Doug Slaydon and Members for a Democratic Union, Rallies and Press Conferences

Rallies and press conferences in Vallejo and Sacramento were held today by Doug Slaydon, a candidate of Members for a Democratic Union (MDU) which seeks reform within United Food and Commercial Workers Local 588 (Roseville). Slaydon is running for president of the 23,000 member Local in what he hopes will be "...perhaps the first open, contested election of Local officers in nearly a generation."

Slaydon and the MDU say that these hopes may be delayed for years if a merger with UFCW 1288 (Fresno) is approved by members. In response to the merger, proposed by current Local 588 officials and approved by the UFCW International Union, Slaydon remained defiant, offering a comprehensive critique of the merger, of the current leadership of Local 588 and answering questions from numerous media and press representatives.

A member-approved merger of UFCW 588 and 1288 would eliminate the requirement for an election this year and confirm in office the current administration of Local 588 until at least December 2008. "This is simply an evasion of the Federal mandate for Local Union elections every three years," Slaydon charged. "It is a loophole in Federal law which Local 588 has used numerous times in the past 20 years."

The pro-merger argument that "bigger is better" is a fallacy, Slaydon stated. "What is better is a union with a mobilized, informed and active membership working with leaders who are focused on real growth through organizing new members, rather than on expending resources on vast salaries and luxuries." In fact, Slaydon said, recent and current leaders of the Locals have shown little effectiveness in growth; each has memberships that have declined over recent years. Local 588's website claims a membership total of 27,000 in 1993; current Federal reports state a membership total at less than 23,000. Local 1288 lost 2,200 members in 2003 when a Foster Farms processing plant in Livingston decertified from the Local and affiliated with another international union.

"New leadership for Local 588 will focus on genuine growth through organizing new members into the union, not the numerical shell game of merging and absorbing members who are already in the UFCW," Slaydon said. "Power comes from members, not mere numbers, power at the bargaining table and in the political process. The election of new leaders committed to transparency and accountability, to integrity and energetic involvement will produce the growth of unity and strength we need to ensure our future as a union."

Slaydon also noted that, apart from criticism of his Local's practices, the MDU has also filed charges with the Department of Labor and requests for investigation by the DOL regarding a reported $3 million loss, the conduct of outside businesses and operations by Local officers and staff, and the termination by employers of past and present candidates for union office in Local 588.

Members' ballots on the merger proposal will be counted on Thursday, 6 April, at Local 588's offices in Roseville.