Pile Drivers Local 34
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Rank and File Union Democracy vs. Corporate Labor BossesWhich Side are you on, John Sweeney?
John Sweeney assumed the leadership of the AFL/CIO with inspiring calls for a revitalized labor movement. The test of his resolve to defend workers' interests and rights doesn't come just from America's corporate bosses, but from power-grabbing bosses inside the unions, too. Rank and file members of Pile Drivers Local 34 in Oakland, California, are fighting back for local union democracy.
We must know quickly which side John Sweeney is on.
If a union-busting lawyer came to your local and ordered you to give up your righ to make and enforce your own contracts, elect you own officers and control your own assets, you'd laugh him out the door.
But when an international union does it, it's no laughing matter. Unless principled labor movement leaders intervene quickly, internal power plays and corporate-style hostile takeovers threaten to discredit unions as the last place where working people have a voice Example? The skilled Pile Drivers, Divers, Carpenters, Bridge, Wharf and Dock Builders around San Francisco Bay have a 120 -year history of local democracy. In fact, our members recently voted 500-0 to REJECT a merger ordered by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. But UBC President Dough McCarron won't accept a vote that bars him from control of our money and our livelihoods.
As he has done across the country, McCarron is using classic corporate tactics toforcibly take over our local union and eliminate any accountability to us. Pile Drivers Local 34 received it AFL charter directly from Samuel Gompers in 1901. We're living proof that local democracy and the labor activism John Sweeney advocates are inseparable.
After all, without democracy, there's no participation. Without participation, no activism. No activism, nor organizing. No organizing, no future.
DEMOCRACY IS NON-NEGOTIABLE.
To stop the Doug McCarrons of the labor movement - bosses who'd clearly be more at home on the corporate side - we must institute a simple, universal principle: One member, one vote to directly elect accountable officials from top to bottom -just as we do as citizens. That's what we're fighting for here in Oakland, California.
Which side are you on, John Sweeney?
Meet with us. Talk with us. Let's find out.
Pile Drivers Local 34
Executive Committee and Full-Time Officers:
Dave Rhodes, Senior Business Agent
James Walker, Business Agent
Larry Wagner, Organizer
Thom Donnelly, Financial Secretary
Local Democracy Is Real Democracy To learn more, please contact: Pile Drivers Local 34, 55 Hegenberger Place, Oakland, CA 94612, Fax: (510) 635-1234
This ad was placed in the New York Times On August 4, 1997 If you want to let John Sweeney and McCarron know how you feel these are their addresses and phones. Fax a copy of your letter to Pile Drivers Local 34 Email a copy of your statement and/or resolution to labr.construction@conf.igc.apc.org
The United Brotherhood Of Carpenters & Joiners Of America At
101 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001
202-546-6206 Fax 1-202-543-5724
John Sweeney
AFL-CIO
815 16th St. N.W.
Washington,DC 20006
202-637-5058
America@work for letters to the AFL-CIO magazine