| June, 2010 |
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Camp Konocti Facelift For 48 years the sons and daughters of Local 38 members have enjoyed summer camp on the shores of Clear Lake. That tradition continues today and this year campers arriving for first session earlier this month found a camp facility with a new coat of spit and polish. During the past off season Camp Konocti saw a major face lift, with a number of the old familiar facilities receiving an upgrade. First and foremost was the camp’s dock, which before being replaced was the original wooden dock. Now the camp sports a new, high tech plastic dock, one which stays cool in the sweltering Lake County heat, provides better traction and safer access, and even has several ladders for lake access. The camp’s tent cabins received a fresh coat of paint, as did the stage overlooking the lake, the site of the camp’s evening campfires and kangaroo court sessions. The cabins themselves were each painted different colors, bringing a whimsical note to the wood sided bunk houses. The camp’s toilet and laundry facilities were also updated, bringing campers an new level of comfort. |
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November Face Off Seldom are the political choices we face as clear as the choices facing California voters in the November race for Governor. And seldom are the stakes so high for working families and union members. The election pits former California Governor and current Attorney General Jerry Brown against former eBay Chief Executive Officer Meg Whitman. It is more than a face off between liberal and conservative or republican and democrat. It is a contest between a candidate dedicated to public service and a candidate who seems hell bent on buying the highest office in our state. A LIFETIME OF SERVICE "Jerry Brown has spent his entire life in service to the people of California," said Local 38 Business Manager Larry Mazzola, Sr., when asked about the November election. "He has served as California’s Secretary of State, Governor, and Attorney General, as well as the Mayor of Oakland. He has dedicated himself to bettering the lives of working people throughout our state, including fighting for the rights of union and non-union workers alike. "Meg Whitman, on the other hand, has never held public office, has a sporadic record of voting, let alone serving, and has already spent more than $80 million dollars of her own money to buy the republican nomination for governor," Mazzola continued. "She has promised to cut jobs cut taxes and cut services throughout the state. We can’t afford to let a Wall Street billionaire buy our future." a strong labor record Ever since his first election in 1969 Jerry Brown has fought for the working people of California. He has served as a Los Angeles County Community College Trustee, California’s Secretary of State, Governor, the head of the California Democratic Party, the Mayor of Oakland, and is currently the state Attorney General. He has a labor record stretching from marching with Cesar Chavez during the creation of the United Farmworkers Union (UFW) to enforcing employee rights against large construction companies and other corporations during his tenure as Attorney General. And he is heir to a family legacy of labor support. Local 38 was among the unions who endorsed his father, Gerald "Pat" Brown in his campaigns for Governor in 1959 and in 1963. During his terms as Governor of California, from 1975 to 1983, Brown played an important role in many of the labor and political struggles of the time. It was during his tenure that the Agricultural Labor Relations Act (ALRB) was passed, giving California’s farm workers the right to unionize. The Agricultural Labor Relations Board (ALRB) which administered the legislation was established with representatives of both labor and management (unlike his successor George Deukmejian, who appointed almost exclusively agribusiness representatives to the ALRB). During Brown’s tenure as Governor he created 1.9 million new jobs in California, while reducing taxes in the state by $4 billion. |
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Memo to Members by Larry Mazzola |
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I want to begin by congratulating all our political friends who won their primary elections earlier this month. There were some important victories in vital elections. But we can’t forget that this is only the start, particularly in the statewide elections. We have won nothing if we don’t carry the fight to November. A CLEAR CHOICE Nowhere is this clearer than in race for Governor of California. After seven years of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California is in shambles. What was once the best educational system in the country lies in ruin. Our roads are a mess, our state budget process is a national joke, and our infrastructure is falling apart. That’s what an actor with no political experience can do, and now the Republican party wants us to see what a failed CEO with no political experience can do. Meg Whitman’s only qualification for Governor of California is that she is rich enough to try to buy the office. After making billions with Goldman Sachs, FTD and eBay, and not even registering to vote for most of her life, she has decided to become a politician. buying the election Whitman spent $87 million to win the Republican nomination for governor, including more than $70 million of her own money. In 2006 a total of $130 million was spent in the governor’s race, including all the candidates in the primary and general elections. Whitman outspent her Republican opponent, Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, more than 2-1 in the primary. And the race is only half over. Now she faces the actual election in November. bankrupt policies And why is Whitman so determined to buy the election? Largely so she can put California’s unions out of business. She wants to get rid of the eight hour day, guaranteed lunch breaks, health care reform and Project Labor Agreements. She plans a full assault on public workers including their unions, jobs, wages and pensions. a proud tradition Whitman faces a man with one of the proudest political traditions in California history, former Governor Jerry Brown. Brown has spent his life in public service, from the time he first ran for Los Angeles Community College Trustee to his present tenure as California Attorney General. During his tenure as California Governor from 1975 to 1983 the state cut taxes by $4.9 billion while creating 1.9 million new jobs. LABOR’S FRIEND More importantly, Brown has proven himself a close friend of labor and working families throughout his career. He signed legislation establishing the right to unionize for teachers, police officers, fire fighters, state workers and farm workers. He fought to strengthen the state’s equal pay laws, and established prevailing wage guidelines for University of California construction projects. A FAMILY AFFAIR Not only has Local 38 endorsed Brown in every statewide election he has been in, but we endorsed his father before him. Edmund "Pat" Brown was governor of California from 1959 to 1967, and he was also a close friend of labor and Local 38. We need Jerry Brown’s clear priorities and political experience in Sacramento. Someone has to breakup the deadlock in our state’s capital, and Jerry Brown is just the type of creative thinker and visionary leader who can do that. We don’t need to be part of a republican billionaire’s shopping spree. HEALTH CARE CHANGES By now you’ve probably received a letter in the mail (Click here for a reprint) about the changes in the Local 38 Health and Welfare Plan. After being told by Health Net that continuing our medical coverage was going to cost 37 percent more this year, we have decided to change to Cigna Health Care. No health care provider is cheap. It will still cost us more than last year to maintain our benefits. But changing means we can maintain our benefits without have to increase member or dependent co-pays. Please read the letter carefully. If you are a Health Net PPO or HMO member, you will be automatically enrolled in Cigna. You should receive your Cigna ID card in the mail soon. And remember, if you have any questions you can always call the Trust Fund Office. local 38 picnic As you can see from the announcement above, we have scheduled the Local 38 picnic for September 18 at the Silverado Country Club in Napa. Of course this is quite a change for us. We decided on Silverado because they can provide the lodging and picnic facilities we need for our annual gathering. This is a spectacular facility, and the picnic should be a lot of fun. Mark down the date. I hope to see you there. camp konocti Finally, I want to comment on the offseason work done at Camp Konocti. The new dock, toilets (donated by Broadway Mechanical) and other facilities were overdue, and go along way to ensuring the safety and comfort of our campers. Just as important the coat of paint on our tent cabins is great. The new colors bring a note of cheer to the camp. Camp Konocti is a happy place for the sons and daughters of Local 38, and now it looks it. |
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