The Sanctity of Elections
Recently I was alarmed about comments made indirectly about how the latest election was conducted at this union. I heard comments like “this is a bag job”. “I don’t trust half the people in that building.” I assume the individual meant the union hall.
First of all, let me state clearly and for the record I am ready and willing to accept any criticism on how we conduct our business here. However, let’s not have a whispering campaign conducted in hallways or unsubstantiated statements about fellow candidates or union officials. Such actions and statements are disingenuous and pejorative.
If anyone has any issue they would like to discuss our doors are always open. I have been vice president for seven weeks and in that time I have listened to every single caller about any issue.
With respect to how our union elections are conducted, one of my responsibilities is the Chairman of the By Law Committee. I will be calling for a meeting of the committee in the next few weeks to review our current by laws and in particular our by laws governing elections. I do believe that we can tighten up the process making it less confusing, and hopefully remove any areas of future possible concern.
We are human and mistakes do occur but I want to emphasize that any mistake is a mistake of the heart, not some callous, devious decision made in some backroom with the thought of trying to undermine someone.
We have always prided ourselves on being professionals. Well, let’s vow to conduct ourselves as such. To do anything less is a disservice to the union and to us personally.
