My Local Lost it's Charter Today!!!!!!!!
The Brothers and Sisters of IBEW LOCAL UNION 380 lost our Charter on Friday, November 28, 2014. We are being merged with the larger, more politically active, (to the tune of $25M in political contributions over the past decade!), Local Union 98 from neighboring Philadelphia.
The rumors of the merger have been running wild for the past 12 months. We were put under the microscope by 3rd District IVP Siegal, and went thru an audit by the IO in May of '14. This all culminated in a hearing in late September, where our BM was called to task over our organizing practices, and lack of market share. Funny thing about that is, our market share is every bit as good as our surrounding suburban locals, in fact better than them nearly all of them, and on par with Local 98's market share in their bordering suburbs.
This entire thing reeks of a power grab. I completely understand the need for constant scrutiny, and improvement of market shares. As well as the need for aggressive organizing. But we were not given ANY oppurtunity to be evaluated, and correct the issues the IO found most in need of fixing. Instead, our Charter will removed from it's place in our Union Hall, our territory divided between powerful Local 98, and 3rd District IVP Siegal's very own home Local, 724. Siegal, BTW, was the instigating, and driving force behind this move, in his own words, written in a letter to our BM last December.
Have any of you lived thru a merger, or the loss of your LU Charter? Please share your expierience. Thanks.
L.U. 380 will live on in our hearts. May our skills, and our pride forever set us apart, and give us all the strength to succeed in our future endevours! Thank You to all the Men and Women who built our home Local, and instilled the traits that make us stand out amongst our peers.