UAW Local 602 by tradition does not hold general membership meetings in July and August when the members are typically vacationing or attending special family events. So, in September, the membership has three months of financial reports to approve, discuss or disapprove as they so desire.
During the annual July shutdown period this summer, when there was the least amount of traffic at the union hall, a new roof was installed.
It took almost two years for the Executive Board to decide whether to repair the old, leaking roof or put on a new roof. The requisite three bids were obtained for all the various options proposed. In other words, this was not a spur of the moment decision. The membership knew well in advance the expense was coming.
In addition, the local sent a lot of members and newly elected officers to Fall School at Black Lake, which had to be paid for in advance, but will eventually be mostly reimbursed by the International UAW or Region 1C.
Add to that the expenses from the June elections and the annual local union picnic in August, which were presented to the members when meetings resumed in September.
So, you really don’t need a degree in accounting to figure out how the local spent a huge chunk of change since the general elections and runoffs in June. All you need to do is attend the meetings and read the financial reports or listen to the minutes as read out and approved (or not) by the membership. That some candidates choose not to attend the meetings is not the fault of our governing body. You can ask to see the attendance records to figure out which candidates or officers attend/don’t attend meetings.
Thank you to all my friends at Local 602 who sent copies of letters being circulated in the plant. The way my name is being bandied about, you’d think I was a candidate under attack.
I’m not, of course. I announced back in January that I would not seek a fourth term of office. Thank you, also, to all those who have expressed their wishes that I was still Recording Secretary of UAW Local 602.
Don’t worry. Scotty Smith will do a good job for the Local. You have his word on that, and mine. Scott may seem like the strong, silent type, but he will speak out on behalf of the membership when the situation calls for it.
If you have any questions regarding union funds, Scott can help you find the answers you seek. All members have the right to view those records at the union hall. The Recording Secretary is also responsible for the attendance record. Sorry, Scott, for dragging you into this, but you knew the job was tuff when you threw your hat in the ring.
The latest campaign lit mentioning me by name (keep opening that door, so I can set the record straight), refers to a motion I presented to the executive board. The executive board approved that motion. The motion was read out to the membership, who subsequently approved it. There were two (2) International representatives present at that meeting, and while they had no vote, they surely would have been recognized, out of courtesy, if nothing else, had they wanted to address the issue.
The campaign lit, however, makes it sound as if there were only three (3) people present and responsible for passing the motion.
There again, if you are interested in hearing the motion and supporting documentation (totalling around 100 pages), you can go to the union hall and ask to review it. Bring a snack and quarters for the pop machine. It may take a while to read the whole packet.
One of the reasons (but not the only one) I decided not to run for a third term of office three years ago (though I only formally announced that back in January), it that I wanted my “voice” back. The members of Local 602 expect the truth from me, and I’d had more than enough of the unspoken code of “don’t tell unless asked” or “what happens in the Executive Board stays in the Executive Board.”
Another contributing factor in my decision not to run was my health. After 6 hernia surgeries, carpal tunnel surgeries in both hands, and now rotator cuff surgery, I could not in good conscience guarantee I would be able to serve out another full three year term of office. That’s why I started recruiting/training Scott Smith three years ago.
Well, that’s all, until somebody opens that door for me again on that subject. Meanwhile, members might want to ask the candidates what I stand to gain from all this? The answer, of course, is nada, nothing, zip, zilch.
djg
Posted by bluecollarheart 
Posted by bluecollarheart 
Posted by bluecollarheart 
