Early on Thursday, December 17, 2009, AME started receiving reports that CWA was backing away from their 6-month campaign to decertify our AME membership. Although CWA’s website states they indeed are withdrawing their petition, AME did not receive formal confirmation of this fact from the Public Employee Relations Board (PERB).
This news came as surprise to us because as recently as Tuesday, December 15, 2009, AME attorneys attended the first of two pre-hearing conferences before Hearing Officer Arthur A. Riegel, with respect to the certification/decertification petition filed by CWA. The second conference has been scheduled for January 4, 2010.
While the Executive Board of AME never believed that CWA ever had an overwhelming number of members interested in the CWA conglomerate, AME was preparing for an enthusiastic election as to which union would represent Suffolk County workers. AME was confident from the start of CWA’s attack that our members would choose to stay with AME. If CWA backs out, then it merely proves that AME was right all along, “The Power and Strength in our Union is in our Members and No One Else!”
Simply put, CWA’s record spoke for itself when compared to AME. CWA has lower salaries and higher dues. Under CWA’s dues structure, your dues rate is handcuffed directly to your salary. AME rejected CWA’s, “the more you make, the more we take” philosophy. And while CWA claimed it has more oversight of their local unions, at least six (6) CWA union officers were convicted of embezzling union funds within the last two years.
We are proud that AME members believe in the power and strength of AME. The Executive Board remains wholeheartedly committed to seeing you in the field, requesting that negotiations resume, and getting back to the important business of AME. With the holidays already upon us, now is the time to join together in unison. For those who stood by us, thank you. For those that were led astray, welcome back.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah! Joyous Kwanza! And a wonderful holiday season in whatever may be the tradition you celebrate. On behalf of the entire AME Executive Board, have a very happy, healthy, and successful New Year!