request. Amy Lampkin notes the district had thirty days to respond with that deadline expiring May 10, 2017. Cet Parks explains the district hasn’t received complaints regarding a local election in quite some time and is working on issuing its decision. Mark Pattison notes the appeal is now out of the hands of the local and in the hands of the district. Cet Parks notes District 2-13 Vice President Edward Mooney did not request the transcript from the local’s election complaint hearing and Tim Fitzgerald explains Edward Mooney already received a copy from Robert Struckman.
Election & Referendum Committee Report
Mark Pattison provides a review of the Election and Referendum Committee’s procedures for producing its report on the local’s 2017 election.
National’s Basketball Tickets
Tim Fitzgerald provides a summary of issues regarding the purchase and distribution of baseball tickets, explaining the difference between the price paid by members and the price listed on the tickets will be donated to the central labor council. At Tim Fitzgerald’s request, Cet Parks agrees to provide an update to the membership.
IV. Administrative Officer’s Report & Staff
Cet Parks and Mikhail Romanov provide a review of developments at UFCW. Mark Gruenberg moves, Chris Stergalas seconds to grant discretionary authority to file an unfair labor practice charge over UFCW’s moves to hinder the ability of bargaining committee members to attend bargaining. PASSES VOICE VOTE. Mark Gruenberg moves, Chris Stergalas seconds to grant discretionary authority to Cet Parks to file an unfair labor practice change over a regressive and retaliatory proposal presented by UFCW over the size of the bargaining committee and duration of bargaining. PASSES VOICE VOTE. Chris Stergalas moves, Mark Gruenberg seconds to grant discretionary authority to Cet Parks to file an unfair labor practice change over a regressive and retaliatory proposal presented by UFCW to tax members for transportation benefits. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Cet Parks provides a review of preparations for Advancement Project bargaining.
Cet Parks provides a review of developments at the Sierra Club, advising continued funding. Chris Stergalas moves, Mikhail Romanov seconds to provide continued funding. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Rick Ehrmann provides a review of developments at the Washington Post.
Rick Ehrmann provides a review of developments at the National Association of Social Workers. Mark Gruenberg moves, Mark Pattison seconds to approve the 24-month contract extension. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Rick Ehrmann provides a review of developments at ANA. Amy Lampkin moves, Jazmin Gargoum seconds to grant authority to arbitrate the Kesa Bruce case. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Paul Reilly provides a review of developments at Jobs with Justice. Mikhail Romanov moves, Mark Gruenberg seconds to approve the tentative agreement with Jobs with Justice. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
Mikhail Romanov moves, Jazmin Gargoum seconds to approve the RAINN bargaining committee. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
The Executive Council entertains limited discussion about organizing, the impact of the addition of relatively small units on staffing demands at the local, and the need for volunteers from within the local to continue to organize and service effectively.
V. Membership Report – April 1, 2017 to May 16, 2017
Amy Lampkin moves, Chris Stergalas seconds to approve the membership report with limited corrections. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
VI. Executive Council Minutes – April 1, 2017
Mark Pattison moves, Mark Gruenberg seconds to approve the April 1, 2017 Executive Council minutes. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
VII. Board Poll – April 6, 2017
Sheila Lindsay provides a review of the purchase of soccer tickets in support of CASA. Mark Pattison moves, Amy Lampkin seconds to confirm the results of the board poll. PASSES VOICE VOTE.
VIII. Adjournment
The next Executive Council meeting will take place on June 21 at 7 pm in Washington, DC.
Mark Pattison moves, Mark Gruenberg seconds to adjourn. Sheila Lindsay adjourns the meeting at 9:45 pm.