<snip> Hell, this board was started because of the crap at Joes' board. Joe himself set my account up the 2 or 3rd time the board was changed. Sharon banned me on some trumped up excuse in late 2005 or early 2006. Doesn't really matter though because many a fine Brother & Sister have had their truth telling stomped on for not towing the IO line. The voices will never be silenced. They all have found other places where this sort of thing does not go on. No question about that...........
Anyway and as always,
Fraternally,
Nais[/b]
I know what you mean. Joe is Joe. I was just passing on what I was told. Personally, I believe that a thorough debate brings out the most information about issues which concern us.
The neat thing about the Internet is that a ban just doesn't work. Ideas are ideas, and they get passed on and developed. The registration idea has its good and bad points--tends to keep out some of the anti-union stuff and the spam--but a PITA.
Our original IBEW folder on AOL was closed down by an IO complaint after somebody unearthed and posted evidence that a union contractor paid for a non-union contractor to work on JJ Barry's house. (If anybody has the .jpg's of the documents, I'd appreciate a copy!)
In fact, the only reason the IBEW has the IBEW.org and IBEW.com domain names is that the members at a California local acguired them for the membership. A four-letter top domain name is probably worth between $10k and $100k, and the people in DC were really asleep at the switch for that one.
There have been repeated threats of charges against our member web sites over the years--usually for violations of Article XXV, Section 1 (j), which reads:
Article XXV, Sec. 1 Any member may be penalized for committing any one or more of the following offenses:
(j) Making known the business of a L.U. directly or indirectly, to any employer, employer-supported organization, or other union, or to the representatives of any of the foregoing,
Page 72,
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Constitution and Rules for Local Unions and Councils Under its Jurisdiction, as amended at the 36th IBEW Convention, San Francisco, California, September 2001.A lot of people want to avoid any charges, and they bend over backward to avoid being the target of union charges.
In fact I was threatened with charges if I posted a website for the last union election in my local. (Total BS, btw.)
Recently, a Local 353 trial board punished a member for web-site activity, the punishment was approved by the IO VP for Canada and finally overturned (at least in part--maybe completely, I'm not really clear on this, the letter is below) by Ed Hill. If I remember correctly, the basis for overturning this decision was that the member had forced people to register. A copy of the letter
as reported on our353.ca follows:
March 14, 2007
Dear Brother Speranza,
This is in response to your letter dated January 2, 2007, in which you appeal a decision rendered by International Vice President Phillip Flemming, dated December 8, 2006. In his decision, Vice President Flemming granted your appeal regarding Article XXV, Section 1, sub sections (b), (d), and (j) but upheld the trial board with respect to subsections (a) and (e).
I have reviewed Vice President Flemming's file concerning this matter and the materials contained therein. As Vice President Flemming found that you "posted or permitted to be posted on the OurLocal353 Web site material that you knew or should have known to be untrue, that would affect the reputation of Local 353, which is contrary to the oath described in Article XX; Section 4. "
In operating the OurLocal353.ca Web site, and requiring registration before anyone could post, you exercised what I consider reasonable control over the subject matter that was posted. In a forum of this nature, it would be unreasonable to expect the webmaster to inspect every conversation as to its accuracy and whether it violated a provision of the IBEW Constitution. However, this would in no way excuse a member who posts libelous material, or statements that violate the IBEW Constitution on the Web site. To me, the key point is that you did not post the inaccurate statement about Business Manager Fashion.
I agree with Vice President Flemming that charges against members and officers should not be posted on Web sites such as yours. Allowing the posting of unproven charges in this manner only invites a trial of IBEW affairs by public opinion and may be detrimental to the local union and to the IBEW. I believe, however, that in this case, only the member who posts the information should be held accountable for his actions. I did not find any evidence submitted during the hearing that you personally and purposely posted inaccurate information or information detrimental to the local union or the IBEW on your Web site.
Moreover, "a fair and impartial hearing" requires that the trial board be made up of impartial jurors. In this case, I note that the majority of trial board members were also employees of the local, and thus, employees of the charging party, and should have excused themselves from sitting on this case.
Accordingly, I have decided to sustain your appeal and reverse the decision of the Local Union 353 Trial Board. By copy of this letter; I direct the local union to return all monies paid by you toward the trial board assessment.
Finally, it is my understanding that the IBEW logo has been removed from the Web site. I am directing you to assure that it does not again appear on the Web site.
With best wishes, I am fraternally yours,
Edwin D. Hill
International President
EDH:ceb
Copy to Phillip Flemming, International Vice President, IBEW First District
Joseph M. Fashion, Business Manager, IBEW Local Union 353
Our353.caSo, as you can see, there might be good reasons for registering members on a member site. (I'm still mystified by President Hill's request that the IBEW logo be removed from the site.)
