LOCAL 176
Licensed Ushers and
Ticket Takers
"Unity is Strength"
To our Local 176 family, (Posted 5/20/2020)
On behalf of the Officers and Executive Board of Local 176, we hope that all members and their families have maintained their health and safety throughout this COVID-19 pandemic and continue to take every precaution to stay healthy.
At 7:00 PM on Wednesday, May 20, 2020 the Local 176 Executive Board held a meeting via telephone conference call. All Officers and Executive Board members were in attendance. The meeting was called to further assess the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our members and our union. Secretary Treasurer Carlo Foti reported the treasury is currently stable but with all venues still being closed and not providing work for our members, there is no revenue coming in to the Local’s treasury to cover the monthly expenses. Treasurer Foti reported that the International has again approved our request for a relief rebate from the monthly per capita tax.
The Executive Board unanimously approved my motion to waive the charging of dues for the month of May and extending the waiver of dues for the month of June.
The Executive Board unanimously approved the following motions regarding expenses and salary reductions:
The salary of President Sal LoCascio will continue at $3,000 per year
The salary of Business Agent Rudy Marinacci will continue at $13,750 per year
The salary of Secretary Treasurer Carlo Foti will continue at $10,000 per year
The salary of Recording Secretary Karen Finkelman will continue at $600 per year.
All Officer and Executive Board agree not to voucher expenses for reimbursement for the month of June.
The Executive Board allowance remains suspended.
Shop Steward allowances for telephones remains suspended
All expenses and salaries of officers will continue to be reviewed on a monthly basis.
The Officers and Executive Board continue to be here to represent and assist the membership. These are not easy times, but our union members must continue to be strong and persevere; for our families, for our union, and for our country.
In solidarity,
Sal LoCascio
President
Local 176-Licensed Ushers & Ticket Takers Union
Announcements
On Thursday, March 19, 2020, President LoCascio, Vice President Smith, and Business Agent Marinacci attended a Webinar conference with the New York City Central Labor Council. A lot of the meeting focused on employers supplying Personal Protective Equipment and the rights of people diagnosed with COVID-19, some very important information was shared.
If you someone in your workplace is diagnosed as positive with COVID-19 and you are subsequently diagnosed as positive, there is a possibility of your being approved for a Workers Compensation claim. More relevant to our members is registering for New York State Unemployment. To alleviate the backlog of new claims, Unemployment has set up extended hours, and dedicated days, to file new claims.
If your last name begins with a letter from A-F, you can file your claim on Monday, from 8:00 AM-7:30 PM.
If your last name begins with a letter from G-N, you can file your claim on Tuesday, from 8:00 AM-7:30 PM.
If your last name begins with a letter from O-Z, you can file your claim on Wednesday, from 8:00 AM-7:30 PM.
If you miss your filing day, all can file on Thursday or Friday, from 8:00 AM- 6:00 PM, or on Saturday, from 7:30 AM-6:00 PM.
York State Department of Labor has now waived the one week waiting period to begin receiving unemployment benefits. We are waiting for official word from New York State if compensation from any of our venues constitutes “earned income” and would affect the last day you worked, for your unemployment claim. For now, those who work Madison Square Garden can claim Friday, March 13, 2020 as the last day they work, as soon as we receive word that the relief is income, you are able to adjust your claim accordingly. At this time, the unemployment benefit is limited to 26 weeks per year, but the federal government has begun proceedings to grant an additional 13 weeks, on a state by state basis. So far, New York has not been granted the extension, but if it is, recipients will not have to take any additional steps, the extension will automatically be granted. Please direct all questions to Business Agent Marinacci.
Continue avoiding crowds of more than ten (10) people, washing your hands, and maintaining good hygiene to protect the safety and health of you and your family.