After I went to the Judges of Election and made my requests in regards to the list then he came up with this policy he will not talk to me personally. I am dealing with the President of our Union. He made it a policy because of my request I am sure that he has contacted a lawyer.
But he is saying that if i do not sign I will be denied my mail out. I am stalling him at the present time but I have brought them a letter that I intend to do the mail-out on May 21, 1998. At 9:00 am. I will not sign the letter until I get there just not to give them the satisfaction. In my heart I do not believe that I have to sign up until now I have dealt in good faith according to the constitution.
The problem in our Local is not there is not enough interest from the members and I do not want to let this chance slip away. So I will defend my rights to the end so that what ever happens the membership will notice that an induvidual does have rights and as long as he does it with dignity and respect it is his/her right to defend them. In regards to when he made this available to me is at the May meeting which was held on May 12,1998.
Chris White wrote:
Hi Gaetano-These are my opinions. I have
acquired them the hard way. I am not a lawyer. I don't know what
you are trying to achieve hopefully it is a democratic solution
to problems. I would like to see your campaign literature when
you are ready. I would like to know more about 607
Gaetano Caruso wrote:
------------------------------------------------------
LIUNA Local 607 Election 1998
Gaetano: The following is the policy of Local 607 re: campaign mail-outs and must be agreed to by any candidate desiring one. If a candidate does not comply with the conditions contained herein, the candidate will be denied a campaign mail-out.
Chris:
If these guys denied you the right to mail your campaign literature
because you refuse to sign the "yellow dog contract"
I think they will be force to do the election over again. Where
did this policy come from? At a local monthly meeting or is it
just abitrary, capricious and self-serving? This surely is not
universal
1. Candidates for the election are entitled
to one mail-out between the date of May membership meeting
and the Election day(s).
Chris:
You can have as many mailings as you need to get your point across
and rebutt whatever they rebutt.
2. Mail-outs must be produced without the
use of union equipment or materials, with all such costs being
the sole responsibility of the candidates. Mail-outs must be signed
by the candidates issuing them, and the candidates recognize they
are personally responsible for all statements made therein.
Chris:
This is reasonable enough however you don't have to get their
approval for what you write and you don't have to show it to them
before you mail it. They have no right to censor you. They can
retaliate if you violate the law but they can't stop you from
violating it
3. Candidates may request, and the local
union will inform candidates of the number of current members
in good standing. Candidates must bring their mail-out to the
union office at a pre-arranged time to be addressed by union staff.
The mail outs must be in sealed, stamped, unaddressed envelopes.
The candidates must remain present, or have a designated watcher
present at all times while the envelopes are having address stickers
applied. Which will be done by union staff assigned to the task.
After all envelopes are addressed, a union staff member will,
accompanied by the candidate or designated watcher, take the envelopes
to the main post office and place them in the mail. At no time
will the union or the candidate/watcher have sole custody of the
addressed mail-out.
Chris:
If they want to do the work for you and you are watching them
I would suspect something underhanded.But if you know the exact
amount you will be mailing, and if you are strong enough to deny
the union staff from taking theirs to 'save you the stamps",
I still would object. I wouldn't want these characters handling
my stuff.I don't have confidence in their objectivity or whatever.
I would insist that the return address is your home address and
not the local union address. This is important to determine if
you are receiving a current mailing list.
4. The candidate will pay the local union
an amount equal to the office casts and total wage package for
staff members assigned to such mail-out for all time spent on
the task within thirty (30) days of the posting of the mail-out.
Such cost is recognized to be a "lawful fee" as set
out in Article III Section 3 (i) of the LIUNA Uniform Local Union
Constitution.
Chris:
If they want to get paid- you will do it yourself. This is an
unnecessary burden. I have done this and it takes about an hour
to bang out 1,000 labels once you get the table set up and people
warm up to sticking on labels. They just peel right off the sheets.
It may be a "lawful fee" if you don't want to do it
yourself.Complain to the International and the U.S. Justice Dept.
in Chicago and they will back you up.
The Undersigned recognizes and agrees to the conditions and
_____________________ ______________________
Candidate Witness
Chris:
I think it is in order to tell them to shove it and you are here
with your friends, tape recorder, local TV reporter and literature
ready to label and mail. You might give them two working days
to get the labels together from the international or go directly
to the regional office with your request. You probably will regard
any unnecessary delays as an infringement on your rights for an
honest election.