Members Local 1571: Elections

You will or already have received a ballot for important local elections held every four years. While I don’t ever recall actively "seeking votes" for any particular office in the past, the importance of the position of Delegate for the upcoming Convention in Anaheim in July of 2003 requires I do so now. I have been your Delegate to the last three (3) Quadrennial Conventions: Hawaii (91), Chicago (95), and Miami (99) and if you were to read any of those proceeding, you would know I have been a vocal advocate for our members and fairness, specifically in the fight concerning on-going union corruption and abuse of member’s rights and money. You actually don’t have to take my word for it as you can read it yourself in the enclosed "partial" Convention Special from October 1999 and may find the full edition and previous Chicago edition on my website at the address stated herein above.

I have had a written newsletter since 1991 and have had a web site since 1997. Given the apathy of the National Contract Vote (less than 30% of voters voted), I am not expecting a record number of "first time delegates" like we had in Miami in 1999 (still less than 300 of 700). Basically, the vast majority of delegates will be 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th, and even 5^th time delegates, most of whom have long been loyal to the established hierarchy. Many of them come with family for a vacation, don’t have to do anything to prepare since they simply vote the way they are told, work and average of a 5 hour day, and receive salary, mileage, and per diem of around $4 to $5,000 for a 6 day convention.

A first time delegate can best be described as overwhelmed, unprepared, ineffective, and silent (other than participating in voting). Because I am the most vocal "dissident" (anyone who dares oppose whatever the International hierarchy wants to do) in the UTU, I have the most name recognition because of the El Paso Express, the Smoot Case, and my previous performance at the last 3 conventions. It was I who lead the way to deny the $5 "war chest" dues increase in Miami and it will be I who leads the attempt to deny another dues increase and/or roll back the $5 in California if you see fit to elect me?

Joe Campos and Charles Alter are good friends, but they don’t have any name recognition and the necessary courage (some consider in stupidity) to actively lead a fight for justice when 4 out of 5 delegates there are attempting to shout you down and/or intimidate you (even physically). I basically have the same relationship with many of the "hierarchy delegates" that I have with some upper Carrier officers, i.e., they might not like me or what I have to say but they respect the fact that I’m going to say it anyway no matter what the cost! Many know in their hearts that I am right; unfortunately, they are not "paid" incentives to vote for justice, morals, or ethics. I have no intention of running for any position at the Convention as I will be 57 next month and am currently on an "occupational disability"!

In that regard, many may know that I can’t have any pay (other than reimbursement of expenses) from the Employer (BNSF) and can only receive up to $400 of outside income without forfeiting my monthly pension back to the RRB. At this time, I do not believe the Union is considered an "Employer" for purposes described above but obviously I would not be able to accept the "VP Salary" at the convention without forfeiting my entire monthly benefit for July 2003, or in the alternative, not accept the money from the International other than mileage and per diem. However, IF the UTU is also an "Employer" per se, it is doubtful they would let me forego my pay; i.e., they would prefer I choose between a pension and being the delegate. Accordingly, the vote for Alternate Delegate is also very important and I recommend you elect George Chip for that position simply because he had continuously attended Regional Meetings and has good name recognition because of his attendance. You could make Byron Boyd and the International Hierarchy the happiest they have been in a while if you don’t elect me as delegate; well . . . probably not as happy as passing the Armageddon Agreement or getting permission from the Department of Labor that they could steal 14 Million dollars from the Job Benefit Fund!

While I would also ask for your support for Local Chairman, it is not as critical as the position of delegate. I say that because my opponent in that race, Martin Luley, has been our S/T for many years, has been LC for the UTU-E for many years, has handled one formal investigation successfully (Campos Banner test), has taken the time to be an observer in 3 or 4 other investigations I have handled, recently was the principal (more than a casual observer) when I represented him in ABQ for his certificate revocation (we will win that case), and there is no doubt in my mind he can adequately perform the most important job he could be required to do (represent YOU in formal investigation when YOUR job in on the line). He will also have some 50+ investigation transcripts he may refer to should that be necessary. It should be noted, as stated in the nominations meeting, if elected, I don’t plan to serve the entire 4 year term but rather one to two years at most. The only thing that might change my mind on that is if I have to have the back operation and come back to work at 59 to qualify for the free insurance at age 60. I don’t qualify now thanks to the wonderful job we did in Congress in taking care of the widows but forgetting our own, but I am hopeful that I qualify for enough of a VA benefit that I will be able to offset the H&W premiums for Melissa and the kids. VA hospitals and/or medicare will be OK for me because I never thought I live this long anyway.

Whatever happens, I have enjoyed my time on the Railroad and particularly with the union and the friends I have made. I would probably say the high points were getting the copper concentrate cleaned up, having employees I represented over the years collect over $300,000 in back pay from PLB’s, and being responsible for the defeat of Joe Bailey as General Chairman. The low points would certainly be the Smoot Debacle and my inability to stop the sale of our productivity fund for 20 or 30 cents on the dollar. It ain’t OK to have $90 something thousand in their fund when you realize we could have had $150,000 in the bank right now and be getting a check for another $25 or $30 G’s on December 18^th! On the bright side, that transgression against the members was the foundation of the El Paso Express.