UTU proposes to merge with the Sheet Metal International Workers Association.
To create an Organization to be named SMART:
There is a document on the UTU web site that is the proposed merger agreement to establish SMART and to eliminate the UTU and establish us as the Transportation Division of SMART. I would encourage you all to review this proposal as it will have a huge impact on the future representation you will be receiving from your labor organization.
As of now, I feel that there are too few facts and details lacking in this proposal to be able to make an informed decision and would certainly prefer to have an opportunity to ask questions in a public forum where the answers can be documented and heard by all and memorialized for future reference. Until that time I would have to say NO to the merger proposal and ask that the International of the UTU hold an open debate on the merits of this endeavor at the UTU Convention which is to be held on August 13, 2007. It seems very unusual that there is almost frenzy at the International to shove this through prior to the delegates meeting and having an opportunity to ask the important questions.
In the (15) page merger agreement the (6) senior International Officers of the UTU would go over to SMART as General Vice Presidents, while the remaining Officers would be transformed into International Representatives and Organizers. We don’t know the mechanism for future filling of those positions as the details are lacking. There would also be an attrition of the Assistant President and GS&T of the UTU and when that happens, the next two senior Vice Presidents would be moved to General Vice Presidents of SMART.
If a member is looking for details regarding the duties of office, disposition of locals, whether certain union officials are elected or appointed; your guess is as good as mine. It seems that the merger document presents a vehicle for the merger to take place, but doesn’t really say what is going to happen once it does take place. We do know that in 2011 that General Executive Council action has to be taken by them in order to negate the merger agreements termination in accordance with article XIII. So what does it all mean, are we voting for a merger or just an association with another union that will eventually just fold us into their organization as a sub-part known as section 21(b)?
There is also a great disparity in the salaries of current Vice Presidents of both organizations as SMWIA pays theirs $43,000 while the UTU pays $137,000. Question is how much are these newly created General Vice Presidents going to be paid? These are the top (6) officers coming over from UTU to be named to those positions and are they different positions then the existing Vice Presidents in SMWIA? It looks as though the officers plan on using the UTUIA finances to make up the disparity in the salaries which could be a sizable amount of money for each position.
There are also some changes in the eligibility for office which seem to conflict with the current UTU Constitution and numerous previous UTU Board of Directors decisions. Seems like (40) years of precedent are being washed away with a (15) page proposal. Apparently it solves someone’s political problems. There are also proposed changes in the manner in which locals send delegates to the convention regarding both payment from the local and introduction of the weighted ballot. Both of these items were rejected at several UTU Conventions when they were brought to the floor as proposed amendments. Not many locals could afford to pay a delegate to attend a national convention and if there were more than one, the cost would be prohibitive and would force local union dues to be increased to cover the costs.
These are just a few of the issues that you may have to consider so please think and read before you make your decision and cast your vote.
D. M. Murphy, Chairman
United Transportation Union Local 982
Rochester & Syracuse, N. Y.