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MINUTES OF THE
TNG-CWA Human Rights and Equity Committee
December 5, 2009
PRESENT: Carl
Younger, Chair; Natalie Hill, Sheila Lindsay, Chair SEC HRE
Committee; Vernon Clark, Ka Yan Ng, Vincent Proteau, Tiffany
Heath, Bernie Lunzer.
Absent: Matt Olson, Yoko Kuramoto-Eidsmoe, Melissa Nelson, Arnold
Amber, director, CWA-SCA Canada, Carol Rothman, Secretary
Treasurer TNG-CWA
MINUTES PREPARED BY Carl Younger. Called to order at 1:03 pm
eastern time.
Sheila Lindsay and Carl Younger will participate in the Cornell
University program on differing religious beliefs December 14.
Sheila volunteered to present a report on the class to the
committee in January.
Bernie Lunzer confirmed that a $100 contribution in the name of
the Human Rights and Equity committee supporting Wade Henderson’s
Human Rights award.
Discussion went to a possible joint letter with CWA’s Diversity
group supporting the NAACP’s initiative in Alaska on the issue of
the lack of minorities in Alaska government. Bernie Lunzer said he
would e-mail Lesley Jackson of the CWA to see if they are
interested in a joint effort.
Carl Younger went over the reaction to the November 14th
New England District Council and reported positive reactions for
the Demographic Survey.
Sheila and Vernon attended the Mid Atlantic District and reported
positive reaction from that council.
Bernie Lunzer said it was discussed at the Mid-West council and
thinks everyone there was extremely supportive.
Bernie Lunzer confirmed that the CWA research department has us
next on their list and is prepared to take on our demographic
survey project.
It was decided that the surveys once completed should be sent to
TNG’s Melissa Nelson to insure that we have copies on file. It
was agreed to have locals include a 60 day time limit for locals
to get survey information back from management
Discussion went to initiatives for the New Year and a memo
forwarded by Carol Rothman regarding the still rampant
discrimination in many states against gay, lesbian and
transgendered workers. (In 29 states it is still legal to fire
someone just because they are gay, and in 38 states it is OK to
fire someone for being transgendered.
It was thought that we could look at TNG contract language and
request that strong antidiscrimination language is bargained in
support of LGBT workers.
Sheila Lindsey said that Wade Henderson has been working on a
legislative initiative and said she would look into that. Tiffany
Heath said she would talk to the New Executive Director of Private
Work National Peggy Shorey to see what information they have on
discrimination language.
Bernie Lunzer reminded us that the second notice for the new
officer’s seminar went out and that there are 10 minority
scholarships for potential leaders in TNG locals. Vernon Clark
and Sheila Lindsey said they have names they will submit to their
locals, Carl Younger also has an idea and will bring it up in this
Tuesdays Delegate meeting in Boston. Sheila Lindsey confirmed
that she will attend the New Local Officer’s seminar in Washington
and report back to the committee.
Discussion went to the concept of a TNG diversity seat. Bernie
suggested that a diversity seat would be an affirmative action
approach. There is nothing wrong with affirmative action but right
now we are blessed with at least adequate representation and
thinks the right approach is to organically grow our commitment to
equity and diversity in TNG. He also said he would not support a
ticket that runs that does not have at least the current level of
diversity or better.
Sheila said she and Arnold Amber will work together to create
something that will put emphasis on maintaining diversity. Sheila
also invited Nestor Soto to attend future meetings. Sheila will
also request that an interpreter be available.
Next meeting was scheduled for Saturday January 16th
1PM Eastern time.
Meeting adjourned at 1:29 PM Eastern time.
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