Open Letter to the Division Officers of Local 2038
(Where the hell are you?)

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can do only a little. Do what you can.
Sydney Smith

"It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable."
Molière

Unless you have been living in an isolated hole for the last year you know that Local 2038 is experiencing turmoil between the Executive Board and concerned members. We at Steel Barrel News are wondering where our elected leadership stands on these issues.

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. Rusty said there is a lot of "negative feedback" and "fictitious, misguided information that is afloat and is desperately trying to tear our union apart." He also urges you to ". . . follow the proper chain of command in finding the answers you seek."

We at SBN agree with these sentiments wholeheartedly. If you are having problems with the Company then you should use the Grievance Procedure. If you are having trouble with the Union then you should attempt to solve these differences at a Union Meeting, or the ballot box, and, if those are not available to you, the By-laws. All of these methods are the "proper chain of command" and you should never be afraid to use them or your rights to free speech. And, yes, there is a lot of "negative feedback" but that is often caused by negative output. We probably don't agree with Rusty on who it is that's spreading "fictitious, misguided information" but at least he spoke up and, as we said, signed his name.

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.

So we say to the Division Officers - You are the ones who handle our grievances, negotiate our contracts, set our department policies, enforce our safety rules, listen to our problems, and represent us to the Company and Executive Board. Don't you think it's time you speak out and stand up for your convictions, whatever they are? The people you represent would like to know where you stand on these issues.

You are the people who have put yourselves forward as Local leaders and your members have responded by voting you into office. You need to step out of the shadows and demonstrate this leadership and justify their confidence in you.

How about you, Brian Roth, and you, Zivko Despotoski? You two are Division Officers who actually ran against the incumbents in the last Executive Board election. Wouldn't you like to take this chance to explain to the membership why you thought that was necessary and why you would have made a better Business Agent or Secretary Treasurer?

You will all be coming up for re-election sooner or later and, unlike the Executive Board, you have no illusions about who votes for you; it is the members you represent every day. If you are just lying low and waiting to determine which way the wind is blowing you may learn that your constituents consider that unacceptable.

The membership of Local 2038 is looking for progressive leadership. It's your turn to do some of the heavy lifting to make this a better, more representative, more democratic Local Union.

1. Put your answers in an e-mail and send it to info@steelbarrelnews.com or webmaster@steelbarrelnews.com

2. Print out the questionnaire and write your answers and deliver it to an SBN staffer or mail it to:

Steel Barrel News Towers
408 W. Morgan Ave.
Chesterton, IN
46304

3. If you are more comfortable speaking than writing then call us at 219-926-7106 or e-mail us at info@steelbarrelnews.com or webmaster@steelbarrelnews.com and we will arrange to conduct an in person or phone interview and put your answers in writing.