Save money with CSEA-sponsored programs Cut utility bills with affordable solar power! For more than a year, CSEA members have been saving on utility bills with solar power systems from American Solar Partners, CSEA’s endorsed solar provider. Depending on your home and energy needs, you can lower your utility costs to about $15 a month — which is what utility companies often charge for having your home physically connected to the grid. CSEA members can also take advantage of incentives, tax breaks and energy grants to help them with the costs of upgrading their homes to solar-based electricity. The incentives include a 30 percent tax credit from the federal government, a state tax credit, and a rebate worth on average around $2,500. There is also a low interest state loan in New York state that makes solar affordable, and allows homeowners to purchase a solar power system with no money out of pocket. The incentives and rebates are currently available but they will eventually run out. For more information about CSEA’s solar program, contact American Solar Partners at 914-699-3366 or sign up for a free solar assessment at americansolarpartners.com/assessment/. Stay up-to-date on buying discounts at facebook.com/cseabenefits For more information on available discounts, visit the ‘For Members’ section on cseany.org AFSCME’s constitution includes a rebate procedure to protect the rights of members who disagree with how the union spends money for partisan political or ideological purposes. Article IX, Section 14 of the International Constitution, which establishes the procedure for dues rebates for members who object to AFSCME’s partisan political or ideological expenditures, was amended at AFSCME’s 33rd International Convention. The amended language requires those persons who object to the expenditure of dues for political or ideological purposes to submit their objection in writing to both the International Union and CSEA Local 1000 by certified mail between April 1 and April 17 (dates inclusive) each year for the prior year ending Dec. 31. The timing of the steps in the procedure is tied to the International’s fiscal year. The procedure, including the requirements for submitting a proper rebate request, is spelled out in Article IX, Section 14 of the International Constitution. THESE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE STRICTLY ENFORCED. Here’s how it works. Members who object to the expenditure of a portion of their dues for partisan political or ideological purposes and want to request a rebate must do so individually in writing. Written requests must be postmarked between April 1 and April 17, 2017. That request must be timely filed by registered or certified mail with: the International Secretary-Treasurer and the CSEA Statewide Treasurer. The requests must contain the following information: name, CSEA ID number, home address, email address, if available, and the AFSCME local (CSEA Local 1000) to which dues were paid during the preceding year. This information must be typed or legibly printed. The individual request must be signed by the member and sent by the individual member to: International Secretary- Treasurer at AFSCME Headquarters, 1625 L St., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036-5687; and CSEA Statewide Treasurer, Empire State Plaza Station, P.O. Box 2611, Albany, N.Y. 12220-0611. Requests for more than one person may not be sent in the same envelope. Each request must be sent individually. Requests must be renewed in writing every year the member wishes a rebate. Upon receipt by the International of a valid rebate request, an application for partisan political or ideological rebate will be sent to the objecting member. The objecting member will be required to complete and return the application within 30 days of its issuance. In accordance with the constitutional amendment adopted at the 1998 International Convention, the application will require the objecting member to identify those partisan or political or ideological activities to which objection is being made, and no rebate will be made to any member who fails to complete that portion of the application. In determining the amount of the rebate to be paid to any member, the International Union and each subordinate body shall have the option of limiting the rebate to the member’s pro-rata share of the expenses for those activities specifically identified in the application. Upon receipt by CSEA of the valid, certified request, the constitutional maximum of 3 percent rebate will be processed. No phone calls or e-mail correspondence will be accepted. Any member who is dissatisfied with the amount of the rebate paid by the International Union may object by filing a written appeal with the AFSCME Judicial Panel within 15 days after the rebate check has been received. Appeals should be sent to the Judicial Panel Chairperson at the AFSCME International Headquarters at the address listed above. The Judicial Panel will conduct a hearing and issue a written decision on such appeals, subject to an appeal to the full Judicial Panel. If dissatisfied with the Judicial Panel’s ruling, a member can appeal to the next International Convention. Procedure protects rights 914-699-3366 info@americansolarpartners.com americansolarpartners.com/csea/ 18 The Work Force March 2017
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