The Webmaster of Steel Goes on a Quest
Last Thursday, after voting for our new shop steward (congratulations Reuben Medina), I made a stop at the USWA 6787 Union Hall on Highway 149 in Portage. I haven't been in there since I retired from Bethlehem Steel in 2002.
I told the people behind the front desk that I would like to have a copy of their latest financial report. Then an amazing thing happened. Three of them started looking around to find a copy and were surprised there was none lying on the front counter.
One of the guys, Bruce Aubrey, acting Chairman of their Grievance Committee, said "Come on back to my office, I think I got one in there." While in his office there was a knock on the door and another guy, Ray Jackson, came in with a copy of their Financial Report. He says "Here's the latest one from February."
"You guys might want to run this past one of your Financial Officers."
At this point, since nobody had asked, I felt I should let them know why I wanted a copy of this document. I told them "I intend to take this and publish it on "The Steel Barrel News" as an example of how a monthly Financial Report should look."
"OK," said Ray.
"I will black out all the dollar figures because I'm really only interested in the form," I said.
Ray said, "That's not really necessary. It sounds like a lot of trouble." Bruce nodded in agreement.
This kind of surprised me so I told them, "You guys might want to run this past one of your Financial Officers."
Then Ray said, "I am the Treasurer, I sign this report every month and I don't care if you publish it."
At this point I pulled the Leatherman tool from the pouch on my belt and stabbed myself in the hand with the needle nose pliers to make sure I wasn't dreaming or having an acid flashback.
". . . once they stopped the bleeding in my hand . . ."
You'll have to remember, I was the guy who was chewed out by a union officer at a regular 2038 Union meeting for publishing and questioning a few excerpts from Local 2038's annual Financial Report. "You disclosed confidential financial information and the Company saw it!" I was told. (Never mind that I had downloaded it from a Department of Labor website).
The officers at Local 6787 are not concerned if the Company sees this information. What's more important, they try to make this information as available as possible to the dues paying members. They don't have to make an "appointment" to "go over the books" like we do. They just go to the monthly meeting where Financial reports are passed out by the scores and hundreds, or stop by the Hall and ask for a copy.
Of course, their top officers know they must depend on the general membership to elect them to their jobs every three years and I believe this promotes competence and accountability. Our top officers don't yet believe that they will have to answer to a full voting membership. They'll come around.
I started to look over the report which was six (6) pages long. For the life of me, I could not find an expenditure category called "Other" even though their total disbursements for the month were almost $140,000.00. And they certainly don't think that "cash on hand" is the only pertinent information the membership needs.
Anyhow, once they stopped the bleeding in my hand they wished me well and told me to visit again anytime and to be sure and put them on the SBN e-mail list.
And now I present to you their Financial Report with the dollar amounts blacked out because they don't really matter. It's the entire concept of openness and fiscal responsibility that I think is important. If you think the numbers are important, then contact me, The Webmaster of Steel and The Most Famous Active Steelworker in the World Today at webmaster@steelbarrelnews.com and I will arrange for you to see the original report.
CLICK HERE
to see the Financial Report forUSWA Local 6787
February, 2009
SPECIAL Scavenger Hunt BONUS
Just because I couldn't find an expenditure class called "Other" doesn't necessarily mean it isn't there (but I don't think it is). So, any and all readers who can find a reference to "Other" will receive a free lifetime subscription to "The Steel Barrel News" or all of the lyrics to "100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall." It's your choice.
Fraternally yoursThe Webmaster of Steel
and
The Most Famous Active Steelworker in the World Today
Kensey
Steel Barrel News is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sandy Rat Hole Productions and is in no way affiliated with Beta Steel Corp, NLMK, The International Longshoreman's Association, The Ports of Indiana, or the Holy Roman Empire.
2009 www.SteelBarrelNews.com