Please review my application/bio for my local unions election for VP spot

[Omaha Steve]

Be honest and don't pull punches. This is for the mailer to each member at my expense. There are 3 very good candidates.



Here it is: Dear Local 251 Members:

I am honored to announce my candidacy for Local 251 Vice President, and I am asking for your vote. As a long-time union member, and as a lifetime advocate for union and worker rights, my qualifications for the position are unique and will benefit Local 251 and its members in a number of ways. My wife of 34 years, Marta, was a member of CWA Local 7400 for the 18 years she worked at the local phone company. She walked the picket line in the 1983 CWA strike which lasted three weeks.

I first worked for the City of Omaha in 1983 as seasonal clerk messenger with Public Works. From that time until 1992 I worked in various locations within the Parks Department. In 1992 I accepted a full-time position with an outside company. My full-time position with the City of Omaha began in December, 1997, as a Park Caretaker at Brown Park. I continued in that job until moving to the Missouri River Treatment Plant in 2006, where my current position is Waste Water Treatment Operator.

During my full-time with the City, I have been a member of Local 251. I have served as steward since 2003, and was elected to one term as Trustee. I currently serve on the Appeals board of the union. I was elected to the Executive Board of Local 251, and have served as delegate to the Omaha Federation of Labor for over two years. I twice served as delegate to the State AFL-CIO convention representing Local 251. I help organize and regularly attend rallies for union activities and benefits, including the latest for health care reform. I was asked to initiate the monthly newsletter in November 2008. The first issue was in member’s hands in January and I research and provide 80% of the content for the newsletter.

I have served as an advocate for unions and worker rights for thirty years, and have been involved in union affairs and gatherings during those years. My organizing history includes a nearly successful attempt to organize a print shop for the Graphic Arts Union in 1980, for which I was fired by the company just as I obtained the necessary number of signed union cards. I took this illegal dismissal to the National Labor Relations Board (Case No. 17-CA-9763) and won the case, though it took four years. I was once fired by the City and looked to Local 251 for help, which was given and was successful, so I understand your concerns.

Please cast your vote for Steve Dawes for Vice President at the union meeting on September 22, 2009. I feel that Local 251 is poised to become an integral part of local union activities, but only if we educate our members on how union processes work, and how the members can influence city politics by attending meetings regularly. We must get union membership up, and get members more involved in local events and national AFSCME gatherings. As your Vice President, I pledge to work to strengthen Local 251. For City of Omaha members, that means becoming the bargaining equal of the Police and Fire unions. I have been active in publicly speaking about Local 251 and its members, no matter the forum, and will continue to work tirelessly for your rights and benefits.


OS

[angstlessk]

1. Good luck Steve, you certainly deserve it.. K & R

[teamster633]

2. As the most tireless advocate for worker's issues on the DU,

it's hard for me to separate my respect for all you do here from my reading of your application, but it looks impressive to me. Good luck. You'd make a great VP.

[Gman]

3. The last paragraph needs reworking. How about this:

I feel that Local 251 must take a leadership role in local and national AFSCME and AFL-CIO activities and events, but we must educate and motivate our members on how and why they should participate. We have the ability to influence city politics and we should be doing it. For City of Omaha members, that means mobilizing and using our influence for becoming the bargaining equal of the Police and Fire unions. We need to organize and get union membership up. As your Vice President, I pledge to work for these things and to strengthen Local 251. I often speak publicly about Local 251 and its members, no matter the forum and I will speak out on these issues and any issue important to our members. I will continue to work tirelessly for your rights and benefits.

Please cast your vote for Steve Dawes for Vice President at the union meeting on September 22, 2009.

I've written lots of these for myself and others.

Also, (you probably know this but) if you're going to have them printed up, if possible, be damn sure you use a union printer. The union bug on printed material has to be there if Omaha has a union print shop. It's something you can do to show you support labor. If not be sure you put the disclaimer of "Labor Donated" at the bottom.

[FlaDem83]

4. Looks really good - your commitment and work experience is impressive.

I would maybe expand on what is in the newsletter that you write and how it works to empower workers. Also, and sorry to be nitpicky, but it should be "members' hands", not "member's hands."

Here are a couple other things I would change

I help organize and regularly attend rallies for union activities and benefits, including the "latest activities" for health care reform.

During my full-time "employment" with the City,

We must increase union membership instead of we must get membership up

I pledge to strengthen Local 251 by "empowering and advocating on behalf of its members."

I think it looks really good, hope this has been helpful. GOOD LUCK!!

[spanone]

5. as a member of local 257, your credentials and passion speak for themselves..good luck

[Omaha Steve]

6. Thanks for the great ideas

I'll post my finale version after the executive board meets on the 8th. Suggestions are still welcome.

OS

[pleah]

7. K&R Good luck.

:yourock:

[pnorman]

8. The importance of the below is of the UTMOST importance:

"Also, (you probably know this but) if you're going to have them printed up, if possible, be damn sure you use a union printer. The union bug on printed material has to be there if Omaha has a union print shop. It's something you can do to show you support labor. If not be sure you put the disclaimer of "Labor Donated" at the bottom" (Thanks to Gman)

If you overlook that, you WILL be skewered ("Where's the Bug?), and lose an appreciable number of votes! Steve, I suspect that know that full well. I'm stressing Gman's point, mainly for the benefit of others who may consider running for union office.

pnorman

[Omaha Steve]

9. I want to thank everyone for the great comments

It is that time of year. I went to Lincoln for the NU game.That always means 6-7 hours away from home and the net. I'll work on the revised mailer later today.

It does have a space restriction of one page in word format. There was a lot of left out info simply because I didn't have the space.

Again I thank you all for the improvements.

OS