RESOLUTION
Monday, Dec. 5, 2011
Promoting and Protecting Our Democratic Tradition
Whereas:
AFSCME has a long and proud tradition of democratic trade unionism with constitutional provisions and an institutional history stretching back nearly half a century that are strongly oriented toward fostering internal democracy; and
Whereas:
A critical element of internal democracy is ensuring the fairness and integrity of all elections for union office, whether at the local or national level; and
Whereas:
Many delegates to the 2010 International Convention expressed concerns as to whether the election for International Secretary-Treasurer at that convention was conducted with sufficient safeguards and transparency so as to promote and protect the fairness and integrity of the process; and
Whereas:
Among the areas of concern that have been cited were: difficulties encountered in distributing candidate literature; the difficulty of monitoring the balloting; inequities in access to information; and the role played by International Union staff; and
Whereas:
There was considerable controversy at the 2010 Convention regarding the procedures for block voting because delegates were compelled to rely upon unwritten rules which had purportedly been used in the past; and
Whereas:
Those unwritten rules allowed for individuals to sign non-official block voting forms before they even arrived at the Convention and had full access to information on the candidates, and they provided no clear guidelines for delegates who wished to revoke their signatures if they changed their minds upon having the opportunity to gain more information about the candidates; and
Whereas:
Without making any judgment as to the validity of these and other concerns, it is nonetheless essential that the AFSCME International Executive Board take all possible steps to ensure that the integrity of the electoral process at the 2012 International Convention has the full confidence of the delegates; and
Whereas:
In some instances, the International Executive Board can establish certain pre-convention rules regarding the conduct of campaigns that can be immediately implemented; while in other instances, the IEB may more appropriately recommend rules regarding the conduct of the election to the Election Committee of the Convention.
Therefore Be It Resolved:
That the International Union shall make available to all candidates at least four weeks prior to the Convention any draft election rules that are developed by International staff or counsel for the use of the Election Committee in developing the rules it will recommend to the Convention; and
Be It Further Resolved:
That the International Union shall not pay or reimburse the expenses of any I.U. staff person who attends the International Convention as a delegate representing a local union or other affiliate. Such expenses shall be the responsibility of that local union or affiliate; and
Be It Further Resolved:
That the International Union shall not enter into any agreement with the entity responsible for the Convention site or its perimeters that would restrict the ability of delegates or members of the union to distribute campaign materials or otherwise campaign in an orderly fashion on or outside the premises; and
Be It Further Resolved:
That by May 15, 2012, the International Union shall make available, upon request, to any declared candidate for International office, including International Vice-President, a list of all affiliates in their respective jurisdictions and the number of votes which each is entitled to cast; and
Be It Finally Resolved:
That the International Executive Board recommends to the Election Committee of the 2012 International Convention that the following provisions be included in any rules that are promulgated for the conduct of the elections to be held at that convention:
Respectfully submitted,
Danny Donohue, International Vice-President, CSEA District
Ken Allen, International Vice-President, Northwestern District
Henry Bayer, International Vice-President, Illinois District
George Boncoraglio, International Vice-President, CSEA District
Greg Devereux, International Vice-President, Northwestern District
Sal Luciano, International Vice-President, South New England District
Roberta Lynch, International Vice-President, Illinois District
Gary Mitchell, International Vice-President, Wisconsin District
Henry Nicholas, International Vice-President, NUHHCE District
George Popyack, International Vice-President, California District
Kathy Sackman, International Vice-President, NUHHCE District
Eliot Seide, International Vice-President, North-Central District
Mary Sullivan, International Vice-President, CSEA District
Promoting and Protecting Our Democratic Tradition
Whereas:
AFSCME has a long and proud tradition of democratic trade unionism with constitutional provisions and an institutional history stretching back nearly half a century that are strongly oriented toward fostering internal democracy; and
Whereas:
A critical element of internal democracy is ensuring the fairness and integrity of all elections for union office, whether at the local or national level; and
Whereas:
Many delegates to the 2010 International Convention expressed concerns as to whether the election for International Secretary-Treasurer at that convention was conducted with sufficient safeguards and transparency so as to promote and protect the fairness and integrity of the process; and
Whereas:
Among the areas of concern that have been cited were: difficulties encountered in distributing candidate literature; the difficulty of monitoring the balloting; inequities in access to information; and the role played by International Union staff; and
Whereas:
There was considerable controversy at the 2010 Convention regarding the procedures for block voting because delegates were compelled to rely upon unwritten rules which had purportedly been used in the past; and
Whereas:
Those unwritten rules allowed for individuals to sign non-official block voting forms before they even arrived at the Convention and had full access to information on the candidates, and they provided no clear guidelines for delegates who wished to revoke their signatures if they changed their minds upon having the opportunity to gain more information about the candidates; and
Whereas:
Without making any judgment as to the validity of these and other concerns, it is nonetheless essential that the AFSCME International Executive Board take all possible steps to ensure that the integrity of the electoral process at the 2012 International Convention has the full confidence of the delegates; and
Whereas:
In some instances, the International Executive Board can establish certain pre-convention rules regarding the conduct of campaigns that can be immediately implemented; while in other instances, the IEB may more appropriately recommend rules regarding the conduct of the election to the Election Committee of the Convention.
Therefore Be It Resolved:
That the International Union shall make available to all candidates at least four weeks prior to the Convention any draft election rules that are developed by International staff or counsel for the use of the Election Committee in developing the rules it will recommend to the Convention; and
Be It Further Resolved:
That the International Union shall not pay or reimburse the expenses of any I.U. staff person who attends the International Convention as a delegate representing a local union or other affiliate. Such expenses shall be the responsibility of that local union or affiliate; and
Be It Further Resolved:
That the International Union shall not enter into any agreement with the entity responsible for the Convention site or its perimeters that would restrict the ability of delegates or members of the union to distribute campaign materials or otherwise campaign in an orderly fashion on or outside the premises; and
Be It Further Resolved:
That by May 15, 2012, the International Union shall make available, upon request, to any declared candidate for International office, including International Vice-President, a list of all affiliates in their respective jurisdictions and the number of votes which each is entitled to cast; and
Be It Finally Resolved:
That the International Executive Board recommends to the Election Committee of the 2012 International Convention that the following provisions be included in any rules that are promulgated for the conduct of the elections to be held at that convention:
• Candidates may have observers remain with the ballot packages at all times up to the distribution of the ballots to the delegates.
• Each candidate shall be entitled to one observer per ballot check-in station. Each candidate shall be entitled to one additional observer per ballot box. Each candidate shall be entitled to three additional observers at the block voting verification station.
• The AAA shall be instructed to operate the ballot scanning equipment at such a speed that the candidates’ observers are able to see each ballot register on the screen.
• Each candidate has the right to request a manual ballot count after the computerized scan count is completed.
• Each candidate shall be entitled to two observers per ballot counting/scanning station.
• Each candidate shall be entitled to rotate observers during the election.
• No International Union staff person shall be in any voting or ballot count area at any time.
• There shall be no campaigning allowed within 25 feet of the voting area or room where the voting is held
• For a Local to be able to cast a block vote, every member of the Local delegation must sign an official form after their credentials have been approved by the Credentials Committee. No other block vote form or letter shall be permitted. Such forms shall not be available prior to the regularly scheduled delegate registration period.
• Delegates who have signed an official block vote form may rescind that authorization by signing and completing an official rescission form which shall be provided by the Election Committee. This notice must be presented to the Chair of the Election Committee at least 18 hours prior to the beginning of the voting period. The Chair of the Election Committee shall transmit a copy of this notice of rescission to the chair of the Local delegation in question within one hour of receipt.
• Any candidate shall have the right to review any block vote revocation forms.
Respectfully submitted,
Danny Donohue, International Vice-President, CSEA District
Ken Allen, International Vice-President, Northwestern District
Henry Bayer, International Vice-President, Illinois District
George Boncoraglio, International Vice-President, CSEA District
Greg Devereux, International Vice-President, Northwestern District
Sal Luciano, International Vice-President, South New England District
Roberta Lynch, International Vice-President, Illinois District
Gary Mitchell, International Vice-President, Wisconsin District
Henry Nicholas, International Vice-President, NUHHCE District
George Popyack, International Vice-President, California District
Kathy Sackman, International Vice-President, NUHHCE District
Eliot Seide, International Vice-President, North-Central District
Mary Sullivan, International Vice-President, CSEA District
| Join Our Mailing List |
Content copyright . Democracy for AFSCME. All rights reserved.
