New Team Hits the Ground Running. We'll look back on this day in our Union's History and know...The Members WON!

Business Manager: Oscar De La Torre

Secretary-Treasurer: Dave George

President: Doyle Radford

Vice President: Dave Gorgas
Executive Board Members:

Harry Harris, Sam Robinson, Bruce Rust
Sergeant at Arms: Ken Lusby
Auditors:

Anthony Dimas, Wilbert Lucas, Victor Parra

Decision Time! Courageous Labor Leaders ALWAYS Stand Against Injustice. Moreno Turns his Back on the Workers! Will YOU???

An Open Letter to All NCDCL Delegates from Brother Don Payne.

August 19, 2009
Dear Delegate:
I'm the former Business Manager & Assistant Business Manager of the Northern California District Council of Laborers. Many of you know me. You have a very important decision to make this week which will affect the lives of thousands of Active & Retired Laborers in Northern California. Three candidates are running for Business Manager of the District Council.
How anyone could vote for Jose Moreno and then look their members in the eye would be beyond me. Moreno has shown you his total lack of worth for the last 8 years and now it becomes clear that he has never cared about our members. I will not dwell about the harm & shame he has brought on California Laborers Local Unions and its membership by his lack of attendance to the Standards Board (OSHSB) Emergency meeting, you know the disgraceful details….he shouldn’t receive any votes.
And now we have Cedric Porter out of the blue to announce his candidacy. Would he have announced if not for Moreno’s recent blunder, the answer is no. The fact is that Cedric Porter is not qualified. Porter has no management skills. He offered me his vote in exchange for the Assistant Business Manager position last election. I said NO! Isn't this asking you to sell your vote. He wasn‘t qualified then and he certainly is not now. Do you really want to go through more “ON THE JOB TRAINING,“? Wasn’t Moreno enough for you??? Moreno & Porter, two peas in a pod who could care less about anyone other than themselves. If it were not for you dedicated Local Union Business Managers & Agents, the members would have nothing.
Oscar De La Torre has managed Local 261 well. He was instrumental in assisting Local 261 through the worst financial crisis in its history. His negotiation skills are well rounded. Contractors feel that he is tough but fair & honest. He has now stepped up to the plate to take on Moreno & Porter, two men who would rather sneak behind your back then say hello. Before voting ask yourself one question, “Which of these candidates has shown that he really cares about the Union and its members”? The answer should be clear……
OSCAR DE LA TORRE…..I ask that you Vote for him, you will not regret it.

Sincerely,
DON PAYNE, Retired Member

Entire Community disgusted! Capitol Weekly: Absences at Cal-OSHA Standards Board cause problems

"One has no choice but to ask if the missing Mr. Moreno actually cares. Missing a meeting where an emergency situation existed is symptomatic of the missing Mr. Moreno. It was not as if he could have misunderstood the importance of this particular meeting. The entire community was hanging on its outcome. The situation is no longer tolerable by anyone concerned."
Reprinted from:
Capitol Weekly: Absences at Cal-OSHA Standards Board cause problems

Shared via AddThis

Black Eye for the Laborers!: California's Governor Under pressure to Remove the Disgraced Moreno. "Could happen any Day Now!"

What a disgrace! Hardworking tax payer money being spent for one clearly proper purpose, to be rid of Jose Moreno forever. Do our members know that they have come full circle? Do they even realize that their blood and sweat results in an obvious effort to eliminate this man from ANY official role? It is simply unbelievable! We are all under the microscope...Let's get it right this time, eight years of embarassing, humiliating failure is way too much!!! If we don't kick him out now, we have only ourselves to blame.

Current Business Manager's hopes lie on us continuing to make the same mistakes... Forgetting Why We're Here!!!

CRITICAL ISSUE #10
CONFLICT
YOUR WORD VS. OUR OATH
BROTHERS:
OUR CURRENT BUSINESS MANAGER HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL AT MUCH, BUT HE HAS MANAGED TO GET SOME "COMMITMENTS" EARLY ON IN THIS ELECTION PROCESS. SOMETIMES EARLY COMMITMENTS ARE MORE ABOUT WHO THE INCUMBENT IS, WHO'S "CONNECTED," OR WHO SEEMS LIKELY TO WIN IN THE END THOUGH, IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO SIMPLY WHAT IS BEST FOR US, OUR COUNCIL, OUR UNION, AND OUR MEMBERS WHO COUNT ON US!
I GAVE MY WORD...
WE HAVE ALL GIVEN OUR “WORD” AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. ESPECIALLY TO THOSE WHO COUNT ON IT MOST! ALL OF YOU IN ONE-WAY OR ANOTHER GIVE YOUR WORD EVERYDAY TO THE MEMBERS OF YOUR LOCAL UNION TO DO THE BEST JOB POSSIBLE, TO DO EVERYTHING YOU CAN TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THEM. THE PROBLEM IS YOU MAY HAVE GIVEN YOUR WORD TO JOSE MORENO (FOR WHATEVER REASON,) THAT YOU WOULD HELP HIM TO HIS THIRD TERM.
THE OATH
WE ALL TOOK THE OATH. I TOOK IT, AND TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. MANY OF YOU HAVE ALREADY SAID THAT YOU AGREE WITH ME THAT THE CURRENT BUSINESS MANAGER DOES NOT. DO YOU? IF THE CURRENT BUSINESS MANAGER DOES NOT TAKE THE OATH SERIOUSLY, (FOSTER HARMONY, OR UNITE US ALL,) THEN, ON ELECTION DAY, WE ALL HAVE A CHOICE:
- PICK THE OATH OF OFFICE AND VOTE TO UNITE OUR COUNCIL, OR, KEEP YOUR WORD TO MORENO, EVEN IF IT MEANS BREAKING THE OATH AND YOUR PROMISE TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP.
NOT A TOUGH CALL, WHEN CONSIDERING THAT ONLY AN UNHONORABLE MAN WOULD EXPECT YOU TO KEEP YOUR WORD TO HIM UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES!
THE "SECRET" BALLOT
OUR COUNCIL'S SAVING GRACE MAY BE THE LONG-STANDING PRACTICE OF THE SECRET BALLOT HE COULD NOT CHANGE! HE KNEW THIS TO BE TRUE, WHICH IS WHY HE CALLED SPECIAL MEETINGS LATE LAST MONTH FOR PURPOSES OF LINING UP THE VOTES TO MANIPULATE THIS ELECTION. HE DID NOT CALL EVERYONE ON THE BOARD, JUST THOSE HE CONSIDERS HIS SUPPORTERS TO DO A REHEARSAL OF THE VOTE. (MORENO ACTUALLY FLIP-FLOPPED ON THE ISSUE LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER BECAUSE HE GOT WORD THAT THERE WOULD BE A SECRET BALLOT NO MATTER WHAT! ) SO, HE WILL NOT KNOW (BUT EACH OF US WILL) WHETHER WE ACTUALLY PRACTICED OUR OATH AND, IN THE END STOOD FOR A UNITED COUNCIL AND A MANDATE TO BRING BACK HONOR AND PUT THE MEMBERS FIRST, OR SIMPLY KEPT YOUR WORD TO A MAN WHO BROKE HIS TO ALL OF US, OUR UNION, AND OUR PROUD MEMBERSHIP!
WHEN YOU ELECT ME, SUCH "CONFLICTS" WILL BE A THING OF THE PAST JUST LIKE “REHEARSAL” MEETINGS, MANIPULATIONS, SCARE TACTICS AND THE SYSTEMATIC SUPPRESSION OF ANY DISSENT! OUR CONSTITUTION WILL BE OUR LAW, OUR OATH WILL BE OUR PROMISE, OUR MEMBERSHIP WILL BE OUR MOTIVATION OUR MANDATE WILL FINALLY BE CLEAR...A UNIFIED NCDCL WORKING TOGETHER FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OUR GREAT UNION!

REAL BUSINESS, REAL COMMITMENT, REAL UNITY!
HTTP://UNITETHENCDCL.BLOGSPOT.COM

Third Candidate signals that Change is in the Air! Oscar offers a leadership plan of teamwork and collective effort to Unite the Council!

NCDCL Number Two & Oscar De La Torre Agree...Moreno Must Go!

NCDCL ELECTION UPDATE:
FACTS ON MORENO VERIFIED AGAIN!
NCDCL Assistant Business Manager Cedric Porter Declares candidacy against his Boss Jose Moreno! Today, with 13 days to go, Brother Porter officially "jumped in" to the NCDCL race for the Business Manager position for the next four years. In what must be humiliating and embarrassing to current BM Moreno, Porter virtually verifies and agrees with every single point that De La Torre has made over the past year about our need for change and new leadership at the Council starting with the allegation that he (Jose) does not show up and fails routinely to report anything to the delegates! This all coming from Moreno's INNER CIRCLE!

"What does Moreno do with his time? I don't know."
Cedric Porter, NCDCL Asst. Business Manager

While claiming that for the past 4 1/2 years he's "frustrated with Jose Moreno, and that it has been difficult to work for (him) while he's leading us to extinction," Porter alleges that without change on August 21, 2009..."WE WILL NOT SURVIVE!"
In a familiar tone, consistent with what Oscar has been informing the delegates for the past several months, Porter specifically offers as a member of Jose's inner circle that "he is unwilling to change course, unwilling to listen, and (simply) ignores the crisis we're in!"
Porter kicked off on his own web page by utilizing the You Tube Video Service. He spoke at length about the encouragement that he has received from "friends, colleagues, and the delegates." He made it clear that he has "lived through the problems of the District Council (and furthermore that) We can't wait another day, we do deserve better! He was also highly critical of the current Business Manger's inability or unwillingness to maintain important relationships claiming (as did De La Torre,) that Moreno "builds relationships only with money managers," that "Moreno has no proper response to ANY of the issues we face," and finally that "IT'S TIME TO STOP THE SHIP FROM SINKING!"

Oscar De La Torre added that "I have great admiration and respect for Cedric Porter, and realize that he has been treated like a flunky by Moreno! It's just not right, but that is how we have allowed Moreno to operate. It is rewarding to hear that he (Cedric) and I agree on about ninety percent of the issues raised in this campaign. Unfortunately, we do not see eye to eye on the future of this Council. In the end, it won't be about Jose, Oscar, or even Cedric - it will be about US and who gives us the BEST chance at Uniting this Council!"

Ooops! International Union Vice President Jose Moreno is Exposed! INCOMPETENT & Missing In Action!

Brothers: It is my sincere hope that through this campaign, we have been all talking about the issues that will define us over the next four years. While the current Business Manager has said that he’s taking the "high road" in this important process, the truth is he will likely wait to the very end to engage at all because he simply can’t defend his weak record/reputation through dialogue or debate.

What a Shame!Clearly, he has been both incompetent and ineffective not because he is unintelligent, but because he lacks commitment and motivation sufficient to put forth any real effort at all. For years, I (like many of you,) had held out hope that this would change, while it’s only gotten worse as our District Council and our membership suffer as a result!
As I saw that he was failing all of us on so many fronts, I tried to straighten our course on many of them (Organizing, Training, Healthcare, Pension, etc.) because it was my responsibility to speak out as opposed to silently consent. At this point, for doing my job I became one of his targets! We can’t continue, and must change course, Elect me and together we’ll Unite our Council and put our members first!

Ooops! International Union Vice President Jose Moreno is Exposed!
We can't Afford Four More Years of His
INCOMPETENCE!
And: HIS "HIGH ROAD" IS REALLY THE "NO ROAD!"

We all know that the incumbent Business Manager is claiming that he is taking the "high road." In fact, he is, and has always taken the "No Road." No plan, no excuse, no justification, no commitment, no effort, AND no respect for the affiliates or our membership. Even in his fight for his job, he REALLY thinks we expect little if anything from such a highly compensated "laborer." He’s "all in" and he bets that we will continue doing business for him as usual agreeing to everything he says and expecting little if any results FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP!
ISN’T IT DISRESPECTFUL TO ALL OF US FOR HIM TO THINK THAT HE DOESN’T EVEN NEED TO CAMPAIGN ON THE ISSUES? HE KNOWS SO LONG AS WE’RE DIVIDED, AND HE CAN GET 51%, WE’RE ASSURED OF FOUR MORE YEARS of HEADING DOWNHILL AND FAST!
In addition to the many, many other issues such as his failed newsletters, broken promises to cross train or manage staff, failure to explain the building fund, complete lack of understanding of the bargaining procedures and options, and disgraceful public behavior,
HE ROUTINELY VIOLATES OUR CONSTITUTION & BLOWS OFF NEGOTIATIONS BECAUSE HE THINKS WE’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION OR WORSE, THAT WE DON’T CARE TOO!
IUC Article II Section 1 (e) He Violated! He is required to "Advance Skills and Working knowledge" of workers through apprenticeship.
IUC Article II Section 1 (h) He Violated! "Promote harmony with other Organizations" A complete pass he takes on PG&E discussions with IBEW 1245.
IUC Article II Section 1 (i) He Violated! "Strive for programs to increase employment" Failed to put a regional plan together and works against the Locals.
IUC Article II Section 1 (l) He Violated! "Political Education" (Latino Caucus) he can’t even set an agenda let alone educate or register voters.
UDCC Article II Section F (1) He Violated! "Protect and conserve the jurisdiction" Jose can’t Organize!
UDCC Article II Section 1 (b, c, d,) Violated! Violated! Violated! "To promote Unity...(among us!)" "To coordinate activity with affiliate Locals..." "Fostering Harmony and united action between affiliates." He is a divider and Violator!

If you Elect me, I Promise that:

OUR CONSTITUTION WILL BE OUR LAW, OUR MEMBERSHIP WILL BE OUR MOTIVATION, AND OUR OATH WILL BE OUR PROMISE!

Please join the Unity Campaign, Bring back HONOR, and put our members first!

Cal-OSHA Reporter Editorial: The Missing Mr. Moreno Must Move "The situation is no longer tolerable by anyone concerned." - State of California

Delegates: READ this!!!
Cal-OSHA Reporter Editorial
The Missing Mr. Moreno Must Move
California’s Cal/OSH Standards Board members work without pay, volunteering their time to advance the cause of occupational safety and health in California. Most of them spend countless personal hours poring over rulemaking records to understand the issues and prepare for votes or public hearings. Active board members participate in sometimes mind-numbing variance hearings and intelligently deal with many other issues and tasks crucial to the safety and health of California’s workers.
So what happens when a board member consistently fails to show up? The entire safety and health community found again out not long ago when one member – one of two labor members – one Jose Moreno – one who has failed to attend most of board meetings since his appointment — was missing again. The missing Mr. Moreno would have been the tie breaking vote on an emergency heat illness regulation, which was not adopted because of the tie.
The Division of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) was turned back in its attempt in June to enact emergency revisions to General Industry Safety Orders §3395, regarding heat illness regulations. The board invited the Division back with revisions narrowing provisions to those DOSH believed were truly of an emergency nature.
The emergency proposal ultimately failed because of the 3-3 tie. Moreno, notably, also was absent for the June vote too.
The facts speak for themselves: Mr. Moreno, according to official records, has been a consistent no-show at board meetings since he was first appointed in 2002. A review of Standards Board attendance records from fiscal-year 2006 through fiscal-year 2008 shows that Mr. Moreno was absent from board meetings 75% of the time, attending only nine meetings but missing 27. Moreno was similarly missing during his first term.
By virtue of comparison, during the same period, board chair John MacLeod and occupational health representative Dr. Jonathan Frisch missed only four meetings. More recently appointed members Bill Jackson, Jack Kastorff and Willie Washington also have good attendance records, missing very few meetings.
The occasional absence of a board member does not adversely affect Standards Board business. But the consistent absence makes it not only impossible for the Board to function properly but impossible for the missing member to understand with institutional knowledge and perspective what the underlying issues really are. One has no choice but to ask if the missing Mr. Moreno actually cares.
Missing a meeting where an emergency situation existed is symptomatic of the missing Mr. Moreno. It was not as if he could have misunderstood the importance of this particular meeting. The entire community was hanging on its outcome.
The situation is no longer tolerable by anyone concerned.
What’s worse, as the missing Mr. Moreno might understand, heat illness is an issue of particular interest to labor. Yes labor representative Mr. Moreno was absent for a vote on a topic critical to labor. It is an issue towards which other labor related individuals have been working hard for some time.
The people of California, the Cal/OSH Standards Board, and California’s workers and employers deserve a member who cares enough to be a full participant.
After fellow labor representative Steve Rank resigned from the board earlier this year to accept another gubernatorial appointment, Mr. Moreno’s attendance briefly picked up. But it is obvious to the community that the missing Mr. Moreno quickly reverted to type after the appointment of Guy Prescott to the other labor seat.
It is clear to Cal-OSHA Reporter and to the occupational safety and health community that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger needs to quickly replace the missing Mr. Moreno with someone who cares what happens to California’s workers and employers.
And this time let’s hope there is a commitment in advance that the new member can and will devote the time necessary to board business
ALL FACTS! CLICK BELOW FOR ORIGINAL ARTICLE- JULY 30, 2009!
http://www.cal-osha.com/articles/COR00-20090730-005.html

NCDCL Business: Complete Loss of Control & Meltdown!

NCDCL ELECTION UPDATE:
TOTAL MELTDOWN!

BROTHERS: OUR CURRENT BUSINESS MANAGER IS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL & STRUGGLING TO FIND HIS WAY. HE IS PLEADING WITH DELEGATES AND MAKING PROMISES HE CAN’T KEEP IN AN EFFORT TO GET YET, ANOTHER CHANCE TO DO NOTHING BUT SIT BACK AND WATCH!
FACT – SPECIAL MEETING FOR POLITICS
BEFORE THE LAST DELEGATE MEETING JOSE MORENO CALLED A MEETING AT THE COUNCIL DURING BUSINESS HOURS (FOR “SUPPORTERS” ONLY) BECAUSE HE WANTED BADLY TO CHANGE OUR LONG-STANDING PRACTICE OF SECRET BALLOT ELECTION TO AN “OPEN VOTE” IN ORDER TO EXPOSE INDIVIDUALS FOR FUTURE RETALIATION! IN AN ABSOLUTE BACKFIRE AND COMPLETE FLIP-FLOP, HE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO MAKE A MOTION TO HAVE A SECRET BALLOT BECAUSE HE LEARNED SOMEHOW THAT NO MATTER WHAT, HE WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL. WE ALL KNOW THAT HE SHOULD BE CALLING EMERGENCY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE MASTER AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS WHICH WE ALL AGREED SHOULD BE INITIATED AT LEAST 18 MOS IN ADVANCE OF EXPIRATION (WE’RE BEHIND MORENO’S 8-BALL ONCE AGAIN AS THE AGREEMENT EXPIRES IN ABOUT 11 MONTHS,) WHILE HE’S DONE NOTHING BUT POLITICS FOR HIMSELF.
FACT – NCDCL NEGOTIATIONS INITIATED AT LOCAL 304
WHILE MORENO POLITICS FOR HIS LIFE, ALL OF A SUDDEN LOCAL 304 INITIATES A *MEMBERSHIP ACTION RELATED TO OUR MASTER AGREEMENT DESPITE THE FACT THAT OUR CONSTITUTION SETS FORTH THE PROCEDURES FOR DOING SO! IN A VAGUE COMMUNICATION, SENT TO ALL OF US, THE LOCAL APPEARS TO BE KICKING-OFF CONTRACT TALKS FOR THE COUNCIL WITH SCARE TACTICS IN ITS’ “SOME EMPLOYERS” FLYER WHICH THREATENS TO CHANGE THE PENSION TO A 401K & ELIMINATE DEPENDANT HEALTHCARE. THIS “WILDCAT” EFFORT IS A CLEAR INDICATION OF MORENO’S COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL, LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE BUSINESS MANAGERS, AFFILIATES, AND COUNCIL, AND LACK OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION RELATED TO BARGAINING. SHAME ON HIM FOR STANDING BY, SCARING THE MEMBERS, IGNORING THE CONSTITUTION, AND JEOPARDIZING OUR PROBABLE UNITED FRONT ON PREPARATION AND NEGOTIATIONS! ALL IN ALL, A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN!
ONCE YOU ELECT ME, WE WILL BE FINALLY RID OF ALL OF THE RHETORIC AND THE GAME PLAYING! I WILL WORK HARD AND MAKE SURE WE LAYOUT A WELL-PREPARED PLAN TO KEEP US TOGETHER AND PROTECT US FROM LOOKING FOOLISH FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS. I KNOW THAT WE’RE FED UP WITH THESE TACTICS AND AS TRUE LABORERS, ARE READY TO SHOW THE JOKERS TO THE DOOR! LET’S BE STRONG AND UNITE FOR THE GOOD OF THE MEMBERS WE SERVE!
• Local 261 will support Local 304’s “membership action” as we can not use them in this campaign! JOIN THE NCDCL UNITY CAMPAIGN! HTTP://UNITETHENCDCL.BLOGSPOT.COM

In his appointed government seat he is responsible for worker safety...but, while our Brothers die frequently on the jobsites, he can't be bothered!

CRITICAL ISSUES #8 & #9
SAFETY & RESPONSIBILITY!
BROTHERS:
OUR CURRENT BUSINESS MANAGER HAS BEEN A FAILURE AT PROTECTING THE SAFETY OF OUR MEMBERSHIP. HIS COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR THE MEMBERS’ WELL-BEING IS OBVIOUS BECAUSE HE SIMPLY WILL NOT ATTEND CRITICAL MEETINGS AND REPORT BACK TO US! HE KNOWS HE HAS BEEN ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL BECAUSE UPON LEARING OF A CHALLENGE TO HIS POSITION, HE MIRACULOUSLY BEGAN FINDING THE TIME TO DO HIS JOB AND FINALLY, AT THE VERY LEAST, SIT IN HIS CHAIR! LET’S FACE IT…MORENO ROUTINELY GIVES 10% Effort (unless he is campaigning for his job!!!) WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING HIM AND HE IS NOT REQUIRED TO REPORT BACK, HE IS WITHOUT QUESTION, TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE!
OSHA; IDEALLY, PRO-WORKER
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT OF 1970 TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM HARM ON THE JOB ESTABLISHED FOR THE FIRST TIME A NATIONWIDE, FEDERAL PROGRAM TO PROTECT ALMOST THE ENTIRE WORK FORCE FROM JOB-RELATED DEATH, INJURY AND ILLNESS. IN CALIFORNIA, JOSE MORENO REPRESENTS ALL OF LABOR ON MATTERS RELATED TO CHANGES IN THE CALIFORNIA CODE OF REGULATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPACTS OUR MEMBERSHIP AND OUR SIGNATORY CONTRACTORS.
LIUNA! MEMBERS DESERVE 100%!
ABOUT 400,000 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WERE INJURED OR SUFFERED WORK-RELATED INJURY IN 2008, THAT SAME YEAR, JOSE MORENO TOOK THE YEAR OFF, AND FAILED TO REPRESENT THEM (OR US) IN HIS HIGH PROFILE APPOINTED POSITION WITH THE STATE!!! WHILE NEARLY 1,200 CONSTRUCTION WORKERS A YEAR - ABOUT FOUR EVERY WORK DAY - ARE KILLED ON THE JOB, ABOUT 300 ARE LABORERS! MEANWHILE, MORENO SKIPS OUT ON US ALL! THE MEMBERS ARE THE ONES WHO RELY ON US ALL TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY NOT JUST FOR OURSELVES BUT FOR THEM IN THESE CRITICAL POSTS!
WHEN ELECTED, I WON’T JUST LIST MY APPOINTMENTS AND DUTIES; I WILL COMMIT TO GIVING 100%, WILL REPORT BACK, AND WILL ACTUALLY DO THE WORK THAT THE DELEGATES EXPECT FROM THEIR BUSINESS MANAGER!!!

CLICK CAL OSHA BELOW FOR VERIFICATION OF
MORENO'S PATHETIC & DISGRACEFUL ATTENDANCE RECORD
(*Moreno ONLY started going to his meetings when he learned of the campaign earlier in 2009…otherwise,forget it!) Where’s
JOSE MORENO ???
HELP!!!
Stop the bleeding,
JOIN THE NCDCL UNITY CAMPAIGN! Let's Really try to put the Members First!

Loyalty to the Membership and the Organization is our only Hope! Secret Ballot preserves Integrity!

CRITICAL ISSUES
#6 & #7
LOYALTY & TRUST
BROTHERS:
MANY HAVE SAID THAT OUR CURRENT LEADER REQUIRES ABSOLUTE LOYALTY TO HIM AT ALL TIMES! COLLEAGUES HAVE CONSISTENTLY EXPRESSED RELUCTANCE TO VOTE ON CONTRACTS OR ANY OTHER ISSUES BY ROLL-CALL FOR FEAR OF BEING IDENTIFIED, SET ASIDE, SHUT OUT, OR WORSE YET --- RETALIATED AGAINST! THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS WE ARE LEARNING THAT OUR "LEADER" SIMPLY CAN NOT FUNCTION AS A BUSINESS MANAGER OF THE COUNCIL WITHOUT A DIVIDED GROUP AND SOME YES MEN!
DON'T HATE THE PLAYER, HATE THE GAME!
HOW CAN WE BLAME HIM? HE HAS BEEN A SELF-PROCLAIMED "POLITICAL ANIMAL" AND "CHESS PLAYER" FOR YEARS, ALWAYS THINKING PROUDLY, CONFIDENTLY, AND EGO-MANIACALLY SEVERAL MOVES AHEAD BEFORE HE LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS NEXT BIG "MOVE." HE ALREADY KNOWS WHAT WE MUST NOW KNOW, DIVIDE AND CONQUER POLITICS WORKS ONLY IN A DIVIDED DISTRICT COUNCIL ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR UNION AND THE MEMBERSHIP CONCERNS ARE NOT THE TOP PRIORITY OF THE BUSINESS MANAGER!
LOYALTY TO UNION BOSS FOREVER???
UNFORTUNATELY FOR OUR CHESS PLAYER, HE DOES NOT CALCULATE THAT WE ARE ALL BEGINNING TO SEE THAT SUCH "LEADERSHIP," BY VIRTUE OF IT'S VERY DEFINITION, IS DOOMED IN A UNITED NORTHERN CALIFORNIA DISTRICT COUNCIL WHERE UNQUESTIONED AND BLIND LOYALTY TO THE UNION BOSS WILL FINALLY GIVE WAY TO LOYALTY TO OUR GREAT UNION AND OUR DESERVING MEMBERSHIP PERMANENTLY...FIRST AND FOREMOST!
LOYALTY TO THE UNION MOVEMENT & OUR OBJECTIVES!!!
WHEN ELECTED, I WILL WORK EVERY DAY FOR US ALL WHILE REQUESTING ONLY THAT WE ALL REMAIN LOYAL TO OUR UNION, OUR OATH, OUR OBJECTIVES, AND OUR MEMBERSHIP! YOU CAN TAKE THIS TO THE BANK...I WILL WORK WITH ANYONE & EVERYONE WHO DEMONSTRATES SUCH LOYALTY DESPITE THEIR FEELINGS ABOUT ME AND WILL WORK HARD ALWAYS TO GAIN THEIR TRUST AND SUPPORT.
TRUST IS NOT A FOUR-LETTER-WORD
DEFINITELY MISSING FROM THE NCDCL IS ANY CONCEPT OF TRUST. EVERYBODY IS ALWAYS LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDER TO SEE WHO'S WATCHING, EVEN NCDCL STAFF! YOU CAN CERTAINLY TRUST OUR CURRENT LEADER TO CONTINUE CALLING IT IN, CONTINUE TAKING A PASS, WHILE CONTINUING TO BE A NO SHOW, AND CONTINUING TO BE A NON-FACTOR AS HE PROMOTES HIMSELF. YOU CAN ALSO TRUST THAT I WILL BE A "HANDS ON," HARD WORKING BUSINESS MANAGER WHO ROLLS UP HIS SLEEVES AND GETS INVOLVED WHILE MAKING THINGS HAPPEN AND THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX. I WILL PERSONALLY, ROUTINELY PROMOTE ALL OF US, THIS UNION, AND OUR MEMBERSHIP EVERY CHANCE I GET, DAY & NIGHT!

WHEN ELECTED, "LOYALTY" & "TRUST" WILL NO LONGER BE FOUR-LETTER-WORDS. WE WILL ALL REFER TO THESE CONCEPTS REGULARLY AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO UNITE OUR COUNCIL, BRING BACK HONOR, AND PUT OUR MEMBERS FIRST!
(pictured: Oscar is frequently surrounded by members of Local 261. Consistently looking for ways to promote the membership, Oscar and Mayor Newsom created their own annual event and monthly employee recognition award which was unveiled in San Francisco on June 26, 2009.)

Oscar De La Torre talks about why it's absolutely critical for us to move beyond the business of "Bad Politics" in order to Unite the NCDCL!

No one can deny the fact that the Current Business Manager's poor reputation preceeds him wherever he goes!

Brothers:
We have now begun the very important process of addressing the many, many issues which will affect our entire Council’s ability and capacity to succeed in all aspects of OUR MISSION in the next four years. I believe that although, we have no clear forum in which to really resolve these matters, that it is respectful to every Manager & Delegate to raise these and other issues and furthermore, that it is necessary to recognize that the Business Manager of the Council sets the tone whether he likes it or not! Professionalism and Respect have been lacking and although recent changes have been made at the Council to return calls and take care of business, we should not be fooled into thinking that this is for no other reason than the "pressure is on!" Supporting my effort to Unify the Council and to achieve our objectives means that service to the affiliates will be across the board ALL YEAR Round. It also means that our image and reputation as an organization and membership is secure and that through ACTION we’ll all, FEEL THE POWER!
(pictured: Oscar and Tim Paulson in San Francisco just before John Burton nominated Paulson to become the highest ranking labor representative in the California State Democratic Party. Paulson won election by a landslide!)
CURRENT BOSS =
A TARGET OF RIDICULE!
And, HIS HEART IS NOT IN IT!
Recently, in an unfortunatley defamatory and mean-spirited communication, significant numbers of our Union familiy were "called out" in writing which was published and sent out all over the country. The primary object of the author was to expose Jose Moreno as a disgrace and a liability. Because we have such a weak leader, we are all suspect and subject to continued vicious and personal attacks. Isn’t it time to admit it and do something about it?He does not command respect for himself or for our organization. He is not a Union "leader" at most, a "Union Boss" who keeps barely hanging on by keeping the District Council divided and surviving by a couple votes!
Silence is Consent: legal definitions of silence include the following: "When any person is accused of a crime, or charged with any fact, and he does not deny it, in general, the presumption is very strong that the charge is correct."He never defended or explained serious charges made against him and sent around the country when he needed to especially on behalf of all of those named. What Character!
(Isn’t it clear yet, that our current Business Manager needs a divided Council because it insures his continued individual success? By spreading rumors and pitting us against each other through his “calculated moves,” he has us all avoiding the issues while he manipulates people into believing that his record, plan, and goals are not worth discussing in this critical election. PS, He thinks we’re stupid!)
To be most effective, we need a Statesman not a liability, someone who cares about his appearance and the way it reflects on us all. Most importantly, someone who is honored to represent the Laborers and ACTS THAT WAY! When, if not now do we admit that our current Business Manager has had very BAD Behavior. He has embarrassed himself and us so often that it has become his M.O. His poor social Conduct has been disgraceful and demeans our organization and the hard-working members we all represent. Despite his very recent improvement for his campaign effort, his attitude towards many of the affiliates that he does not consider supporters remains disrespectful & indifferent. All in all, the past four years have been a disgrace! Let’s end it now, if not for us, then for the members!

The Members we proudly serve believe our obligation to them is to unite this Council and move forward!- Oscar De La Torre
JOIN THE UNITY CAMPAIGN TO UNITE THE COUNCIL, BRING BACK HONOR, AND PUT THE MEMBERS FIRST!
Let’s work hard together to shed light on the FACTS! Let’s do the right thing and vote on issues instead of devisive politics taking control. Elect Oscar for a dedicated professional approach to unifying the Council and moving us all forward together to meet all challenges! For all other questions you can call direct or send an e-mail to unitethencdcl@gmail.com!

Protecting Our Jurisdiction and Growing our Great Union is not an Option, It's an Obligation!

CRITICAL ISSUE #5
ORGANIZE OR DIE!
BROTHERS:
OUR CURRENT BUSINESS MANAGER HAS BEEN A FAILURE AT PROTECTING OUR JURISDICTION AND IN ORGANIZING TO GROW OUR GREAT UNION AS HE IS REQUIRED TO DO! HE HAS NO IDEA WHERE TO BEGIN IN TERMS OF SETTING AN AGENDA OR GAINING AFFILIATE SUPPORT FOR ORGANIZING OR FOR CAPITALIZING ON ANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE COUNCIL. IN SHORT, FOR HIM, IT’S JUST TOO DIFFICULT AND TOO MUCH WORK!

MISSED OPPORTUNITY – OUR LiUNA! CONVENTION DECISION
AT THE LAST INTERNATIONAL UNION CONVENTION WE ALL MADE THE DECISION HOWEVER CONTROVERSIAL, TO ADMIT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY AND CRITICAL TO OUR EXISTENCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ORGANIZING FUND IN THE AMOUNT OF .25c/HR. MANY OF US HAD NO IDEA HOW THE CONTRIBUTION WAS TO BE MADE (ULTIMATELY, IT WAS TAKEN FROM THE MEMBERS’ VACATION CHECKS.) ALL OF THE BUSINESS MANAGERS WERE THEN EXPECTED TO EXPLAIN TO THE MEMBERS WHAT THE CONTRIBUTION WAS ALL ABOUT AND WHY IT WAS JUSTIFIED.
NO PLAN, NO PLAY, NO NOTHING
FOR ALMOST 2 YEARS, OUR LEADER FAILED TO DO HIS JOB AND SIMPLY LEAD THIS IMPORTANT EFFORT! HE HAD NO PLAN DESPITE GETTING MANY IDEAS FROM THE AFFILIATES. A LOT OF US BELIEVED HIS TRUE MOTIVATION WAS TO SIMPLY HIRE AS MANY PEOPLE AS HE COULD REGARDLESS OF THEIR QUALIFICATIONS OR EXPERIENCE TO ENTRENCH HIM IN HIS POSITION FOREVER THROUGH DIVISION AND INEFFECTIVENESS. AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THE INTERNATIONAL UNION APPEARED TO SENSE THIS INEVITABILITY AND TOOK POSSESSION OF THE ORGANIZING DEPARTMENT. WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT IT WAS NOT WHAT THE INTERNATIONAL UNION HAD ORIGINALLY SET OUT TO DO!
A COMPLETE FAILURE & FORFEITURE!!!
EVENTUALLY, THE DECISION WAS MADE THAT THE REGIONAL OFFICE BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FUND AND THE ORGANIZING PROGRAM…DESPITE ITS’ BEST EFFORTS AT THE COUNCIL LEVEL. WE OWE IT TO OUR MEMBERS WHO PAY INTO THE FUND TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN HOW IT’S BENEFITING THEM IN THE LONG RUN WITH INCREASED HOURS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. OUR CURRENT LEADER SIMPLY LACKS THE COMMITMENT AND MOTIVATION TO MAKE IT HAPPEN OR EVEN SUBMIT SUCH PROPOSALS ON OUR BEHALF BECAUSE HE DOES NOT REPRESENT THE MEMBERS MAKING THE CONTRIBUTION.

WHEN ELECTED, I WILL COORDINATE ORGANIZING EFFORTS AND URGE A REGIONAL PLAN THAT MAKES SENSE IN ALL AREAS THAT WE COVER. I WILL PROPOSE THAT WE FORM A COMMITTEE FOR WORKING TOWARDS AN ORGANIZING DEPARTMENT AND EFFORT THAT TRULY IS EFFECTIVE IN ALL AREAS AND THAT THE AFFILIATES SUPPORT (ANY APPROACH WILL NOT WORK UNLESS WE HAVE “BUY-IN” FROM ALL OF THE AFFILIATES TO ENSURE THAT THE EFFORT IS LEGITIMATE, FAIR, AND EFFECTIVE, NOT JUST FOR HIRING CRONIES.)
JUST LIKE OUR PENSION AND OUR HEALTH-CARE, ORGANIZING IS ABOUT OUR FUTURE…IT’S JUST THAT SIMPLE! WE NEED SOMEONE WHO CARES ABOUT OUR UNION AND OUR MEMBERSHIP LONG AFTER HIS OWN RETIREMENT DATE.
JOIN THE NCDCL UNITY CAMPAIGN!

(pictured: Oscar with Labor Leader/SFPUC Commissioner FX Crowley who oversees 4.4 billion Hetch-Hetchy Water Project, during EFCA Event in SF. As sweeping changes and reforms take shape, we need a leader who understands that we need to confront such challenges head on in order to be ready to put our plan into place!)

At the Halfway point of the "Unite the NCDCL" Campaign, Oscar De La Torre Commits to Communicate to Delegates via Video Messaging.

Auto-Pilot is just not enough for our Membership on Pension and Healthcare in such an Uncertain Climate!

CRITICAL ISSUE #4
SECURITY ?

BROTHERS:
OUR CURRENT BUSINESS MANAGER HAS BEEN A FAILURE AT PROTECTING THE BENEFITS OF OUR MEMBERSHIP. HE'S NOT INTERESTED IN PLANNING, STRATEGIZING, OR INFORMING ANY OF US OF ANY PLAN, PROGRAM, OR VISION TO GUARD AND PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKERS ON EITHER THE PENSION OR HEALTHCARE. IN SHORT, WITH HIS OWN PERSONAL FUTURE SECURE AND NO REAL CONCERN FOR ANYONE ELSE’S HE’LL MOVE FORWARD…BUSINESS AS USUAL WITH HIS DIVIDE AND CONQUER POLITICS.

DISGRACEFUL DEALINGS - ON OUR HEALTHCARE
EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHEN WE WERE CONFRONTED WITH INCREASED HEALTHCARE COSTS TO THE TRUST FUND, RATHER THAN BEING PROACTIVE TO PROTECT THE MEMBERS’ RIGHT TO CONTINUE ON WITH THEIR CURRENT PHYSICIANS, HE DELEGATED TO A THIRD PARTY. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, OUR THIRD-PARTY-DESIGNEE-STAND-IN FOR OUR LEADER NOTIFIED US THAT THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL (PERHAPS UNMOTIVATED BECAUSE THEY DO NOT REPRESENT OUR MEMBERSHIP…WE DO!) WHEN IT BECAME CLEAR THAT WE MAY BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH KAISER WHO WOULD MAINTAIN PARITY (FOR THE MEMBERS WE SERVE,) OUR LEADER WAS MORE INTERESTED IN SERVING HIS OWN PERSONAL POLITICAL OBJECTIVES OF NOT GIVING THE IMPRESSION OF “PISSING BACKWARDS” THAN HE WAS IN SERVING THIS MEMBERSHIP WHO NEEDED HIM TO SIMPLY DO THE RIGHT THING! NOW HE CLAIMS THE FUND IS SAVING HUGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY. WHAT HE DOES NOT ADMIT, IS THAT OUR MEMBERS HAVE NOT FOUND NEW DOCTORS YET AND BECAUSE OF HIM ARE PUTTING OFF CRITICAL CARE AND MEDICAL ATTENTION THEY NEED AND WORK FOR WHICH MAKES THE FUND LOOK ARTIFICIALLY FLUSH.
PASSIVE ASSENT - ON OUR RETIREMENT
SPOONFED FOR YEARS BY THE MONEY MANAGERS, OUR LEADER HAS CONTINUED TO OVERSEE A BLEEDING OUT OF OUR MEMBERS’ MOST PRECIOUS ASSET…THEIR PENSIONS. HE USES APPOINTMENTS TO THESE CRITICAL BOARDS AS HIS OWN POLITICAL “CHESS GAME.” HOW MUCH LONGER CAN WE AFFORD TO LOOK OUR MEMBERS IN THE FACE AND SAY “YES, WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PROTECT YOUR HEALTHCARE AND YOUR PENSION.” WHEN WE KNOWINGLY SUBSCRIBE TO SUCH INADEQUACY AND INDIFFERENCE AT THE TOP?

WHEN ELECTED, I WILL NOT DELEGATE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTING OUR MEMBERS’ HEALTHCARE CHOICES. I WILL ANSWER TO THE AFFILIATES ON HEALTHCARE AND PENSION ISSUES BY APPOINTING A WORKING COMMITTEE FROM US ALL TO ADDRESS PROPOSALS AND IDEAS FOR PURPOSES OF MAKING SURE THAT EVERY BUSINESS MANAGER AND DELEGATE KNOWS THAT NO STONE IS BEING LEFT UNTURNED SO THAT WHEN THEY TELL THE MEMBERS THAT “WE ARE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN,” IT WON’T JUST BE WORDS IT WILL FINALLY BE THE TRUTH! I ENVISION A NEW SYSTEM WHERE MONEY MANAGERS ARE COMPETING WITH ONE ANOTHER FOR OUR PENSION ASSETS AND BASED ON PERFORMANCE ALONE, GAIN A GREATER SHARE. THE TRUTH IS, WITHOUT A CHANGE NOW THERE WILL BE NO END IN SIGHT AND OUR FUTURE AND OUR MEMBERS’ FUTURES ARE IN DIRE NEED OF DRAMATIC CHANGE HERE AT THE COUNCIL!

JOIN THE NCDCL UNITY CAMPAIGN!
HTTP://UNITETHENCDCL.BLOGSPOT.COM

Thorough Due Diligence in Contract Negotiations is Fundamental!

CRITICAL ISSUE #3
BARGAINING

BROTHERS:
OUR CURRENT BUSINESS MANAGER TAKES CREDIT FOR THE WAGE INCREASE OBTAINED IN THE 2006 CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS. HE EVEN ASSERTED THIS CLAIM IN THE FIRST ISSUE OF HIS FAILED NEWSLETTER, “THE DISPATCH.” HE WROTE, "I AM THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CONTRACT." ONCE AGAIN, HE SHOWS HIS TRUE CHARACTER, INDIVIDUALISM! AGAIN, WHY DOES HE INSIST ON TAKING CREDIT ALWAYS FOR THE GOOD AND NOT THE BAD?

FACT: DURING THE 2006 NEGOTIATIONS, OUR BUSINESS MANAGER WAS FORCED TO PERFORM HIS DUTIES BY THE AFFILIATES WHICH WERE SUBMITTING PROPOSALS. TO US, IT WAS OBVIOUS OUR BUSINESS MANAGER WAS OUT OF HIS ELEMENT AND UNPREPARED. HE FAILED TO ESTABLISH TIME LINES, FAILED TO DISCLOSE VERY IMPORTANT OPTIONS IN CASE OF AN IMPASSE, WHILE MISCHARACTERIZING OUR EFFORTS TO SUCCEED AS A STRIKE ACTION. CONFUSION ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING, PREPARATION, PROFESSIONALISM, OR SIMPLY A WELL THOUGHT OUT PROCESS. ONCE AGAIN, ONE CAN ONLY CONCLUDE THAT OUR OWN BUSINESS MANAGER EITHER DOES NOT FULLY COMPREHEND, OR WAS NOT PAYING ATTENTION AT OUR OWN DISTRICT COUNCIL SEMINAR IN WHICH OUR INVITED GUESTS…THE CARPENTERS, INFORMED US THAT THEY DILIGENTLY PREPARE FOR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS TWO YEARS PRIOR TO EXPIRATION! HERE, WE SIT BEHIND THE 8-BALL AS OUR AGREEMENT EXPIRES IN ALMOST ONE YEAR.

WHEN ELECTED, AS CHAIRMAN OF NEGOTIATIONS, I WILL MEET WITH ALL BUSINESS MANAGERS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF LAYING OUT AN AGREED UPON PROCESS WHICH WILL INCLUDE TIME LINES, PROPOSAL SUBMISSIONS, AND PROCEDURAL OPTIONS TO ADDRESS ALL ISSUES IN EVERY AREA TOGETHER SO WE CAN REVIEW AND TRULY COMMIT TO OUR NEGOTIATIONS STRATEGY. THEN, ANY TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS WILL BE PRESENTED TO ALL DELEGATES FOR RATIFICATION WITH SUFFICIENT TIME FOR REVIEW (NOT THE 10 MINUTES WERE USED TO,) SO THAT WE WILL BE IN THE BEST POSITION TO EMBRACE THE OUTCOME BECAUSE WE WILL BE SURE WE’VE DONE EVERYTHING TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE CONTRACT!

I BELIEVE THAT FUNDAMENTALLY, COLLECTIVE BARGAINING IS THE GREATEST RESPONSIBILITY WE HAVE, THE PRIVILEGE OF ENGAGING THE EMPLOYERS ON BEHALF OF OUR MEMBERS! STARTING LATE AND LEAVING EARLY (MORENO’S SCHEDULED VACATION COULD NOT WAIT,) WILL NOT BE AN OPTION FOR OUR UNIFIED COUNCIL!
(pictured: Last week, following the conclusion of successful School District negotiations, Oscar agrees to a new Joint Labor Management Committee for Public Employees during ongoing collective bargaining with the City and County of San Francisco.)

JOIN THE NCDCL UNITY CAMPAIGN!
http://unitethencdcl.blogspot.com/

Moreno's MOTIVATION (One more term) - Is it to Unify or to Control?

Brothers:
It is no secret, I am proud of my record in San Francisco, but "San Francisco" has nothing to do with this campaign. On so many of the most important challenges, at Local 261, I have shown that solutions are possible when you stop playing politics and start focusing on the issues that matter most to the members we are proud to represent and to serve! With you, I have taken the first steps to continue a proven and bold approach to jointly solving problems not just in one area, but in all of Northern California. To achieve our mutual goals, I will continue to reach out to the Business Managers and delegates to build consensus. If we go forward together, we will build the necessary foundation for REAL solutions for the Laborers and OUR UNION!
Please join me, and together we will have a motivated Business Manager with a true work ethic who helps unify our efforts to work towards finding solutions so that we can all move forward (not backwards,) and really, finally, FEEL THE POWER! (Pictured: CA Assembly Member and Majority Whip, Fiona Ma stands by as Oscar De La Torre pitches CA High Speed Rail at the SF Hilton earlier this week.)

MOTIVATION? To Unite or Control???
Referred to by his colleagues as "ineffective," as a "non-factor" and as a "painfully shy man of leisure," our Current Business Manager is not sufficiently motivated to achieve our goals, promote our objectives, or simply meet the challenges that confront us! Before we commit to four more years of the incompetence of standing still and lacking motivation from the top, we must ask:

Why would someone with No long term goals, and No short term goals, want just "one more term???
Answer: Our Business Manager has said on numerous occasions "I LOVE POLITICS!" He is solely concerned with control & internal political conquests, above all else!

Why would someone who is diligently tending to the Business of our Council and promoting our Union at the highest level, insist that such efforts remain a secret???
Answer: It is no secret! Our Business Manager loves his free time! He starts his monthly report by saying "I’ll keep it short..." every month! He rarely mentions anything that he is doing for the Union. Simply put, for years he has done almost nothing day-to-day and his monthly reports confirm this fact!

Why would our current Business Manager change his ways and work aggressively to advocate for our membership while unifying the Council???
Answer: He won’t! He has fostered and developed an unusually strong bond with the money managers who cater to his individual and personal needs which further his true motivation...to continue as, not our LEADER but as our "Man of Leisure!" While our members lose healthcare options & pension benefits at an alarming rate, our Business Manager has Trustee meetings at Resorts and Country Clubs because we all know that "work" and "the Laborers" are the last thing on his mind!

JOIN THE UNITY CAMPAIGN TO UNITE THE COUNCIL, BRING BACK HONOR, AND PUT THE MEMBERS FIRST!
Help me unlock the doors and turn the lights back on so we can get back to the Business of the Council for the members we serve! Elect Oscar for a dedicated professional approach to unifying the Council and moving us all forward together to meet all challenges! For all other questions you can call me direct or send an e-mail to unitethencdcl@gmail.com!

No April Fool's Joke! Our Council Really Does Lack Commitment and Follow Through from the Top Spot!

CRITICAL ISSUE #2

COMMITMENT

BROTHERS:
TO MAKE A COMMITMENT IS EASY BUT WITHOUT FOLLOWING THROUGH, IT’S JUST ANOTHER BROKEN PROMISE, A MISREPRESENTATION WE DON'T NEED OR DESERVE. WE HAVE SEEN AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS, THE FOLLOWING;

BUSINESS MANAGERS' MEETINGS (FAILED GOAL SETTING)

WHEN ELECTED BACK IN 2001, OUR BUSINESS MANAGER COMMITTED TO SUCH MEETINGS HIS ACTIONS HOWEVER, SPEAK LOUDER BECAUSE HE WILL MEET TO DISCUSS IMPORTANT ISSUES AFFECTING THE MEMBERSHIP ONLY WHEN FORCED. SOME HAVE SUGGESTED THAT THIS EVIDENCES IN PART A DESIRE TO SIMPLY "GET 51%." IF ELECTED, I WILL SCHEDULE QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF THE BUSINESS MANAGERS FOR PURPOSES OF SETTING OUR GOALS, MAXIMIZING PARTICIPATION, AND UNIFYING THIS COUNCIL!

"THE DISPATCH" (FAILED NEWSLETTER/COMMUNICATION)
OUR BUSINESS MANAGER COMMITTED TO INFORMING THE MEMBERSHIP WITH HIS NEWSLETTER "THE DISPATCH" REGARDING, PENSION ISSUES, HEALTH-CARE, VACATION-DUES SUPPLEMENT, OR ANY OTHER ISSUE. INSTEAD, HE ONLY COMMUNICATED THE WAGE INCREASES WHILE DELEGATING ALL OF THE BAD NEWS TO US. ALTHOUGH ONLY TWO (2) ISSUES EVER WENT OUT, SUCH SELECTIVE REPORTING IS SELF-SERVING, DISRESPECTS THE AFFILIATES, AND INSULTS OUR ENTIRE MEMBERSHIP. IF ELECTED, I'LL RECOMMEND A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION THAT SETS UP A FORMAT THAT HAS SPACE FOR THE AFFILIATES (AT THEIR OPTION) TO INSERT THEIR BUSINESS MANAGER'S REPORT, UNION INFO., ETC. THIS WAY, THE COUNCIL WILL TRULY "ASSISTS" THE AFFILIATES AT DELIVERING ALL OF THE NEWS INSTEAD OF JUST THE GOOD PARTS!

ALLOCATIONS (ANOTHER DECLARATION GONE BAD!)
DUNING 2006 NEGOTIATIONS OUR BUSINESS MANAGER SAID "THEY (THE EMPLOYERS) WILL NEVER TELL US WHERE THE ALLOCATIONS GO!" IN FACT, HE AGREED IN WRITING LATER TO DO THE EXACT OPPOSITE (see ACE agreement/side letters -agc,aece,euca) SO NOW WE MEET EACH YEAR TO ALLOCATE OUR FUNDS (we are the only Union that has agreed to such an arrangement.) IF ELECTED, I WILL COMMIT TO PROFESSIONALISM AND WILL MAKE SURE WE IMPLEMENT A WELL THOUGHT OUT PROCESS WE CAN ALL RELY ON INSTEAD OF MAKING IT UP AS WE GO.

(Pictured: Oscar honoring his Commitment at City Hall last week putting members first
with the highest recognition the City Council can give and pitching the Employee Free Choice Act.)

JOIN THE NCDCL UNITY CAMPAIGN
VOTE OSCAR FOR TRUE COMMITMENT
TO OUR AFFILIATES, MEMBERS, AND THE UNION!

http://unitethencdcl.blogspot.com/

For Years, Effective Political Action missing from the Top Post of the NCDCL!

CRITICAL ISSUE #1

POLITICAL ACTION

BROTHERS:
FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS, A POLITICAL ACTION PROGRAM FOR OUR DISTRICT COUNCIL HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT.

UNION STRENGHTH REQUIRES A CAPABLE AND STRONG LEADER WHO WILL ENGAGE IN ALL NECESSARY POLITICAL ACTION TO ACHIEVE A “BUY IN” FROM THE AFFILATED LOCALS. A DETERMINED LEADER WHO REPRESENTS US WELL ALL YEAR AND INSPIRES US TO EFFECTUATE TRUE CHANGE BY UTILIZING ALL OF OUR RELATIONSHIPS, CONNECTIONS, AND RESOURCES TO ACHIEVE OUR POLITICAL OBJECTIVES. TO DO SO THROUGH DELEGATION TO OTHERS DENIES THE AFFILIATES & WORKERS THE VERY POWER & INFLUENCE THEY DESERVE!

IF ELECTED, I'LL COMMIT TO A YEAR-ROUND POLITICAL ACTION PROGRAM THAT CONTINUES TO FOCUS ON THE CANDIDATE, CAMPAIGNS, AND ELECTIONS, WHILE ENGAGING THE ELECTEDS FOR PURPOSES OF BRINGING TOGETHER AND FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS AMONGST THE DEVELOPERS AND OTHER "STAKEHOLDERS" WITH REGARDS TO WORK OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN INSTEAD OF WAITING FOR THINGS TO HAPPEN TO US!

THROUGH SUCH EFFORTS, WE WILL ALWAYS HAVE OUR VOICES HEARD AT THE EARLIEST STAGES OF PLANNING, DEVELOPEMENT, AND OPPOSITION RESEARCH, WHILE BEING AT THE TABLE YEAR-ROUND TO INFLUENCE OUTCOMES THAT AFFECT US. TO CONTINUE TO SIT BACK AND DELEGATE THIS RESPONSIBILITY IS NOT DETERMINED LEADERSHIP BUT RATHER A PASSIVE ACTION AT THE VERY MOST.

(pictured: SF Mayor Newsom's Chief of Staff Steve Kawa, President Barack Obama's choice for Labor Secretary, Hilda Solis and Oscar disucss employee free choice and green jobs this March.)

JOIN THE NCDCL UNITY CAMPAIGN

FOR A NEW DIRECTION FOR OUR COUNCIL!
http://unitethencdcl.blogspot.com/

De La Torre Makes it Official - Kicks off 2009 NCDCL Campaign!

ELECT OSCAR DE LA TORRE
NCDCL BUSINESS MANAGER in 2009
OUR CHANCE TO UNIFY THE COUNCIL, BRING BACK HONOR, & PUT OUR MEMBERS FIRST!


Dear Sir & Brother:
I write today without reservation to declare my candidacy for the position of NCDCL Business Manager because many of you agree that we are not reaching our full potential. I respectfully request your consideration throughout this process while we layout our plan to address lost benefits, health care, vacation pay, bargaining, organizing, and most importantly, trust and unity.

I have always found that an additional time commitment serves our membership well even though it can equate to many nights away from home. I work hard with community organizations, advocate for local developers' projects to create job opportunities, participate in and contribute to successful political campaigns, and countless other "additional" duties and functions because they promote our membership well and further our objectives. Our Plan must be to have our Council assist all of the affiliated Local Unions regardless of internal political concerns and to think "outside the box" while recognizing that one size does not fit all.

To be clear, my mission is for us to use the Council's power together to unite us all to become a true brotherhood and to build consensus while discussing and promoting the ideas of each other so that we can effectively promote our organization, increase job opportunities for our members, maximize our political influence, and grow this proud union. If given the honor to represent the Council, you can be sure that I will conduct the business of this Council in a transparent manner and will not delegate assignments of any kind to others that are the exclusive responsibility of the Business Manager who we must hold accountable.

To all the Managers and delegates who have encouraged and supported this effort for our Council, I am grateful and will not let you down, to those Brothers who are still unsure please remember, so long as we put the members first, and keep an open mind, I am confident that we will collectively do what is best for our Union and the membership that we serve. Please follow our Unity Campaign on the Internet at http://unitethencdcl.blogspot.com.

Fraternally,
Oscar

De La Torre Dispells Rumors, Notifies NCDCL Board that he'll run for Business Manager in 2009!

Today, at the NCDCL Executive Board meeting, Vice-President Oscar De La Torre announced that he will be declaring candidacy for the position of Business Manager in 2009.

"I hope that we will be able to continue to do the business of the Union and I hope that we can have a clean, respectfull, and professional process." De La Torre told the Board this afternoon.

The delegate election will take place on August 21st of this year.