Hmmm... some leafletting perhaps? 
Wanna go to the CLC Convention?
I noticed the CLC Convention is coming up in June in Vancouver. Would this be a good opportunity for MFD and union reformers in general to step up to the podium? Some good awareness raising could be done. ![[look up]](graemlins/lookup.gif)
A leaflet would be a swell idea.
UFCW: STOP SLAPPING WORKERS AROUND!
Perhaps a list of good effective material to put on those leaflets!
What do we want the CLC to hear/do/change?
I think the CLC needs to know who is being sued, how many people are being sued or have been threatened with lawsuits and the reasons for the lawsuits. It needs to know about Bill Gammert being sued for posting his union constitution. It needs to know what the basis for the lawsuit against MFD is.
The CLC needs to hear about the demands for censorship of web sites, the demands for "interim injunctions" that would result in censorship before any allegations of defamation are proven, the demands for "unspecified damages". It needs to know how many law firms have been engaged in this pursuit of censorship. It needs to know what the effect of these lawsuits can be on working people (bankruptcy, homelessness, etc.).
Those are just some preliminary thoughts.
How about a demand that the CLC adopt a Union Members' Bill of Rights which would apply to all of its affiliates.
This AUD link describes the Bill of Rights that is in effect in the US under the LMRDA legislation.
Also, how about a demand that the CLC condemn the practice (SLAPPing workers around) and encourage their affiliates to refrain from such activity.
Oh, and something else - the protection offered by the CLC's "no raiding" rule should not apply to unions that engage in lawsuits against their members.
Let the lists begin!!
UFCW: STOP SLAPPING WORKERS AROUND!
CLC: GIVE BACK OUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE!
The protest angle is the best 'cause you won't get on the floor unless you're a delegate. You should start checking with your local unions to see how many delegates they are sending to the CLC convention and how the delegates are chosen.
Run for a seat!
I see by the Local 1518 Business Agents' Agreement that they get first dibs on conventions, so that may limit the number of people who can be delegates.
What if we did up a leaflet that people who are supportive of democratic unionism and who are going as delegates could print off and distribute around?
The best way to protest is to protest out front and hand out leafletts. The media attends and it's news when union members protest corrupt and heavy-handed union bosses and their system of control.
On the floor, they just assign a squad to pick up after you as they are throwing you off the floor for "security" reasons.
You all have good ideas, but you're missing the fact that the UFCW will have its own Canadian Council convention at the Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver the week before the CLC convention.
That's an event not to be missed.
An info picket might be worth thinking about. This would be a good opportunity for UFCW members who are unhappy with the kind of service they're getting to let the big kahunas hear their concerns. It would also be an opportunity for those whose contracts are expiring to tell the great ones to "show us the money".
Why not put a call to action out to local activist groups who support democratic unionism as well? Democratic unions are strong unions. Entire communities can benefit from that.
By the way . . . .
The 1518 reps' agreement may give the Steelworker reps first dibs on *other* conventions and the usual junket tours.
HOWEVER, that may not apply to the voting meetings of UFCW Canada.
That would be governed by the UFCW Canada rules and procedures document, parliamentary procedure in Canada, and possibly even the UFCW International Constitution, inasmuch as the IC establishes rules for the conduct of "subsidary bodies" in several places.
US law does indeed apply to the election of International delegates to the International Convention (next year: 2003). THIS IS TRUE EVEN IF THE ELECTIONS ARE FOR CANADIAN DELEGATES.
That means for the International Convention delegates MUST be chosen by secret ballot, no union resources may be expended unequally on behalf of one group of candidates, and many other safeguards.
So, check that out. I would like to see some union rep maintain that his contract supercedes the democratic voting rights of member-delegates, even to a purely Canadian convention. That I gotta see!
"Our contract means that we get to determine the future of UFCW Canada." Yeah, right.
quote:
If you had the floor at either convention, what would you say to the CLC? What would you say to the UFCW?
I'd be very brief. "You have all made a living off the workers back yet you have ignored the concerns of the members of your respective unions and you have all failed to achieve or adhere to the goals that were set forth when unions were first created. You have allowed your fellow member unions to SLAPP their own members in an outrageous attempt to silence their critics and have stood by silently while corruption has run rampent and in some cases even helped to cover it up. You all have betrayed the workers and your time will soon be up. Good riddence."