Meeting Minutes 13 Minute

February Meeting

Dairy Workers Association

February 25, 2024

No Comments

2/25/24

Finances

• Current balance: [Financial details available to members]
  • Business Premier Checking [Financial details available to members]
  • 6 Month CD: [Financial details available to members]
    • Interest Rate 4.25% maturing on 7/31/24
    • Interest earned since opening [Financial details available to members]
• For security purposes, we have redacted the balance amount after the meetings.

Current Member Count-294

Current Grievances

• A few members in Florence have been complaining about being written up for taking sick leave yet they have official doctor’s notes.
  • The doctor’s notes must state the days that were missed and a reason as to why.
  •  The company cannot deny a legitimate doctor’s note. If they attempt to count the call out against you it will be negated in arbitration if it ever got that far.
  • A sick call out only counts as one call out if you are out for more than one day with the same illness.
  • Currently the company is suspending workers around 14 call outs and terminating around 18.
• Drivers are being written up for coming in late.
  • Article VIII Section Q
    • You must call ahead to avoid discipline.
• Warehouse workers are having their days of work shifted around.
  • Article IX Section D
    • The company can make changes to working procedures, but they must give the Union (10) days’ notice.
      • In short, they can change your schedule. All this does is slow down the change.

Current Events

• Last week one of our drivers from Jersey City lost his year-long battle with cancer. Kevin Cole was 56 and is survived by his daughter and her two children. Kevin was a driver jumper, served as a shop steward, a trustee, and for a brief time the treasurer. Yesterday he was laid to rest. All week we will be gathering proceeds to donate to his family. The website will tell how everyone can donate and flyers in Jersey City are on display.
• Monday 2/27/24 Jersey City driver Eric Rosado and his family will be providing a food truck for the members from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The food and drinks are free, but all donations will be given to Kevin Cole’s family.
• On Tuesday 2/20/24 the Union went against Cream-O-Land Dairy in arbitration in Newark. This was the 2^nd time in nearly 80 years this has happened. The hearing went very well for the Union regarding the matter of seniority overtime for warehouse workers. A final statement was submitted by the Union on 2/22/24 and a ruling will be made after 3/1/24.
  • It is estimated that Cream-O-Land Dairy has incurred a cost of $15-20,000 so far for this case alone.
• On Tuesday 3/12/24 the Union will again go against Cream-O-Land Dairy in arbitration in Newark. The grievance involves 43 workers from both locations who did not receive the September raise.
  • Estimated cost for this arbitration could exceed $100,000 if the ruling goes in favor of the Union.
• The website is up and running thanks to the new tech worker Bronsen Hartley.
• Bronsen to speak about the site.
  • Please review the ability to see the Financial Statements. Members do not believe it should be made public. It should only be viewed after you login to the site.
• This week a prototype hoodie will be coming to my residence. If it is what we are looking for, the order should be placed by the first week of March and take up to two weeks to deliver.
• Does every representative have a copy of the union by-laws? By Friday 3/1/24 please submit on the website what you would like to see removed from the by-laws and added.
• All taxes were filed with the IRS and the accountant is currently working on the LM3’s.
• The Treasurer, Anthony Fitzgerald wishes to discuss the “Attendance Bonus” after speaking with the accountant.

Meeting Conclusion

Hopefully the website and the Zoom meeting went well. Updates will be posted weekly concerning all pertinent matters. Please feel free to use the website to your advantage and keep the Union informed. Bronsen monitors the site daily and can assist anyone having trouble.

Questions and Answers