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Spending your dues money wisely

By Kim Thompson
UTU General Secretary & Treasurer

Nobody spends someone elses dollars as carefully as we spend our own.

The UTU International leadership is especially sensitive to the fact that members entrust us with their own hard-earned dollars, and every member rightfully expects their union to gain the most value for their dues money. We do not take this obligation lightly.

Since taking office in January 2008, we have instituted new cost controls and conservative investment policies that, even in the face of significant furloughs by rail carriers and problems in financial markets, have made the UTU more efficient and financially secure.

The Internationals General Fund, as detailed in the most recent GS&T report, has grown since the Futhey administration took office almost 18 months ago -- from $2.1 million to $4 million, which is a 90 percent increase.

The General Fund pays for International operations, including employee wages and benefits, travel tied to assistance provided general and local committees of adjustment, and headquarters rent.

Separately, our strike fund has grown by 45 percent, to $2.7 million, and our convention fund is on track to have the necessary minimum on hand to pay traditional and contemplated costs of the eleventh quadrennial convention in 2011.

Total International funds have grown from $7.5 million, when we took office in January 2008, to more than $13 million, which is an increase of more than 70 percent. This is in the face of sharp carrier cutbacks of employees -- many being UTU members -- in response to a sour economy.

Among cost-cutting actions was the reduction of one full-time administrative officer in the Cleveland headquarters and redistribution of that work to headquarters staff and other International officers. We have gone from 15 full-time International officers to 11, which is more than a 25 percent reduction.

Travel expenses have been reduced by combining International officer assignments and assigning officers geographically closer to the committees they are assisting. Every travel expense is checked to ensure it is necessary and proper.

Our International funds are invested conservatively so they are available when needed without undue risk of principal.

Our investment advisers are paid directly for sound financial advice and do not profit by moving our money from one investment alternative to another, or as a percentage of short-term investment gains. As a result, our International finances have withstood the effects of this recession and associated financial calamities far better than most organizations.

The UTUIA, meanwhile, earned more than $300,000 from operations during the first quarter of 2009. The UTUIA remains strong with more than $23 million in surplus, as recently validated through an annual audit.

As for the DIPP, premiums exceeded claims for the first quarter 2009, which boosted the funds balance. We continue monitoring this fund, as claims are tied directly to the level of carrier discipline.

We have met -- and continue to meet -- with carrier officers to discuss what we consider to be arbitrary discipline that unjustifiably damages employee morale, impeding our ultimate goal of providing world-class transportation service.

At the local level, we are assisting local treasurers through workshops, individual assistance and the UTU University to better equip them to carry out their duties in managing their locals funds.

The financial state of the United Transportation Union is strong and secure, and we intend to keep it that way through careful spending and improved productivity within every department and through every activity of the International.

June 19, 2009


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At the local level, we are assisting local treasurers through workshops, individual assistance and the UTU University to better equip them to carry out their duties in managing their locals funds.

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What happened to the "WAR CHEST"?

http://www.utu.org/DEPTS/PR-DEPT/NEWS/NEWS99/38027rel.htm


'War chest' being raised to battle BLE
Funds also designated for local education & training, convention
Griffeth resigns as GS&T effective Sept. 1

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (August 27) - The delegates attending the 8th Quadrennial UTU Convention here voted to raise funds for local education and training -- and to raise a special "war chest" to take on the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE) in representation elections on North America's railroads.

On Thursday morning, International President Charles L. Little urged the delegates to send a strong message to the BLE by voting in favor of a $5 dues increase. The measure passed by a two-thirds vote after Little's speech and a spirited debate. The UTU's International dues are still 20 percent less than those of the BLE.

Little and Assistant President Byron A. Boyd, Jr., both pledged that there would not be another dues increase during the next four years. Three dollars will be used in the BLE representation campaign, $1 will be used for new education-and-training programs at the local level, and $1 will go to the convention fund, which is the first time since 1969 that funds are being raised for this purpose.

Roger D. Griffeth, UTU General Secretary & Treasurer resigned from office effective September 1. In his speech to delegates announcing his decision, Griffeth said he wanted to promote unity within the UTU so the union can take on the BLE in a united front. Paul W. Thompson, GS&T-elect, will take over those duties on September 1.

In his speech to the delegates, Little stressed UTU unity and commitment to representing all historical operating crafts.

"Brothers and Sisters, on Monday you sent the strongest message possible to the BLE by re-electing Byron and me, and electing Paul Thompson in landslide numbers," Little said. "Now, I ask you to complete that message by voting for this dues increase so we can beat the BLE on the Union Pacific and every other railroad in North America."

Little told the delegates that "I would not ask for this dues increase unless we absolutely needed it. Well, we need it, and let me tell you why. Our union is financially strong and stable, and I intend to keep it that way. To do that we need to make sure our funds are not depleted during our fight-to-the-finish with the BLE. We need to build a special war chest that we can use after we win the representation vote on the Union Pacific for votes on other carriers."

Little continued: "The BLE only has about $12 million today, and their worst fear is that we will raise more money at this convention to beat them. I say let the BLE's worst fears be realized. I can assure you that by voting for this dues increase, the BLE will hear how loudly the UTU's money talks."

Little also pointed out that the UTU may have to battle some carriers when representation elections are held who would like no union whatsoever.

"There's one more very important thing you need to know," Little said. "Don't just think that we will be fighting the BLE in a representation election. We will probably be fighting some of the railroads who see this as an opportunity to get rid of both the UTU and BLE. They could spend millions in an anti-union campaign to make sure union members don't vote and don't have representation.

"We need to get 50 percent of the vote -- plus one -- in every representation vote on every carrier or there will be no union. That's the law as set forth by the National Mediation Board."

When asked if the UTU would re-enter "friendly" merger talks with the BLE, Little said, "As far as a friendly merger with the BLE, who the hell over there can you trust?"

Little said that if the National Mediation Board (NMB) action is not successful that the UTU intends to begin an "A" card campaign.

"If we are not successful at the NMB," Little said, "we will take on the BLE on the Union Pacific Railroad anyway. We have more engineers on the UP than they do. That's going to be our first target. After that we'll do a few carriers at a time."

The convention concludes today.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UTU Home Page | 1999 News

Copyright © 1998 United Transportation Union
Last modified: May 25, 2000



-- Edited by Calvin on Friday 19th of June 2009 06:49:41 PM

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Troll wrote:

At the local level, we are assisting local treasurers through workshops, individual assistance and the UTU University to better equip them to carry out their duties in managing their locals funds.



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