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Kensey's Mother

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Dept. of Labor Overturns Local 2038 Executive Board Election of March 12 In a letter to Acting President Michael DaVaney dated September 3, 2009, and forwarded to Kensey [Webmaster of Steel] Alsman and International Longshoremen's Association President Richard P. [Rich Man] Hughes, the Chicago District Director of the Federal Department of Labor announced the nullification of the March 12, 2009 Executive Board election of ILA Local 2038 here in Portage, Indiana. more . . . See Also: Longshoremen to hold new election supervised by DOL by Kevin Nevers Chesterton Tribune "Longshoremen's election thrown out as illegal" by DIANE KRIEGER SPIVAK Post-Tribune staff writer September 9, 2009

SBN Confirms Beta Division Executive Board votes to rescind 50% dues increase. Our thanks to these officers for taking prompt action on this matter. . . . more . . . August 7, 2009

Local 2038 Election Protest Update: The Department of Labor's Chicago District representative said today that the District had concluded its investigation and forwarded the results and recommendations to the Washington D.C. DOL office. The DOL's Division of Enforcement has 30 days to make and implement their decision. No other details were available. July 16, 2009

SBN Exclusive Report Charges filed against Local 2038 President Mike DaVaney Misconduct alleged on handling of By-law vote . "There was no reason to ignore our by-law mandated procedure and nowhere in the by-laws is there a provision to allow mail-in ballots on proposed by-laws changes." Read the full Document of Charges June 28, 2009

Open Letter to All Local 2038 Division Officers from The SBN Staff "Where the hell are you?" - and other questions - "So far only one Union Officer with the courage to sign his name has put out an opinion in writing. That was our Business Agent, Rusty White." "Not one Division Officer, from Shop Steward on up, has stood up and taken a public position on the issues written about on Steel Barrel News." . . . more . . . June 3, 2009

Dues Refund checks released to Beta Division members Checks can be picked up at the ILA Local 2038 business office on Melton Rd. (US Hwy 20) in Portage. Reimbursement checks reportedly range in size from 35 cents to almost $700. Click HERE for a copy of the Dues Committee Report. December 6, 2009

Steel Barrel News Offers Free Services to All Candidates for Executive Board Positions Free Service #1 Publication SBN will publish on this web-site the campaign literature for any and all qualified candidates running for an Executive Board position. Click HERE for details. Free Service #2 Distribution SBN will distribute inside Beta Steel the campaign literature of any and all qualified candidates running for an Executive Board position. We are trying to make arrangements to distribute campaign literature in the other Divisions and will make this service available if possible. Click HERE for details. SBN is making this gesture to assure that the membership is making as informed a decision as possible about the future leaders of our Local. October 22, 2009

Coming in August Thinking Outside the Barrel Does the Executive Board have the right to reject by-laws change proposals because such changes may hinder the Executive Board? (Aren't all by-laws hindrances? Aren't they meant to be hindrances?) Kidd Steel will tell us what he thinks. DOL We report on the Department of Labor's Division of Enforcement ruling on the Executive Board election protest that is due on or about August 15. Trial Committee The Committee of Inquiry is to schedule a hearing on the charges filed against Local 2038 President Mike DaVaney by Kensey Alsman charging Davaney with "misconduct" and "conduct detrimental to Local 2038." According to the by-laws this hearing should occur no later than August 28. A date should be set soon. Historic Local Union Meeting Postings in the Beta Steel plant say there is a Union meeting scheduled for August 31 that includes "All members in good standing." This will be the first time in the history of Local 2038 that there has been a meeting which includes all members of all Divisions. In other words - a true Local Union Meeting where you can conduct actual business. August 7, 2009

Steel Barrel News Celebrates Our First Anniversary! Over 250 Members of ILA Local 2038 Were Treated to an All Expense Paid July 4th Day at Wrigley Field with the Stars!!! An Exclusive Graphical Depictation Report by "Norton the News Dog" July 5, 2009

SBN Exclusive Report US Department of Labor Opens Investigation of Local 2038 Executive Board Election Protest See also: Feds to investigate March Longshoremens election by Kevin Nevers Chesterton Tribune June 19, 2009 Protesters turned over all records to DOL on June 15 "The Executive Board has stalled this process for 3 months and still shows no signs of making a decision. This was our only alternative," said one complainant. According to information on the Government web site, they will resolve the issues within 60 days. SBN will report on further developments as they developmentally develop. See the "Statement of Complaint" presented to the Executive Board at the initial hearing on April 6, 2009 June 18, 2009

August Update 8/15/2009 Election Protest The Department of Labor has asked for, and received, permission from Local 2038 to extend the time when they must take action on the "Protest of Election." This extension will give the DOL until September 11, 2009 to file suit if it chooses to do so. The representative of the DOL has assured SBN that this action should not be viewed as positive, negative, or indifferent by the parties involved, but is only a matter of more time to make a decision in this case. They were not forthcoming with any other information. see the DOL request HERE Trial Committee The Committee of Inquiry has scheduled a hearing on charges against President Michael DaVaney for August 19, at 11:00 a.m. at the Union Hall. ALSO At this time the Committee of Inquiry will be discussing the question put to them on May 28, 2009 by the Webmaster of Steel about quarterly Local Union meetings. August 15, 2009

A Special Video Report courtesy of Onion News Network More American Workers Outsourcing Own Jobs Overseas. "I use the money I would have spent on coffee" July 16, 2009

Democracy Inaction by SBN Columnist "Olde Skool" --------------- . . . a shameful denial of rights to the people who took the time and effort to participate. . . . more . . . June 28, 2009

SBN Exclusive Report It has been more than two weeks since SBN published the "Open Letter" and "Questionnaire" hoping to get our Local Division Officers to speak their minds on all the controversial issues that our membership is dealing with. Now we are happy to show the results of our efforts in . . . Local 2038 Division Officers Take a Stand June 18, 2009

Was that a Financial Report?
December 13, 2008

Nominations and Elections of Local 2038 Officers
Feb 22, 2009

Anointment and Coronation of Local 2038 Officers
March 4, 2009

How Professional Unions Handle Financial Reports
March 6, 2009

Is Our Nomination Process Illegal?
March 8, 2009

Is our Executive Board Election Illegal?
March 8, 2009

Election Protest to be Filed
March 13, 2009

Port longshoremen protest union election
by Kevin Nevers - Chesterton Tribune
March 13, 2009

Looney Tunes
March 22, 2009

Are Local 2038 Officers Afraid of Their Own Membership?
March 25, 2009

Has Our Executive Board Started a New Election Campaign?
April 4, 2009

Election Protest - "Statement of Complaint"
April 6, 2009