Notice of UAW Local 2322 Membership Vote

Posted on by February 24, 2015

The Joint Council of UAW Local 2322 has approved a vote by our membership on whether to approve a merger of a smaller sister UAW Local (Local 2232) into our Local Union.

We are an “amalgamated” union, which includes about 3,500 members from eighteen different “bargaining units” employed at the University of Massachusetts and in other higher education, human services, healthcare and early childhood education employers in Western Massachusetts and Central Vermont.

Local 2232 is also an amalgamated union, which includes about 500 members located in primarily in Southern New Hampshire as well as in Massachusetts, who work in manufacturing, human services and municipal government.  Local 2232 has lost a substantial portion of its membership in recent years to plant closures and is financially unable to continue operating as an independent local union.  If Local 2232 is not merged into our Local Union, it will be placed under administratorship by the International Union and its future will be unclear

If Local 2232 is merged into our Local Union, it will cease to exist as a separate entity.  We anticipate that its president (and sole paid staff servicing representative), Kevin Boutin, will join our staff and continue to service the former Local 2232 bargaining units, to provide a smooth transition.

Local 2232 members’ dues were just raised in November, 2014 pursuant to the dues increase approved by the Constitutional Convention but at 1.095% for public sector members and 1.44% for private sector employees are below the 2% rate that Local 2322 members pay.    The merger will be with the condition that new hires will immediately pay the full 2% dues rate and that existing members will have their dues increased in increments, reaching the 2% rate within not more than 3 years.

A majority of members of our Executive Board and the entire staff of our Local Union support the proposed merger.  

You can click here to read comments supporting and questioning this merger. 

An information session and voting will take place at:

  • Providence Hospital: Info session and vote will be Friday, February 13, from 2:30 – 4:00 PM in the West Conference Room at Providence Hospital
  • Mount Holyoke College: Unit meeting Thursday February 12, 2:30 PM after work at Blanchard
  • Springfield Partners for Community Action: Friday, February 13 between 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM at the break room at the Daycare Center
  • Cutchins School: Thursday, February 12, 1:00 PM at King House
  • Nonotuck Community Childcare: Friday, February 13, 3:00 PM, at Nonotuck Community Childcare
  • Western MA COSH: TBA
  • Graduate Employee Organization on:

o   Tuesday, 2/10: Campus Center 905-09, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
o   Wednesday, 2/11: Campus Center 162-75, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
o   Thursday, 2/12: Campus Center 803, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

  • Resident Assistants on:

o   Tuesday, 2/10: Campus Center 905-09, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
o   Wednesday, 2/11: Campus Center 162-75, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
o   Thursday, 2/12: Campus Center 803, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

  • Postdocs on:

o   Tuesday, 2/10: Campus Center 905-09, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
o   Wednesday, 2/11: Campus Center 162-75, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM
o   Thursday, 2/12: Campus Center 803, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM

 Please come by during these hours to have any questions answered and to cast your vote.

If you have questions, please contact your Union Representative – contact information can be found on your units’ individual page on our website under the ‘shops’ tab.

 The votes will be tallied at the Local 2322 office on February 13, on or around 5:00 PM and the results posted as soon as they are available.

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