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Solid!

djg

What happened to our money?

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

Setting the record straight (again)

I know, I said I would not comment on the upcoming Re-Run Off election at Local 602 until after the election. However…I just received a copy of a letter circulating the plant mentioning me by name, and I feel obligated to respond.

I started this blog in response to a series of articles I wrote for our local union newsletter about politics, leadership, what to look for, and what to look out for in electing candidates to union and/or political office. Some “fans” of the series thought the content was worthy of wider readership.

It is true that when I started this blog, I mentioned the url in our local union newsletter, along with the blog of Local 602 member/political activist Mike Huerta. There was no mention, however, of either Mike’s blog or mine six (6) weeks prior to the local union general elections held in June 2008.

Between the June general election and subsequent run off election, I took issue with some actions on the part of one of the candidates in this blog. In those posts, I clearly identified what was fact (as witnessed by other Local 602 members) and what was my own opinion. Unbeknownst to me, some one read my comments, photocopied them, and distributed the copies in the plant. I have since removed those posts so that does not happen again during the upcoming re-run off election, as I do not want to be held in any way responsible for any further election expenses to the local.

But, in light of the letter currently circulating the plant, I feel obligated to set the record straight as thoroughly as possible.

I was at the union hall all morning on May 14, 2008. Somewhere around lunch time (noon? 1:00pm?) I was preparing to leave for the day. I asked the Vice President if he had had an opportunity to go to lunch. He had not. I offered to stay at the hall while he went to lunch so a senior officer would be present at the union hall (we were in the middle of a strike).

You can nit-pick whether or not I was “acting president” at the time I authorized bringing in additional clerical staff when what appeared to be an emergency situation arose, but I was the senior officer present at the time. The situation involved a form that had to be filed by 5pm the next day, and a late filing would result in a fine. I stand by my authorization to bring in the substitute secretary for four (4) hours, a decision  based on the best information available at the time.

That action was supported by the Vice President immediately upon his return from lunch. Some one else authorized bringing the substitute secretary back for eight (8) hours the following day, not me. I did call the next morning to verify that the form got filed. I was informed by the bookkeeper that the form had not been filed yet as the financial secretary had not provided all the necessary information. I can only guess that may be why it was necessary to bring the substitute secretary back, but I don’t know that for a fact. The only thing I know for sure is that the form got filed on time.

We were later advised the amount of the fine ($10,000) for not filing the document in question in a timely manner by Blake Miller, from the International UAW. I still consider the International UAW a valid source of information, whether I agree with all the International’s rulings or not.

My “litmus test” for myself and any one else in a leadership position has always been simple: Does a given action or inaction serve the best interests of the membership? I trust the members of UAW Local 602 to judge for themselves and act accordingly.

Solid!

Dona Jean Gillespie

Did you notice?

Did you notice what’s not under fire in the presidential campaigns?

Not many folks are squawking about gun control, immigration, or, when it comes down to it, abortion. But has Labor done such a complete fade out that the Republicans aren’t moaning about Big Labor Bosses, etc.?

Or are they just to busy trying to explain why nationally funded banks and nationally funded stock markets are somehow different from national health care?

Kinda like GM saying at the national bargaining table last year that they want higher earnings, they just don’t want to share it with their employees.

Or stockholders.

My physical therapist asked me if I thought GM was going to buy out Chrysler. I could only tell her the truth–one losing company buying out another losing company is stupid and illogical, so yes, they probably will do it.

And, sad to say, it won’t be the stupidest thing GM’s ever done (can you say “Vega?”).

For those waiting for me to comment on the upcoming election at Local 602, don’t hold your breath. I have plenty to say on the subject, but I will not run the risk of some one photocopying my comments for distribution in the plant again.

Solid!

Dona Jean

Doncha Know?

I listened to the VP debate twice, and frankly, I think Palin overplayed the downhome slang/sparkling personality/wink-wink stuff. I suspect she was going for “Aren’t I cuter than Sen. Biden?” But it came across my TV as phony.

While Palin may have exceeded expectations, I still expect presidential and vice-presidential candidates to act the part and use good grammar. Deliberately bypassing the rules of debate and ignoring questions is unprofessional.

At some point in her tour of college campuses, the woman managed to earn a degree in journalism, but you’d never guess it by her performance.

W managed to bumble through eight years with his good ole boy routine, tho. I guess there’s really no telling whether voters will elect personality over substance.

Apparently all McCain can do about his downward spiral in the polls is snarl at Barack Obama during rallies of the Republican faithful. Should be an interesting debate Tues. night. Hope Obama tears McCain’s head off in a dignified and respectful but unmistakable manner.

UAW members–apply for those absentee ballots if you plan to set up your hunting camp Nov. 4.

Solid!

djg

A Heartbeat from the Hot Seat???

 A heartbeat from the presidency? Get the scoop on McCain’s VP pick Sarah Palin from Alaskan blogger Mudflats. Governor of Alaska, just two years ago Palin was mayor of Wasilla, Alaska. From a 90% approval rating, Palin’s rapidly falling from grace into a quagmire of political scandal.

McCain’s spinsters better think about backing off the “lack of experience” frame.

Question: Whether the topic is labor/management or Republican/Democrat, why does everything have to be cast as  either/or choices?

This is America. We can do anything if we put our hearts, minds and backs into the task.

We’ve got the skills, but we apparently lack the will to craft win-win solutions to our economic and social problems.

Most Americans don’t want personal prosperity at the expense of their fellow Americans. Yet, if that’s the only choice we’re offered, what real choice is there?

Solid!

dona jean

 

 

PS on 8/30/08: check out comment below