The following is offered by retired Bus Vice President and head of the UTU Bus Department from personal experience with David Hakey by Bernied McNelis.
I am not sure exactly what you have read from me, so in case you haven''t read too much, I have concerns about the number of delegates under the merger. According to what I have been told, for every 50 members a local has it gets a delegate so for instance, LACMTA has what 5-6000 thousand members so they would get 100-150 or more delegates!!! While another bus local with 300 members would get 6 delegates. So LACMTA could control the Bus Department and many of the railroad locals. I don''t view that as fair to the small bus or rail locals within the UTU!!! Small locals will have no say particularly in Bus Caucuses at conventions, GC Assoc and so forth.
It seems like the the other Union pays its International officers $45,000 a year. What salaries would UTU officers be making and where would that money come from? Possibly the UTUIA!!
What happens to the UTUIA in this merger? Who controls it?
What happens to the employees at Cleveland? To expensive for most of them to move to DC. where the Sheetmetal Union has their International offices.
What about the Bus Dept Bus VP and Alternates? Will there be any under this merger? who from the International will help Bus dept in negotiations/ arbitration if needed? A Railroader or Sheetmetal worker?
Will there be Bus Department representative on the Bd of Directors or whatever the make-up would be?
Will there be a Bus member on the Board of Appeals?
What about the General Committee Assoc. for Bus Dept?
Why is there so many questions from members and so few answers to these questions by the President.
Without answers to these questions and others I would vote NO on this merger. I know many of the RR delegates and members are asking many questions and not getting answers.
I wish all of you the best in this merger issue. Hakey doesn''t care if there is a Bus Dept. I know that for sure. You want him as next President? I hope not.
I can''t see the advantage to the UTU in this merger. What is the UTU getting out of this merger?
Bonnie - It is in the blood and I keep up on most Union activities as best I can.
Peace to you all.
Bernie McNelis
Jackson
Posted - 07/22/2007 : 5:17:25 PM Reply with Quote
Thanks for your insight Bernie.
I would take your word anytime over Hakey, Thompson, Buffaloni or Williams.