April 2007, Electronic Version

Contents:

Great Strides for UDW UDW Financial Information Changes to the UDW Constitution

Special Convention Delegates Special Convention Speakers Important Dept. of Labor Meeting

UDW Progress Report:

GREAT STRIDES UNDER
UDW's ADMINISTRATORSHIP

Dear UDW Member:

Flora Walker addresses members and delegates at UDW Convention

In June 2005, the United Domestic Workers of America (UDW) was placed under administratorship—or taken over—by its parent union, the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The parent union took over running the UDW because an independent investigation found that former union leaders were mismanaging UDW finances.

UDW members are getting ready to elect new leaders in the coming months. So now it is important to look back at the progress we have made during the administratorship. Here are some of the key successes:

Returning to financial health.
Before the administratorship, UDW was $3 million in debt. It was unable to keep paying phone and electric bills. Today, the union has a more than $1 million in assets—after paying all expenses.  See Financial Information below

Unprecedented growth.
During the past two years, 13,000 new members have joined the UDW. In addition, the union has opened new offices in San Diego, Bakersfield, Merced, Grover Beach and El Dorado. The UDW now has meeting places in every county where it has members.

Renewing the spirit of member activism and democracy.
Under the old union leaders, members were not encouraged to become active with the union. Today, an advisory board of more than 30 UDW members regularly takes part in making major decisions. Regular union meetings are so well attended that all the chairs are taken and some members must stand. What’s more, nearly 100 elected delegates voted on major changes to the UDW constitution that will bring the union more democracy and member input.

Restoring faith in union leadership.
According to a new poll, 80 percent of union members feel good about the job UDW and its leaders are doing. After the UDW officers’ election is held, the administratorship will be lifted. I want to say my good byes to the wonderful UDW providers and to thank you all for your cooperation in helping make UDW bigger and stronger. AFSCME will continue providing services as requested by UDW officers. The officers who you elect will be from your union’s rank-andfile providers.

Good luck. Stay strong! 

In solidarity,   Flora Walker UDW Administrator

UDW; Financially we're Bigger,
Better, and Stronger!

Above, Revenue vs. Expense

Below, UDW's Net Worth

Changes to the Constitution
Bring a New Day to Union Democracy

Delegates at a special convention of the UDW voted on March 24, 2007 to change the union constitution. The changes were created and written by home care providers. They make a clean break from the way union did business before 2005, when UDW was taken over by its parent union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

“Hundreds of union members volunteered thousands of hours to help rebuild the UDW,” UDW Deputy Administrator Doug Moore observes. “I want to thank the everyday heroes who perform extraordinary feats. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Soon you will be electing new union officers and the administratorship will be lifted.

“UDW has renewed its credibility with the rest of the labor movement and we need to continue down the same path of success to provide better services for our members,” Moore adds.

Changes in the union constitution will make sure democracy, not rule by a few, guides UDW into the future. UDW’s Doug Moore reports on some of the main changes in the constitution: 
Read full Constitution

Part-time officers. The new constitution will provide for parttime officers who share their power with an executive board. An executive director, who answers to the full board, will run the dayto-day business of the union. Before 2005, the UDW president and secretary-treasurer held full-time, highly paid and very powerful jobs. Then, all union staff served only at the pleasure of the president and secretarytreasurer. Many of the staff members were their family members and friends.

Executive board made up only of home care providers. The new constitution will make sure only home care providers can be elected to the executive board. That will mean the UDW is a union of, by and for home care providers. Before, anyone could be on board, and the board was loyal to the president and secretary-treasurer of the union.

Everyone is represented.The new constitution calls for every bargaining unit where there are UDW members to have at least one seat on the executive board. This will make sure providers from all over the state are represented. Before 2005, the union’s elected officers loaded the board with people they chose.

Building local power.The new constitution will let members in their counties elect their own officers and conduct business affecting them. Before, the president at the UDW San Diego headquarters made all the decisions, even local ones.

Deputy Administrator, Doug Moore

Current members have a voice.The new constitution will make sure only current home care providers have a say in the union. Before 2005, providers could take a leave from their home care jobs but still belong to the union and vote for officers. All these changes, and more, will make the UDW stronger and more democratic. “UDW owes nothing to one individual or group of individuals,” Deputy Administrator Moore says. “It is a union! A strong union! Anyone who stands in the way of that belief will get run over by the UDW Express.”

In Solidarity,

Deputy Administrator

Gerald W. McEntee Paul Booth Jovan Agee Jerry Butkiewitz John Chaing Daryl Franz Johanna Hester Doug Moore Henry Nicholas Gary Voice Flora Walker

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About UDW

The United Domestic Workers of America (UDW) is a union made up of
more than 55,000 home care providers from across the state of California.
UDW fights to improve conditions in the home care industry, drawing on
the strength of 25,000 determined members and the 1.4 million members
of UDW’s parent union, the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME).