Regular Membership Meeting Tuesday June 3rd with Dues presentation

Regular monthly membership meeting will be held at the district hall on June 3rd at 4:30PM.
During the meeting there will be a presentation on the new dues structure the International is proposing. We urge members who have questions and concerns about the proposed changes to attend the meeting. We will have a voice in the matter during the Grand Lodge Convention, this coming September.

On May 6th, the membership held an election to set 9 delegates who will represent the Local Lodge at the upcoming convention. The delegates will need to hear our concerns so they can present them during the convention. There will be time to ask questions after the presentation. Please try to carpool if possible to save on parking spaces.

The address for the hall is: 271 Taylor Ave. Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.

Fired Waste Pro workers to get labor hearing

"Four former Waste Pro employees in Daytona Beach who cried foul for being fired will appear in a hearing before an administrative law judge of the National Labor Relations Board in June.
Led by Keith Massey, the employees attempted to become part of a union because of perceived contract violations.
But it wasn't long before they were fired for their efforts, according to Massey, Kevin Brown, Tyrod Williams and Tremale Morgan."

Full story can be found at this link from the Daytona Beach News-Journal :

http://www.news-journalonline.com/NewsJournalOnline/News/EastVolusia/evlEAST05050308.htm

Apparently we can expect more of this from big business.

A story in the Las Vegas Sun states "Businesses scurry to build defenses for possible unionizing onslaught"

"Big business is taking steps to fend off an expected flood of unionizing drives if Congress approves legislation making it easier for workers to organize.
In a trend being followed closely in Las Vegas and other strong union communities, businesses across the country are moving to improve relations with workers in anticipation of the Democrat-supported Employee Free Choice Act. It would for the first time in 60 years allow workers to organize without putting the issue to a secret-ballot vote."

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2008/may/05/businesses-scurry-build-defenses-possible-unionizi/

In the article there are statments from law firms involved in lobbying to prevent the Employee Free Choice Act.
One states: "Unionization drives generally emerge from issues of dignity and respect, lawyer Mark Ross said. “Unions don’t organize employers,” he said. “Bad supervisors organize employers.”"

He also states:
"If the legislation is passed, “employers are headed for a big hurt,” Smith said.
Employers, he said, should mobilize the business community. “Tell them how awful life could be if this thing gets written into law,” Smith said."

I have a hard time understanding the hurt employers will feel, other than providing employees what they deserve with fair wages, good benefits, and equally fair treatment. Companies would rather pay Lawyers, Lobbyists, and Political Action Committiees, than pay fair wages to employees.
Certainly if the Employee Free Choice Act were to pass and be signed into law by the next President, it would not mean every employer would instantly have a Union. Some employers would not have Unions because they pay well and offer good benefits. The only employers who should worry about the act are the ones who have been taking advantage of employees and treating them poorly.

Remember to support candidates that support our needs the next time you vote. Seems our elected officials only understand the public, when we show them by ballot, how we feel.

Regular Membership Meeting Tuesday May 6th

Regular meeting tomorrow night at the District Hall at 271 Taylor Ave. Cape Canaveral, FL 32920.
Don't forget the election will be taking place all day for selection of the delegates to be sent to the Grand Lodge Convention.

Polls will be open from 8:00AM and will close at 6:00PM.

Hope to see everyone there.