Understanding the role and process of joining a Central Labor Council

1. Understanding the role and process of joining a Central Labor Council

2. Glossary of Terms • CLC: Central Labor Council • CLF: CA Labor Federation • Per Capita Assessment/Per Cap’s: another term for dues paid to the CLC • Delegate: Member representative (s) to the CLC from local chapters

3. What is a CLC? • A CLC is a vehicle for unions to work together at the local level • CLCs are comprised of AFL-CIO and non-AFL-CIO unions in a county or group of counties • CLCs work to make an impact in the workplace, the political process and improve local communities

4. What do CLCs do? • Fight for legislation aimed at protecting collective bargaining • Protect worker rights • Help workers in matters related to wages, hours and, working conditions • Register workers to vote • Engage in local political campaigns • Promote unorganized workers to join a union • Provide aid, cooperation and assistance to affiliated local unions • Exchange information among affiliates • Safeguard the labor movement from those who would harm us

5. What do CLCs do?

6. How does a CLC Function? • Democratic controlled by delegates form affiliated local unions • AFL-CIO and CLC Bylaws

7. Where are CLC’s Located? • Five Counties • Humboldt • Butte • Marysville • North Bay • Napa/Solano • Sacramento • San Joaquin/Calaveras • Stanislaus/Tuolumne • Contra Costa • South Bay • Alameda • San Mateo • Merced/Mariposa • Fresno • Monterey • Kern/Inyo/Mono • Tri-Counties • Los Angeles • San Bernardino • Orange • San Diego

8. How would a CSEA Chapter join a CLC? • Chapters should join as individual chapters, not as a region or area, to maximize the number of voting delegates and therefore CSEA’s power within the CLC • It is recommended that Chapter Presidents contact their field office CLC team (Area Director, RR’s, PAC, FD, SLRR, Organizer) for assistance in joining a CLC • Policy 628 specifies CSEA’s internal process for joining a CLC

9. Policy 628 Procedures for Joining a CLC • Determined by a vote of the membership (5 day meeting notice requirement) • Written request submitted to Association President with required accompanying documents • Chapters Cannot join a CLC until approved by the Association President or by action of the Board of Directors • The Chapter is solely responsible for payment of CLC per caps (dues)

10. What is the Cost to Join a CLC? • Depends on the CLC • Per caps can range from $0.35 to $0.65 per member, per month

11. SUCCESS STORY

12. Joining your local Central Labor Council will: • Strengthen the CSEA classified voice in our communities (School Boards; City Councils; Board of Supervisors) • Increase CSEA’s visibility by adding the classified voice of the educational agenda • Help to build a stronger labor movement

13. What’s in it for our Chapter? • In many counties, CSEA could literally “take over” the CLC. We’d be a major player • Gets CSEA’s ideas/issues to all of labor • Networking –resources/information gained on important, similar issues i.e. health care • CLC political endorsement for CSEA candidates • Could be fun!!

14. Disclaimer: This presentation provides a general overview of Central Labor Councils but is not all inclusive as individual CLC’s may operate differently as dictated by their C & B’s. Please refer to your local CLC’s C & B’s to determine specifics of the CLC your chapter is considering joining. Questions??