UFCW Local 8's Flawed Notice of Nominations

Below is my objection letter to Local 8's president Jacques Loveall.

President Jacques Loveall
UFCW Local 8-Golden State
2200 Professional Drive
Roseville, Ca 95661

Dear President Loveall:
It has come to our attention that UFCW Local 8 intends to hold an election of officers. Several members of Local 8, including myself, plan to become candidates in this election.

As such, we strenuously object to the flawed "Notice of Nominations" disseminated by Local 8. The "Notice" is inadequate under Local bylaws, the UFCW International Constitution [Article 35, Section (b)] and LMRDA/OLMS regulations.

(1) It is quite evident that the "Voice of Action" newsletter which included the required "Notice of Nominations" has not been mailed to nor received by much of our membership, as is required by UFCW and OLMS rules for a proper election process. Many members, including myself, have yet to receive a copy of the newsletter including the "Notice of Nominations". This failure on the part of Local 8 makes a fair and open election impossible and open to challenge.

(2) UFCW Local 8 has apparently engaged in deceptive practices regarding this newsletter and "Notice of Nominations", either by faulty execution or by intent. There are, in fact, two distinct versions of the newsletter, each identified as "Volume 22, Number 3" which have been mailed to some, not all, members. One includes the "Notice of Nominations", albeit indexed in minute and nearly imperceptible form on the second page; one version does not include the required "Notice".

UFCW Local 8 should revise its original plans for an election and reinstitute a proper election process in accordance with all the requirements of Local bylaws, the UFCW Constitution and LMRDA/OLMS regulations, including a proper "Notice of Nominations" mailed to all members of the Local.

It has also come to our attention that the nomination process as specified may include a requirement that members include their Social Security numbers on said petition for nomination, presumably for identification purposes. We strongly object to this requirement: (1) it is not required by the Local bylaws, the International Constitution or LMRDA/OLMS regulations; (2) the public dissemination of Social Security numbers poses a potential for identity theft; (3) understandably, members may not wish to risk such theft and, hence, be unwilling to sign a candidate's petition with such a requirement; nor should they be required to do so; (4) incumbent candidates already have access to such Social Security information which gives them an unfair advantage in the petition process viz. any challenging candidates, i.e. Local data bases, route books, etc.; (5) there exist effective alternatives to identifying eligible signatories which do not involve their Social Security numbers. In short, the requirement to list Social Security numbers puts members at considerable and unnecessary risk, gives unfair and undemocratic advantage to incumbents and should, in consequence, be abolished as a condition of nomination.

Thank you for your time and consideration President Loveall as I will eagerly await your expeditious written response.


Fraternally
UFCW Local 8-GS Member

Scott Schroeder


cc:

UFCW International President
Mr. Joseph T. Hansen
1775 K Street NW
Washington, DC 20006

The Honorable Elaine L. Chao
U.S. Department of Labor
200 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington D.C. 20210

U.S. Department of Justice
Attorney General Michael B. Mukasey
950 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W.
Washington D.C. 20530-0001

U.S. Attorney, Northern District/California
Mr. Joseph P. Russoniello
450 Golden Gate Avenue Box 36055
San Francisco CA 94102

To read more about the flawed Notice of Nominations please visit: http://forums.uncharted.ca/about1209-15.html

or http://forums.uncharted.ca/about1209.html