George Grzeca still has several foursomes available for the local’s golf outing scheduled for JULY 24, 2008. Please call him at 26th Street (x5072) as soon as possible before all the spots are gone.
The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 Scalia opinion invalidated the hangun ban and trigger lock requirement enacted in Washington D.C. Read the case by clicking this. Then discuss.
MORE WORK FOR US
The Supreme Court of the United States just made more work for us by deciding on 6/19/08, in Indiana v Edwards, 2008 U.S. LEXIS 5031, that a defendant may be fit for trial but not fit to exercise the right to self representation under Faretta v California, 422 U.S.806. Given that most of our judges despise pro-se trials, it is likely that this ruling will lead to court ordered BCX evaluations on the issues of fitness and fitness to exercise the right of self representation, and then the appointment of the PD. Interesting legal and professional/ethical problems will arise during these proceedings; to wit, what should counsel’s position on these issues be? Should we object to the appointment of counsel to preserve the defendant’s Faretta rights? Management probably needs to develop some policies on this which we can look forward to in a couple of years. In the meantime…well that’s why they pay us the big bucks.
By now, all members should have received a one page union negotiation survey that allows you to prioritize issues and provide insight into any issues that the membership feel are important. Please complete the survey soon and send them to ARLENE FLOREN at CIVIL through interoffice mail. The deadline is July 8, 2008. The board will utilize the tabulated results in forming our proposals.If you have not yet received the survey, please contact her (ARLENE) or the steward at your worksite.
We received our retro checks today and we will continue to pursue the interest on the delay. We have been told that our pay increase that is effective after the first full pay period after June 1, 2008 will be reflected in our paychecks that we will recieve on June 27, 2008.
Brother Kevin Ochalla has organized our union sponsored softball team again this year. The first game is at 7:00 pm on Thursday, 6/12/08 at Welles Park (Montrose and Western). Our team is Time Considered Served and is currently looking for interested players from our ranks.
For more information on playing or the schedule, call Kevin at Ext. 6161 at 26th Street.
On June 12th, the members of UNITE HERE, Local 1 will be rallying in front of the Congress Hotel to mark the 5th year that they have been on strike. Yes, 5 years of picketing for what’s right and fair. Members who were around in 2002 will remember our strike which lasted exaclty one day –and even that was too long for some of our members.
Because we are a union and we face the same issues (health care and wages) as our brothers and sisters at UNITE HERE, Local 1, I urge the members to participate and join in the picket line (we need the practice) between 4pm and 6pm at the Congress Hotel on the 12th. Wear your union gear if you have any and support labor.
For more information on their struggle, click here.
Read here about the caseload problems for Miami public defenders and their plan to stop accepting appointment on new cases: http://www.miamiherald.com/519/story/555857.html.
Many prosecutors and judges seem to think that Public Act 095-0134 aka 730 ILCS 5/3-6-3(v), effective 8/13/07, requires that a defendant serve 75% time for Class X Drug cases. Not So!!! A careful reading of the statute by some of our brothers and sisters and a call to IDOC Legal Counsel by brother David Will reveals that only those Class X offenses where the substance is 100 grams or more require 75% time. Use your professional judgment on how to use this information.