No Layoffs at Local 1!

rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/no-layoffs-at-local-1?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-no-layoffs-at-local-1' style='width: 100%'></div> TNG-CWA Local 34071 https://actionnetwork.org/groups/tng-cwa-local-34071 No Layoffs at Local 1! https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/407/663/normal/327313460_858033432086041_8743750367677623756_n.jpg In March of 2022, long-time President Tom Balanoff recognized that Local 1 members were under-served and understaffed. So before he retired, President Balanoff ensured we had the funding to hire more than a dozen additional member support workers across all six states, including organizers, strategic researchers, grievance representatives, and other front-line workers. But now, less than a year after inheriting his elected position, new President Genie Kastrup is demanding that Local 1 freeze those open positions and kick dozens of our workers to the curb - the same workers who directly support Local 1 members in winning grievances, successfully negotiating contracts, organizing new shops, and demanding improvements to member safety and overall working conditions. Genie claims we must get rid of our front-line workers because Local 1 is running out of money - to the tune of $1.2 million in 2023 alone. Well, we have some questions for her... 1. Before inheriting the President's position (and salary), Genie was the Chief of Staff for Local 1. If Local 1 was truly on the cusp of a budget crisis, how did Genie fail to notice until now? 2. Genie admitted to holding millions of dollars in rainy day funds - so why aren't we using those rainy day funds to retain the experienced workers needed to bring in new membership and resources? 3. Our data shows that employers are currently refusing to hand over millions in member dues money each year. Why isn't Genie demanding that employers give us our money before kicking our workers to the curb? 4. Genie's targets for termination are culled exclusively from the workers who directly support Local 1 members, with zero cuts to management positions or pay. Why is Genie keeping managers with no workers to manage? 5. Genie claims that nixing these Local 1 workers will ensure we stay in the green through 2023 - but how does she expect us to maintain our current membership - much less to negotiate strong contracts for our members - with only half the staff? Our Executive Board members asked all of these questions and more at the regular leadership meeting on December 9th but Genie refused to show our leaders any proof of her claims. Instead, she agreed to set an emergency meeting for January 14th... but then unilaterally forced our Local 1 state and division directors to get rid of their front-line and field workers on January 12th, with less than two weeks' notice to these dedicated workers, and no notice at all to Local 1 members. As members and/or allies of SEIU Local 1, we demand that Genie recall all worker layoffs, terminations, and reassignments until our Executive Board and Staff Union have reviewed her claims, and she has started taking the necessary steps to collect the millions of dollars in Local 1 dues currently being withheld by employers. Sign the petition now! https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/no-layoffs-at-local-1