Many of you have received a check from UPTE. UPTE claims that the check represents 15% of the fees you paid in July, August and September plus 7% interest. If you pay the maximum to UPTE ($35 a month) this is $105 times 0.15 (or $15.75) plus $0.15 for the interest (I think that their calculation is wrong on this). Furthermore, you should receive $5.25 for every month up to and including June, 2006. If you pay less than the maximum, your checks will be proportionally smaller. If you sent me an objection letter and don't receive your money within two weeks (by October 28), contact me. Make a copy of the check UPTE sent you, save this with their letter, it may be used in future lengthy legal proceedings and cash your check.
Why are they sending over 600 checks every month when they could send one check for the full amount at the begining of August like they used to? It seems rather stupid to send 5,400 more checks. I believe that it's so that the union recruiters can come around and tell you that "well, you only get back about $5 a month, why not join the union". This $5 a month to 600 people costs them about $36,000, money that they spent on nonchargeable activities like lobbying the legislature. For me, $64 is nothing to sneer at, it's almost two tanks of gas.
My friends, UPTE was supposed to send you this money on or before August 1, 2005. Another union did the same thing and the California Public Employment Relations Board, in response to an Unfair Practice Charge ordered that the union cease and desist (in other words, pay the money on time) and return the money plus 10% interest. See http://www.perb.ca.gov/decisionbank/pdfs/0802E.pdf if you're interested. UPTE decides that 10% is too much, they lowball you with 7%. They apparently feel that they get to decide what they pay. The Board has issued about 50 complaints against UPTE and I expect that they will issue more.The only thing that will prevent UPTE Unfair Practices is for you to file an Unfair Practice Charge. 120 people have so far filed an Unfair Practice Charge against UPTE and more keep coming. You must be an objector for the current period (July 1, 2005 through June 30, 2006). It only took me about two weeks to process and mail about 600 templates of the charge, all the objectors who sent me their objection letters should have received one by now. If you have not, let me know. If you sent me your objection letter after July 24, 2005, it was too late.UPTE gave me a check for the entire amount I paid for 2002-2003. I received another check from them for $442 without explanation (It's most likely for 2003-2004). They also returned my money for the 2004-2005 objection period. They do this in order to claim that I have no standing in the arbitration process. One arbitrator did not buy this, she let me state my case. Another arbitrator, one for the upcoming hearing for the 2004-2005 period agreed and excluded me from the hearing. It sure pays to be knowledgeable about UPTE chargeable and nonchargable expenses. If you know too much, they give you all your money back.
Apparently, the union wants to keep you ignorant. The union was ordered by the arbitrator in the hearing scheduled for this November to provide you with a copy of its Submission supporting its calculations directly with the 300 or so objectors for last year. The union apparently sent this only to 3 of the 300 people who objected last year. If you did not get this 100 page document from CWA, see the web page http://www.justvoteuc.org/ArbitrationAlert.html.
I thank you all for your continued support. There are about 6,800 people who are not union members. Only about 600 sent me an objection letter this year. Hopefully, more of you will do this next year. Spread the word to your coworkers. Werner