Whose Name Is It Anyway?

Greeting Brothers & Sisters! First of all I want to apologize for this being my first post in quite a long time. There is so much going on with our Local that I don't know where to start. This blog has been dedicated to convention coverage since its inception so, I will try my best to only discuss "convention related" issues although there will be occasions when an issue will co-mingle with a Local related issue. Wouldn't you know it that this is one such instance when an issue with the Local 311 2011 LiUNA Delegate Election can have an adverse impact on the Local. As of this posting, I have filed a protest with the LiUNA Elections Office. If my protest is upheld, there is a strong possibility that the Delegate Election will have to be re-run. If this happens, it can not be overlooked that whomever was responsible for the selection and appointment of these current Judges of Election has failed the Membership. To the best of my knowledge, we are paying these individuals a salary with Union funds. Then, to have to pay them twice for something that they did wrong or had control over is just not right to me. My blog was primary started to target the smaller Branches; Abilene, Amarillo, Beaumont, Bryan, Corpus Christi, East Texas, El Paso, Lubbock, McAllen, Midland, Victoria, Waco & Wichita Falls. How many convention delegates have ever been elected from these Branches? How many election judges have ever come from these Branches? I'm into my 32nd yr. and anyone can correct me if I'm wrong, there has never been any convention delegates or even election judges from any of these Branches. I would venture to say that no one at any of these Branches has ever been even considered to be an election judge. Why you may ask? Because it's all about money. I'll speak more on this later, but first let me tell you the reason I filed the protest. For any election, we are allowed to nominate ourselves (self-nomination) which is what I normally do. You can do this in person or you can do it in writing (which is also what I do since I've gotten older). I sent in my written nomination requesting that my name be ONE WAY on the official ballot (Billy "Your Personal Delegate" Sheppard) and the Judges of Election determined that THEY wanted my name to be ANOTHER WAY, Billy "b.shep." Sheppard. Whose name is it anyway? If it's my name, and it has been for 53 yrs., then it stands to reason that the choice should be mine on how I want my name listed. The significance of this is it's the moniker that I have used starting with the 2000 NPMHU National Convention Delegate Election (elected), the 2001 LiUNA Convention Delegate Election (elected), the 2004 NPMHU National Convention Delegate Election (elected), the 2006 LiUNA Convention Delegate Election (elected), the 2008 NPMHU National Convention Delegate Election (elected) and now the 2011 LiUNA Convention Delegate Election. As you can see, I have been very successful with this formula. I attempted to straighten this out by phone with the Chairman of the Judges of Election but was unsuccessful. My only recourse was to file a protest of which I am anxiously awaiting a speedy reply. I received my ballot today so I'm sure members all over the Local received theirs too. Please fill it out and mark my name (third name on the left) as one of your eight (8) selections at any rate just in case. Now back to my it's all about money statement. The Executive Board has almost always been made up of individuals from Dallas or the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. When it comes to spending money on anyone besides themselves, you find that they are always pinching pennies. Like I said, Judges of Elections are paid a salary and if I'm not mistaken mileage. If a judge was from any place besides the the Dallas /Ft. Worth Metroplex or a place like McAllen or El Paso, it would also include lodging then. Our Executive Board Members in their infinite wisdom deem the cost then to be too much. That's why these positions are never solicited Local wide or made open to the entire Local so to speak. If anyone tells you different, the facts speak for themselves. That's all I have for this initial 2011 post. Spread the word, I'm back at it and I want to hear from you!

Keep Your Eyes & Ears Open!

b.shep.