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MINUTES OF GENERAL DELEGATES MEETING
The July 2001 meeting of the general delegates commenced at 6:30 PM with President Peter Thomassen asking all to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Brother Thomassen then asked for the roll call of officers and EST Mike Forde read aloud the names of Mike Forde, Peter Thomassen and Gene Maiello, declaring all officers present. Brother Thomassen then asked if all had a chance to read and review the minutes of the previous meeting and if there were any additions or corrections to be made. Hearing nothing, there was a motion to approve the minutes by Frank Schiavone, seconded by Jim O'Reilly. Motion was carried and so ordered. Brother Thomassen then asked if there were any expenditures to be read. Brother Forde read aloud the following expenditures, which were approved by the Executive Committee at the meeting previous to this one.
There was a motion to approve the expenditures by Bill Hanley, seconded by George DiLacio. Motion was carried and so ordered. Brother Thomassen then asked that the results of the Trial Committee be read to the Delegate Body. Brother Forde read aloud numerous cases that will be attached to these minutes as well as the following five cases whose sentences needed delegate approval. Brother Thomas Foster was found guilty and the sentence was expulsion. Brother Bradley Persico was found guilty and the sentence was expulsion. Brother Arkadiusz Samplawski was found guilty and the sentence was expulsion. Brother Janusz Stachnik was found guilty and the punishment was a $500 fine to be paid within 30 days, appear before the trial committee within 30 days and cooperate with the anti-corruption program or risk a twelve-month suspension and/or expulsion. Brother Paul Ghirarduzzi was found guilty and the punishment was a $2500 fine to be paid within 30 days, a one-year suspension from the Brotherhood and a letter of reprimand stating that any future violation of the UBC or NYCDC By-Laws will result in expulsion.
In addition, Brother Ghirarduzzi will be suspended as a delegate as per section 51D of the UBC Constitution. There was a motion to concur with the findings of the Trial Committee for all five cases by Martin Devereaux, seconded by Joe Calciano. Motion was carried and so ordered. Brother Thomassen then called upon Director of Organizing, Ed McWilliams for his report. Brother McWilliams announced that to date, 145 new contractors have been signed. He indicated that currently, there are picket lines at Queens College, Harlem, and several other locations throughout the five boroughs. He informed the delegates that Dan Walcott was up in Boston, picketing the headquarters of Staples and thanked Martin Szbunio for his fine work relative to Tatco and the fact that our District Council had finally made our mark in the Carpenter Magazine. In closing, Brother McWilliams indicated that the campaign to have Anthony Pugliese elected to the City Council was going full steam and urged all to support his candidacy. There was a motion to approve Brother McWilliams' report by Vincent Taddeo, seconded by John Early. Motion was carried and so ordered. Brother Shaun Eicorn commented on how good it was for the District Council to finally receive some recognition in our national magazine. Brother Thomassen then called upon Richard Dwyer, Director of Labor/Management for his report. Brother Dwyer spoke about the recent 4th of July party hosted by Labor/Management and the benefits of that party. He indicated that some members speculated on the Internet that the party was just another way to spend the membership's money when in fact representatives from DASNY, SCA, and other city agencies were present at the party and good dialogue took place between representatives of the District Council and these City agencies. Brother Dwyer closed by thanking all for their cooperation and support since the past meeting. There was a motion to approve Brother Dwyer's report by Bill Hanley, seconded by George Dilacio. Motion was carried and so ordered. Brother Thomassen then called upon Gene Maiello, Vice President of the District Council for his report. Brother Maiello thanked Richard and Ed for their reports and commented on the recent contract negotiations, stating that there was no backroom deals cut and that everything was in the open. Brother Maiello thanked Mike Forde, Pete Thomassen and Maurice Leary for all their hard work on the negotiations, and mentioned the fact that we had just settled the Javits Center agreement that morning. In closing, Brother Maiello mentioned that he and Joe Calciano were currently negotiating the maintenance agreement at Rockefeller Center with Nastasi & White, and very hopeful of a great agreement there as well. There was a motion to approve Brother Maiello's report by Maurice McGrath, seconded by Vincent Taddeo. Motion was carried and so ordered. In the absence of Martin Daly, Director of the Labor Technical College, Brother Thomassen gave a brief report on the school indicating that the number of registered apprentices stood at 1,752. He also indicated that the next apprentice applications would be given out on August 7, 2001.
At this time, Brother Thomassen gave the President's report. Brother Thomassen handed out copies of the new language changes in the contract and went over each change in detail so the delegates could answer any questions their respective members may have. Brother Thomassen also advised the delegates that the new Member Services department was now open on the eighth floor of our building, and was currently assisting over 50 members per day. He also indicated that there would be three classes coming up, two at Kennedy airport and one at Newark airport relative to the member directed annuity program and asked all to take advantage of those programs. In closing, Brother Thomassen thanked all for their support and cooperation during the past month and thanked Mike and Gene for their fine working relationship. There was a motion to approve Brother Thomassen's report by Mike Cocozza, seconded by Tom McKeon. Motion was carried and so ordered. Brother Thomassen then called upon EST Mike Forde for his report. Brother Forde gave his monthly report relative to the arrearages in each local, and the number of jobs for each local during the past month. Brother Forde also thanked the negotiating committee, including all the business managers for their fine work in negotiating our great contract. Brother Forde also reminded the delegates that the percentages we received in our new contract would bring our total package to almost $71.00 at the end of five years, making our contractors having to charge their clients almost $100 an hour for carpentry work. He stressed the importance of having qualified and productive carpenters because someday the builders in this city will refuse to pay $100 an hour if the carpenters are not qualified. In closing, Brother Forde thanked all the delegates, business agents and District Council staff for their hard work and support during the past month. There was a motion to approve Brother Forde's report by Fred Kennedy, seconded by Jim Tancredi. Motion was carried and so ordered. Brother Thomassen then asked if there was anything on "Old Business." On "Old Business," Richard Alhanti asked how much money was spent on the Internet investigation. Brother Forde indicated that the District Council had not spent one penny on the investigation, and the fact that the Jawin website being shut down recently was strictly coincidental. Brother John Gorham stated that nobody should be bringing up an individual's personal life on the website. Brother Lawrence Hueler thanked all for their help in picketing Staples up in Boston and asked all to continue boycotting Staples. Brother Thomassen then asked if there was anything on "New Business." On "New Business," Brother Kurt Lanjghar asked if the trustees could fmd ways to improve our dental plan. Brother Thomassen stated that we would look into improving the dental plan.
On "New Business," Brother Thomas McKeon indicated that the delegates had taken rash action against a fellow delegate tonight and commended all for their courage in doing so. There was a motion to adjourn by Joe Lauer, seconded by George DiLacio. Motion was carried and so ordered. Meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM Respectfully submitted, Michael J. Forde. Executive Secretary Treasurer. |
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