REPRESENTATION VOTE – TCRC VS. UTU

As I understand it the ballots are out for the membership to decide which Bargaining Agent they wish to represent them.

For your ready information I will be in Belleville, London and Sarnia next week (times and dates will be posted here shortly). Thereafter I intend to travel to Hornepayne, Capreol and Toronto etc.

As I am advocating and respectfully asking you to vote for the TCRC in the representation vote it is my intention to speak on the events of the last couple of years and take all questions on those matters and what my view of the future is.

MY POSITION – AN OVERVIEW:

I come from a Railway family with many members of my family working for CN Rail.

I hired on with the running trades of CN Rail in the summer of 1973. My Father, having hired on shortly after the WW 2, was the UTU Local Chairperson for Hornepayne at the time I hired on and held that position until his retirement.

Many of my family members worked diligently for the UTU and held various positions in the organization, e.g. Local Ch., Vice-Local Ch., Sec/Trea etc.

I held the position of Vice-Local Ch., Local Chairperson (brief stint as Sec/Trea), Vice-Gen. Ch., General Chairperson and Alternate Vice President, all with the UTU.

I provide this information as a clear demonstration of my involvement with and working for the membership through the UTU organization for many, many years.

MY POINT:

It is not about the organization but the membership.

You don’t vote for a label, you vote for representation.

An organization is by its very nature a political creature. It is trite to say that the organization is there for the workers but unfortunately, and far too often, those ideals are destroyed if not by the organizational institution itself but by individuals within the organization or some combination of the two.

In my view the UTU, both as an organization and in its leadership, has failed its Canadian members.

Paul Thompson, Tim Secord, J. Flynn, M. Melymick S. Montani, and K. Goring, to name a few, were able to manipulate the UTU organization to advance their won agendas. In doing so they have been able to shake if not destroy the very foundation of a once proud organization and the ideals it was founded upon.

Tim Secord was looking out for himself (ref: USWA)
Paul Thompson was looking out for himself (ref: Sheet Metal Workers)
Flynn, Melymick, Montani, Goring (needed Tim to look out for them).
Failure of the UTU Board of Directors to keep Paul Thompson in “check”.
The UTU Constitution, a “contract” with the membership, was rejected, manipulated (e.g. the removal of the deposed, issue of accredited representation etc.) by the UTU Leadership.
The FOS and the representation provided by a U.S. Lawyer, Clint Miller (an acquaintance of Kim Madigan VP Labour Relations of CN Rail) – was ruled in favour of CN Rail.
The failure of John Armstrong and R. Sharpe in standing up for the Canadian membership in their time of need.

The manipulation of the UTU delegates and other matters;

i) The failure to support the Canadian membership and the duly elected Canadian Negotiating Team.
ii) The attempt at removing Canadian Autonomy (advanced and supported by “Canadians” - Tim Secord, Flynn, Goring, Montani, Melymick and others).
iii) The distribution of literature calling duty elected Canadian delegates “Scabs”, this without due process – trial and evidence.
iv) The appointment of Tim Secord to an assigned position over the objections of the Canadian delegates.
v) The shredding of files
vi) Retaining of Canadian dues (from Locals, GCAs etc.)
vii) The removal of the Caley/Wray Law Firm
viii) The siding with CN on the legality of the strike
ix) The siding with CN on a judicial review of the legality of the strike
x) The hiring of Brian Shell, former counsel to the USWA.
xi) The blatant and misinterpretation of the constitution by Paul Thompson (“may” vs. “must”).
xii) The decision of M. Futhey (against the General Ch. and for CN) on a collective agreement issue “accredited representative”.
xiii) The power of a once proud organization (controlled by its membership) to one of a President with ultimate power of constitutional interpretation and immediate implementation subject only to an appeal. All without the required second sober thought of a Board of Directors more consumed with their own welfare than consequences to the membership.
xiv) ETC.


MY FUTURE INVOLVMENT:

If the TCRC are successful in the representation vote then I intend to stand for and run for elected Office.

I will not accept an appointment to an elected position.

If it is at all possible I would be honoured to represent you once again but within the TCRC organization.

It will be your choice.


FINAL POINT TO PONDER:

A question was asked shortly after WW 2 as to why the Nazi Party and its leaders were able to perpetuate such egregious actions against its own people, the answer simply was;

“Bad things happen when good people do nothing”.


Rex Beatty