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Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA)
The LMRDA is a Federal statute that regulates certain aspects of internal union affairs. Labor organizations comprised wholly or in part of private sector or U.S. Postal Service employees are covered by the Act. The LMRDA includes a Bill of Rights for union members that guarantees union members rights such as the right to participate in union meetings and vote in union elections. The Act also contains reporting provisions that require unions to disclose information about their structure and financial condition, sets forth guidelines for conducting union officer elections, and provides safeguards for protecting labor organization funds and assets. The Department of Labor's regulations that implement the LMRDA are found in the Code of Federal Regulations at 29 CFR Parts 401-459. www.dol.gov/dolfaq/go-dol-faq.asp?faqid=474
Carpenters Launch International Organization for Democratic Reform
The executive secretary-treasurers have the sole power to hire and fire all employees of the councils, including business agents. Yet many of the business agents are also delegates to the regional councils. Thus much of the council delegation is indebted to the top officer for a job. www.labornotes.org/archives/2000/0400/0400b.html
Delegate Elections
The rebellion provoked by the restructuring has had some success. Carpenters International President Doug McCarron has ruled that councils may--but are not required--to allow members to vote on contracts. The New England council says it will be taking votes. www.labornotes.org/archives/2000/0400/0400b.html
Why is Labor’s Notorious Autocrat A Coalition Partner of Stern’s SEIU?
Even before the convention, McCarron had amassed enormous power over the union’s 550,000 members by transferring the authority of its 2,200 locals to 55 regional councils, whose officers were handpicked by him and conform to his wishes. In effect, he runs the union like it is his personal property, as he did when he quit the AFL-CIO four years ago without a vote of the membership.
To enshrine his dictatorial powers in the union’s constitution, he had the delegates, most of whom are beholden to him for their jobs, pass Section 10m of the newly revised UBCJA Constitution, which states: “The General President shall have authority to appoint interim officers of newly- established, consolidated or merged Local Unions or Councils” but it also adds two words, “and delegates, ” thus further consolidating McCarron’s tremendous power. http://uniondemocracy.blogspot.com/
Free Speach
Also noteworthy, was that for the entire convention there was never an agenda provided for the Delegates. None of the Delegates knew what would be the next order of business. A veteran Delegate confided, "The agenda for each day is kept secret from everyone at the convention so no opposing force can organize a solid debate."
http://crap713three.blogspot.com/2006/01/carpenters-union-39th-general.html
Half-Truths
From The WarZone , Half-Truths by Mike Griffin
When you pick up Carpenter magazine you would expect some degree of honesty and at least a degree of relevance for working members who pay the bills. That however, is absolutely never the case. Like all publications in the house of labor, the news becomes that which the current dictator wants members believe and which supports the power structure he or she has established. Labor publications, even news releases to members, have stooped to new lows in propaganda designed to deceive and shape the direction current corrupt mis-leaders are going to take the organization without regard for the will of the members and all too often, at the request of the employers.
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Half-truths, misdirection, and spin doctoring seem to be the real challenge for writers and publishers of the Carpenter. How quickly labor lashes out at the mainstream media when they misrepresent our issues, and how amazingly adept our own publications are at misrepresenting issues our members have every right to be informed about. Even Hitler would have been impressed by this machine.
Mike Griffin Decatur IL
http://www.carpentersunionbc.com/weblog/blogger.html
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Location of the Carpenters District Council