TakeBackOurLocal.org

***URGENT MESSAGE TO OUR SUPPORTERS***
UNION DEMOCRACY DIES... THOUSANDS MORN LOSS!

On 9/4/08, at approximately 2:00pm, Union Democracy died at CWA Local 1040 when Wade's hand-picked election committee declared that well over 100 union members that signed nomination petitions for Tom Bruno did not deserve to be heard. The decision permits Wade to "run" uncontested for the Local presidency. A direct violation of both federal law and the Local's By-laws, the Committee decided that in order to be considered valid petitions, the year had to printed on the front and back of the petitions and the petition could only be the one they sent out. There is no such requirement in the National Constitution or the Local's By-laws.
Moreover, the US Department of Labor has CONSISTENTLY intervened in favor of members who have been disenfranchised by unions that abridge a members right to exercise their democratic rights in the nomination and election process, and this time will be no different. While Wade gloats prematurely, Tom has already faxed his appeal to the Election Committee, since there is no process designated in the by-laws, and to the US Dept. of Labor pursuant to the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959, (LMRDA)
as amended
(29 USC §401 et seq.; 29 CFR Parts 401 to 453).

Additionally, a second count on the appeal that was faxed to the Election Committee is based on the fact that a Branch President and staunch supporter of Wade took one of Tom's petitions and ripped it up from one of Tom's supporters during the process and then improperly interfered by falsely declaring that no petitions could be circulated without her prior approval. Since it happened at the very site where the names would have been determinative, even greater weight must be applied to this eggregious act! Against this backdrop of what is clearly anti-member action, Wade continues in her character assassination of Tom.

While it is no surprise, we must confess that it is disappointing when certain people live up to your expectations.

We have seen Republicans and Democrats run sleaze campaigns. When one side has nothing of merit to run on, they try to deflect attention away from their own shortcomings by lying about their opponent. In Carolyn Wade's own words, "...if you tell anybody ANYTHING, some people are going to believe it." She should know... it seems to be her way of campaigning!

And so it begins, Carolyn Wade's whisper campaign of lies and deceptions about our candidate, Tom Bruno.

STOP BACK HERE OFTEN TO SEE TOM'S RESPONSE TO THESE LIES/DECEPTIONS AND TO REPORT NEW ONES.

With this kind of dishonesty this early, can anyone trust her to conduct a fair election, especially when she holds the key to the ballot box?

THIS IS WHY TOM BRUNO REQUESTED AT LEAST THREE TOWN HALL MEETING-STYLE DEBATES WITH CAROLYN WADE... ONE IN EACH GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE STATE SO THAT THE TRUTH CAN BE HEARD! SHE REFUSED TO EVEN ANSWER THE CHALLENGE, DECIDING INSTEAD TO REMAIN SILENT!

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TOM MAKES HISTORY

On September 2, 2008, at 5:50 p.m., Tom delivered the nomination petitions which nominate him for Local 1040 President. The forms came from several Branches and had nearly 250 signatures on them, well over the 100 names neded for nomination. Members have attempted to run against Carolyn Wade in the past, but each time, her hand-picked "Election Committee" has ruled the petitions incomplete or untimely or not delivered according to the by-laws. This is likely to be an issue again, but one which will not be permitted to occur without appeal and, if necessary, intervention from the U.S. Dept. of Labor (US DOL) in order to secure a fair election, despite the clear conflict of interest presented by having an Election Committee that SHE has selected, overseeing both the nomination process AND the election process. Most other Locals have a third party conduct Local officer elections, just to ensure no one can claim the elections were less than that fair. Keep watching this website for details on what happens next. We are anticipating that the "Wade Team" will send out a barrage of false allegations against Tom in order to deflect any scrutiny of Wade's own, lackluster performance over the past 18 years. It is the same tactic Wade tried to do in the past and had to withdraw the allegations when the NLRB intervened.
For a complete run down of just HOW lackluster Carolyn Wade's performance has been, click here.

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IN TOM’S OWN WORDS:

I have been asked by many of you to run for the office of Local 1040 President. Many of you remember me as a Local Staff Representative, negotiating or arguing cases . Some of you knew me as the Organizer, bringing new groups of brothers and sisters into the Local. Others may remember me as the legislative/political point person or as the Privatization Committee and the Mobilization Committee chair. Still others may know me as the Hunterdon Developmental Center Branch President and Local 1040 Executive Board member for nearly 18 years, or, more currently, as the state workers' representative on the State's Pension Board. Regardless of what role you know me, there was always, and still is, one common thread... RESPONSIVENESS WITH RESULTS!

Not just now because it is election time... but always, because your dues are paying for it!

Many of you have complained about what you consider to be a lack of representation by the Local. Others have complained about the lack of return phone calls on critical matters, or about being fed bad information prior to the ratification of the state contract. Most of you have complained that you have rarely, if ever, seen Carolyn Wade come to your Branch meetings... that is, until recently because of the upcoming election.

If these things are indeed happening, then you need to exercise your right to vote in the upcoming Local Officers election and put in people who will work FOR you.

IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE!

But change comes from ACTION, not complacency! Your right to vote is the single most important tool you have to ensure that you are represented properly. BUT NOW, WADE and her hand-picked Election Committee have denied well over a hundred members this fundemental right by refusing to accept their signatures on nomination petitions supporting Tom for President.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Read the talking points, discuss them with your co-workers and fellow union members, and then make an informed choice and vote for change, or simply do nothing and get more of the same.