"Biker Ed" Dunfee
Beta Division
Melt Shop Mechanical
(laid off)
Takes
"His Turn in the Barrel"
in
Letter to the Editor
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Dear Editor:
 On Monday, May 11, 2009 I had the honor of seeing our union at work. We are in big trouble.
I was invited to testify in a meeting with our self-appointed Executive Board. There were also several Division officers present. I didn't know who most of them were. I was there because they asked for my opinion on the protest of the Executive Board election held in March.
I said for one thing I didn't like the fact that two of the union members in good standing who were nominated for office weren't allowed to vote for themselves because they weren't already union officers. One of the Executive Board members said he never votes for himself (like that makes a difference) and then he looked around for assurance from the other officers present. They then said they always vote for themselves. He looked surprised. I don't know why.
What about the Union officers who felt it was a waste of their time to vote? They let down their division members because, according to their logic, they vote to represent their constituents best interests. That's right - almost half of these elected representatives of us ignorant and untrustworthy peons didn't even vote. It gives us a good idea of just how committed the self-proclaimed Union elitists are. I bet they all claimed their monthly pay allotment from the Union. Shame, Shame on them.
And then I addressed the issue about the next Beta Division quarterly meeting being scheduled for Memorial Day. Our President, Mike DaVaney, said it was a mistake but we are keeping it on that date. He must have never had a friend or loved one die in service to his country so he doesn't mind having a union meeting on that day. I'm sure that if he asked the membership they would rather be with their family & friends. Maybe he's punishing Beta Division because it was their members that signed the Election Protest.
That was May 11. On the morning of May 12 I got a call from DaVaney who said their tape recorder ran out of tape while I was testifying and no one noticed. He said I (and everyone who testified after me) would need to come back and do it all again or send a signed letter stating my protest. I couldn't make it back for a second day so I will tell you here. My thinking is this - just because you got away with something against the By-laws, the ILA Constitution, and several Federal laws, still doesn't make it right, no matter how many hearings or how much you try to tell everyone this is the way it's always been.
"Biker Ed" Dunfee
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