I have been engaged in a managerial and professional capacity for approximately twenty years in the field of labor law and labor relations, and have extensive experience in direct dealings with labor unions and labor union representatives. From my experience and in my opinion, the present requirement of standing for re-election or retention in office by local labor union officers every three years has contributed materially to disharmony between employers and labor unions, and has resulted in a degree of instability in labor management relations. The purpose of the election requirements, whether they be three or five years, is to assure that persons in control of labor organizations will be responsible to the desires of the members. The law presently imposes a five year requirement on officers of national labor organizations. This is a reasonable period and I know of no reason why an identical period of five years should not apply to officers of local labor organizations. 1 In my opinion, the present law, which imposes a relatively short period of three years on officers of local labor organizations, has driven some otherwise responsible labor union officers to make unnecessary and unreasonable demands and to unnecessarily assume a constant political campaigner's role in order to assure re-election, rather than a considered position of responsibility to direct their attention towards the peaceful and reasonable resolution of labor disputes and to permit stability in labor relations. The extension of the present requirement from three to five years will contribute materially to this end and for this reason I respectfully request you and the members of your Subcommittee to give favorable consideration to the provisions of House Bills H.R. 9 and H.R. 567, which are before you. Sincerely yours, RICHARD C. SCHEIDT, Divisional Vice President and Labor Relations Director. INTERNATIONAL JEWELRY WORKERS' UNION, New York, N.Y., April 27, 1971. Hon. FRANK THOMPSON, M.C., DEAR CONGRESSMAN THOMPSON: On behalf of the General Executive Board of the International Jewelry Workers' Union, AFL-CIO, I wish to advise you of our unqualified support for Bill H.R. 9. This measure would permit the term of office for union officers to be extended from the present 3 years to a period of 5 years. Numerous surveys made recently indicate that 95% of the candidates for trade union positions are usually unopposed. Since all union elections are held under the provisions of existing laws, there can be no question that the memberships of these unions have every opportunity to nominate and vote for the candidates of their choice. The present three year limitation on terms of office for union leaders places an unnecessary financial burden on unions. Most, if not all union constitutions and By-Laws, have specific provisions for recall of elected officers who have not properly carried out their trust. In view of the above, we feel that a five year term would not be excessive and would still be subject to the memberships recall privileges in addition to various provisions of the law affecting malfeasance or misfeasance in office by any elected trade union officer. We, therefore, respectfully urge your support of this measure. LEON SVERDLOVE, General President. INTERNATIONAL LADIES' GARMENT WORKERS' UNION, Chicago, Ill., May 4, 1971. Hon. FRANK THOMPSON, Jr., Chairman, Special Subcommittee on Labor, DEAR CONGRESSMAN THOMPSON: Thank you very much for inviting me to appear before the Subcommittee to present my views on Bills H.R. 9 and H.R. 567. I wish to inform you that our International Union, the I.L.G.W.U., is neutral on these Bills. According to the constitution of the I.L.G.W.U. the term of office is three years by choice and it appears that the officers and membership are satisfied to maintain it. Consequently I cannot be of any help on these Bills. Of course, I have no objection at all to the Bills, perhaps other Unions may find it more advantageous to have a longer term of office. With best regards to you and to Congressman Frank Annunzio, I am Sincerely yours, MORRIS BIALIS, Vice President. CENTRAL STATES JOINT BOARD, HON. FRANK THOMPSON, Jr., DEAR CONGRESSMAN THOMPSON, As 1st International Vice President of the International Union of Dolls, Toys, Playthings, Novelties & Allied Products, and Midwest Director of the Central States Joint Board, AFL-CIO, I wish to thank you for your invitation to appear before your special subcommittee on May 11, 1971, on HR. 9 and HR. 567, proposed by my good friends, Congressman Frank Annunzio and Congressman Roman Pucinski. Pressing negotiations at this time, however, make it impossible for me to ap pear, but I do wish to state that, after 30 years of experience in the labor movement, I feel that the present provisions under Section 401(b) of the Labor-Management and Disclosure Act works the same unnecessary hardship on Union Officers as the present electoral procedure works a hardship on you, our hard working representatives. By that I mean that if people of good will and energy can apply themselves to the tasks of office full time, then they should not be forced to expend so much of these same energies maintaining themselves in office. A Union leader is much like a representative. We both have constituencies and we both have to produce. However, so much time and effort is spent in campaigning it reduces our ability to really serve our constituents. I therefore implore your subcommittee to use every effort to change the three (3) year electoral rule in Section 401(b) to five (5) years so that people like myself and the Local Union leaders under me can concentrate on the job of making this country a greater place to live and work. Very truly yours, VICTOR J. FAILLA, Business Manager. Chicago Ill. Congressman FRANK ANNUNZIO Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. The Chicago Joint Board Amalgamated Clothing Workers of Amercia strongly supports H.R. 567 section 401B of the Labor Management act should be amended to permit local unions to decide whether or not their elections will be held 5 years or less. MURRAY H. FINLEY, Manager, Chicago Joint Board ACWA. CHICAGO, ILL. Hon. FRANK ANNUNZIO, Local 738 I.B. of T. supports H.R. 9 and H.R. 567 extending the maximum term of office for local union officers to five years. This revision will promote labor management stability by enabling union officers to develop the skills and understanding necessary to competent administration of collective bargaining agreements. We feel that this is a benefit to the membership, to management and to the general public. RAYMOND DOMENIC, Secretary Treasurer, Local Union 738. CHICAGO, ILL. Hon. FRANK ANNUNZIO, The Chicago Federation of Labor and Industrial Union Council, AFL-CIO urge you to request Representative Frank Thompson, Chairman of the Special Subcommittee on Labor to hold early hearings and recommend a favorable report on H.R. 9, the bill to amend the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 with respect to the terms of office of officers of local labor organizations by extending the present three year limitation to five years. THE CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR THOMAS E. FAUL, Secretary-Treasurer. MAY 10, 19 Hon. FRANK ANNUNZIO, In reference to your bill H.R. 567, this union feels that it is absolutely necessary that the term of local union officers be five years instead of three. This will not only help the union members and officers but also the employers. It will make for less labor turmoil and give the participants in labor an opportunity to end constantly running for office but to do the job they were elected for-to create harmony and peace amongst labor and management. WILLIAM D. JOYCE, Secretary-Treasurer, Teamsters Local 710. Representative FRANK ANNUNZIO, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE ANNUNZIO: We wish to have House Bill H.R. 9 and H.R. 567 passed. We believe it will eliminate many work stoppages. Fraternally yours, Laborers local union 1092 was pleased on the introduction of H.R. 9. We believe passage of this legislation would provide more responsible leadership in local unions and would be beneficial to the general public. Very truly yours, CHARLES V. LOVERDE, Jr., Business Manager. Hon. FRANK ANNUNZIO, Longworth House Office Building, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE ANNUNZIO: Hereby our opinions regarding H.R. 9 and H.R. 567. The term of three years for a local union is too short because it gives newly elected officers not enough time to get acquainted with their responsibilities and give their membership time to evaluate the changes and suggestions made, as the results are not always right away discernible. It is also inconsistent with terms of joint councils and international officers, as one may be elected for three years in one and if not reelected what would be the legal position regarding a four or five year term he was elected to. With the many militants these days in any movement the elected officials should have enough time to study the needs and wants of their members and try to do something about them and have the results, which are not always directly obtainable, speak for them, also they should not, with almost everything they do or want to do, have to worry how this would effect their reflection. We thank you for your invitation to present our views personally, but we feel sure that with you offering to do this for us we could get no better representation. With sincere thanks. DEAR CONGRESSMAN ANNUNZIO: I want to thank you for sending us a copy of your bill, H.R. 567 and the remarks you made on the floor when it was introduced. I personally agree with the position of your bill and think it will do much to bring stability into the ranks of organized labor at the local level. I also feel that we will be more successful in getting agreements that are negotiated ratified where the position of the local official is more secure. We are going to convention this week and will present your bill to our labor and legislative committees for their comment. When we return I will be in touch with you. Sincerely, DEAR REPRESENTATIVE ANNUNZIO: We appreciate the invitation from Representative Frank Thompson, Jr. to present a statement on H.R. 9 and H.R. 567. We would like very much for these bills to become law, and we think that the rank and file members of the Union will benefit as well as the officers, if this proposed legislation is passed. The younger members of our Union are very demanding and officers facing reelection are sometimes prone to yield to pressures for demands on wages which are extreme and unrealistic and extremely difficult for the employer and the consumer to absorb. Older members who have invested a large part of their lives in the milk industry are more inclined to be moderate in their demands and are more inclined to think in terms of what is best for all segments of the industry. Nevertheless the three year term of office for local Union Officers lends itself to an atmosphere of instability and insecurity and practically forces the officers of local Unions to think in terms of the immediate gain and benefit for the members rather than focusing on the long term objectives of stability for the industry and job security for the members. A five year term of office will do much to correct the evils we have recited. We hope that H.R. 9 and H.R. 567 will be reported favorably out of committee. We thank you for soliciting our views on a matter vital to the collective bargaining process. Very sincerely yours, AUGUST BURNIER, Secretary-Treasurer, Dairy Employes' Union, Local 754. NEWSPAPER, Magazine, Periodical, Salesmen, Drivers, Hon. FRANK ANNUNZIO, HONORABLE FRANK ANNUNZIO: It is gratifying to know that your interest in this Legislation is of the utmost importance. It has been my experience as President and chief negotiator of our wage scale committee that is is almost impossible in this atmosphere of negotiations in this period to satisfy your membership. This has been due to the fact that the younger membership of my organization keep pressing our scale committee to receive benefits that are almost impossible. Due to the fact that the Local Officers term is only for three year period and most of our contracts are for three years, our backs are to the wall in trying to reach an agreement that is satisfactory to both management and labor. If the atmosphere was cleared and we could enjoy a five year term, I think it would be much easier for both Labor and Management to have a happier relationship in future negotiations. Hoping you and your fellow congressmen will succeed in extending the term of Local Officers, it will be greatly appreciated. Thanking you, Sincerely yours, TONY JUDGE, President. PRODUCE, FRESH & FROZEN FRUITS & VEGETABLES, Hon. FRANK ANNUNZIO, DEAR SIR: We are deeply interested in Bills H.R. 9 and H.R. 567 proposing an amendment of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act, which will change the maximum term of office for Local-Union officers from the present three years to a proposed five years. We feel the extended term of office will help immensely the officers involved in negotiations of collective bargaining agreements. It will also lessen the pressures created by candidates, in a competitive electoral situation, who do not have the current negotiating responsibility for totally unrealistic demands which could lead to unnecessary work stoppages and lockouts. I regret not being able to present my views personally, but hope the Special Subcommittee on Labor will make a favorable report on H.R. 9 and H.R. 567. On behalf of the officers and members of this Local-Union, we wish to express our gratitude for your concern on a matter so vital to the effective operation of the American system of labor-management relations. Very truly yours, M. J. RAIMONDI, Secretary-Treasurer. INTERNATIONAL UNION OF ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS, Congressman FRANK ANNUNZIO, Philadelphia, Pa., May 6, 1971. DEAR CONGRESSMAN ANNUNZIO: First I wish to thank you for sponsoring the bill to amend Section 401 (B) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosuer Act, and secondly a thank you to you and Congressman Frank Thompson Jr. for the opportunity to submit a statement in our the International Union of Elevator Constructors, behalf. As to the term of office to be extended from three to five years and the benefits to be derived thereof are of many benefitial results both for the Labor Union and management. A good example would be in the Construction trades today where the Presidents Proclamation is setting forth an approximate 6% increase and the Union members have set up a hue and cry for much higher increases and here a labor representative who has a five year term of office can tell it how it is instead |