Representing the municipal workers of Clearwater, Largo,

Madeira Beach, Port Richey and St. Pete Beach. Chartered April, 1977.

The next Executive Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 8, 2007 @ 6:30 p.m.

The next General Membership Meeting will be held Wednesday, November 15, 2007 @ 7:00 p.m

We have reached a tentative agreement with the City of Largo.

The new three year agreement calls for:

• Wage increases of 12% over the three years of the contract
• Provides wage adjustments for 296 members of the bargaining unit that range from 2% to 10% in addition to the wage increase.
• Requires our members who have single employee health insurance coverage to pay 5% of the premium. No change to the 75% subsidy for the employee+1 or family coverage.

There will be an informational meeting to learn about all the aspects of the proposed new contract at:

The Feed Store

295 Central Park Drive

Largo, Florida 33771

Tuesday, October 30th at 5:00 p.m.

Why Join the Union?

In today's political and economic climate, now more than ever workers need to join to gether. A union can help create a more level playing field with your employer. Instead of one person telling management that wages should be fair, health and safety regulations should be followed and employees deserve good health care benefits, a union helps you speak together, in one voice. And that chorus of voices has more power than one lone voice. A union is the vehicle workers can use to help bring the chorus together. A union local is simply a majority of employees who join together to better their work lives.

CWA's Organizing

Winning elections assures the union and employees of their legal right to enter into negotiations with the employer. That's all. CWA's organizing goal is to build a strong organization to better enable employees to negotiate good contracts and increase their standard of living and quality of life.

With a union, workers can get together and create a positive vision for their workplace. If you think you and your co-workers might be interested in joining together to make some changes in your work lives, call us at CWA at 1-800-424-2872 or send e-mail to us.

• Section 8(a): "It shall be an unfair labor practice for an employer . . . to interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed in section 7. . . ."

Local 3179's Organizing Goal

Local 3179’s organizing goal is to build a strong organization to better enable employees to negotiate good contracts and increase their standard of living and quality of life. In today's political and economic climate, now more than ever workers need to join together. A union can help create a more level playing field with your employer. Instead of one person telling management that wages should be fair, health and safety regulations should be followed and employees deserve good health care benefits, a union helps you speak together, in one voice. And that chorus of voices has more power than one lone voice. A union is the vehicle workers can use to help bring the chorus together.

Getting Started

To get a union started, the first thing you need to do is talk to your co-workers. Do they share the same concerns you have? Or, do they have other issues? Is there a common theme to these concerns such as lack of respect and dignity; lack of a voice in the workplace; unfair treatment; and/or wages and benefits lower than other people working in the same industry?

Workers Create Their Own Organization

Our experience tells us that it's best when workers organize themselves if they are to create a viable organization in their workplace. CWA organizers and staff can help. But it's the workers who must join together and build their organization. After talking with your co-workers to find out their issues, you can call CWA to talk with a union organizer. He or she will set up a meeting with you and some of your co-workers. Together, you will create a plan for a organizing a union in your workplace.

The City is legally required to negotiate in "good faith" with the union on a written contract covering wages, hours, and other working conditions.

Public Workers

With all bargaining unit members in our union local, all workers can get together and create a positive vision for their workplace through the cooperative actions between the union and City management. If you might be interested in joining together to make some changes in your work lives, call us at (727) 798-5228 or send an e-mail to us at cwa3179@verizon.net

How to Contact the Local 3179 E-Board

Steve Sarnoff, President (727) 798-5228

Lester Pulfer, Exec. Vice President (727) 639-1529

Dawn Smolowitz, Vice President, Largo (727) 946-3800

Donna Rolih, Vice President, Madeira Beach (727) 452-1691

Nick Bifulco, Vice President, Port Richey (727) 919-8160

Ray Radvilavicius, Vice President, St. Pete Beach (727) 366-9434

Roberta Gluski, E-Board Officer, Clearwater (727) 562-4753

Lenny Perri, E-Board Officer, Largo (727) 504-5799