Public Employee Press

Local 1070 prepares members for contract vote

Local 1070 has launched a campaign to urge members to approve a new version of a proposed contract rejected by a slim margin in a vote November.

A large group of local officers and activists attended an intensive training Jan. 6 at DC 37 headquarters. They were briefed on improvements to the contract the union won in renegotiations after the initial vote. They learned new ways to discuss the economic agreement while in communication with members.

Key enhancements that were discussed at the meeting included economic improvements and protections, changes to supplmental benefits and workplace protections.

Input from members

Fausto Sabatino, president of Court, County and Dept. of Probation Employees Local 1070, said the new proposed contract reflects input from the membership. "We were happy to have such a large group of 1070 activists come together in support of a new tentative agreement. These leaders came pumped up and motivated and ready to reach out to the members one-on-one with facts of the package," Sabatino said.

DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido attributed the November no vote to a misinformation campaign by Core Issues Alliance, a group of New York State court associations.

Alliance members pressured Local 1070 members to vote against the first agreement through an intimidating misinformation campaign in the workplace and at union headquarters.

Garrido said the window for the second vote is very small. The courts are required to return unspent funds to the state comptroller at the end of the fiscal year on March 31.

CWA 1180 passes contract

Garrido informed the activists that CWA 1180 had just approved the new contract.

Objecting to the heavy-handed tactics used by the opposition, Local 1180 withdrew from the Core Issues Alliance before the original contract vote occurred.

"I do not believe intimidating fellow workers and union members especially while in uniform is appropriate when we have disagreements regarding proposed collective bargaining agreements," wrote CWA Local 1180 President Arthur Cheliotes, in a letter explaining his decision to withdraw from the coalition.

The contract will run from April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2016.