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From the May 2005 issue of The $100 Plus Club News #94
Two Letters on Direct Elections in AFSCME DC37
They're moving v e r r r r y slowly in AFSCME DC 37 to act on a proposal for the election of top council officers by direct membership vote. The problem is that it requires a 2/3 vote of local delegates to change the bylaws, and these same delegates now elect the officers. The present system allows the officers of a few big locals to arrange the elections without regard for membership opinion. And so even though both factions came out in favor of the new system, years pass and nothing happens. Some local officers and their delegates are obviously reluctant to strip themselves of the decisive power.
Alonso L. Myers, a delegate from Local 154, has been conducting a one-man campaign for action. We share here excerpts from his February 4th "Open Letter to District Council 37 Delegates."
The second letter is from Gerald Adler, retired AFT and Chicago Caucus for a Democratic Union member, who sent AUD his views on union democracy efforts in DC 37.
Waiting for action in AFSCME DC 37: Open Letter to District Council 37 Delegates [excerpted]
by Alonso L. Myers
Recently the Laws and Rules Committee of District Council 37 held hearings on the issue of the One Member One Vote Amendment proposal, which will be presented to the Delegate Body at a later date.
During these hearings one of the questions raised in the form of an objection was, why were only delegates permitted to testify at these proceedings? The Committee's reply indicated that the speaking restriction was imposed by way of a dictate directly from the General Counsel's Office of AFSCME.
Two questions raised by members in subsequent discussions about these hearings were: Why is the General Counsel of AFSCME dictating who is going to be permitted to speak at proceedings concerning D.C. 37's Amendment to its Constitution? And! Why did the Law & Rules Committee of D.C. 37 go along with such an outrageous restriction?
The hearings on the One Member One Vote Amendment also established the fact that there are presently 327 Delegates, who are currently permitted to sit on the Delegate floor and vote during D.C. 37 Delegate meetings....
Or, will the cries of members being permitted to vote costing too much, be the excuse used to hide behind by fellow Delegates, and those who have power, who really prefer not to Give the Vote to members....
A denial of the right to vote in this instance to the general membership of District Council 37 by the Delegates, will be a pure and simple grab for power. It has been said that those in charge in both camps know that they have sway and power. And, giving the vote to the general membership will only dilute their sway and power.
While everyone in a leadership position appears to give a public impression and polite nod to the approval of the concept of One Member One Vote. One would be hard pressed to find any real get out the vote rally, or leaflets and flyers in favor of the idea of One Member One Vote, directed at the Delegates, in an effort to sway support for this issue, coming from either camp....
District Council 37 has for too long allowed the issue of One Member One Vote to fall through the cracks, and its leadership, both past and present, has quietly turned a blind eye to the reality that the system now in place is a mockery of democracy.
Everyone knows this to be a fact. Yet, at the same time the forces in control, take comfort in the notion that they can point the finger at the other guy and say, "I'm all for it but its their Delegates who won't support it."
My fellow Delegates of District Council 37, it is time we Delegates give more "Power to the People." It is time we, The Delegates Body of District Council 37, put some real meaning in the slogan "Members First."
On Direct Elections in AFSCME DC 37
by Gerald Adler
Direct election of the major officers in the 110,000 membership of AFSCME Local Council (DC) 37 will never work unless...you have campaign finance reform. I base this on my experience as a candidate in the 35,000 Chicago Teachers Union which does provide for direct election. Let me give you some suggestions which could be financed in part by a small surcharge on dues during the campaign period and to end with the election, per se....
First, all slates or candidates should be provided with one free first class mailing. Second, regional candidates debates should be mandatory. Now at these debates in the boroughs of New York City, District Council 37 could allow tables for the equal distribution of the campaign literature for all candidates. Within reason banners should be allowed inside the debate to add an esprit de corps for the campaign ....What we need in effect is union money in the campaign, not to screw all candidates equally by making them scramble for money when the incumbents always have the advantage of using union staffers off-the-clock, or on vacation.
With a minimum amount of money...you would equalize the playing field in a direct election. If we look at past American history, direct election of senators by the people and not the state legislature has still given us the best "senators money can buy." So political reporting is based on fundraising to the neglect of issues. If direct elections in District 37 results, then campaign financing out of union funds must be provided for all within reason and under the proviso that what is extended to one candidate must be extended to all. Direct elections without campaign finance reform has corrupted American elections; we can learn to do it right in unions by learning from the mistakes of the politicians. Investing union funds in campaign financing open to all would be a shot in the arm for union democracy.
Other articles on AFSCME DC37:
AFSCME reform fails
NYC Public Employees
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