Members’ Attitudes and Concerns Focus of Executive Council

Identifying members’ concerns, preparing for the mid-term U.S elections, and identifying the tools and actions needed to implement the Union’s strategic plan and represent members more efficiently and securely were the focus of the BAC Executive Council fall meeting.

Architect Angela O’Byrne, a founding member of City-Works, a non-profit group dedicated to transforming New Orleans into a model city for the nation, addressed the Council on using masonry as a means to help residents, not only in New Orleans but in other at-risk communities, protect their building environments from irreparable damage through materials and design change.	Doug Davidson addresses the Executive Council on avoiding fraud and identify theft.

National Labor Relations Board member Wilma Liebman, shown here with BAC President John J. Flynn, addressed the Council the day after the historic Kentucky River decision. Liebman who dissented from the majority on the Board, noted that this is “the most significant decision in decades.”

Doug Davidson, a Senior Vice President with Bank of America Global Treasury Services and advisor to the IU on protecting member records, kicked off the meeting with a detailed presentation on avoiding fraud and identity theft. “Check fraud losses exceed $12 billion a year and are expected to grow by 12% to 25% this decade, credit card fraud totals $1 billion each year, and roughly 900,000 citizens are affected by identity theft annually,” were some of disturbing statistics reported by Davidson as he set the stage for explaining how Local officers can take steps to protect member information and Union assets.

It’s not just unions and employers that need to protect their information, however, Davidson told the council. There are steps individuals can take to minimize fraud and protect themselves, including:

• Ask before you share personal identifiers – for example, find out why the store needs your telephone number.
• Inform the Department of Motor Vehicles, direct marketers, and credit bureaus that you want to “opt out” your data.
• Monitor billing cycles. If you don’t receive a bill from your credit card, mortgage, or car loan company, call and let them know.
• Don’t leave mail in your mailbox for the postal worker to pick up. Take the time to deposit it in a post office collection box.
• Carry only credit cards and identification that you actually need.
• Don’t click on unsolicited email links.
• Shred, shred, shred…don’t just toss out statements, offers of credit cards, etc.

In closing, Davidson identified www.consumer.gov/IDTheft as a good source for learning more about keeping their information safe and secure.
The Council also heard the results of the latest general membership survey, which focused on work trends, member satisfaction with the Union, and what they feel the Union’s priorities should be in the months ahead. At the time of the survey:

• 84% of active members were working full-time and 68% rated the availability of jobs as good to excellent.
• More than two-thirds of active members said the Union has lived up to their expectations, and 81% consider themselves extremely committed as members.
• Friends, family and co-workers continue to be a primary source of information about the Union, and wages and benefits were the key reasons why members join and stay in the Union.
• Given the importance of benefits to their decision to join, it’s not surprising that when asked what the Union’s top priority should be in the year ahead, improving benefits was cited most often, followed by organizing more members and contractors, and keeping members working.

Paul Begala, a political analyst for CNN and former counselor to President Clinton, addressed the Council on electing leaders who understand the need for a decent minimum wage and policies that build a strong middle class.