NYCDCC Officer Election, Dec 15, 2011: Members Attempting Nomination Eligibility

Persons for which signatures are being collected for nomination eligibility for the Dec 15, 2011, NYCDCC Officer Election are:

Slate Name	Rank and File Team	[Daly Slate]	[McKeon Slate]	[LaMontagne Slate]
EST	Mike Bilello (157)	John Daly (157)	Thomas McKeon (157)	George LaMontagne (157)	Daniel J. Franco (157)	Michal Ciechorski (1556)
President	Bill Lebo (45)	Gregory Kelty (157)	Paul Tyzner (45)	John DeFalco (157)	N/A	N/A
Vice-President	Byron Schuler (157)	Tommy McGonnigle (157)	Mike Cavanaugh (740)	Charles Lucas (1556)	N/A	N/A
Warden	Gerard Gausman (157)	John Walsh (157)	Phillip Fiorentino (45)	John Carty (157)	N/A	N/A
Conductor	Mike Leonard (157)	Gaunlett Holness (157)	Scott Belford (2287)	Shawn Eichorn (45)	N/A	N/A
Trustee	Eddie Herrero (157)	Robert Graham (926)	Joe Mertens (157)	Kevin Corrigan (157)	N/A	N/A
Trustee	Jimmy Smith (2287)	Bill Walsh (157)	Joe Nina (157)	John King (1556)	N/A	N/A
Trustee	Patrick Crean (157)	Turlough Sam Noone (157)	Tom King (1556)	Shawn Doonan (157)	N/A	N/A

If there are any errors in the above information, please let me/us know by posting a comment or by emailing me.

Standing Decisions of the General Executive Board; 2011 Dec LU157 Meeting

STANDING DECISIONS OF THE GENERAL EXECUTIVE BOARD
1887 February 15—A Union not holding meetings at least once a month forfeits its charter and is not eligible to donations.
2006 UBC Constitution, p86, http://franco1.info/UBCJA/UBC_Con_2006.pdf.

LU157's last meeting occurred Monday, November 15. It is now 34 days since with no meeting having yet occurred in December. Contact all the LU157 E-Board members and the NYCDCC to remind them of this 1887 Standing Decision and to insist that a LU157 meeting be held ASAP, preferably this coming Tuesday, Dec 21, or Wednesday, Dec 22. Call, text, email, and/or fax them today and every day hereafter until we have a LU157 meeting. Having the meeting is not only the right thing to do but also mandated by the UBC Constitution. Let us not allow the LU157 E-Board or Spencer to ignore and violate this provision of the UBC Constitution again as had been done for five months during the LU157 2007 supervision/trusteeship.

Contact Information: 157 East 25th Street, New York, NY 10010, Tel: 212-685-0567/0568/0581, Fax: 212-725-6793. 505 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10018, Tel: 212-643-1070, Fax: 212-643-2974/2975 Fax. Office Hours: 6:30 am - 3:30 pm. NYC Business Representative Center, Phone: 212.366.7345, Fax: 212.366.7342. http://nycdistrictcouncil.org/index.php?id=143. District Council, Tel: 212-366-7500. http://nycdistrictcouncil.org/index.php?id=76.

LU608 Dissolution FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions regarding Dissolution of Local Union 608

Frequently Asked Questions: 
How will the dissolution of Local 608 affect me?
Q. What happened to Local 608?A. Local Union 608 was dissolved to protect the best interests of our members.  It was NOT merged.  All members have been transferred to Local 157.  In the near future, an Interior Systems Local Union will be established for which any member can join. 
Q, Will the amount of my dues change?
A.No, your quarterly dues will remain $132.15
Q. Who do I make my check payable to?A. As of 12/14/10 all checks must be made payable to Local Union 157.
Q. Can I pay dues in the former Local Union 608 office?A. You can pay your dues in either Local 157 or former Local 608 office located in Manhattan.  The Local 608 Bronx office is closed.
Local 157 West Side Office (former LU 608)                                           Local 157 East Side Office505 Eighth Avenue                                                                                157 East 25^th Street
New York, NY 10018                                                                               New York, NY 10010
212.643.1070 (phone)                                                     212.685.0567/ 0568/ 0581 (phone)
212.643.2974 (fax)                                                                                212.725.6793 (fax)
212.643.2975 (fax)
Q.  What are the office hours?A. The office hours of both offices are 7:30 am to 3:30 pm.  Dues can be paid daily at both offices from 7:30 am to 3:00 pm.
Q. Who will be working out of the local union offices?
A.  There will be administrative staff members in each office knowledgeable about the daily operations of Local 157 and the former Local 608. 
Q.  Has the delegate body of Local 157changed?
A. At present, Local Union 157 delegates to the District Council have not changed.  As the Council is under Supervision, the delegate body serves as an advisory board.   The Supervisor will reevaluate all business operations and delegates as we move forward. 
Q. Has this action affected the Executive Board of Local 157?A. The Executive Board of Local 157 has not been affected by this action.  A list of the Executive Board members can be found at http://www.nycdistrictcouncil.com/index.php?id=143.  The UBC Supervisor will reevaluate all business operations and representation as we move forward. 
Q. Will the Out of Work List be affected?A. The  Out of Work list will NOT be affected.  You can put your name on either the Eastside, Westside, Bronx, Queens or Staten Island lists.
Q. Will my number on the Out of Work List be affected?A. Your number on the Out of Work List will remain the same.
Q. Will my benefits or annuity be affected?A. No.
Q. Will the Local 608 Scholarship and/ or recipients be affected?A.  All scholarship awards will be honored.  An advisory committee will be formed to address the future of the former Local Union 608 scholarship fund.
Q. When is the next Local Union 157 meeting?A. Local Union 157’s meetings will be held on Monday, December 20, 2010 at 4:30 pm at
Our Lady of Pompei Church
Father Demo Hall
25 Carmine Street, NYC
(Enter at Carmine and Bleecker Street)

Source: NYCDCC website, http://nycdistrictcouncil.org/

LU608 dissolution/ LU157 merger

From: Daniel J. Franco
Date: Thu, Dec 16, 2010 at 14:08
Subject: LU608 dissolution/ LU157 merger
To: "Torrance, Benjamin (AUSA, SDNY, USDOJ)" , "Dennis M. Walsh"
Cc: "Dennis M. Walsh" , Mark Fitzmaurice , Jack Mitchell , Walter Mack , "LaMorte, Tara (AUSA, SDNY, USDOJ)" , "Zornberg, Lisa R. (AUSA, SDNY, USDOJ)" , "Lanpher, Mark D. (AUSA, SDNY, USDOJ)" , "Gibbs, Ryan (OLRFI-NY, OIG, USDOL)" , "Garcia, Cheryl (OLRFI-NY, OIG, USDOL)"


Dear Sirs:


1) Are you actively questioning and resisting the wrongful LU608
dissolution/ LU157 merger? If not, why not? In particular, are you
seeking to determine:
   a) What the reasons were for the dissolution/merger?
   b) Why McWilliams was required to travel to Las Vegas the very
next day after the election? What service he was performing for the
UBC, NYCDCC or LU608? What organization paid for his travel and
accommodations?
   c) Why the dissolution/merger was enacted just seven days after a
'rank-and-file' member is elected president? Why the local was not put
under supervision or dissolved/merged sooner while the local union was
being operated by former exceptionally questionable presidents?
2) Is there an effort to obtain a court injunction or some type of
stay/reversal against the dissolution/merger?
3) Is there an effort to determine whether there were UBC Constitution
violations?
4) Is there an effort to determine whether there were Consent Decree
violations, e.g. not giving the Government and/or you prior notice?
5) Is there an effort to determine whether there were US
DOL/LMRDA/labor law violations?
6) Is there an effort to determine whether there were RICO violations?
7) If you weren't already, are you now fully aware that McCarron is a
sociopath? Are you aware that he is an egotistical, double-talking,
megalomaniac who has been operating the UBCJA as if he were a
dictatorial CEO whereby his abusive overbearing actions and methods
against the general membership have been destroying our labor union
since at least his inception as General President?
8) Have you obtained Newkirk's report regarding this matter? If so, I
would greatly appreciate if you would forward me a copy.
9) Mr. Walsh, will you be attending the forthcoming LU157 meeting next
Monday, December 20? I and many other members would greatly appreciate
your presence.

I thank you for your time and attention to these matters.


Sincerely,
Daniel J. Franco
LU157, UBCJA


DJF's Blogspot
http://danieljfranco1.blogspot.com/
To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 - Say NO!, Part 1
http://danieljfranco1.blogspot.com/2010/10/dissolution-of-lu608.html
To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 - Say NO!, Part 2
http://danieljfranco1.blogspot.com/2010/10/dissolution-of-lu608-2.html
To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 - Say NO!, Part 3
http://danieljfranco1.blogspot.com/2010/10/dissolution-of-lu608-3.html

LU608 merged into LU157!

Announcement:

LU608 merged into LU157!

More to come...

Letter from Douglas J. McCarron to Frank G. Spencer

http://www.nycdistrictcouncil.com/fileadmin/pdf/djm%20dissolve%20lu%20608014.pdf

Letter from Frank G. Spencer to the members of
Local Union 157 and former Local Union 608
http://www.nycdistrictcouncil.com/fileadmin/pdf/fgs%20dissolve%20lu%20608017.pdf

LU608 Election 2010

Preliminary Results:

CARPENTERS FOR DEMOCRACY

Elected


Carpenters' Local Union 608 Election

NYCDCC

395 Hudson St.

New York, NY 10014

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

12:00 PM to 7:00 PM

CARPENTERS FOR DEMOCRACY Tommy McGonnigle for President Gerry Gausman for Vice President Donny Arana for Recording Secretary Gauntlett Holness for Conductor Time for a Change Vote Carpenters for Democracy As rank and file union members Carpenters for Democracy has united our membership around a program to restore dignity and pride to our union by putting it back in the hands of the membership. Source: http://www.lastchancefor608.com/

608 TEA PARTY SLATE Patrick Crean for President Joseph Connolly for Vice President Dennis Gimblet for Recording Secretary Herman Warren for Conductor Dedicated representatives and an active, educated and informed membership can re-establish the integrity and strength of Local 608. Source: http://carpenters608insider.com/Home_Page.html

NYC LU, NYCDCC, and UBCJA LM-2 Reports, 2000-2011

New York City carpenter local union, NYCDCC and UBCJA LM-2 reports from 2011 back to 2000:

LU0020: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU0045: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU0157: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU0608: ----, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU0740: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU0926: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU1456: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU1536: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU2090: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU2287: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LU2870: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

NYCDCC: 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001,
              2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991

UBCJA:  2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

LM-2, LM-3, or LM-4 are labor organization annual financial reports required by the US DOL. For more information go to UnionReports.gov.

If you would like me to add your carpenters' local union or council to the list above just let me know by replying to this post as a comment or email me.

To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 – Say NO!, Part 3

The 2006 UBC Constitution, JURISDICTION AND POWERS OF LOCAL UNIONS, Section 25.C states, "At any regular or special meeting of the membership of a Local Union, duly called for the transaction of any business, those present shall constitute a quorum, provided seven (7) or more members are present. For any regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee of a Local Union, those present constitute a quorum, provided a majority of the members of the Executive Committee are present. The terms special meeting and special called meeting have the same meaning."

What this means is that if LU608 were to be merged with LU157, UBC Constitution Section25.C would allow for just seven (7) members out of 10,940 to decide the merged locals' fate. It is already chilling to know that seven members can decide for 7003 and that seven members can decide for 3937, but allowing seven members making decisions for 10,940 is down-right scary. Additionally, I figure that it is very likely that dozens to possibly a hundred or so of NYC members would just leave the union if LU608 is dissolved due to apathy, disgust, anger, and despair.

I'm sure if McCarron gets away with dissolving LU608 and merging its members into another local he is likely to push for the merging of all similar local unions by proclaiming efficiency and cost savings as the impetus while the real underlying reason would be control, or at least less opposition. We already don't have a Bronx local union any more and I'm sure LU20 would be next, or already is, on the chopping block. Imagine if LU20 (684), LU45 (1991), LU157 (3937), LU608 (7003), and LU926 (1919) were to be merged. We would have a local union of 15534 members. To me that's an insane overly-cumbersome number of members in one local union. This would then be approximately 1553 members per E-board representative (1553:1) and a loss of 17 NYCDCC Delegates, 5 GC Delegates.

If all the 'outside' NYC carpenter local unions were merged into a one local union:
LU0020: NYCDCC Delegates, 6 (684/500+4), GC Delegates, 3 (684/500+1)
LU0045: NYCDCC Delegates, 8 (1991/500+4), GC Delegates, 5 (1991/500+1)
LU0157: NYCDCC Delegates, 12 (3937/500+4), GC Delegates, 9 (3937/500+1)
LU0608: NYCDCC Delegates, 19 (7003/500+4), GC Delegates, 16 (7003/500+1)
LU0926: NYCDCC Delegates, 8 (1919/500+4), GC Delegates, 5 (1919/500+1)
Total LU: NYCDCC Delegates, 53 (6+8+12+19+8), GC Delegates, 38 (3+5+9+16+5)
Single LU: NYCDCC Delegates, 36 (15534/500+4), GC Delegates, 33 (15534/500+1)
Loss of: NYCDCC Delegates, 17 (53-36), GC Delegates, 5 (38-33)
Membership numbers are from local union 2010 LM-2's.

Recently stating what I have regarding this issue, I think there should be consideration by members for a UBC Constitutional limit to the number of members allowable per local union to prevent such great underrepresentation. I think the ratio of members to E-board representatives should some how be determined by the number of eyes into which a representative can look at one time. If a representative cannot see at once all the faces of the members s/he is representing then that is an indication that the member-to-representative ratio is too high. This would ensure that local unions would be around 500 members, possibly topping out at around 1000. This would then give the ratio of 50 to 100 members per E-board representative. If all of the approximately 473,777 members, as of March, 25, 2010, were to be within one local union, using the By-Laws of the NYCDCC for calculation, there would be 952 council delegates (473,777/500+4) and 949 (473,777/500+1). If all of the approximately 473,777 members* were to be within local unions no bigger than 500, there would be approximately 948 local unions, and by using the By-Laws of the NYCDCC for calculation, there would be approximately 4740 council delegates (948*(500/500+4)) and 1896 (948*(500/500+1)). A difference of 3792 council delegates (4740-948) and 948 (1896-948). *(See UBCJA 2009 LM-2)

Nevertheless, in general, I think dissolving and merging local unions against the will of the members is an undeniable sign of dictatorial, pro-oligarchy, anti-democracy action. I will always choose semi-efficient democracy over high-efficiency dictatorship. What is the point of losing our humanity to high-efficiency? We mustn't allow our humanity to be replaced by nameless, faceless, robotic submission and mindless obedience. I, for one, refuse to be forced to be someone else's inhuman/robotic nameless cog for the sake of efficiency.

---
For the sake of completeness:

If all the 'specialty' NYC carpenter local unions were merged into one local union:
LU0740: NYCDCC Delegates, 5 (377/500+4), GC Delegates, 2 (377/500+1)
LU1456: NYCDCC Delegates, 8 (1815/500+4), GC Delegates, 5 (1815/500+1)
LU1536: NYCDCC Delegates, 7 (1218/500+4), GC Delegates, 4 (1218/500+1)
LU2090: NYCDCC Delegates, 8 (1608/500+4), GC Delegates, 5 (1608/500+1)
LU2287: NYCDCC Delegates, 7 (1228/500+4), GC Delegates, 4 (1228/500+1)
LU2870: NYCDCC Delegates, 7 (1331/500+4), GC Delegates, 4 (1331/500+1)
Total LU: NYCDCC Delegates, 42 (5+8+7+8+7+7), GC Delegates, 24 (2+5+4+5+4+4)
Single LU: NYCDCC Delegates, 20 (7577/500+4), GC Delegates, 17 (7577/500+1)
Loss of: NYCDCC Delegates, 22 (42-20), GC Delegates, 7 (24-17)

If all the NYC carpenter local unions were merged into one local union:
LU0020: NYCDCC Delegates, 6 (684/500+4), GC Delegates, 3 (684/500+1)
LU0045: NYCDCC Delegates, 8 (1991/500+4), GC Delegates, 5 (1991/500+1)
LU0157: NYCDCC Delegates, 12 (3937/500+4), GC Delegates, 9 (3937/500+1)
LU0608: NYCDCC Delegates, 19 (7003/500+4), GC Delegates, 16 (7003/500+1)
LU0740: NYCDCC Delegates, 5 (377/500+4), GC Delegates, 2 (377/500+1)
LU0926: NYCDCC Delegates, 8 (1919/500+4), GC Delegates, 5 (1919/500+1)
LU1456: NYCDCC Delegates, 8 (1815/500+4), GC Delegates, 5 (1815/500+1)
LU1536: NYCDCC Delegates, 7 (1218/500+4), GC Delegates, 4 (1218/500+1)
LU2090: NYCDCC Delegates, 8 (1608/500+4), GC Delegates, 5 (1608/500+1)
LU2287: NYCDCC Delegates, 7 (1228/500+4), GC Delegates, 4 (1228/500+1)
LU2870: NYCDCC Delegates, 7 (1331/500+4), GC Delegates, 4 (1331/500+1)
Total LU: NYCDCC Delegates, 95 (6+8+12+19+5+8+8+7+8+7+7), 62 GC Delegates, (3+5+9+16+2+5+5+4+5+4+4)
Single LU: NYCDCC Delegates, 51 (23111/500+4), GC Delegates, 48 (23111/500+1)
Loss of: NYCDCC Delegates, 44 (95-51), GC Delegates, 14 (62-48)

To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 – Say NO!, Part 1
To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 – Say NO!, Part 2

To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 – Say NO!, Part 2

McCarron mustn't be allowed to dissolve or merge LU608 and he mustn't be allowed to dissolve or merge any other local union of which the members themselves have not explicitly expressed such a desire. When ever he forces a dissolution or merger, he lessens the ratio of member representation. He lessens the ratio of local union officers to members, the ratio of local union council delegates to members, and the number of local union UBC General Convention delegates to members.

Currently, Local Union 608 has about 7,003 members. The local union has 10 E-board representatives (seven officers – president, vice president, treasurer, financial secretary, recording secretary, conductor, warden - plus three trustees), which is approximately one E-board representative per 700 members (1:700). It has 19 NYCDCC Delegates (7003/500+4), which is approximately one delegate per 369 members (1:369). And it has 16 GC Delegates (7003/500+1), which is approximately one delegate per 438 members (1:438).

Currently, Local Union 157 has about 3,937 members. The local union has 10 E-board representatives, which is approximately one E-board representative per 394 members (1:394). It has 12 NYCDCC Delegates (3937/500+4), which is approximately one delegate per 328 members (1:328). And it has 9 GC Delegates (3937/500+1), which is approximately one delegate per 437 members (1:437).

If LU608 were to be merged into LU157 there then would be 10,940 members in one local. (This would be a ridiculously cumbersome number of members in one local.) The 10,940 member local union would still have just 10 E-board representatives, which then would be approximately one E-board representative per 1,094 members (1:1094)! This is a ratio that would be almost 56% worse for LU608 and almost 178% worse than LU157. It is bad enough as it already is, but can you imagine how bad this would be? Furthermore, it would then only have 26 NYCDCC Delegates (10940/500+4), which is 5 less (19+12=31-26=5) than LU608 and LU157 combined and is approximately one delegate per 421 members (1:421). And it would then only have 23 GC Delegates (10940/500+1), which is 2 less (16+9=25-23=2) than LU608 and LU157 combined and approximately one delegate per 476 members (1:476). Additionally, 10,940 members is almost half* of the NYC membership. Can you imaging having nearly half the membership affiliated to the DC within one local union?! Imagine the domineering control such a local would have over the others, or rather its representattives. *(NYCDCC 2010 LM-2 states 23,501; individual NYC carpenters' local union 2010 LM-2's add to 23,111). Simply, fewer local unions equals less representation. Less representation means more and quicker control over the councils and local unions from McCarron and all the other top-down-management elitist-oligarchs.

If McCarron really intends to dissolve or merge LU608, instead of having to 'buy-off' a few thousand reps, as there were years ago, he now only has to 'buy-off' a thousand plus. If he continues to dissolve and merge local unions, eventually, the number of delegates to buy-off will be less than a thousand, especially with the total local union members dropping. As of the UBCJA 2009 LM-2 total membership was 473,777, which is 37,276 less than in 2008, which was 511,053.

And if McCarron does force LU608 to dissolve or merge, I think we have to have a protest march around the DC and/or rally in front to oppose the dissolving of LU608 and that of any NYC local union. Dissolving and merging is not a solution for betterment to the members. It is just a solution for betterment for McCarron and Co. At the moment, I cannot figure how dissolving or merging local unions actually solves or prevents underlying causes for such an idea to be honestly entertained in the first place. Nonetheless, it is evident and essential that McCarron's and Co.'s egos and power trips must be fought against.

To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 – Say NO!, Part 1
To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 – Say NO!, Part 3

To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 - Say NO!, Part 1

The rumored “take-over” of LU608 will not be due to Joseph Firth alone, or to anyone else singly. If Firth and others were so ineligible why were they allowed to have progressed to the point of being installed as LU608 officers? Why did McCarron, Spencer, O'Dwyer and Bernstein, DeCarlo, Connor, and Shanley, and/or the US DOJ not work sooner or faster to bar them from being eligible to run?

Nonetheless, with all the tumultuousness there probably hasn't been so much availability of information, honesty, forwardness and member interactiveness in the history of LU608 since its inception. The events at LU608 should be allowed to play-out so that nearly all that is wrong with LU608 will “float to the top” and the members can rid their local union of nearly all their garbage.

If and when LU608 is actually dissolved or merged, it will happen because McCarron will have thought he has lost control of LU608 and its representatives are no longer in lock-step with him. It matters not who any of the local union representatives are, just that they obey. If a local union or council representative or representatives causes 'difficulty' for McCarron, and that difficulty continues, he will remove that 'difficulty' and all else along with it. (To me, this is akin to killing a patient just to get rid of a little bit of sickness. Kill the patient and the sickness doesn't spread, though the sickness would have been thoroughly overcome by letting the body cure itself.) He will not attempt to get at the root of the problem, that of mistakes and corruption that continue due to a lack of local union members' involvement and oversight due to naiveté, ignorance, and poor decisions due to lack of information, intimidation/fear, anger, and apathy. This pattern/process of failure is applicable to any and all organizations. Restrict peoples information and/or interrupt their opportunities to learn and they are doomed to repeat their mistakes.

McCarron may argue that the root of the problem is the actual existence of Local Union 608, but that would be an arrogant and disgusting argument because that would imply that all locals are or eventually will be a 'problem' and they all eventually will need to be destroyed.

Destroying LU608 will only make problems worse. For starters where are all the LU608 members going to go? Will LU608 be merged into LU157? This would be a disaster for both LU608 and LU157 members. Such a merger would create a local union with approximately 10940 members. How would that help any member? If simply dissolved, will the LU608 members just have to pick another local union to join? It is also rumored that LU20 and LU2090 are going to be dissolved or merged. There used to be many local unions in NYC. (Though, for the most part they were run like fiefdoms due to lack of informed and involved members often due to intimidation/fear and apathy.) Now there are but 11 local unions in NYC. Are we eventually going to have just a handful of local unions in NYC? Imagine two or three LU's with over 8000 to 12000 members each. You think our local unions are dysfunctional now? The percentage of members that attend LU608 and LU157 meetings and that are involved in union matters is already dismal. Just wait and see how the local unions will operate, or rather not operate, with over 8000 members each. Imagine just 10 E-board members determining the fate of 8000 to 12000 members. You think you had little control or say in your local union matters before? Well, you're in for a real treat if and when LU608 is destroyed.

Instead of McCarron helping to fix problems at LU608, he would rather destroy the local union, as he has nearly always done in other similar situations. Instead of McCarron and Co. helping to inform members as deeply and widely as possible and instead of encouraging all LU608 members to be involved in their local union affairs, they would rather destroy the local union. If only for the moment, the destruction of the local union is simpler, easier, cleaner, quieter, and better for, and only for, McCarron and the UBC oligarchs.

To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 – Say NO!, Part 2
To the Dissolution of Local Union 608 – Say NO!, Part 3