6 replies to this topic

[BeReal]

So after almost two years of "election mode" at the IBT and around the country with the Locals and the Joint Council, we have finished another election. Less than 20% of the members voted, and if the truth is told, probably less than 5% knew who they were voting for for General President, less than that for General Secretary-Treasurer and even less for the various VP and Trustee spots. Frankly, the membership doesn't care about one member one vote. Why?

The Teamster Union is unique in the fact that the Locals are more autonomous than any other Union. Locals for the most part, unless it is a National Contract, negotiate their own contracts, vote their members, handle their grievances and service their member's needs directly. Rarely does the Joint Council or the IBT get involved in Local Union affairs. The members probably know their business agents (hopefully) and maybe know the head of the Local. More informed members may know the head of the Joint Council, but a very small percentage know anyone past that level.

We have a national election because the government mandated it in the consent decree that the IBT is covered by. Why? Good question, but most probably because it ties the Union up for a long period of time, forces candidates to raise a lot of money if they want an effective campaign,gives them another level of scrutiny, and costs the Union millions and millions of dollars. To what end? Well, the first ever election produced a split between the incumbents, the TDU (who the government openly supported as a means to further weaken the IBT) won, and we almost lost our Union because of incompetence and dishonestly, Hoffa has won the next 3 elections because of the Hoffa name and a slate of competent and mostly qualified experienced leaders from around the country. A slate with leaders from around the country can raise money, get their message out, but most importantly get the local leaders to support them. Then the local leaders tell their members who to vote for and less than 20% listen, but in the end, incumbency rules the day.

There are candidates on the Hoffa Slate that raised more money themselves than the entire Gegare Slate and without TDU infusion of money, more than Pope. We saw what happened to both of them. Done, finished, overwith...

The TDU is effectively dead, unless the Government continues to prop them up. Pope destroyed their credibility and she will be out of the Union in the next few years. Gegare will retire, and we our Union will move on.

The convention was the predictor of the outcome of this last election. The delegates, elected by the members at their local unions, voted overwhelmingly for the Hoffa Slate, and guess what happened? It translated into victory in the national election. Ok, the convention was not a predictor in the first election, but the factors that controlled that election, especially the government cooking the election, don't exist any longer.

We should elect delegates at the Local level, and let them elected the GEB. Save time, save money, and not put our Union into a long drawn out election that is not good for the members or anyone else.

What do you all think?

[stonebone]

Interesting observations, they sound factual and accurate. Plausible conclusions also. Gives me something to consider. Thanx.

[11:58pm]

Well it is a fact. Its the way our union was set up.Through conventions from the very beginning the finest leaders we've ever known were elected. But I guess the government knows what is best for our members. Right?

[unionbustersandtrollsout]

Shouldn't we focus on keeping the government out of our elections? Obama promised that we wouldn't have to pay member dues for government oversight. No other union goes through it. Organized money is where the mob is....go regulate the banks...not the Teamsters.

[scb]

-11:58-

Unfortunately, the top tier of those "finest leaders" more often that not (WAY "more often that not"!) ended-up getting indicted and periodically convicted of crimes. Remember, the Teamsters themselves recognized their corruption, which is why they signed the consent (NOT a court-ordered mandate) decree under which they operate now. And, in that, they were probably lucky. Given the union's decades-long history of corruption and criminal activity, I'm sure there were a lot of "authorities" floating around who believed that the union - having committed what was the labor-equivalent of a "capital crime" - should have been completely dissolved. The fact that it wasn't - and it still around today - should be considered something of a gift...and a status not to be assumed or taken lightly.

Just one man's opinion...

-scb-

[unionbustersandtrollsout]

regulate the banks...not the Teamsters

[BeReal]

Frankly what the Teamsters have done over their long history pales in comparison to what the banks and Wall Street did to millions and millions of people over their long history. The difference is that when the bastions of wealth steal and cheat they get bailouts, when a Union does wrong, those doing the wrong should go to jail, but the Union shouldn't suffer as if the members were at fault. The Justice system looks the other way when it involves the rich.