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Pittsburgh Local 154 delegates accept the award for the highest CAF contribution by a local from Intl. Pres. Newton Jones (holding award), with IVP Sean Murphy (5th from right).
Money helps pro-worker candidates, builds strong member education
BOILERMAKERS WHO EXCELLED at raising money for CAF and LEF in 2009 received recognition during the annual LEAP conference in Washington, D.C., April 28. International President Newton B. Jones presented crystal “capitol dome” awards to vice-presidential sections and individual local lodges for exceptional performance.
CAF stands for Campaign Assistance Fund. It is the only way our union can contribute money to those running for federal office. It is used primarily to make contributions to election campaigns for the United States House and Senate.
Because CAF is a political action committee (PAC) fund, donations to it are completely voluntary. CAF money cannot come from a lodge’s treasury or dues; it can only come from donations or fund-raising activities. And only active and retired Boilermakers, and their immediate families, may give.
The LEAP conference recognized the Northeast Section (IVP Sean Murphy) for the highest CAF contribution by a section in 2009 — $183,335.41. Local 154, Pittsburgh, garnered the award for largest contribution by a local lodge, raising $81,767.60. Local 744, Cleveland, won for highest contribution per member at $94.96 ($37,128.89 total CAF contribution).
Local 26 (Savannah, Ga.) won the award for most-improved lodge, raising their CAF contributions from $190 in 2008 to $7,362.55 in 2009. The Western States Section (IVP Tom Baca) won the award for most-improved section, increasing their CAF contributions 39.9 percent, from $65,913.88 in 2008 to $92,220.07 in 2009.
Retirees contributed a total of $125,018.53 to CAF in 2009, including $119,678.53 from the National Pension Trust, and $5,340 from the Officers & Employees Pension Plan.
International staff and officers contributed another $52,691.
In all, Boilermakers donated $667,017.65 to CAF in 2009, with just 77 locals out of 236 participating. Nearly all of the locals forwarding large contributions have included a CAF payroll deduction in their contracts. Payroll deductions are the easiest way to raise money. Most people hardly notice a payroll deduction of $2 a week. Yet donating a couple of dollars a week to CAF can raise more than $100 over a year’s time.
And every dollar is put to good use, supporting pro-worker candidates.
To learn how to begin contributing to CAF and how to include a voluntary CAF payroll check-off clause in a contract, call the Government Affairs Department at 202-756-2868 or see pages 39-44 of the new LEAP manual.
Conference recognizes top LEF donors
THE BOILERMAKERS LEGISLATIVE Education Fund (LEF) pays for virtually all Boilermaker political education activities. This fund can make use of dues money, since the purpose of LEF is education. Convention delegates approved a constitutional change in 2006 that requires all U.S. lodges to contribute at least 25 cents per member per month from the lodge’s treasury. Of course, lodges may contribute more than that if they wish, and some lodges were contributing a higher amount before the constitutional change.
The award for the highest LEF contribution for a section in 2009 went to the Great Lakes (IVP Larry McManamon), which raised $59,220.85. Local 27 (St. Louis) won the award for the highest contribution by a local, with $31,500.
The award for most-improved section also went to the Great Lakes, which increased its contribution 16 percent, from $51,054.42 in 2008 to $59,220.85 in 2009.
LEF contributions in 2009 totaled $240,742.44, with 156 locals out of 236 participating.
In addition to raising funds for CAF and LEF, Boilermakers also supported the Turn Around America Media Fund, an AFL-CIO initiative to inform Americans about the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act. Local lodges gave nearly $187,000 to the effort while the International contributed $250,000.
Conference delegates raise money, too
DELEGATES TO EACH LEAP conference get an up-close look at politics. One thing they quickly learn is the road to elected office carries a high price tag. Getting good pro-worker candidates in office — and keeping them there — requires all the financial help we can muster. And maintaining a strong Boilermaker presence on Capitol Hill also requires resources.
This year, delegates gave $5,650 to CAF through pre-conference contributions and fund-raising activity during the event. Some delegates also presented monies from their lodge CAF and LEF fund-raisers in person at the conference. In all, donations made during the conference totaled $7,985 for CAF and $24,250 for LEF.
| Top 10 Local Lodge CAF and LEF Contributors |
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| Top 10 locals giving to CAF | Top 10 locals donating to LEF | ||||
| Local 154 | Pittsburgh | $81,767.60 | Local 27 | St. Louis | $31,500.00 |
| Local 744 | Cleveland | $42,908.13 | Local 83 | Kansas City, Mo. | $22,483.86 |
| Local 13 | Philadelphia | $34,802.43 | Local 647 | Minneapolis, Minn. | $12,480.75 |
| Local 105 | Chillicothe, Ohio | $27,193.38 | Local 60 | Peoria, Ill. | $10,548.75 |
| Local 193 | Baltimore | $22,496.58 | Local 744 | Cleveland | $6,038.50 |
| Local 5 | New York | $21,673.84 | Local 154 | Pittsburgh | $5,985.75 |
| Local 92 | Los Angeles | $21,305.99 | Local 104 | Seattle | $4,814.00 |
| Local 1 | Chicago | $20,983.22 | Local 693 | Pascagoula, Miss. | $4,007.00 |
| Local 85 | Toledo, Ohio | $17,339.62 | Local 627 | Phoenix, Ariz. | $3,896.00 |
| Local 45 | Richmond, Va. | $16,977.01 | Local 40 | Elizabethtown, Ky. | $3,592.00 |
