Many of you have heard rumors about what is going on in Local 6, in the San Francisco Bay Area. What it boils down to are former Local President Roberto Flotte, and Secretary-Treasurer Hector Valdivia, committing acts in violation of both the local and international constitutions. I refer to them as former officers, because they were legally removed from office, and replaced, at the Local 6 Executive Board meeting, this past February. They refuse to surrender their offices as constitutionally required.
Unfortunately, for some reason, the leadership at the international level, is supporting their illegal retention of office.
Many members of Local 6 have written the International President asking him place Local 6 in Recievership. Instead, International President James Spinosa, has elected to conduct trials at the international level for those on either side of the dispute. President Spinosa said he felt this would be less expensive. With 3 members of the trial committee receiving stipend/room and board,2 members from Watchmen’s Local 75 acting as “Baliffs”, and a court reporter, this is costing at least $12,000 per week. On the other hand, putting the local in receivership and paying someone at the same pay and benefits as the President of Local 6, to act on behalf of the international would cost about $1600 a week.
The International Executive Board meets in San Francisco June 20-22. I can say that I speak for the majority of local 6 members, by calling on the IEB to end the trials, reinstate the illegally dismmissed business Agents, and Trustees, and to carry out the mandate of the Local 6 Executive board, by removing Flotte and Valdivia from office, and recognizing the legally appointed temporary President, Larry Degaetano, and Secretary Treasurer Fred Pecker.
Regular elections are scheduled for this November, with installation of office to follow in January. Be aware that under Flotte and Valdivia’s tenure Local 6 is 10 months behind in our per capita to the International to the tune of over $300,000 (this doesn’t include $233,000 in the red according to a suspect 2 year audit). As the membership of local 6, takes our obligation to help provide financial support to the international very seriously, we are angered, shocked, and yes embarrassed by this situation. We call on the International Executive Board to step in and provide the necessary corrective action to get our local back on track.
