A  MESSAGE  FROM  GARCIA

This is a declaration of my candidacy for President of SEIU Local 721 in the upcoming election for office.   I believe that by beginning my campaign now, I can begin to raise the major issues facing SEIU Local 721 members today.

ISSUES

 

LEADERSHIP

 

The Union Leadership is a comprised of three major components: The Stewards/Members; Officers, comprised of Executive Board and Officers at Large; and Staff.

 

Unfortunately, the Body of Stewardship has been neutralized and is a token figure at best.

 

There are two major leadership changes that have to be made in SEIU Local 721.

 

The first major change needed is for the Stewards to put “Backbone” back into the “Backbone of the Union”.  The Stewards have to recognize and exercise their enormous potential and take back the leadership role they are intended to have but as been lost through time for too many varied reason to explain in this very small amount of space.

 

The second major change is for the general membership of SEIU Local 721 to elect officers in the coming SEIU Local 721 election who will run SEIU Local 721 according to laws and bylaws of the SEIU International Constitution and not a fiefdom of the staff.

 

I propose that the Stewards Council be ran by the Stewards.   Not staff or elected Executive Board members.   That within the Stewards Council, Chief Stewards be elected by the Stewards.

 

At the Stewards Council monthly meeting, an Executive Board Member will provide a report of Executive Board Agenda items and financial report.   The Executive Board will not be answering to the Stewards Council but rather informing the Stewards Council of impending decision making policy and activity.   In addition, staff shall have a representative who will be readily qualified to inquiries made by the Steward Council to issues involving staff.

 

Emphasis on the unequivocal unique role and responsibility of the Shop Steward cannot be overstated.

 

 

PROPOSED CONSTITUTION OF SEIU LOCAL 721 

 

The proposed Constitution of SEIU Local 721 shall elect to the Executive Board and Officers at Large members of Local SEIU 721 members of the Local 721 only who are represented by the Local.

 

In other words, in no uncertain terms, no staff member can run for or be elected to an Executive Board or Officer at Large position.

OPEN THE BOOKS

Members need to know where their dues are going.   If the salary of the President of the United States, the Governor of California, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, the Mayor of Los Angeles, City Councilmen, Chief Executive Officers of publicly held corporations, then there is no reason why the members of SEIU Local 721 should not know where there dues are going.   Salaries, per diem, expense accounts, everything should be open information to the membership at large.

The President of Local SEIU 721 has volunteered to go on administrative leave as SEIU International and U.S. Department of Labor investigations begin looking into misappropriations of funds due to Annelle Grajeda's conflict of interest with former President of Local 660 Stephen Alexander.

Unless, there are those in SEIU, who have something to hide.


OPEN EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS

Executive Board Meetings have to be held on Saturdays and evenings so that members can attend.   Executive Board members are paid three hundred and fifty dollars a month.   Presently, Executive Board Members attend meetings during the weekday and it has been alleged that the Executive Board is double dipping, simultaneously getting paid by their employers and the Union, while the majority of members are at work.
On the other hand, Stewards have to attend meetings on Saturdays and evenings and are not compensated one red cent.

If Stewards, who are the backbone of the Union can attend meetings during evenings and Saturdays, so can the Executive Board.   More importantly, if the Executive Board Meetings are held on Saturdays and evenings, the majority of members who wish to attend will be able to.

STEWARD STIPEND

I propose that Stewards attending Steward Council meetings be paid twenty five dollars per monthly meeting.   Details will spell out the forfeiture of said compensation for tardy and cameo attendance, etcetera.

In addition, Stewards attending any SEIU Local sanctioned committee meeting will be compensated an additional ten dollars per month.
 

STEWARD TRAINING

Paid time off for training without having to take vacation time.

 

SEIU INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATION IMBURSEMENT

I propose that all SEIU International Convention Delegates shall be paid their regular employment wage rather than have to go to this most important Union activity on the members personal vacation time as many members presently have to do.


GET THE RECORD STRAIGHT-

This is not a "Member Driven Union".
This is a "Member Ridden Union".   Staff rides herd on the members.
Try to get a staff member to return your call.   Good luck!

FAIR CAMPAIGN PRACTICES-

Make available to all members concerned in participating in SEIU Local Executive Board and Offices At Large elections, works site locations, member email lists, telephone numbers and any and all pertinent information that present office holders have access to.
Make staff activity in the participation of Executive Board and Offices At Large clear to everyone what the policy is.
Make equal access to Local SEIU 721 facilities, telephones and computers to all participants in the SEIU Local 721 Election Process.
Vice President Bob Schoonover has been holding meetings at the SEIU Local 721, 500 S. Virgil, Union Hall, to create a slate of candidates for the coming election.
Vice President Bob Schoonover has held City of Los Angeles Steward Council Meetings and discussed the upcoming election and his intention of building a slate of candidates.
All candidates should have the same opportunity to discuss these subjects with all of the Stewards and Members during forthcoming Steward Council meetings as well.
Equal Access for all members. Not a privileged few.

CLEAN SLATE-

It is imperative that the membership take back the leadership of the Union away from staff who are dictating every minute activity and action.

 EFFECTIVE UNION LOCAL MANAGEMENT

The Executive Board and Officers At Large elected by the membership of SEIU Local 721 shall inform its intentions to the Stewards Council, the Membership and Staff in accordance with the laws and by laws of the SEIU International Constitution.

 

CONCLUSION

I encourage members to take the upcoming Local 721 Constitution and Bylaws vote and the election for Executive Board and Officers at Large with a very serious heart.   The present administration at SEIU Local 721 was hand picked by the International in Washington, D.C.   The Executive Board, Officers at Large and Staff of SEIU Local 721 should reflect the vision and goals of the members.   Not the other way around.  SEIU Local 721 members have to clean house of incumbent Executive Board members and incumbent Officers at Large.   A clean slate.

We, the members have a chance to take the Union Local SEIU 721 back away from the Staff that is micromanaging our Union.

Ask yourself this question:   How much did the recent Stewards Recognition Dinner at a downtown Los Angeles hotel with all expenses cost?   Simultaneously, there were two other Stewards Recognition Dinners held in the Inland Empire and the other for the Tri-Counties.   How much of the Union Members hard earned Union dues does it cost to rent the Los Angeles Convention Center instead of scheduling meetings at the Union Hall at 500 S. Virgil?  How many Thanksgiving Day Turkeys or Holiday Season Cooked Hams could that have purchased for our members?

 

 

Send your questions and answers to:

SEIULOCAL721REFORMERS@gmail.com

 

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