As the Entertainment Industry constantly redefines itself, the challenges of finding work increase. Now more than ever, it is important that Local 44 members who are current with their dues and in good standing are afforded ALL the rights and privileges stated in our Constitution and By-Laws. Gone are the days when the Union turned a blind eye to persons NOT in good standing taking union work and employment away from members with their dues paid who wait at home for the phone to ring.
For years, our membership believed that "good standing" meant paying your dues before the start of the next quarter and not getting suspended. According to our Union's Constitution and By-Laws, this is not true. Any initiation fee, dues, or assessments must be paid in full by their respective due dates or that member loses his/her good standing and becomes delinquent until payment is made (all dues payments are to be accepted by Local 44 prior to the close of business on the first day of January, April, July, and October). A delinquent member becomes suspended when he/she continues to be delinquent into the following quarter (90+ days late). Why is this important? Like persons who are suspended and dropped, delinquent members lose their good standing status and forfeit their rights and privileges. For example; delinquent members are not entitled to: attend/participate in Local 44 meetings and events, a vote on each question at meetings, a vote on each question designated for membership issues (contracts, elections, motions at meetings, etc.), run for Local 44 office, keep their place on the out of work list housed in the Callboard, hold employment under Local 44's contractual jurisdictions. What does all this mean? Our Constitution and By-Laws is our rule book and guide that assists the day to day union operations. Practices of past administrations or misinformed theories that have perpetuated for decades do not relieve us of what the actual rules are. If you have questions about your status or how the CBL's affect your standing with the Union, call us and we will be happy to help get you the correct information.