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When I first came to work for Local 39 we did most things the old fashioned way. There were no cell phones, pagers or computers for the agents, no website or email, or other things we now take for granted. Agents wrote letters long hand and had them typed up by clerical staff. Phone calls were returned from pay phones between plant visits or waited until agents got back in the office. Work did get done, but it all seems archaic by today's standards.
As Business Manager I wanted to bring Local 39 into the 21st century and after hearing the many requests that came from our Members for the same, I listened to you and have endeavored to improve every aspect of our Local. Access to your agent, to information and to training has never been greater. Everyone's goal should be to leave things better than they found them and I am no different. From the website, to email, to training and all other improvements, everything I have done has been for the betterment of the membership.
Another area badly in need of improvement was the Union's facilities. Not only should we be proud of our offices and training facilities, but they should serve the needs of the Members. Our offices must be suitable for holding contract negotiations, Membership meetings, meet and confer sessions, arbitrations, hearings and more.
Since I became Business Manager in 2000, we have made necessary seismic improvements to the San Francisco office and remodeled it to better meet the membership's needs. In addition, the local has purchased an office in Auburn that is more than twice the size of the previous office, one of which I am proud to bring Members and employers alike. We have also purchased a much needed new office in Fresno. It is currently in the design process, and when it is complete it will provide a much larger meeting hall as well as space for the Local 39 Training Department. After completing the move of the Reno office to a better facility it became clear that our Members in the Red Bluff area needed better accommodations, so I immediately began a search for a suitable new office in Red Bluff to replace the leased space we currently occupy. I am hopeful that we will be able to help our folks in this geographic area soon.
Lastly, I am actively looking for space in the East Bay to serve primarily as a second training center, with space for agent offices and a meeting hall. I committed to opening an office and training center in the East Bay when I became Business Manager and I have not forgotten that promise. We have a large Member base in the area and many of our training needs could be met there. With increased training opportunities and a stronger presence, more organizing opportunities in the area will not be far behind.
I started this process long before the current recession hit and firmly believe in moving our Members forward in good times and in bad. However, if there is a silver lining to the current economic downturn, it surely is the value we see in less costly real estate. Prices are low and there has never been a better time to purchase office space. As it turns out, updating our Members facilities will be far more affordable now than waiting for better times. The needs of the membership do not go away in a bad economy, in fact the needs increase. In response, we continue to make improvements to our Union and the facilities that serve our hard working, talented and resilient Members throughout Local 39's jurisdiction.
Finally in other news, last July three of our Members working at Oroville Dam were injured, one critically, in an incident that resulted from management at the dam not listening to our Members' health and safety concerns. Cal-OSHA investigated and issued citations and fines of over $140,000 and cited Water Resources (DWR) for a "serious and willful" violation. DWR appealed Cal-OSHA's action. Cal-OSHA, representing our injured Members, is defending their citation. I have filed a request that would allow Local 39 to participate in Cal-OSHA's defense of our Members. When our Members' safety is in jeopardy I will always be at the forefront of the fight. |
