ATU Local 1001 Legal Representation

Despite any rumors to the contrary, William B. Jones is a licenced Colorado attorney and has been since 1983.

The email did make me think about about the relationship between Lawyer Jones and ATU Local 1001. I was aware that a Bill Jones had been associated with the local for a lot of years just from quotes that had appeared in the local papers and that the local 2007 LM-2 listed him as a employee, something I found a little odd. Now I find out ATU Local 1001 is his listed employer with the Colorado Supreme Court. Hmmmm.

I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with the relationship but I find it odd. Why does the local need a staff attorney? As an employee, do the members also pay for his benefits? Retirement? Vacation? I have no idea.

I live in a little town north of Denver with a MUCH larger budget than the local and they have no staff attorney, only a firm that represents the city in legal matters. I would think that even a small city would have more legal issues than a union local and if they find it less expensive to "contract for service", why would that not also apply to the local? 

If I were a local officer, liability issues alone would make me step back and reevaluate whether I wanted an employee or contract relationship with an attorney. Just suppose that Mr. Jones were sued for Professional Malpractice and lost; would the union members would take the hit and not a law firm or Mr. Jones? I know that the ATU Constitution requires that the officers be indemnified to some extent but how about employees? Just food for thought.