Investing in Equity: The Numbers; Debate Reminder, Covid Impact Negotiations

Investing in Equity: The Numbers
By now the overwhelming majority of members have personally heard from an IAPE steward about the campaign to eliminate the cap on our dues so that everyone contributes the same 0.7% rate of their pay for union representation. IAPE’s dues rate is the lowest among our peers by nearly half, and the dues cap has created a structure where lower paid members pay a higher portion of their wages to IAPE. Anyone who currently makes less than $81,862 a year, about 44% of our membership, will not see a change to their dues if this measure passes. About one-third of those who will be affected would see an increase of less than $5 per pay period. (See the dues calculator to see how you would be affected.) Eliminating the dues cap is about each union member paying a fair share. The board is strongly encouraging a YES vote. 

IAPE Presidential Debate on Thursday
The IAPE Elections Committee is holding a debate between candidates for union president Jodi Green and Stephen Nakrosis on Thursday at 2 p.m. ET via Zoom. Members can register for the debate on the IAPE events page. Meeting information will be emailed to registered attendees via calendar invite the day before the event. Registration will remain open until the debate starts. Members who aren’t able to attend can submit questions for the candidates to the Elections Committee. Visit the elections page for more information on the debate and the candidates.  

Covid Impact Negotiations Tuesday 
IAPE and Dow Jones representatives are scheduled to meet tomorrow afternoon and we expect to receive the company’s response to our proposals requesting added dependent care support, a broadband allowance for all employees, an increased equipment allowance and expansion of reimbursable items under the physical fitness program. 

We appreciate all the members who have used the feedback form to share personal experiences about the specific issues they are facing while working from home during the pandemic. These stories are especially important for IAPE to represent at the table as we push for more support for the expenditures people are making to continue to do the best work they can for Dow Jones. Stay tuned for an update after the meeting.

Did You Get Your Ballot? 
The American Arbitration Association mailed ballots for the 2020 IAPE referenda—the election of a new president and the elimination of the dues cap—Oct. 5 via mail to eligible members (those who were paying dues as of Sept. 21). Ballots must be returned to AAA’s headquarters in New York by 5 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 4. to be counted. IAPE WILL NOT HANDLE ANY BALLOTS OR REQUESTS FOR BALLOTS. Voters with missing or damaged ballots should contact AAA’s Duplicate Hotline 1-800-529-5218 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to request replacements. This number is to be utilized only for duplicate ballot requests. Members may also make requests by emailing requests to Sacha Ulerio at ulerios@adr.org. Questions about voter eligibility can be directed to IAPE’s elections committee. 

Ballots are due back to AAA by Nov. 4. In previous emails, we erroneously listed Nov. 5 as the ballot deadline, which is the date AAA will begin counting returned ballots.