I think it is pretty apparent that what is going on with the re-running of the Hawaiian VP office is a sham perpetrated on the rank and file by a few individuals, albeit powerful individuals. 99% of the people that I have talked to believe it is also. The question is what to do now. There is going to be a re-run of the election. The IEB for reason that they do not have to explain (unless forced to) decided to accept one individual’s minority report. In the face of that the charge made by an individual, claiming to be representing a candidate, that has been denied by the secretary who received the telephone call in question. These same individuals behind this are pulling out all of the stops in one, trying to get Furtado elected while two, ignoring the questions of their actions.
What can we as members of the ILWU that care about democracy and the ultimate voice of the rank and file do? And what should we do? Do we prefer charges against all of the International Executive Board members that voted for the re-run?? Jim Spinosa was one and now he is the International President. Should there be a recall initiated against him? Do we demand a re-run of every office of the last election? Do we wait until the next convention (2&1/2 years) until something is done? Or do we just shake our collective shoulders and rack it up to another in what is getting to be a long list of instances by International Officers subverting the will of the rank and file and/or their actions that have harmed all or part of the rank and file that has been discussed over and over on these pages????
As afforded by Art. 7 sec. 1 of the ILWU constitution any local by a majority vote at a meeting of such local, may prefer charges against any elected officer of the International for violation of the constitution, by-laws, or Convention decision of this International, or for any act calculated to embarrass or impair the dignity of the International organization.
As afforded by Art. 7, sec. 2 recalls can be against an International officer by petition signed by 15% of the International in good standing with not more than 25% of the signatures from any one local. Against a member of the International Executive Board member the referendum needs only be from the area that the IEB member is from.
Note: there is more to both of these articles. I only paraphrased them and anyone wishing to know should read the entire ILWU Constitution. Because ultimately what it comes done to is spending the rank and file’s money. The rank and file pays for all of this, either at a local, area, or International level. We the rank and file are already footing the $80,000 bill for the re-running of the election. So cost is a factor as those that voted for the re-running of the International office knew that when they voted on this. And these same people know that the rank and file when faced with a bill of who knows how many thousands of dollars will probably not wish to look into their actions out of financial concerns for the ILWU as a whole.
Twelve elected members of the International Executive Board voted to re-run this election. They are. . . . . . . . . . .
Am I saying that all of these individuals are culpable of anything?? NO I am not. Am I saying that there should be charges filed against all or part of these representatives?? No I am not. Some of these people are not even on the IEB anymore. Do I think there should be an investigation into the whole matter concerning the re-running of the Office of the Hawaiian VP including why these members voted to re-run the election?? Yes I do. Why?? Because this Union was founded on the premise that we do things democratically. Because this Union is supposed to be a rank and file Union and the vote of the rank and file has been ignored, by these individuals, in what could be another instance of a group of International Officers using their offices to illegally oust another duly elected Officer.
In the words of retired Brother Art Mink “be especially worried when the rerun of the election is so obviously based on the desires of the newly elected majority”. There is a lot of wisdom in those words. And given the evidence now available to the rank and file there are a number of questions whether or not there was any basis at all in the complaint/charge by Furtado in the first place. Which to my understanding the afore mentioned members of the IEB chose to ignore.
These are some very serious questions. There are some very serious allegations. The rank and file needs to know the truth. Because if this is not done then we as a Union run the risk of becoming a sham, a fake, run by those that would subvert the rank and file for their own purposes. It affects the ILWU as a whole whether you are a bike messenger, longshoreman, Warehouseman, sugar or pineapple worker or whatever. If we, as a Union, choose not to stand up to the principles we profess to hold then we have broken a pact that every member of the ILWU holds in blood to the memory of those that gave their all for this Union. Or we can apathetically shrug our shoulders and hope it all goes away. After all it is only OUR UNION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Tim 35181
