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Guild's Actions Justifiable

To the Editor:

The article on page 3 of the June 20 issue of The Chief-Leader stated that Civil Service Technical Guild Local 375 of District Council 37 has cut the release time of Chapter 2's president and grievance chairman, Behrouz Fathi and George Dames. Based on the numerous phone calls I have received from my former constituents, this action by the local was necessary.

The chapter is an arm of the local. It is supposed to handle the day-to-day issues of the chapter's membership. This has not been done, based on the phone calls I have received. Instead, I am told that the chapter office is mostly closed, except for daily religious services. This is not the way a union should operate.

During my presidency of Tech Guild Chapter 2, the door was always open. I even requested that the Transit Authority remove the door lock. I had an unlisted phone number, yet any member who had to reach me received this number, to the consternation of my wife.

There were problems which required the local's backing and help. But if the members can't reach the chapter with their problem, the members' first line of defense does not exist. Problems that could have been nipped in the bud wind up festering.

In last week's article, the chapter president said it was against union bylaws to replace him without his permission. But no one has replaced the chapter president or the chapter grievance chair. The local has only removed the release time (such time is granted at the discretion of the local in accordance with the local's determination of need).

The positions of Chapter 2 president and grievance chair are voluntary (though elected) non-paying jobs. The positions get a very small expense allowance. Prior to my being president of Chapter 2, I was chapter grievance chair with no release time.

As chapter president, I got only two days' release time. I think I got both jobs done. As president (for 19 years and eight months), I was only opposed in the first election in Sept. 1981, and I won with 76 percent of the vote.

The chapter presidency is voluntary (though elected). Therefore, for the good of the membership the president should and can do the job, with or without release time. That is the responsibility you take upon taking the oath of office.

MEL LEVY