Our next union meeting will be Tuesday Sept. 2, 1930 hrs. I hope and expect a large turnout. This is an extremely important meeting because we will discuss the Chief’s proposed off-duty policy. If you do not attend this meeting it should be accepted that off-duty is not that important to you. We can only be successful if each and every member is willing to sacrifice their time and attend a meeting. I have had may phone calls and emails asking what the union is doing about the proposed off-duty policy. I am now asking you, our members what are you willing to do. As individuals we will accomplish nothing but with solidarity our strength is only limited by what we are willing to sacrifice. Our union will discuss our priorities and our strategy at this meeting.

I am not sure if the Dive bar is the appropriate place to have this type of meeting. I would like to take a vote and see where everyone would prefer to have this meeting. Our options are the Dive bar or the Teamster union hall. Please respond ASAP so I can get the location out to all our members as soon as possible.

Also, I have sent 3X5 yellow cards that are a commitment of support for our local President Jack Cipriani. Jack will certainly win the election but he needs to show all the 8000 members of our local that the police officers are involved in this union so we can continue to organize across the state and build power. The following district reps have these cards; D21 Mark Slater, D22 Rob Benjamin, D23 Steve Martin, D24 Rick Armstrong, D25 Jeremy Banks, D26 Scott Rolfe, and Special Ops Stacy Lundy. After you fill out the card please inter-office it back to me in D24. I want to thank our representatives for helping get these cards out.

Thanks for your support.

Rick Armstrong

This board is very concerned about collective bargaining and that is why we were at the state legislative building on Wednesday expressing that. The HOPE coalition with the help of your TEAMSTERS organized the rally on our member’s behalves to help push a bill proposed by House member Dan Blue. The bill is to allow collective bargaining in the state of NC. Rick Armstrong, Ben Baughman, and myself were asked to attend and speak to several NC Senators and NC House of Representatives. Along with several other public employees around the state we were able to express our concern for the desperate need for collective bargaining and a fighting chance to survive in NC. Rick, Ben, and myself were able to speak one on one with Senator Janet Cowell, Neal Hunt, Richard Stevens, and Vernon Malone. We also had the opportunity to speak with House members Linda Coleman, Ty Harrell, Paul Stam, Jennifer Weiss; and we were also able to express on gratitude to House member Dan Blue for proposing the bill and understanding our needs. Now while the 3 of us met with the Senators and House members we also talked about the 25 year retirement and an Officers Bill of Rights. After the allotted time to speak to the representatives there was a press conference publicizing the bill. At the press conference several different public employees from all over the state spoke including Sgt. Kurt Stanberry from Wilmington PD speaking for all officers in the state.

This was all possible due to the TEAMSTERS political experience and savvy. The reason that we didn’t ask for several members was due to the fact that only a handful of members were needed to speak to the representatives and some of the representative we have already established a relationship with in the past. But know one thing even when we don’t ask the membership to respond to every political rally your union leadership is there working for you. Also let it be known the TEAMSTERS were the only organization present representing police officers in the state of NC.

Teamster brothers and sisters,

I want to thank everyone for attending the city council meeting on Tuesday night. Our presence certainly made a difference. We had close to 100 union members attend in support of our proposal and because of such a large turnout we may have swayed several council members to support an across the board raise for all officers. Eric and I have recently met with council members who are now discussing a raise for all officers. There is no doubt in my mind that our solidarity on Tuesday night influenced the city council. I am truly grateful to all the members who attended but especially to those who did not have a college degree but attended to support their fellow union members recognizing the importance of solidarity. Because of this we may now all benefit with an across the board raise. Eric and I will continue to meet with council members to lobby for this raise. Every Monday night for the month of June from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. there will be budget hearings in council chambers. Eric and I will attend these meetings and keep you all updated on the progress. I encourage all who can to attend.

Thanks again for all your support. It does make a difference and is probably why I am no longer permitted to use city email. Those restrictions will not hinder our efforts but only motivate us to work harder for our cause.

Rick Armstrong

>????????h Carolina’s State Capital Police Officers voted overwhelmingly recently to join Local 391. With the vote, 40 of the 55 officers who work in Raleigh’s State House in Raleigh became the latest group of law enforcement officers in North Carolina to affiliate with the Teamsters.

Jack Cipriani, International Vice President and President of Greensboro based Local 391, congratulated the group for joining the Teamsters.

“Police officers are joining the Teamsters primarily because they hope the union’s clout in Raleigh and Washington can help them achieve better lives for their families and better retirements,” Cipriani said.

Cipriani, other Local 391 officials and Sgt. Rick Armstrong of the Raleigh Police Department recently met with State Capital Police Officers to welcome them to the Teamsters. The Raleigh Police Protective Association was the first law enforcement group to join the Teamsters from North Carolina. Armstrong is the RPPA President.

“The Raleigh Police Protective Association voted a little over a year ago to join the Teamsters,” Armstrong said. “We saw the difference that the union made for other public employees and wanted some of that power for ourselves. We are already seeing the dividends of our affiliation”

Armstrong said being a Teamster helped get him appointed to the North Carolina Criminal Justice and Training Standards Commission.

“The appointment means a great deal because now I can speak on behalf of my fellow officers and ensure that our perspective is included as we set professional standards,” Armstrong said. “Many of the officers I know were pleasantly surprised to see the appointment because the Police Benevolent Association tried for 15 years to get an officer appointed to the commission and couldn’t get it done. The Teamsters got it done.”

After the Raleigh victory, other departments began contacting Local 391 officials. The local has since added police officers from Apex, Carrboro, Morrisville, Garner, Jacksonville, Wilmington and Leland to their roster.

All the police officers are seeking better retirements and an “Officers’ Bill of Rights” that codifies their personal rights in all aspects of the job. Currently there is no uniform standard in the state for officers’ rights. Without such a standard, police officers risk becoming subject to legal action through their performance of regular police duties.

Although North Carolina law prohibits public workers from exercising their fundamental right to collective bargaining, the Teamsters are committed to lobbying local and state government in improve working conditions for public employees.

Local 391 is the largest union in North Carolina, representing more than 8,000 hardworking men and women across the state.

First, I want to remind everyone about our next meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 1930 hrs at the Dive Bar on Glenwood Ave. The Chief has scheduled a meeting with us on May 8^th to discuss the future off-duty policy. Those who attend our meeting on the 6^th will have the most input on our position when we meet with Chief Dolan on the 8^th.

We have endorsed Josh Stein for NC state senate. He is running for Janet Cowell’s senate seat. Janet is running for State Treasurer and we have also endorsed her. Josh is supportive of collective bargaining and his opponent does not support our bill. It is extremely important we get him elected. He is asking for a few off-duty officers to assist him at the polls. It would only take a couple hours of your time on election day, May 6. Please if you can volunteer let me know and I will give him your name and contact information. If we really want collective bargaining we need to take the time to support those candidates that are willing to fight for it. Josh has told me that the PBA has endorsed his opponent. I have volunteered for candidates in the past and I can assure you when they get elected they do show their appreciation.

In the near future I will be asking for support from our members to attend a council meeting to get an increase for our educational incentive. This will be another important meeting to attend. We will need a large showing to get the increase passed.

Finally, our strength comes from our large membership. The more members we have the more powerful we will be. This applies not just here in Raleigh but across the state. If you know anyone interested please contact me. I want to thank Pat Kellogg who has given us a lead for Knightdale PD. We are growing very quickly and this will translate into greater success at the state level. Thanks for your support.

Rick Armstrong