June 25, 2006

The good news is that over 400 people will receive from about $300 to $400 each from UPTE as a result of a settlement of numerous Unfair Practice Charges filed almost 2 years ago. This includes not only the people who filed charges, but also those who sent objection/challenge letters. The bad news is that about 5600 people who pay agency fees to the union did not listen to me. If they did, they would also be getting this windfall. See the complete settlement agreement along with the list of those to be paid. Milton Chappell of the National Right to Work Legal Foundation was instrumental in helping us achieve this settlement.

While this is a significant victory, it pales in comparison to the amount of fees that the union collects from non members. What is $120,000 to $160,000 to an organization that collects over $4,000,000 a year? Besides, UPTE just voted a fees/dues increase that will get them about $500,000 more this year and $1,000,000 more next year. The union fees/dues will be raised from 1.15% of gross to 1.3% and the maximum of $420 per year will be raised to $480 next year and $540 the year after that. Do you want to wait until you have to pay over $1000 a year for a puny 2% raise? We will have the opportunity in about two years to submit enough petitions to hold a vote to oust the union.

Nearly 600 people have sent me their objection/challenge letters for the 2006-2007 period. I had these letters served on the union and all these people should receive back about $60 each for the July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007 period. If the union violates our due process rights, people will have the opportunity to file Unfair Labor Practice Charges.

There will be arbitration hearings concerning the amount that the union owes you for the 2006-2007 period. You do not have to show up for the hearing, hire a lawyer or pay any costs of the arbitration. If there are unfair pre hearing rulings, I will let you know about this should it occur and we can deal with this appropriately.

There are three active arbitration cases ongoing. We are still awaiting a hearing date for the 2003-2004 period. UPTE could not produce their accountant for the previous hearing, in fact, UPTE lawyers did not even show up. I'll be surprised if they can produce their accountant for this hearing. UPTE has changed accountants since then twice. The 2004-2005 hearing will most likely be cancelled as all the challengers are to receive back the full amount of fees that they paid for that period. The 2005-2006 arbitration has yet to be initiated. Apparently according to the case manager, UPTE has been begging off holding this hearing. We are due a prompt hearing but it seems UPTE gets nearly a year of delay for no good reason other than they're too busy.

I ask all of you to spread the word about what we have accomplished. We've made some progress and we look forward the achieving our goals.

Werner