Let’s Get This Motion Passed in Every Division!

Utano & Co. are looking to make a deal that will cost us jobs, wages and working conditions. But Local 100 members have rights that empower us to stop a sellout. Our union’s Bylaws are clear: the members can make binding decisions on the union’s policies by passing motions in a majority of the union’s Divisions or by doing so in a General Membership Meeting. So let’s get the following motion passed in all Divisions this coming month. (It already got unanimous support in a Train Operators’ Division meeting.)

If officers try to say you can only get a motion put on the agenda for the following month, don’t let them fool anyone! It’s a lie. That’s not in the Bylaws. Members have the right to vote for any motion they want in Division meetings!

And don’t let them try any tricks with the motion like changing “General Membership Meeting” to “Mass Meeting” – only General Membership Meetings are recognized in the Bylaws as giving the members the right to pass motions that are binding on the union.

* * *

“Whereas: Governor Cuomo and the MTA are demanding outrageous givebacks and other attacks including:

• a real-wage cut through below-inflation 2% “raises,” attacks on overtime and doubling our health insurance payments
• cuts to sick time and vacation time
• the replacement of full-time Local 100 jobs with part-time positions and private non-union labor, and
• even layoffs.

Be it resolved that: 

1. this Division considers these and any other givebacks completely unacceptable;

2. if the MTA does not withdraw its demands for givebacks completely, then in accordance with Local 100’s Bylaws (Section X, “Strikes and Job Action”) this Division will wholeheartedly support the Local 100 Executive Board making a decision to declare a strike until the MTA withdraws its demands for givebacks and until Local 100 is granted amnesty from any Taylor Law penalties; and 

3. before any tentative contractual agreement is reached with the MTA, the Executive Board shall convene a General Membership Meeting in accordance with Local 100’s Bylaws, so that the members may decide on the way forward by raising motions and voting on them.”