I believe in rank and file membership power. I do not think that I have all the answers. I do not believe that I should be making decisions for others, they are fully capable of making the same decisions for themselves. And I will always fight for greater democracy in my union.
At the 2018 Labor Notes conference President Davis and I went to an open negotiations training and learned from other locals how unions could empower members to write and fight for groundbreaking contracts that benefit the common good.
I then saw first hand how this worked when I helped facilitate over 200 members drafting a comprehensive Memorandum of Agreement on a google doc that was open to comments from all and involved numerous speciality subcommittees. I saw the work and attention to detail we can achieve when there are more eyes and ears watching out. We presented that document to the Chancellor, but it then went behind closed doors.
The current leadership and those running with the incumbent President do not believe that the Representative Assembly and Members should be making these kinds of important strategic decisions. They have argued repeatedly in the Board room that they have more information and greater knowledge and therefore should be making important decisions about the future strategic decisions of our union.
If making choices at the top led to wins then we wouldn’t be in the situation we are now where we are no closer to a contract, no closer to ending mayoral control, no closer to replacing IMPACT.
We can fix this. We need to give members and their elected representatives in the Rep Assembly access to the information that they need to make decisions. We must treat our reps and members as full strategic partners in this union.
What makes this situation even more frustrating is that in September 2020 I wrote (and the WTU Executive Board passed unanimously) updated standing rules for the Rep Assembly Meetings (see below for full document). These include some simple updates that would go a long way to building member power and pushing transparency.
A full printed agenda that always allows for new business proposed by Reps + Members
Zoom settings that allow for the chat and maximum opportunities for member voice
A communication timeline that solicits agenda items from Reps/Delegates and then gets all necessary documents to the voting members well in advance of the meeting so they can prepare.
Unfortunately, despite repeated reminders and requests in advance, there have always been excuses from the WTU leadership on why these basic items could not be fulfilled.
Enough is enough. It is time to vote for a change.
Members of the executive board are not magically better than any other member. The only difference is our access to key decision makers and information.
So open that up.
Be transparent.
Be democratic.
When union members are empowered they fight.
That’s why I am running as an independent candidate for WTU secretary and that’s why I am asking my fellow members to support me, James Isreal for President and to vote for the Unity slate so that I have allies on this board who understand the importance of democracy and member voice.
Updated Standing Rules
Motion # 1 Proposed to the WTU Executive Board Saturday, September 12th, 2020. Passed Unanimously
Laura Fuchs moves that the WTU Operating Procedures be updated as follows for conducting the online WTU General and Representative Assemblies in accordance with the WTU Constitution & Bylaws. If passed, the proposed updates will be presented to the General Membership for approval:
Agenda and Order of Business:
The agenda should follow Robert’s Rules of Order and include:
Calling the Meeting to Order and the establishment of a quorum,
Approval of the Agenda
Review and approval of the minutes from at least the last General or Representative Assembly,
Review and approval of the latest financial statements,
A report from the President,
A report from the Executive Board and Committees on the actions taken between the last General or Representative Assemblies,
New and Unfinished Business (if applicable), including policies and motions presented by the Membership and/or Delegates.
Include time limits for items
Engaging in Online Debate:
When a debate on a motion is held the following rules apply
1. Those wishing to speak will use the “raise hand” feature in Zoom and wait to be recognized by the Presiding Officer.
2. Speaking time will be limited to one (1) minute per person.
3. Those wishing to speak a second time on the motion must wait until all others who are interested have been recognized to do so.
Meeting Settings:
The setting for future Assemblies via Zoom
1. Members must register and be approved for the meeting indicating their Name, email, School and Position if applicable (Building Rep, Alt Rep, Delegate, etc.)
2. Motions shall be shared on the screen by the Secretary or designee as well as provided in the chat for download
3. Members shall be allowed to unmute themselves, but will be advised to do so judiciously.
4. The chat shall be open to all forms of communication (Everyone, private, host)
Communication to Members
Notification shall go to all members and committee chairs two weeks prior to the General or Representative Assemblies calling for input to the agenda.
Agenda items shall be submitted by the Member no later than 5 days before the Assembly.
Notification will go out two weeks in advance of the meeting establishing a clear procedure for how to register for and participate in the Assembly.
All registrations for the meeting shall be checked by the Membership Coordinator before being approved.
The WTU will provide a primer on the Robert’s Rules of Order and some of the basics for how Members, Representatives and Delegates can participate in the meeting and will be made available in the chat.
A form for motions will be provided to members to fill out and submit to the Secretary or designee to display and maintain for public record.
Agenda, Minutes, Financials, available committee reports and any proposed motions, should be sent to the Delegates and/or Members at a minimum of 3 days in advance of the meeting.