CWA UNION MEMBERS' FEDERAL RIGHTS Pursuant to Federal Law, Title I, Section 105 states: "Every labor organization shall inform its members concerning the provisions of this chapter." This means that since 1959 the CWA Union was required to inform members of their rights under federal law. They have not done so to date. The following is from a court case: "Title I also contains provisions guaranteeing union members such important democratic rights as equal participation in union affairs. These rights were considered so crucial to the democratic          governance of unions that Title I was captioned the 'Bill of Rights of Members of Labor Organizations.' Title I places 'the ultimate power in the hands of the members, where it rightfully belongs, so that they may be ruled by their free consent.' The LMRDA's protections are meaningless, however, if members do not know of their existence. Simply put, if a member does not know of his rights, he cannot exercise them. This is where section 105 kicks in. Section 105 is the statute's informational lynchpin, requiring labor organizations to inform members what rights Congress has granted them. Moreover, section 105 mandates notification not only of the provisions of Title I, but of all the rights found in the LMRDA. Senator McClellan, a principal architect of the LMRDA, noted: 'I believe that if you would give to the individual members of the unions the tools with which to do it, they would pretty well clean house themselves.'  But in order for union members to be able to do that job, they must first be made aware of the Act's enforceability provisions. MFC has demanded that the CWA Union comply with federal law and notify each member of their rights under Title I. As usual they ignore the appeals of the rank and file. We believe a court-order will let them know they are not Godly and the members run this Union under: Union Member Rights and Officer Responsibilities Under the LMRDA ________________________________________________________________________ The Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA) guarantees certain rights to union members and imposes certain responsibilities on union officers. The Office of Labor- Management Standards (OLMS) enforces many LMRDA provisions while other provisions, such as the bill of rights, may only be enforced by union members through private suit in Federal court.                                                          Union Member Rights Bill of Rights – Union members have:           · equal rights to participate in union activities           · freedom of speech and assembly           · voice in setting rates of dues, fees, and assessments           · protection of the right to sue           · safeguards against improper discipline Copies of Collective Bargaining Agreements – Union members and nonunion employees have the right to receive or inspect copies of collective bargaining agreements. Reports – Unions are required to file an initial information report an initial information report (Form LM-1), copies of constitutions and bylaws, and an annual financial report (Form LM-2/3/4) with OLMS. Unions must make the reports available to members and permit members to examine supporting records for just cause. The reports are public information and copies are available from OLMS. Officer Elections – Union members have the right to:           · nominate candidates for office              · run for office              · cast a secret ballot           · protest the conduct of an election Officer Removal – Local union members have the right to an adequate procedure for the removal of an elected officer guilty of a serious misconduct. Trusteeships – Unions may only be placed in trusteeship by a parent body for the reasons specified in the LMRDA. Prohibition Against Certain Discipline – A union or any of its official may not fine, expel, or otherwise discipline a member for exercising any LMRDA right. Prohibition against Violence – No one may use or threaten to use force or violence to interfere with a union member in the exercise of LMRDA rights. Union Officer Responsibilities Financial Safeguards – Union officers have a duty to manage the funds and property of the union solely for the benefit of the union and its members in accordance with the union's constitution and bylaws. Union officers or employees who embezzle or steal union funds or other assets commit a Federal crime punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment. Bonding – Union officers or employees who handle union funds or property must be bonded to provide protection against losses if their union has property an annual financial receipts which exceed $5,000. Labor Organization Reports – Union officers must:                      · final an initial information reports (Form LM-1) and annual              financial reports (Forms LM-2/3/4) with OLMS.            · retain the records necessary to verify the reports for at least              five years. Officer Reports – Union officers and employees must file reports concerning any loans and benefits received from, or certain financial interests in, employees whose employees their unions represent and businesses that deal with their unions. Officer Elections – Unions must:            · hold elections of officers of local unions by secret ballot at              least every three years.            · conduct regular elections in accordance with their              constitution and bylaws and preserve all records for one              year.            · mail a notice of election to every member at least 15 days              prior to the election.            · comply with a candidate's re quest to distribute campaign              material.               · not use union funds or resources to promote any candidate              (nor may employer funds or resources be used).            · permit candidates to have election observers.            · allow candidates to inspect the union's membership list              once within 30 days prior to the election. Restriction on Holding Office – A person convicted of certain crimes may not serve as a union officer, employee, or other              representative of a union for up to 13 years. Loans – A union may not have outstanding loans to any one officer or employee that in total exceed $2,000 at any time. Fines – A union may not pay the fine of any officer or employee convicted of any willful violation of the LMRDA.                The above is only a summary of the LMRDA. The full text of the Act, which comprises                Sections 401-531 of Title 29 of the United States Code, may be found in many public                libraries, by writing the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Labor-Management Standards,                200 Constitution Ave., N.W., Rm. N-5616, Washington, DC 20210, or on the Internet at                www.dol.gov.