Vote Yes to Give Members the Right to More Contract and Pension Information

Local 804 members will vote at the April general membership meeting on bylaws changes that will put more pension and contract information in the hands of the membership.

Two thousand Local 804 members signed petitions in an overwhelming demonstration of support for these positive reforms. Now it’s time for us to finish the job by turning out to Vote Yes at the membership meeting on Sunday, April 20 at 10 a.m.

Click here to download a leaflet to help turn out members to Vote Yes on April 20.

The first bylaws change will require the Local 804 Executive Board to include a report on the Pension and Health and Welfare fund at every general membership meeting.

If we had these reports in the past, the membership would not have been blindsided by pension cuts like we were in 2006.

“Having reports at our meetings will help members know what is happening with our fund so we can act as watchdogs when we have to,” said Chris Sabatino, a package car steward from Elmsford who introduced the bylaws changes in February.

“Informed members mean a stronger union and stronger pensions and that’s our goal,” Sabatino said.

A second change mandates Local 804 to set up a Contract Committee to inform and mobilize Local 804 members when a new contract is being negotiated.

“We don’t want another weak contract like this last one,” said Ken Reiman, a package car driver from Melville who helped circulate the bylaws petition. “By itself, voting Yes on this change won’t win us a good contract, but it will send a message about what members want our union to do the next time we’re in negotiations.”

Click here to download a leaflet to help turn out members to Vote Yes on April 20.

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