Tim,
You have a journalist from Europe here, Ive communicated with people from the ILA and other non-maritime unions here, longies from Perth to Liverpool have posted messages so dont kid yourself in thinking this is an exclusive forum to the ILWU and/or the equivalent of the ILWU in another part of the world. And what is happening is absolutely the same as campaigning outside the place where the voting takes place. The reasons for having such a rule, for prohibiting campaigning outside the place where the voting is taking place is not clear to me, I have my ideas on the subject, so tell me why there is such a rule and then tell me if the spirit of that rule is being sidestepped because of modern technology that wasnt in existence when someone felt a need for such a rule. Also my point was not to harm anyone or thing, in spite of my crude use of the english language, its because of the love and respect I have for our union and all of which that entails and that includes you and every other member. But let me also add that the state of our union is a far cry from what it once was and ultimately that falls on the leaderships shoulders whether they deserve it or not, I dont know, but whoever gets voted to office should be supported and also he who gets our support should look after our best interest, and that means all the locals of our union, and anything less is not an option. . . . . . .
Walt
Ps: God bless Harry Bridges, because without him, with his compassion, leadership, integrity and every other good trait he was blessed with, we would not be who and what we are truly blessed to be part of. I just hope that our incoming leaders would strive to be just half the man Harry was. . . . . Then I could feel a little better as to where our union is headed. . . . . You know and I know there is some real stupid shit going on, and its not just one faction or local or individual responsible for the real stupid shit, its our union so let us act like we give a shit about our union. . . . . . . All of us. . . . I feel better, how about you?
