LaborInformation.com
Title
Labor Information
Description
This site is owned and managed by Ed Kehoe, a Union member, a delegate to the 1997 TWU International convention, a former Shop Steward and a current member of the TWU Local 100 executive board. The purpose of this site is to supply labor related information, regardless of the source, pro and anti-union, whether I agree with it or not. There are many opinions stated here that I am in total disagreement with, nevertheless, it is important to be aware of them. Information is power.
My journey towards becoming a former Shop Steward began when I decided that the Union leaders in my section had become an extension of management. That in fact, as far as my section of the local was concerned, it was probably the single best weapon in the management arsenal. In my workplace when you fight against management to protect the rights of your fellow workers, you must also be prepared to fight against your union leaders, it is just that simple. In the beginning, because of a misplaced sense of loyalty to the union I was hesitant to speak out against this. Since then however, I have discovered the length and the breadth of their treachery. I have told them to their face in the middle of the union meetings, that the best thing they could do for our members, would be to get the hell out, and never come back. In order to facilitate their departure, I decided to run against them. I did, and I won a seat on the executive board. As an executive board member I at least have an opportunity to try to make changes. I am definitely pro union membership, that is why, I will continue to fight like hell against the corrupt union officials that attempt to undermine the rights of the individual union member.
The Local consists of approximately 33,000 members. I attend every union meeting, of the approximately 600 hundred or so members in my section only 10 to 15 members on average will attend. The leaders do not encourage the members to come, and, the attitude of the leaders during the meetings discourages the members from returning. There is an amendment in our union by-laws that prevents a member from running for an elective union position unless that member has attended 50% of the meetings in the year prior to the election. This is one of the primary reasons that the union leaders do not encourage attendance, it eliminates competition for reelection. I made a motion at a section meeting to have this qualification abolished (the courts have ruled that this may be done), it was voted on and accepted. My elected representative on the executive board has been prevented from presenting the motion to the board for discussion, naturally. Without anyone eligible to run against them, the entrenchment of the current leadership is assured. Add to this, the fact that at the 1997 TWU International Convention, the elected delegates, most of whom were officers, voted to take away the membership right to recall union officers. Myself, and all the members of the dissident group known as "NEW Directions" were among the very few that voted against this.
Languages
English
Address
- 314 W. 231 St, Ste 111
- New York NY 10463 US
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- Alexa: LaborInformation.com
