What's sad is that this scene is so familiar. A failure to properly inform, a failure to run an orderly meeting, an effort to limit or avoid question period. All heavily skewing the voting process.
This vote sounds so familiar because it is. It characterizes a union leadership that views the voting process as nothing more than a bureaucratic formality. In order to execute the decisions they have already made, at least in their own minds, the situation must be finessed. Their union spin-doctors will decided what you should know and how it's presented. Members that ask questions are not a welcome participant to such issues.
Under the dynamics above, our union leaders tell us that they have little respect for the process or our ability to make up our own minds. They wish to gain some distance around the voting process. This is typical UFCW 1518 tactics in action.
For another example consider the MOU I vote taken by the now unemployed OFG/Loman warehouse membership. They know nothing about it to begin with because it has been hidden from them for 7 years. UFCW 1518 leadership say it gives the warehouse guys the right to go on strike. UFCW 1518 does not request a written legal opinion saying so. At the strike vote meeting, Ivan Limpright assures the guys that the lawyers are confident that it will give them this right. There was anger and much confusion at that meeting.
In the end, the guys found out more about the MOU I when they read the BCLRB decision that followed. After reading that decision, it was pretty clear why there was no written opinion on the merits of the MOU I - there weren't any. The thing had no chance of flying, never did.
Normally these disgusting tactics don't get well communciated, at least not for long. The union leadership stay low for a bit and "let things settle down". But these events are not going away as quickly as they used to. What we know is that, at least here and on other sites like this one, the events are being documented. As each is is documented they form a record - one that can be reviewed at election time.
Just don't ask the leadership any hard questions before the vote. A question like, "What have you actually improved while running the local?" will instantly transform you into a "trouble-maker", a "reformer", or best of all, an "activist".
Shoot Now Ask Questions Later
There are many ways to describe June 10th's UFCW 1518 temporary dues assessment meeting in Abbotsford B.C. It was entirely reminiscent of the ratification meetings of '96.
The assessment meeting was chaired by two UFCW representatives, Kim Balmer and Dawn Green (United Steel Workers union), employed by UFCW Local 1518. Balmer opened the meeting with a short presentation, recapping information regarding the dues assessment and contract negotiations, all available on the UFCW 1518 website. When Balmer finished his presentation, he spoke loudly into the microphone; "Okay the ballot boxes are open, you can vote" he said.
Well damn, people began to leave and vote. I realized what was happening, that the reps were not going to allow a question period until after the vote. I went to the front and asked Balmer to call the room to order so an orderly question period could take place.
By that time, members began lining up to ask questions directly to the reps, but other members in the room weren't able to hear the questions nor the answers. I went into the hall and began making noises, demanding that the room be called to order so members could ask questions.
After what seemed like a long time, Balmer finally called the meeting back, but it was too fuckin' late, over half the members had left and had already voted, totally unaware that a vote to support striking brothers and sisters, was also a vote which would deny a fundamental right, for current and all future members.
When the room settled, remaining members took the opportunity to ask questions. When asked Balmer confirmed that the 'temporary assessment' which, up until that moment, members believed to be applicable only to the current dispute, wasn't. If accepted, it will be a permanent part of the new 'Picket Pay Policy'. It will apply to this and any future labour dispute with Safeway and Overwaitea Foods in B.C.
Members who had come to vote yes on a temporary assessment, in support of the upcoming B.C. retail dispute had no idea that while the dues assessed from their wages this time, may be temporary, the ramifications aren't.
The 10% dues assessment will be a permanent part of the 1518 new picket policy, giving Local 1518 officials the right to bypass this step in democracy in any and all future disputes. If accepted, the Local will no longer have to ask 1518 membership.
The employers want to take away our livelihoods and our union wants to take away our fundamental right to a democratic choice in the future.
Damned if we do, damned forever if we don't.
An up close and personal look at the democratic nature of a large mainstream union. This is the kind of crap that they pass off as democratic?! What a crock. You're right v_t, in the past no one knew about these sham votes except the members who attended them and were either too disgusted to talk about what went on or figured there was nothing they could do about it (except never attend another union meeting) or - worse still - went away thinking that this must be how democracy works.
Let's make sure that no one knowing about this kind of un-democracy is a thing of the past. I think that siggy ought to be commended for her first-hand report and for also sharing her disgust about the whole thing.
Working people are not a bunch of knobs who show up on queue and cast their ballot as directed. It's appalling that anyone would have the nerve to call a group of workers together for purposes of voting on something and put them in a position where there is no opportunity to debate the issue or even to ask questions about the implications of a vote either way.
Tell us more siggy!
The province wide meetings are wrapping up tonight I believe. The interior, (zone 2) is the last to hear and vote.
This will be the group of workers who have the least say in their future. They are the ones most likely to be assessed when the dispute happens in zone 1. These workers will have no say in the final agreement and tonight some find that out when they vote to support zone 1 directly, they will have to give up future rights to decide whether or not they support a dispute and how much they are willing to contribute.
It leaves one wondering, that without sufficient accurate information and preparation how could it be expected these workers would be supportive? An outsider looking in could easily make a mistake and think the dues assessment was designed to fail.
The reps at mondays' Chilliwack meeting made the announcement about the dues being in the policy as his last statement. Some members asked that he repeat himself as they weren't sure that they had heard him right. They had.
This area has alot of long term employees. Kudos to the rep who almost informed the membership. It is always refreshing to see a little conscience slip in.
Interesting notes from the Abbotsford meeting; Two zone was designed to cut off the employers power to band together. In '96 both employers (safeway and OFG locked the workers out at the same time.
The local feels it was a pact to prevent customer seepage and to effectively cut off the dues flow to the local. Members were told the 2_zone will eliminate the employers ability to starve strikers out.
"Any fool can negotiate a strike ... " seems to be the strategy. If anyone can decode that for me it would surely be appreciated.
There was a moment of recognition for the Loman Warehouse brothers, who are no longer with us. Well actually it was more about how leafletting will play a big part in our dispute, and already is. Apparently leafletting is happening in the Vancouver area.
The strike issues remain, ato's, seniority, wages etc. All the basics. The two tier wage scale came up and we are fighting to close the gap. I'm a little confused because the agreement says juniors and clerkll's get less compensation and benefits, the employer pays these workers less and the new picket pay policy, if accepted, will also pay these workers less.
The policy calls for workers to receive 50% of their 13 wk average prior to any dispute. well 50% of a pre-rat is a lot more then 50% of a juniors gross. So does this mean juniors will walk the picket line for less money then other members doing the same time? Two tier picketing? 
I think a hand clap is in order for you, Siggy.
Perhaps, some of the rank and file are now thinking about how they are getting screwed by their elected union executive. When one gets enough sH*t thrown at them, they ought to stop ducking and throw some of it back to where flinging started in the first place.
Has it occurred to any individual member of the UFCW to set up their own picket sign?
quote:
Perhaps, some of the rank and file are now thinking about how they are getting screwed by their elected union executive.
Yes a few recognize what they had to trade to support the local.
The dues assessment passed according to the official award winning 1518 site. It passed with just over 2000 members voting, according to the website ... "an overwhelming" 96% and 86% or something like that.
Disheartened, you bet I was. Members went out in relative force to show the employers we're serious (an impressive turnout for 1518 members) and in turn they were not fully informed but that didn't stop them, they made a choice, a tough choice. That should never have happened.
Members showed they stood behind the locals' secreted strategy and went out to vote in support the assessment proposal, what happens next is in the officials hands.
All the pieces are in place to win the battle with the B.C. employers;
1)Two zone bargaining, negotiated in '97 with the express intent of preventing the employers from banding together, simultaneously locking and starving out striking members.
2)healthy, stable, dispute defense fund (3/4 of 1518 will continue working and contributing 10% of their gross).
a. International funding
b. National funding
c. BC. Federation and affilliates support.
d. ufcw 1518 assets/real estate.
e. existing local defense fund.
3)a strong membership which just voted yes and overwhelmingly threw it's support behind local 1518 by accepting the assessment.
Lose to the greedy B.C. employers? I don't think so, consider all the advantages the local has ... this win belongs to ufcw 1518 and the membership is poised.
What did you expect?
(Probably exactly what happend because your an intelligent poster)
Ivan and Brooke will continue to rip you off untill you get proper representation and sue "THEM",but that will NEVER happen because they controll you're dues and what they will be spent on....I cannot beleive what they are railroading you on this dues assesment....br scared..be VERY scared.
YOu are giving up ALL YOU R RIGHTS!!!!
They will FUCK you.
SEND Ivan and Brooke to Jail!
Just 2 notes. I was at the Chilliwack meeting and it was noted that the vote WOULD affect future disputes if any. At least those that payed attention heard this. This is not saying that I am in favour of it but thought I would state that. Now,,,My question is how the union came down to the actual statistics when ballots from both employers, employees placed completed ballots in the same box or boxes.(this happened in Chilliwack anyway).
Well damn, that happened here too, I actually asked which box and the ballot guard said it didn't matter. 
.
quote:
In a number of province-wide meetings held this week, Safeway members voted by a 96 percent margin to implement the new picket pay policy, while members from Overwaitea Foods and Save-On Foods stores voted 86 percent for the policy.
Good question, how did ufcw 1518 tally the percentages, when the meetings were mixed, the ballots were secret and the ballot boxes weren't employer specific?
Someone clued me in ... what color were the ballots?
"How'd they do that?" ... legitimate question for those of us not familiar with the process, no place to ask ... hurrah for the internet.
Another greta (? I like it ) reason to have real time exchange with members.