Administration Updates

Duping the Ontario Labour Relations Board

Two years ago today Toronto’s York University was not peaceably closed for holidays. It was ruthlessly shut down. It was besieged by what became the longest strike at any English-speaking university — ever.

The aftermath? Nothing but damage. Not merely in terms of economics. Not only to the reputation and quality of education at York University. Certainly not least to students surviving the strike. Yet more-so, by real poetic justice, crushing burdens have flattened the instigating Local utterly.

Legislated back to work by Ontario’s government, administrated by CUPE National — Local 3903 has been cuffed by governing authority and grounded by our parent union. Have we 3903s learned anything, though? Of course not.

As far as we 3903s are concerned, administration — trusteeship — by CUPE National is entirely illegitimate. It but serves to eliminate democracy from our Local. That’s why, in our letter of opposition addressed to the Ontario Labour Relations Board, while admitting that we must find ways to resolve our internal differences, we declared that,

Trusteeship has done nothing to move us in this direction. Members are eager to finally begin this important process, but we cannot do it until we regain democratic control of our local… Only democratic local control of the union will allow us to move forward in rebuilding our local.

Too ironically, the Ontario Labour Board appears to have totally tumbled for it. The October 28 Decision confirms Local democracy as perhaps the Board’s preeminent concern:

.. individuals.. have raised concerns about.. what some of them have referred to as an erosion of local democracy… Most strikingly in my view, neither the.. letter.. nor the.. response filed by CUPE set out any timetable or plan proposed for the resumption of local self-government through the holding of elections.

Most strikingly, indeed. As if the erosion of our Local democracy were due to CUPE’s failing to timetable fair elections — rather than how the very individuals bemoaning the erosion long since eradicated anything remotely democratic within our Local.

In fact, the precise opposite is true. Quite apart from whatever financial wrongdoing, one of the primary reasons for administration has been to address and resolve ongoing harassment and intimidation in Local 3903. Unless and until our Local culture of harassment and intimidation can be resolved, there is no point holding democratic elections. No elections in Local 3903 can be fair and democratic while dissent — our so-called dissident voices — is so viciously silenced.

CUPE National submitted information to the Board alleging that examples of harassment and intimidation are numerous:

Members and (then) Executive Officers of the local being “stared down” at General Membership Meetings while voting; their cars being surrounded after General Membership Meetings; coupled with verbal abuse, verbal threats; and, in one instance, physical assault at a General Membership Meeting.

But CUPE National doesn’t know the half of it. Not the tenth of it. Nobody that hasn’t experienced the viciousness, that hasn’t been systematically targeted can really know. And CUPE National can have no information from those that have been most viciously silenced. From those 3903s too terrified ever to come forward at meetings — or come out and testify to CUPE National.

CUPE Nationals don’t really know. Board members cannot begin to know. That’s why the Board is not to blame for being duped. For failing to recognize the individuals bemoaning erosion of democracy are just those who eradicated our Local democracy in the first place. For failing to realize the impossibility of fair democratic 3903 elections while our Local culture of harassment and intimidation so proudly and brazenly persists — as it once again will the first moment after administration ceases.

The Board cannot be blamed for failing to appreciate how fervidly, how zealously we 3903s harass and intimidate our own. Nor what undemocratic methods are entailed by our out-of-control ideology — as, for instance, Tyler Shipley so lucidly explained in his “Demanding the Impossible: Struggles for the Future of Post-Secondary Education” (2009). Nor, indeed, the totalitarian orgies we refer to as General Membership Meetings. As I described in “How Undemocratic is CUPE 3903 — The Story Of Val” (2010).

However ironic the OLRB enabling our Local delinquency may seem — it doesn’t even matter. Not really. Because whether administration ends several months sooner or later can make no real difference. End it must. And when it does — watch out. Government cannot stop us. CUPE National cannot control us. When we next strike out it won’t just be our Local democracy getting victimized.

Last modified on 2011-12-11 22:58:59 GMT. 21 comments

Administration Update 10: Dues Increase

Notice: the February 23 and February 25 meetings have been re-scheduled to:

ALL UNITS MEETING ON BUDGET OPTIONS — Thursday March 4th, 11:30 am – 1:30 pm [ACW 306] Accolades West, Rm 306
UNIT 2 MEETING — Tuesday March 9th, 11:30am -1:30pm [ACW 106] – Accolades West, Rm 106
ALL UNITS MEETING ON BUDGET — Tuesday March 23rd, 4:30pm – 6:30pm [R S137] – Ross South, Rm 137

February 23 and February 25. Those are the dates Lynn McDougall is calling 3903 members to voice “our priorities prior to voting on the budget.” And, to help sort our priorities, she will bring “information on the current financial status, options for further reducing costs to the local, and dues increase options.”

It isn’t hard to read between those lines. The 3903 financial status with CUPE National is largely negative. So largely negative that, despite every possible cost reduction, there can’t be any real options other than increasing dues. Not if we 3903s are to rebuild our strike fund in the foreseeable future.

But wait. What’s the rush to repay National? What rush is there to rebuild our strike fund? If nothing is to change inside “dysfunctional” 3903, what rush is there to pay for past mistakes to be endlessly repeated?

Interestingly, in her communique, Lynn alludes to this very question. Whether anything in 3903 can really change.

It has become apparent.. that not all stewards were elected or acclaimed, that there has not been a consistent role for stewards in regards to the grievance process and that these issues need to be addressed in the by-laws. A strong, well-trained, effective stewards’ council is the first line of defence of your collective agreement and key to a well-informed, mobilized membership.

What? The Stewards’ Council was not supposed to be just another flying squad? It was supposed to play some however negligible role in grievance processing? Like, seriously?

Come on. Let’s stop beating about this hedge. The sad state of our 3903 Stewards’ Council is just another symptom of how radically 3903 ideology fails us. How can any Local council, committee or team sanely function in the best pragmatic interests of our membership when our leadership — perhaps most of our membership too — are running 3903 as an unelected, revolutionary political party? Running 3903 into the ground?

The sad state of our Stewards’ Council is not some isolated incident. Our Stewards’ Council cannot be fixed in isolation from the underlying dysfunction. It is only one symptom. One of the myriad symptoms resulting from how ideologically out of control we are.

How can any of this still be news? Like, after everything Paul Moist said he personally witnessed? It can’t be. There is not enough deniability left for Lynn to disavow knowing and understanding the underlying 3903 dysfunction. The question is whether, on behalf of our CUPE National parent, Lynn will continue condoning our ideologically out of control Local 3903 childishness. All the hazards and dangers to ourselves and others that our ideological childishness entails.

So far? There has been no reason to think otherwise. To the contrary. When Lynn mentions symptoms of our underlying dysfunction as if they were isolated incidents? It becomes increasingly apparent CUPE National will continue condoning our anti-democratic revolutionary ambitions. Just so long as National gets its own money back.

If that’s how it is then, paradoxically, more moderate 3903s might be against dues increasing — whereas more radical members should all be for it. Right? Why would more moderate 3903s feel rushed to reimburse CUPE National and rebuild our strike fund — just to restore Local 3903 to its regular oppressive ways? On the other hand, from the more radical perspective — let’s indeed rush steaming ahead. The faster National gets reimbursed and our strike fund gets replenished — the faster we can get back to Machiavellian machinating. How fortunate the membership can be depended to bail out our radical failures. How appropriate. We may have lost one battle — but the class war is far from over.

Maybe it only seems paradoxical, though. Maybe CUPE National and our out of control 3903 ideologues don’t make such strange bedfellows. But sure as evil is self-defeating — National will wake to regret it. Next time we 3903s disguise an attempted coup as a strike.

Last modified on 2011-08-16 13:25:49 GMT. 4 comments

Administration Update 9: Paul Moist Has No Ideas

Addressing members of CUPE Local 3903 on January 26, 2010, Paul Moist found himself confronted by a sparse, reproving audience.  But of course chill was in the air inside Osgoode Hall’s Moot Court.  Local 3903 is deep under Administration by CUPE National — with no real end in anyone’s sight.  And since Paul Moist is President of CUPE National — who can be more to blame for 3903′s prostration?  Paul Moist’s 3903 reception could be nothing but chill.  Under our circumstances, why would local 3903s turn out receptive?

Regardless how chill the reception, though — Paul Moist never seemed fazed.  Not one bit.  He spoke with calm, with dignity, with respect and sympathy for us, his unreceptive audience.

Brother Moist’s message to local 3903s was simple.  As an autonomous Local, we 3903s are mostly free to do whatever we want.  But why would we want to do what we did?  Why would anyone, ever, want to do what we local 3903s did?

Why, rather than take advantage of National’s tremendous resources to help us during the strike, would we want to freeze CUPE National out?  Why would we want to negotiate in manner so counter-productive, perhaps even illegal to any possibility of reaching consensus at the bargaining table?  Why would we want to harass members of our own executives so badly that they later break down in conversations with Brother Moist?  Why was the sole positive, personal comment Brother Moist received when attending during our strike have to be whispered by a member of our bargaining team?  Why would we want to terrorize members of our own bargaining teams against openly expressing even innocuous comment?

Why would we 3903s want to go shooting our own feet that way?  Why would anyone ever want to be so self-destructive?

The message to us 3903s was probably not meant sarcastically.  There was no probable cause for Brother Moist to get profoundly rhetorical.  He was delivering what from him was simple, clear, constructive and sincere criticism.  Like, of course we 3903s couldn’t have intended to be so self-destructive.  We 3903s have just been making some terrible mistakes.  That’s all.  Because however terrible our mistakes?  They could never have been intentional.  No way are 3903s that crazy self-destructive.  From Brother Moist’s perspective, our mistakes must have been honest.  Honestly innocent.

Oh.  Brother.

We 3903s are not naive, mistaken, innocent fools.  What we are is out of control ideologues.  Similarly, we are not particularly self-destructive.  What we are is generally and utterly destructive of everything we imagine as the neoliberal status-quo.  None of this should be news.  It has been spelled out too often to remain the least bit news-worthy.  But just in case.  On whatever vanishing chance it might help Brother Moist understand.  Let’s repeat once again.

One need not have purchased the t-shirts or personally unfurled banners demanding the impossible.  One need not personally been present at general meetings when we railed and rallied against neoliberalism.  No need to have been there and done all that.  Our record is clear.  The record how proudly we hailed striking out against the neoliberal enemy.  The record why our demands had to be so impossible.

Eric Newstadt for one example, in the very first paragraph of “The Neoliberal University: Looking at the York Strike”, wrote:

.. the tenor of the action was and remains pitched firmly at rolling back the “neoliberal university”…

Only much later did Tyler Shipley — who most officially spoke for us local 3903s — so vehemently object to Tyler McCreary even suggesting our “leading members gleamed with revolutionary ardour.” Yet Shipley, in “Demanding the Impossible: Struggles for the Future of Post-Secondary Education”, went on to declaim how YorkU “has embodied the troubling neoliberal shift,” how “the neoliberal university replicates itself in ever more nefarious forms” and how we must all become “more militant” challenging “the neoliberal status quo.”

And how are we more militant 3903s supposed to challenge the entire “neoliberal“ status quo?  Shipley doesn’t leave us hanging in the dark.  He can’t.  Because Shipley doesn’t just gleam revolutionary ardour.  He blazes the whole-hogging militant trail for us:

.. ‘demand the impossible’ and leave university administrators no choice but to demand, in turn, adequate funding from the province…  Demanding more than what is currently ‘possible’ is simply insisting that the state alter the circumstances that define that ‘possibility’…

Thus, Tyler Shipley makes the record how we struck out not just clear — but indelible.  We were never out there to better membership working conditions — which we believed were best in our sector anyway.  Contrary to our strike mandate, contrary to any principle of democratic governance, we were out to force YorkU’s hand to in turn force the hands of government.  How?  Obviously.  By bringing about an intransigent hostage situation.  By exploiting 50,000 York students as hostage pawns.  We struck for an unelected coup to force the hands of governance — and it worked.  We totally forced all hands.  Against us.

Our ideologues’ broadest strategy, as 3903s knew and mostly approved, was to prolong deadlock until the academic year was nearly or entirely lost.  Until YorkU either capitulated or got busted.  Nothing was to be resolved by negotiation.  Our bargaining team was either explicitly forbidden to bargain — or, in any event, was to have no real authority when it did.  And we 3903s knew all about it.  We mostly approved it.  We enforced and reenforced it.  But we couldn’t admit to it.  Not only because, for our deathlock to work — we had to deny it existed.  Not only that.  It wasn’t just tactical or strategic, us professing the utmost best-faith on our part — and how YorkU was acting in faith worse than death.  It was more than that.  It was ideological.  It was emotional.  We were the good guys.

If it hadn’t been so tragic?  It would have been hilarious.  Us so earnestly pretending to negotiate at the table — while doing our utmost to kneecap YorkU under the table.  While YorkU and third-party mediators got so nauseated — they refused even seating the same table with us any more.  So that each time Shipley, our media bro, repeated how anti-bargaining YorkU was?  In a manner of inspired hypocrisy, it sounded almost true.  And it surely prolonged our deathlock, with time crossing more firmly to our side each passing day.  Until those final moments when all our time instantly ran out.

Now.  To answer those questions Brother Moist implied.

Why did we have to freeze out CUPE National?  Because CUPE National’s help was nothing but a hindrance.  Because CUPE National is a bureaucracy stuck in long past, outmoded thinking that striking is to win better small-time deals for memberships.  Because CUPE National was striving to help reach some squalid, paltry consensus at the bargaining table.  Whereas we 3903s struck out to destroy the neoliberal status-quo.  Which meant consensus at the bargaining table could never be allowed.  Our death-lock siege had to remain in force until YorkU was capitulated — so that the hands of government would accordingly be forced to serving our impossible demands.

Why would we negotiate so counter-productively to any possibility of reaching consensus?  Because we 3903s struck out to destroy the neoliberal status-quo.  Which meant consensus at the bargaining table could not be allowed.  That’s why our demands had to remain impossible.  And if ever our own bargaining teams appeared to approach any sort of consensus with the enemy?  Then our own bargaining teams had either to be forbidden to bargain — or sufficiently undermined so they effectively could not.

Why would we harass members of our executives so badly they break down?  Well, we have our dissident voices.  3903s who don’t share our local ideology.  Our local sub-culture.  Our revolutionary anti-democratic fervour.  Not a problem — we know how to silence dissident voices.  But when dissidents get elected to executive positions?  They can become dangerously counter-revolutionary.  Collaborators with the enemy.  They need to be specifically neutralized.  That’s when regular crowd-control methods must give way to more targeted, more personal, more intimate harassment.

Why would we terrorize members of our own bargaining teams against openly expressing even innocuous comment?  Well, heck.  All 3903s must experience some fear when expressing dissent.  More particularly, though?  Bargaining team members are more prone to becoming confused.  More prone to start thinking theirs are heroic individual struggles against impossible odds from all sides.  In reality?  Their only real task last year was to help preserve illusions that we bargained in good faith while the enemy did not.  To preserve our death-lock.  But it is nearly inevitable.  Bargaining team members forget what they are to not do.  Repeatedly often last year they wound up trying to bargain in good faith.  Thereby raising spectres of negotiated settlemens — jeopardizing our death-lock to capitulate the enemy.

Bargaining teams could not be allowed to jeopardize our death-lock by effectively bargaining in good faith.  Sometimes this required ensuring that bargaining team members could do nothing effectively.  Failing which?  They became replaceable at the spur of any moment.

Brother Moist?  Please understand that local 3903s are not foolish, naive or error-prone.  We are just ideological.  Ideologically out of control.  Have you got any intent or ideas to fix our “dysfunctional“ local?

Last modified on 2011-08-16 13:22:39 GMT. 9 comments

Administration Update 8: Former Ad-Hocs against Admin giving up?

As always.  Click image for full text.

This is a substantial update made more interesting by what isn’t there.

For the first time ever, the DMCs — formerly Ad-Hocs Against Administration — do not challenge the legitimacy of Administration as undemocratic.  Nor is there anything directly challenging the authority of the Administrator.  No false GMMs get called by the DMCs in this update.

Does this mean the DMCs have given up the challenging?  Only directly.  Indirectly though, this update literally bristles.

For instance, the DMCs are calling for a 3903 rally on Friday, January 29 in Vari Hall.  Reason:

Despite claiming that there was no more money to put into teaching, the last year has seen York spend millions on the ‘York 50’ advertising campaign and celebrations; its senior administrators have been identified as some of the highest paid public servants in the province; it is developing elaborate but pointless re-decoration projects…

Hold on.  Wait.  Looks like we already reported,

The 180 million raised for York 50’s campaign, according to the admin, has been allocated in the following way: 24% to student access and achievement, 12% to “academic talent”, 35% to infrastructure, and 29% to “pioneering programs”. 5 million of that will be going to bursaries for students that need it due to the strike.

Oh.. wait again.  We CUPE local 3903s are some of those highest paid public servants in our own sector.

And — darn it — keep waiting.  Turns out there could be a point re-decorating Vari Hall.  Maybe to discourage hatred like this?

Well.. never mind so many details.  The reason is sound — right?  If YorkU can’t spend more money on us 3903s then it had better be totally broke.  But, obviously, YorkU isn’t totally broke.  Therefore YorkU must be pretty evil for not spending more money on us.

What a silly reason.  If YorkU went totally broke then it wouldn’t spend the money on us it already does.  We 3903s would be out of our jobs.

Well.. never mind the reasoning either, then.  Indirectly, instigating this rally makes good tactical sense.  If the DMCs can agitate enough resentment against YorkU to get 3903s mounting a considerable rally?  That would certainly bolster perceptions of the DMC’s effectiveness mobilizing 3903s.  It would mean the DMCs could once again hope to bear substantial pressure on the Administrator.  For though the Administrator neutralized Ad-Hoc meetings when declaring they were not really 3903 meetings — she cannot neutralize a rally by declaring it isn’t a real 3903 rally.  There’s no direct enough challenge to warrant even mentioning it.

Might be the DMCs have got their heads out of their sandboxes at last.  Are local sympathies on their side against Administration, though?  That may hinge, at least in part, on how much sense Paul Moist makes when addressing 3903s tomorrow.  Will he have any ideas to try sorting our “dysfunctional” local?

Last modified on 2011-08-16 13:40:28 GMT. 0 comments

Administration Update 7: Waiting for the Big Man on campus

Paul Moist will be addressing local 3903s on January 26, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. in the Osgoode Hall Moot Court.  Click image for full text of January 19 CUPE 3903 News.

Last modified on 2011-08-16 13:21:15 GMT. 0 comments

Administration Update 6: Website downer

The reason Lynn’s Communiques haven’t been making it to the 3903 site?

We are having grave difficulties with the website currently. We hope to have the problem rectified as soon as possible, however, as we are unable to add anything to the site at this time, I would appreciate this communiqué being shared with as many members as possible.

Glad to help. As always, click the image for full text.

Last modified on 2010-02-26 04:31:15 GMT. 0 comments

Administration Update 5: No news is really bad news

Hate to say it.  Really do.  But there’s less in the Admin’s January 12 3903 News update.  Even less substance than there was in the January 11 “Real” 3903 News.

The upcoming January 19 meeting and Paul Moist’s January 26 address are re-broadcast with locations remaining to be announced.  Which we’ve known since the Admin’s December 21 Communique.  There’s some administrivia.  There’s reminder’s we’re most unlikely to have forgot.  There’s a fundraiser.  And the entire update is triple spaced — as if by extra spacing to supply some semblance of substance.

One can only wish the Admin’s update had contained some update on Administration.  Since, when it comes to our 3903 Administration by CUPE National?  No news is particularly bad news.

Right now, still, the sympathies of many 3903s remain with the Administrator.  How come?  Because there’s recognition our local needs curing.  Because there’s hope, if not for an outright cure, then at least some positive change for the better.  Because there’s plenty members prepared to take responsibility for what has gone so wrong — and to stand on the side of positive change.

There are also, of course, plenty 3903s dead-set against Administration.  Far as they’re concerned, any change can only be negative.  Because change can only threaten our former status-quo.   The bullying, harassment, crowd control and backyard Stalinist purging at the cutting edge of radical 3903 democracy.  They just want to get back to dirty business as usual.  Get everything back just how it used to be.  Get everyone in 3903 back under control.

Regardless where membership sympathies may rest, however.  All recognize the legitimacy of our Administration by CUPE National.  Even the most ideologically radical can’t fully dismiss our local ruin.  And though they can never acknowledge there’s legitimacy — the tacit understanding is there.  Tacit understanding that repeating references to misplaced records and a chilly atmosphere won’t wash.

Whether candid or tacit — how long can consensus that our Administration is legitimate last?  It depends, primarily, how we perceive Administration proceeding.  If it appears effective and in best faith?  Then far longer than if not.  Then if it starts dragging with updates seemingly designed only to pacify, mollify and nullify.

Anyone knows forensic auditing may require indefinite timing.  But Administration was perhaps more importantly justified to help 3903 become less dysfunctional.  And apart from a very few very vague references — there’s nothing on topic.

Are there any ideas?  If so, please consider sharing them.  Are there ideas — but only scheduled to get shared by Paul Moist when he’ll be addressing us?  Fine — let us know if that’s the case.  Are there no ideas how to help 3903 become less dysfunctional?  Is it now just about CUPE National finding how much money it needs to try getting back?  Even it that’s how it is — might as well let us know.  Because otherwise?  If Administration turns out falsely predicated on helping us 3903 locals?  If it was all ploy designed to divide?  That’s just the kind of consensus-shifting perception that could get us radically mobilized.

Last modified on 2011-08-16 13:18:51 GMT. 20 comments

Administration Update 4: Paul Moist comes as DMC blow smoke rings

Not much here.  There will be a 3903 Democratic Membership Committee Townhall on January 20.  But we don’t know where.

There’s supposed to be an “Upcoming CUPE 3903 GMM with Paul Moist” — but that’s just nonsense.  How can the DMC convene GMMs — nevermind while us 3903s are getting administrated?  All that’s happening is Paul Moist coming to talk to us 3903s on January 26.  But we don’t know where.

And there’s a question if York is “canceling the Minimum Guarantee?”  Which is just weird.  What “Minimum Guarantee” is York canceling?

Maybe the DMC had in mind that York may no longer commit funding to incoming graduate students.  Which, while not affecting anyone in the priority pool, could indeed become a factor when choosing whether to attend YorkU in the first place.

Why do the DMCs claim there will be a GMM on January 26 — when there won’t?  Why do the DMCs take issue now with how future grad students will select what university to attend?  Why don’t the DMC’s really address why us 3903s are getting administrated right here, right now?

Maybe the DMCs fail to realize how many 3903s are fully prepared to take responsibility for what has gone so wrong with our local — and to stand on the side of positive change.  This means we don’t care to hear how undemocratic administration is.  How it removes democracy from 3903.  Not right now, thanks.  Not while we can still recall the incessant bullying, harassment, crowd control and backyard Stalinist purging.  Like — what democracy is administration supposed to be removing?  All it can possibly do is inject some democracy where there was none before.  And if there’s any chance of a positive injection to cure our undemocratic ways?  We’re prepared to hold our breath some while waiting for it.

This is not the time to agitate, complain about the employer, distract and insinuate.  This is the time to take responsibility curing our own local.  And whatever dubious governance-from-exile legitimacy the DMCs had?  They self-defeated it calling out a false GMM.  Like, that’s not even irresponsible.  That’s infantile.  Maybe the DMCs should get their heads out of their sandboxes.

Last modified on 2011-08-16 13:17:58 GMT. 3 comments

Administration Update 3

Click image to read complete albeit unofficial text of Lynn McDougall’s December 21, 2009 Communique.

Fully official is that administration shall continue indefinitely “.. until such time as the local is returned to the membership.”  As “reviewed” and “approved” by the National Executive Board on December 17.  Clearly, the call-out by our Ad-Hocs Against Administration came to naught.  If any 3903 locals did go to agitate against administration on December 17 in Ottawa?  It rated neither mention nor notice in this communique.

We are not to worry, though.  Lynn again reassures there will come a “.. day that CUPE Local 3903 can be returned to the membership…”  As if that’s what really worried us.  If and when Lynn will give 3903 back to us.  But of course that isn’t it.

What really worries us?  Whether Lynn intends – nevermind succeeds – more than just getting CUPE National’s money back.  If she’ll even try reforming our dysfunctional local.  If anything whatsoever will get done concerning our more serious issues including but not limited to what Paul Moist called “.. a climate of fear, harassment and bullying…”

That’s what really worries us.  That’s what we haven’t heard anything remotely plausible about.  And while many 3903 locals hope Lynn won’t start interfering the harassment and bullying they do best – others would as soon she just keep it.  Don’t even bother giving 3903 back unless something real gets done to fix it.

That’s how more than a few now feel.  Do something real to fix it – or totally bust it up.  There’s no just giving it back.  Particularly not in light of arguments persisting that CUPE National always knew.  Knew all along about our 3903 dysfunction.  Knew perfectly well yet did absolutely nothing and went right along with it.  Because if that’s true?  It can’t mean there was explicit sanction from CUPE National.  It can only mean tacit approval corresponding to their years of knowing while lifting no finger.  Knowingly waiting the course of years for our 3903 dysfunction to get totally out of hand.  Which, eventually, it had to.

If CUPE National did spend years knowingly waiting for our local to get out of hand and go out of control?  Well then – it doesn’t matter how costly the mess we’ve made.  It doesn’t matter how much money they finally figure they’re missing.  CUPE National only have themselves to blame.  That’s the point worth raising with Brother Paul Moist.

Most auspiciously, Lynn is arranging a meeting for January 19, 2010 – specifically to discuss what points ought get raised with Brother Moist.  Not just as a theoretical thought experiment, either.  CUPE National President Paul Moist will actually be coming to meet us 3903 locals on January 26, 2010.  Should be interesting – particularly when we ask what extent CUPE National has contributed to our local mess.  Whether, aside from getting their money back, CUPE National have got any real will or intent to address the mess we’re in.  And, if Brother Moist claims they do so intend – how he proposes they even try.

Last modified on 2010-01-01 03:56:25 GMT. 0 comments

Administration Update 2

Normally, if you were to click on the image above, you’d get linked where the full text was available for reading.  Not this time.  Even though this is a vitally important call-out, circulated via email by our CUPE Ad-Hoc Committee to the entire 3903 membership.

Why no link — if this is such an important call-out?  Because following the link in Firefox elicits the browser warning below.  Click to better see.

So, if you choose to access full text — it’s at your own risk. Probably no big deal.  Probably our Hocs got caught in a great rush.  Maybe why they issued the “Real CUPE 3903 News” from their ad-hoc gmail account — despite their more current 3903 Democratic Membership Committee identity.

But regardless where issued from, though.  Regardless how illegitimate the source.  Regardless how poorly formatted the content.  This Real 3903 News really is important.  Due to what our Ad-Hoc Democratic Membership Committee are demanding us 3903 locals do next Wednesday during a meeting intended to address most particularly unit 2 issues:

At the meeting to discuss unit 2 issues, members will have the chance to talk about all of the same issues as the other meetings, as well as contribute to the discussion on the agenda item “Composite Local Models,” which we are concerned is a first move by the administrator and a small group of unit 2 separatists to drastically alter the structure of our union and divide unit 2 from units 1 and 3. We therefore encourage all members who can to attend the unit 2 meeting on Wed Dec 9 at 10:30am in CLH 110 75.

Here we go again.  The same old intimidation tactics reprised, never rinsed — and nauseatingly repeated.  And how will these tactics get justified when so many from the majority unit 1 locust all over the unit 2 meeting?  When the unit 2s attending the meeting to discuss most particularly unit 2 issues become marginalized as a small minority?  When unit 2s get disrespected, bullied, pressured, shouted-down, harassed, intimidated and ultimately silenced?  When long-term unit 2s have already experienced these same tactics so often before — they will never show up in the first place?

No need to guess how these tactics will get justified.  Since they already have been.  Totally justified.  Right?  These tactics are against “.. the administrator and a small group of unit 2 separatists…”

Alright.  Fine.  Our Democratic Membership Committee wants to fight the administrator.  No great surprise.  They used to come right out declaring themselves against administration.  Called themselves the Ad Hoc Committee Against Administration. Same agenda — different name.  But now they want us fighting against some of our own unit 2 members.  And, yeah — maybe there even exists a small group of unit 2 separatists.  However unlikely — it’s possible.  So what?  Aren’t we all about democracy now?  Are we not a membership-driven local?  And are not unit 2 members entitled to not get interfered when discussing and democratically electing where to stand on whatever issues?

Well — no.  Apparently not.  Not since our Ad-Hoc Democratic Membership Committee have declared this following in their December 5 call-out: “.. we do not believe that there are any issues that are specific to one unit, since any issue that affects one unit affects us all.”

Here’s a real newsflash for our Ad-Hoc Democratic Membership Committee – or whatever they call themselves today.  That’s not what democracy means.  That’s not how it works.

It is up to unit 2s to determine what their issues are.  It is up to unit 2s to discuss and define what constitutes any unit 2 issue — and to elect what to do about it.  You do not get to dictate to unit 2s what qualify as unit 2 issues.  You do not get to dictate to unit 2s what doesn’t qualify among unit 2 issues.  And you most certainly don’t get to dictate these ways while — holy smoking guns! — calling yourselves democratic.  Not without making yourselves — and, by extension, the rest of us 3903 locals — seem like the most illegitimate red-headed step-kids.  Ever.

Let’s not completely forget ourselves — alright?  Let’s try remembering how democratic we’re supposed to be.  Please.  Consider attending those meetings particularly intended for your units.  If scheduling does not permit — fine.  But.  However.  If you aren’t a unit 2 member?  And unit 2 members are getting outnumbered — at their own meeting — by non-unit 2 members?  Don’t even go in.

Last modified on 2009-12-24 04:15:12 GMT. 2 comments

Administration Update 1

Click image to read complete, official text of Lynn McDougall’s December 4, 2009 Communique.

The following — from Ms. McDougall’s Communique — may be worth noting:

The National Executive Board will be asked to review the action of the National President and the decision of the National Executive Committee at its very next meeting scheduled to take place in Ottawa on December 16 and 17.  The former officers and executive board of Local 3903 or any one of them individually, if they request, will be given the opportunity to provide written or personal representation against continuing the Administration.  I have been advised by the National President, that the National Executive Board has set aside time on December 17, 2009, at 2:00pm to review the Administration of Local 3903.

In other words, on December 17, 2009, at 2 p.m. in Ottawa, before the CUPE National Executive Board, some of our 3903 members will have the opportunity to write and speak out against continuing the Administration.

Will any 3903 members take this opportunity — and act on it?  Looks like it.  A strategy meeting to shape a collective response has been planned for Monday, December 7 @ 5 p.m. in the GSA lounge.

Will there really be an opportunity to end the Administration by speaking out against it on December 17 in Ottawa?  Not a chance.  Not if our Administration was intended to address serious issues or concerns.  Not unless there weren’t any serious issues in the first place –  and the Administration of local 3903 by CUPE National was some kind of joke.

Right?  It wasn’t just at issue, to be settled by forensic audit, how fiscally misappropriate we’d been.  It also sounded pretty serious having local 3903 referred to, by Paul Moist, as dysfunctional due to “a climate of fear, harassment and bullying”.  None of that seemed funny, somehow.

The point?  Simply that whatever serious concerns there were in the first place — these concerns continue to persist.  The stated concerns giving rise to administration have not yet begun to get addressed.

Thus, perhaps not altogether coincidentally, Lynn McDougall’s December 4 Communique includes the following language:

The forensic audit has not yet begun; however, I am hopeful to have more information from the auditors for the unit meetings next week.  The preparation work for the audit is underway, and will take a great deal of time and effort to organize by those involved.

Indeed.  If our Administration is to not be made into mockery then properly addressing the concerns giving rise to it will take a great deal of time and effort.  Clearly our Administration has not yet properly begun.

But what’s the point CUPE National providing us the opportunity to speak out against Administration, then?  Not so much.  Maybe to suggest the process is democratic.  And that we’ll all be better off toning down that removal of democracy in CUPE 3903 noise.  Since, obviously, CUPE National cares about democracy just as much as we 3903 locals ever did.

Last modified on 2011-08-16 13:12:46 GMT. 0 comments