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Trusteeship `In
The Members' Best Interests'
International Union Trustees Local 5
During her first official meeting with Local 5 staffers on Monday,
Feb. 26, the Local's trustee Sherri Chiesa made two things
absolutely clear: (1) The political infighting and divisiveness at
Local 5 must stop. and (2) The Local needs to focus itself
"immediately" on settling its open union contracts.
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Members'
Interests First
"I am appealing to everyone to place the interests of the
members first and to stop the political infighting," says Chiesa,
who is also the Western Regional Director for the Hotel Employees
& Restaurant Employees, International Union, AFL-CIO, CLC.
"We need to focus on servicing our members and making sure
their needs are being met," she says.
In a bold move to end months of divisiveness and political deadlock
between members of Local 5's Executive Board , the International
Union (IU) placed the Local under trusteeship, assuming full control
and management of its day-to-day business affairs and
operations.
"I believe the trusteeship is in the members' best
interests," says Chiesa, who was appointed trustee by IU
General President
John W. Wilhelm.
The trusteeship was welcomed by former Local 5 Financial
Secretary-Treasurers Tony Rutledge and Eric Gill as "a positive
first step toward uniting the membership and getting everyone to
work together for the union's highest good."
Rutledge, who led Local 5 for about 14-1/2 years and is currently an
International Union district vice president, says: "Sherri
Chiesa is a strong, determined person with the ability to make all
sides work together. She's a seasoned union leader and skillful
negotiator. I believe our members are in very good
hands."
Chiesa, who was the secretary-treasurer and president of HERE Local
2, AFL-CIO in San Francisco, says: "One of the primary
objectives of this trusteeship is to end the stalemate between Local
5's officers, which had prevented the effective governance of this
union."
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Local 5's Bylaws
And Executive Board Suspended
Local 5's Bylaws and 15-member Executive Board have been suspended
as a result of the trusteeship, Chiesa says. "At some point, we
will take a closer look at the Bylaws and modify
and/or change them where necessary," she says.
The IU's Constitution permits Local 5 to remain in trusteeship for
up to 18 months. "We wish to resolve the problems here quickly
and hold elections for officers and Executive Board members as soon
as possible," Chiesa says.
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Settling Open
Contracts Among Trustee's `Top Priorities'
Settling Local 5's open union contracts ranks among Chiesa's
"top priorities," she says. "We will be working very
hard to negotiate the best possible work agreements for our members,
starting with the Master Hotel Agreement (MHA)," Chiesa says.
The five-year Agreement, which covers about 4,600 dues-paying
members, expired on Feb. 29, 2000.
Several other union contracts are about to expire, including those
covering the Hale Nani Rehabilitation & Nursing Center, Kaiser
Permanente and the Ala Moana Hotel bargaining units.
"Everything possible is being done to prepare for negotiations
at the various Local 5-represented properties where contracts have
either expired or are
about to expire," Chiesa says.
She is reviewing all Local 5 contracts and "identifying"
the status of each one, she says. "Soon, we will have a
complete picture of the contract situation here," she
says.
Meanwhile, Chiesa plans to meet with negotiating committees that
have already been established and to form new committees where
needed. She will also meet with shop stewards and conduct regular
general membership meetings. "I believe union democracy works
best when the membership is kept informed and all members have an
opportunity to participate in the affairs of their union," she
says.
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Grievance
Resolution Also To Receive `Top Priority'
Chiesa says she
is also giving "top priority" to the resolution of Local
5's unsettled grievances. "Members expect and deserve both a
timely and speedy resolution to their cases," she says.
"We intend to fulfill their expectations."
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Trustee To Beef
Up Staff
Local 5's field staff (business agents) will be "beefed
up" and improved through additional training for inexperienced
personnel and by rehiring some former, experienced staffers, Chiesa
says.
"This Local needs the best personnel available to service the
needs of its members," she says. "I believe the
combination of current and former staffers working together for the
good of the members is a win-win scenario for all parties
concerned," Chiesa says.
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© H.E.R.E. Local 5
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