AFGE Local 3197
Minutes of General Membership Meeting
September 12,
2007
Building 1 Room
240
The meeting was called to order at 5:10pm
by President Strako.
Role Call of Officers:
Present:
President
Tim Strako 1st
V. P. Debra Smith
Prof.
V.P. Valerie O’Meara F. P. C.
Steve McFadden
W.C.
Karen Lasota
Absent: Treasurer Christine Brown, Chief
Steward Roy Frye
VARO Chief Steward Medori Sumida
1. Review of minutes of August 2007.
There were no corrections or discussion;
2. Officer/Committee Reports:
Treasurer – President Strako reported the following balances in
our accounts.
$31,433.90 Bank of
$40,000.00 Bank of
$21,756.00 Verity C. U., checking
Tim stated that the Verity account should be able to close this month.
President
– The attorney from the law firm we now have on retainer will be here on 9/13
& 9/14 to give classes to stewards. Stewards are to request A.A. for the
training. There was some discussion from the floor regarding lawyer services.
President Strako gave a report on the
[Brief
break in proceedings for BBQ Supper provided by Local]
Prof.
V.P. – Valerie reported on the very valuable Arbitration training that she
attended this month in
1st
V.P. – Nothing to report.
Women’s
F.P. – Karen reported on the Chicago training and the Action Plan that she
has come up with for the local. She and Steve McFadden would like to establish
a joint committee and will have more discussion later if there is an interest.
EEO
Fair Practice – Steve reported on his training and entertained questions
from the floor about the difference between the EEO Officer for the facility and
Steve. There was discussion of the
recent E.E.O. hearing that was held downtown which was attended by Debra Smith
as she was the acting President that day. Options available other than filing
with E.E.O. In answer to a question it
was reported that any person may represent you at that meeting but not from A.F.G.E.;
they are just “a person of knowledge”. Reviewed 45 day window on reporting
E.E.O. complaints. Grievance process can be used as well in most cases.
President Strako suggested asking some of these questions of the attorney
during training.
O.W.C.P.
– Debra Smith reported that there are currently 8 (eight) violations against
the Agency and that the Agency is under an “Improvement Plan” by O.S.H.A. The
Agency could have been fined a great deal of money by O.S.H.A. but the decision
was not to impose a fine. There are serious long Term effects for the employees
who were exposed to the chemo therapy drug; especially to those in their
child-bearing years. This could be called willful misconduct, per Debra.
3.
Old
Business:
N.V.A.C. – 7
delegates were approved for the convention in November based on the number of
members in the prior 6 months. This means that Roy Frye will be going as the
first alternate and since Christine Brown had to withdraw as a delegate, Terry McFarlin will be going as her alternate.
There was a
question from the floor regarding the replacement of shoes contaminated in the
flood that occurred in APD and the kitchen some time ago. Debra Smith will
follow-up on this as she was not aware until now that no shoes had been
replaced.
There was a
question from the floor about a member being denied the opportunity to sign up
for O.T. on a posted list. He was referred to Roy Frye to get a steward
assigned.
By-Laws &
Constitution committee – A motion was made by Sharon Hall that the committee be
disbanded as there had been no action in over 2 months. Stanley Stewart stated
that he would be willing to chair the committee and give it a chance to do as
it was originally intended.
4. New Business:
21 new members
since last meeting:
Judith May Don
Unrein Paul
Peterson
Betty Brooking Garciela Lange Tammy Floe
Grace Rhem Yim
Hui Geri
Bell
Christopher Salatka Nicole Tomlin Raymond Brodeur
Adrian Sison Oriana
Futrell William
Szabo
Hong Nguyen Sisay Telehun Dennis Freeman
Ernest Stillman Song Uh Mark Snow
There was a
motion by Debra Smith to accept the new members; there was 2nd by
Stanley Stewart followed by a unanimous vote to accept the new members.
There was a
motion from Terry McFarlin for the Local to provide a
cell phone for the Steward-At-Large Beverly Anderson. Per Tim Strako, this had
been presented to the E-board and had been rejected based on the fact that
There was a
report from the floor that the gym equipment was in a state of disrepair and
had been for some time. The Safety Officer Debra Smith will look into this and
report back to the membership.
Lonnie has
resigned as the Secretary due to personal commitments. There is a vacancy that pays $75.00 per month
as a stipend. Michael Beebe will post the vacancy on the web site.
There will be a
Steward Meeting and Case Review every month from 4pm to 5pm in Room 1/421 just
prior to the General Membership Meeting. The expectation of the President and
the E-Board is that all Stewards will attend greater than 50% of these
meetings.
5.
For
the Good of the Body
Door
Prize: Megal
Debra Smith made a motion to adjourn. There
was a 2nd from Karen Lasota.
Meeting adjourned at 6:30pm.
Respectfully Submitted,
Sharon Hall
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