ST Talk June 2024

June 12, 2024

S-T Talk

Prior issues of S-T Talk are available on our website. Just visit cwa.org/s-t-talk

THERE IS STILL TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE 2024 PRESIDENTS’ MEETING AND LEGISLATIVE/POLITICAL CONFERENCE

You can now register online for the 2024 Presidents’ Meeting and the Legislative-Political Conference. Both will be held at the Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, located at 400 New Jersey Avenue NW Washington, DC. The room block closed on May 28, 2024.

The Presidents’ Meeting will begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 24, 2024, and will continue until business is concluded. Online registration is open now! The Legislative-Political Conference will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, and continue through Wednesday, June 26, 2024. Online registration is open through June 17, 2024.

We look forward to seeing you and your delegates at both of these important meetings in June. Don't forget to bring your CWA lanyard and help reduce landfill waste. For your convenience, we have put the links to register for the meetings, to reserve a room, and instructions on how to register all in one place. Click this link https://cwa-union.org/2024-cwa-presidents-meeting. Looking forward to seeing you there!

FINANCE

Did you know you have 90 days to request reimbursement for expenses?

All Local expense reimbursements must be submitted to your District/Sector/Division for processing prior to 90 days of when the work was completed. Also, when submitting reimbursement requests please make sure that a detailed business purpose is included. All invoices need to have details that tell who, what, why, when and where and have copies of materials, flyers, ads, etc. If it is for lost time make sure to include the date and hours worked, what message was relayed and what activity was done, worksite visit, door knocks, phone banks, etc. Having all supporting documentation will help ensure timely processing.

It is important to make this a priority; especially, for SIF and Growth fund project reimbursements since these projects have defined funding time limitations.

APTIFY

Aptify Reports: My PUs and Last Dues Processed by PU

My PUs report – This report gives a snapshot of both active and inactive PUs in your local, as well as important information regarding the dues structure, required ID splits, pay periods, status of the current dues process, dues import errors, etc.

Last Dues Processed by PU – This report gives you all the active PUs statuses and the last dues HQ has processed in real-time.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

*NEW* Promote UNION PLUS to your members digitally or with printed literature. (Local leaders only)

UnionPlus has launched a new and easier way to promote valuable money saving benefits for union members and their family. A Digital toolbox is available for various media types to use for websites, SMS and more. Printed literature is also available branded with our Union. Customizing the literature is also available upon request. Materials include hardship grants, scholarships, discount programs, financial matters, retiree healthcare and more. Login and see what is available. www.unionplus.org/leaders Log-in or create an account >scroll to and click on Digital Toolkit or Order Free Union Plus Materials > review what is available, click and add to cart to check out.

CWA Disaster Relief Fund

Members are eligible for an assistance grant if their home is damaged due to a FEMA declared natural disaster. The National CWA program allows up to 6 months to submit the application for assistance. You can utilize this simple FEMA Declaration tool to see if your local resides in one of the areas affected and can share the benefit with your members. www.fema.gov/disaster/declarations

Please refer to the CWA Disaster Relief Fund Member Handbook. We want to make sure every eligible member has updated information to access financial assistance in the event of a FEMA declared natural disaster. Members and their locals have six (6) months from the date of the disaster declaration to file the Disaster Relief Fund application with the District staff assigned to the Disaster Relief Fund.

Some CWA Districts and Sectors also provide hardship grants. Please promote the National program alongside these programs as members are not limited to just one source of support.

UNION PLUS Disaster Relief Grant Reminder: Members who live in areas impacted by declared natural disasters in the last 24 months, and who participate in the Union Plus Credit Card, Mortgage, Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Auto Insurance, Personal Loan, and Retiree Healthcare programs may be eligible to access Union Plus Disaster Relief Grants. Eligible members must have their primary residence in a county or parish designated by FEMA as eligible for Individual Assistance. No proof of property damage required. Learn more at unionplus.org/disaster.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Kevin Celata at kcelata@cwa-union.org

ICYMI: (In Case You Missed It)

Time to audit your Agency Fee Payers!  

No need to search and then drill down - our new report makes changing statuses a snap.  

1. Go to the Members section of the Reports menu and click on the Active Agency Fee Payers for Status Update report.
2. Enter the seven-digit PU (or leave blank to see all PU’s). Click Run.
3. Scroll down to the person’s name.
4. Click the Update Status link in the first column.

This button takes you directly to the employment history record where you can proceed as usual.

Remember, locals are the keepers of the membership cards, so the dues system has no way of knowing who has signed a card or not. New people in non-public units, in non-RTW states, or those covered under the Railway Labor Act will automatically be entered into the system as Agency Fee Payers unless there is a pending member record already in the system for them.

Use this report on a regular basis to keep your member data accurate - and make sure you get the counts you deserve at convention time!

 

In Unity,

Ameenah Salaam
Secretary-Treasurer