COPE
C.O.P.E. Committee On Political Education Membership participation in our COPE Committee has had a tremendous impact on your union locals success in getting labor friendly, and IBEW 2321 friendly candidates elected. Over the last year, participation in COPE has grown and the leadership of our local has had a voice in Washington, at the Statehouse, and in every city and town within our jurisdiction. Those who chose to participate in COPE have given the local the support to secure over 100 new jobs in the last few months. Verizon spends millions to push their corporate agenda with all politicians and they do not value the unionized workforce. With the help of COPE, our locals leadership has had access to the elected leaders that lead the country, the state, and the communities in which we live on the issues that affect us. The men and women of this local have a voice through COPE to ensure labor friendly policies that promote working families and union workers. Thanks for your support and your help getting these leaders elected and more importantly bringing jobs into the local. IBEW Local 2321 endorsed candidate, IBEW Local 2222 Member Paul Feeney Victorious in Foxboro! FOXBORO, MA, MAY 7, 2007....Topping the ticket in his first ever run for Foxboro Selectman union brother Paul Feeney from IBEW Local 2222 earned 1,321 votes on his way to winning a 3-year term on the Foxboro Board of Selectman. The results of his election were: Paul Feeney: 1,321 IBEW Brother Paul Feeney promises to be a strong voice for labor and working families on this important local board. With so many economic decisions and possibilities looming for Foxboro and the potential for significant new development, Paul Feeney will play a crucial role in making sure that Foxboro is a town that respects working families and gives them the respect they deserve from government and business alike. Some of the most important decisions impacting the lives of working families happen at the local level; that is why victories like Paul's are so important. No one can speak for and represent union people better than a union person. Below is a letter of thanks Paul posted on his website (http://www.paulfeeney.org/): "There are so many people that deserve a thank you from me, and I will be busy contacting you all in the coming days. Right now, we should all reflect on an amazing victory for all of us. In a world where public service has been devalued, and skepticism has infiltrated the political system, it is the process of electing the body closest to the people that has given us reason to hope. This race for selectman embodies everything right about the political realm. We will disagree at times, and we will debate the issues, but you can be certain that I will forever be an open, honest, and passionate selectman, representing every man woman and child of our community. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You. Now Let's Get To Work!!!!" ________________________________________________________ April 15, 2007 - Congratulations to newly elected Tewksbury selectman Anne Marie Stronach, as she had advocated for Tewksbury to explore revenue-raising measures that would be less drastic than an override, pointing toward her proposal to raise the amount of taxes charged on state-owned land. Anne Marie finished second in the five way race for three seats in yesterdays election. The IBEW Local 2321 COPE Committee recommended an endorsement for Anne Marie Stronach for Tewksbury selectman to IBEW Local 2321 based upon the COPE Committees interview of Anne Marie at the April COPE Committee meeting. ____________________________________________________ April 11, 2007 - A special thank you goes out to the Lynn garage for their 100% participation in the COPE program and not too far behind is the Danvers garage as they too have significantly increased their contributions to over 90% participation to COPE. The Andover VRCC and Lawrence garage also have high percentages of participation. The whole local benefits from the COPE contributions made from these work locations. It is imperative that the IBEW local union members become involved in COPE and the political process. We have a long 17 months to go before our next contract expires and the time is NOW to become active in the Political process. The IBEW & CWA Telephone union locals throughout New England have been proactively soliciting support from the politicians that represent the various districts within each local's jurisdiction. The officers and staff of IBEW Local 2321 as well as the COPE Committee is dedicated to educating not only our own membership but also the entire political community at all levels of government on the various issues that best serve our interests. The job you save could be your own. Get active in your future! __________________________________________ March 28, 2007 - Congratulations to the newly elected Andover Town Moderator Sheila Doherty who was given an endorsement by IBEW Local 2321 based upon the unanimous recommendation to the local by the IBEW 2321 COPE Committee which interviewed Sheila at the March Unit I COPE meeting. Sheila Doherty was elected as Andover's new town moderator after capturing 44 percent of the vote in Tuesday, March 27 elections which was a five-way race for the open seat. She will preside over her first Town Meeting in less than a month, taking over for her father, James Doherty, who retired after 29 years as moderator. Doherty more than doubled the vote count of her nearest opponents. _____________________________________________ The IBEW COPE Committee met with political candidates at the Unit I and Unit II COPE Meetings in March and based upon their interview of the following candidates, the COPE Committee has recommended to the IBEW 2321 Union Local to endorse the following political candidates: Sheila Doherty - Andover Town Moderator Anne Marie Stronach - Tewksbury Selectman Charlie Gallow - Lynn School Committee It is imperative that the IBEW local union members become involved in COPE and the political process. We have a long 17 months to go before our next contract expires and the time is NOW to become active in the Political process. The IBEW & CWA Telephone union locals throughout New England have been proactively soliciting support from the politicians that represent the various districts within each local's jurisdiction. The officers and staff of IBEW Local 2321 as well as the COPE Committee is dedicated to educating not only our own membership but also the entire political community at all levels of government on the various issues that best serve our interests. The job you save could be your own. Get active in your future! __________________________________________ IBEW Local 2321 and the rest of the Massachusetts Labor Movement stood behind the Deval Patrick & Tim Murray Campaign Team and helped to build the Broadest Statewide Grassroots Organization in Massachusetts History and the people of Massachusetts chose by a decisive margin to take their Government back. The leadership of this Local would Like To thank all of our members who volunteered their time and helped this local. Their efforts throughout the Merrimack Valley and North Shore helped the working families of the great Commonwealth of Massachusetts restore some faith for a brighter future in our government.
The IBEW 2321 COPE meeting(s) are to be held before the Unit I meeting held the second Wednesday of the month at 5:30 PM at the Lawrence Elks and the Unit II meeting held on the third Tuesday of the month at the Saugus Elks. All IBEW Local 2321 Union members are encouraged to attend both meetings. IBEW 2321 COPE is the political action committee for the working men and women of the IBEW Local 2321 serving the Merrimack Valley and North Shore. COPE informs and mobilizes union families to encourage their participation in the political process. COPE gives us a stronger political voice and that makes us a more powerful, more effective union. The local's goals for COPE include passing legislation that protects our jobs and our wages, electing politicians who stand with us and our issues, organizing workers and winning good contracts for all of us. IBEW 2321 COPE Committee tracks the voting records of our state and federal legislators on working family issues and using this information the IBEW 2321 COPE Committee can interview and screen candidates for office, making recommendations to the membership. COPE educates members on the candidates and identifies which political candidates best support our causes. The main focus of the IBEW 2321 COPE Committee is once a candidate is identified as being pro-union and a friend of 2321, a recommendation will be given to the membership as to who we support and why. With Verizon pumping millions into their Political Action Committee's to represent their corporate interests the unions need to be active with their members to fight the corporate agenda. IBEW 2321 COPE organizes grass-roots mobilization efforts to ensure that the union also has an active voice and representation at the state, city and county level. By IBEW Local 2321 establishing a COPE Committee and becoming proactive in our representation of the members, we will finally be able to join the rest of the IBEW Locals throughout New England fighting for our futures. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the unions throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts who have been active in the fight for working families have used COPE Committees to fight for the following worker friendly initiatives: √ Workers compensation √ Prevailing wages √ Unemployment insurance √ Health and safety in the workplace √ Paid family and medical leave √ Employment and training for all workers √ Public education √ Fair labor standards √ Child labor laws √ A living wage for all By Establishing an IBEW Local 2321 COPE Committee we will join the other IBEW Telephone Locals who are active in the fight for: √ Helping with Fios Licensing & Franchising √ Helping with movement of the work out of state or out of the local √ Help with the loss of work to Verizon Business - MCI non-union network Any member interested in being part of the IBEW Local 2321 COPE Committee, please contact the union office at (978)683-2321. For more information on how a COPE Committee works for you, please visit these other Political & Legislative union web-sites: IBEW International: http://www.unionvoice.org/ibew/home.html IBEW 2nd District: http://www.ibew2nd.org/cope/ Massachusetts AFL-CIO: http://www.massaflcio.org/politicaled »
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