Thank you Mr. Chairman, Brothers and Sisters
Tonight I will be telling you a story of
Abuse of power,
violation of office,
violation of a court ordered Consent Decree
and betrayal of trust of the membership
(pause)
I am in favor of the membership voting on all contracts and assessments.
(pause)
Every major union in the country has this fundamental democratic right written into their by-laws.
My opponent is opposed to a membership vote.
My opponent will tell you we have a representative democracy,
a system where the membership elects delegates to speak and vote for you.
Having been an elected delegate for eight years,
I am here to tell you that the system has failed you.
(pause)
In the 2001 contract negotiations The Unity Team "bargained away" the job referral rules.
For those of you that don't know
our union has been under government oversight since 1994
The job referral rules is a court ordered reform to
implement a fair hiring system which distributes job
opportunities to carpenters from the out-of-work-list
on the basis of how long they are unemployed.
(pause)
The Unity Team had absolutely no constitutional or legal authority to bargain the job referral rule away.
(pause)
Our Bylaws plainly state, the "delegate body" has final approval on all contracts.
Yet your elected delegates never voted for this contract change.
(pause)
Why? Because The Unity Team stole the Vote from the delegates.
It was not until September 15, 2005 in a NY Times article that we learned of this unconscionable deceit.
(pause)
Now my opponent is going to tell you
that what I am saying never happened, never existed.
He is going to tell you
everything was "explained and spelled out."
(pause)
I have challenged my opponent ten times to show us the Carpenter Magazine
where you clearly explained and spelled out to the membership that the job referral rules were bargained away
and replaced with a "new system" where contractors handpick 100 percent of the work force.
(pause)
On February 20, 2007 after years of costly litigation The Unity Team was found GUILTY OF CONTEMPT by the United States Court Of Appeals for illegally bargaining away the job referral rules.
(pause)
Last month The Unity Team was in court arguing that bargaining away the job referral rules was
"Good for the Carpenters... but was bad in its execution."
(pause)
The consequence of their willful deceit is still to be determined by federal judge Haight.
(pause)
The Unity Team has spent millions of YOUR dollars defending their corrupt actions.
To pay for their deceit they Tripled Your Assessments giving you the BIGGEST DUES INCREASE in the history of the carpenters union,
and they support plans (anyone say Blue Card) to take even more of YOUR money after the election.
Of course denying you a membership vote!
(pause)
My opponent is going to tell you
they did nothing wrong,
(pause)
Yet they were found guilty of contempt
for illegally bargaining away the job referral rules.
Judge Haight is charged by the court of appeals
to find a remedy to the action
the Unity Team says does not exist.
(pause)
On July 1, 2006 The Unity Team CUT the Carpenters pension benefit by 26% and told them it was an increase!
(pause)
My opponent has now admitted
that your pension was cut,
because I raised the issue.
He will say of course we cut the pension.
As "trustees it’s our job to make tough decisions.
“And when we make those tough decisions
We are going to be honest and tell you.”
(pause)
I challenged my opponent, ten times
Don’t just tell us…show us the Carpenter Magazine (hold up)
Right here Right now,
For the record
where you
honestly and clearly explained
those tough decisions
to the membership of this union.
(pause)
Sadly You cannot, because in both of these examples
you have misled and deceived the membership.
(pause)
If The Unity Team can't be trusted to tell the truth about the 2001 contract and the 2006 Cut in our pension,
how in the world can they be trusted with two billion dollars in assets?
(pause)
Because my opponent cannot defeat the facts of what i am saying
he has raised a false issues
in an attempt to mislead and distract you
which I would like to address
(pause)
You will hear that the General President removed me from office.
This is Nonsense
My opponent likes to use the word removed to imply some type of wrong doing on my part.
For the record
No allegations or charges of wrong doing were ever made against me.
The fact is Local 157 was placed under trusteeship
As a result of being under trusteeship
all local meetings even our Christmas party was suspended,
all elected officers were suspended.
(pause)
EST Forde confirms what I am telling you
in a letter dated December 5, 2007 to the membership of Local 157.
Let me quote from that letter
“There are normal procedures applied by the UBC in cases of trusteeship. To stabilize the situation and enable the supervisors to fully evaluate the locals state of affairs. All officers of the executive board and the local’s delegates to the district council have been suspended.”
end quote
My opponent obviously didn't read that letter.
(pause)
I am going to use the rest of my time
to talk about the trusteeship of local 157
Because President Thomassen said something
very interesting and revealing the other night.
(pause)
Indulge me as I give you the stated facts of the trusteeship
which happened one year ago to this day.
(pause)
The independent Investigator Bill Callahan found telephone, timesheet, and other records showing that three council employees, specifically business representatives in Local 157
had not completed their activity sheets as required;
had not conducted regular job site visits
and were not even at work when they reported themselves as working.
(pause)
The Independent Investigator's written evidence obligated the Unity Team to respond.
On November 17th the Unity Team reached a consensus to end the three business representatives employment.
On Monday November 19th, each man was given an option to resign from their elected office or be fired.
On November 21, two of the three council employes signed resignation papers.
(pause)
George Dilacio
Who was one of the three men and also here
as a candidate for
District Council Vice President
did not appear and was fired.
(pause)
On November 21, 2007 the General President sent a letter
to the Recording Secretary of local 157
giving formal notice
Local 157 is being placed under trusteeship.
The letter from McCarron said among other things that
quote
“it appears that the affairs of Local Union 157 are being conducted in a manner detrimental to the welfare and best interest of Local Union 157 and that the continue operation of Local Union 157 is in jeopardy.”
end quote
Speaking about the trusteeship of Local 157 the other night President Thomassen said
quote
“I was in the office with Mike when McCarron called, He Asked, what is going on with the local?
We said George was fired as a business agent but he is staying as a vice president,
He is elected and we can’t take him out of that position and he is going to become the president.
“McCarron said no way
PUT THE LOCAL UNDER SUPERVISION.”
end quote
(pause)
What President Thomassen just described and admitted
is an unlawful trusteeship
established in bad faith
in order to stop George Dilacio from becoming president.
(pause)
Under federal rules governing trusteeships (section 302 of the LMRDA)
“a trusteeship should be assumed for the purpose of correcting corruption or financial malpractice.
The telephone conversation that President Thomassen
described did not state any corruption or financial malpractice,
(pause)
President Thomassen said “He (meaning George) is staying as a vice president,
He is elected and we can’t take him out of that position and he is going to become the president.
“McCarron said no way
PUT THE LOCAL UNDER SUPERVISION.”
(pause)
That would make the official reason given for the trusteeship by the General President a fraud.
(pause)
The Unity Team unrestrained and armed with all the
internationals levers of money and power,
employ fear, propaganda and fraud
by requesting a trusteeship be place on local 157.
(pause)
They abused their power
and used the weapon of trusteeship
to stifle democracy
deny members their legally protected rights
and remove the locals leadership.
(pause)
The trusteeship left 4500 members and their families
in the dark, without a voice in union affairs
for almost a year.
(pause)
By his own words President Thomassen has admitted the trusteeship of local 157 was unlawful.
(pause)
I cannot give you a better example
Why this union desperately needs an Independent voice at the district council
who is not part of the unity team
to act as a "check and balance" to prevent abuse of power.
Thank you
Go to my website
nycdistrictcouncil.blogspot.com
_______________________________________old speech
Thank you Mr. Chairman, Brothers and Sisters
Nine years ago you put your trust in the Unity Team and elected them to lead this union.
On my campaign website I have outlined in great detail how the Unity Team has betrayed that trust.
(pause)
I urge all of you to go to my website.
Tonight, I will be addressing two issues.
I am in favor of the membership voting on all contracts and assessments.
(pause)
Every major union in the country has this fundamental democratic right written into their by-laws.
My opponent is opposed to a membership vote.
My opponent will tell you we have a representative democracy,
a system where the membership elects delegates to speak and vote for you.
Having been an elected delegate for eight years,
I am here to tell you that the system has failed you.
(pause)
In the 2001 contract negotiations The Unity Team "bargained away" the job referral rules.
The Unity Team had absolutely no constitutional or legal authority to bargain this rule away.
(pause)
The Unity Team has abused their power,
violated their oath of office,
violated the Consent Decree
and more importantly betrayed the trust of the membership.
(pause)
Our Bylaws plainly state, the "delegate body" has final approval on all contracts.
Yet your elected delegates never voted for this contract change.
(pause)
Why? Because The Unity Team stole the Vote from the delegates.
It was not until September 15, 2005 in a NY Times article that we learned of this unconscionable deceit.
(pause)
Now my opponent is going to tell you
that what I am saying never happened, never existed.
He is going to tell you
everything was "explained and spelled out."
(pause)
I have challenged my opponent five times to show us
where the negotiating committee recommended bargaining away the job referral rules,
and replacing it with a "new system" where contractors handpick 100 percent of the work force.
(pause)
I have challenge my opponent five times to show us the Carpenter Magazine
where you clearly explained this "new system" to the membership.
(pause)
On February 20, 2007 after years of costly litigation The Unity Team was found GUILTY OF CONTEMPT by the United States Court Of Appeals for illegally bargaining away the job referral rules.
(pause)
Last month The Unity Team was in court arguing that bargaining away the job referral rules was
"Good for you... but bad in its execution."
(pause)
The consequence of their willful deceit and corruption is still to be determined by judge Haight.
(pause)
The Unity Team has spent millions of YOUR dollars defending their corrupt actions.
To pay for their deceit they Tripled Your Assessments giving you the BIGGEST DUES INCREASE in the history of the carpenters union,
and they support plans (anyone say Blue Card) to take even more of YOUR money after the election.
Of course denying you a membership vote!
(pause)
My opponent is going to tell you
they did nothing wrong,
(pause)
Yet they were found guilty of contempt
for illegally bargaining away the job referral rules.
Judge Haight is charged by the court of appeals
to find a remedy to the action
the Unity Team says does not exist.
(pause)
On July 1, 2006 The Unity Team CUT your pension benefit by 26% and told you it was an increase!
(pause)
My opponent has now admitted
that your pension was cut,
because I raised the issue.
He will say of course we cut the pension.
As "trustees its our job to make tough decisions to make sure that when you retire you have a pension."
And when we make those tough decisions
We are going to be honest and tell you.
(pause)
I think we can all agree with that.
I am not challenging the judgment of those tough decisions.
(pause)
I challenged my opponent, five times now
to show us the Carpenter Magazine (hold up)
where you
honestly and clearly explained
those tough policy decisions
to the membership of this union.
(pause)
With all your resources and 100 year combined experience,
It should be easy enough, to prove me wrong.
(pause)
You cannot, because in both these examples
you have misled and deceived the membership.
(pause)
At the last meeting the Unity Team again
deceived the membership
saying that when they took office
our pension benefit credit was worth $80.00.
(pause)
The International union change the benefit formula in 1998
one year before the Unity Team took office.
(pause)
If The Unity Team can't be trusted to tell the truth about the 2001 contract and the 2006 Cut in our pension,
how in the world can they be trusted with two billion dollars in assets?
(pause)
There is a debating tactic that says,
if you cannot defeat the facts
of what your opponent is saying
invent false issues
in an attempt to mislead and distract the audience.
Sadly that is the path my opponent has chosen.
(pause)
You will hear I didn't do picket duty.
This is a silly issue
they made a bookkeeping error, I get fined,
they tell me it will be corrected... end of story
You will hear that the General President removed me from office.
This is Nonsense, more deception and he knows better.
I was not removed from office.
The General President has no authority to remove elected officers from office.
Local 157 was placed under trusteeship, which I exposed as phony.
As a result of being under trusteeship
all local meetings even our Christmas party was suspended,
all elected officers and activities were suspended
No allegations or charges of wrong doing were ever made against me.
I did not seek re-election...end of story.
You will hear I have no accomplishments
Ridiculous, I have more important things to say to you in ten minutes.
Go to my website to read my accomplishments... end of story
You will hear I have no experience.
This is where they got me and I plead guilty.
I have absolutely no experience
at misleading and deceiving the membership.
(pause)
Let me give you an example of their experience.
On-Par, Boom, Tri-Built, L&D
These companies were notoriously known as cash companies
and defrauded our union out of tens of millions of dollars for years
under their watch.
(pause)
That's what they call leadership!
(pause)
Let me add one more thing about On-Par
On April 2, 2008 On-Par filed a 100 million dollar lawsuit
against the district council
alleging among other things
the district council engaged in a conspiracy to utilized a corrupt scheme
to manipulate the job referral rules
in exchange for secret payoffs.
(pause)
Let me quote two Independent Investigators and a federal judge
On the Assessment of the Unity Teams
Anti-Corruption program
quote
"The union’s anti-corruption program is nearly worthless.” --Walter Mack June 3, 2004
quote
"The anti-corruption program is composed of members of the district council who do not have any formal investigative training or experience; do not have a handbook of investigative procedures or written guidelines and cannot on its own do much more than inquire into allegations of improper conduct."--William Callahan December 2007
quote
“The district council has not demonstrated they can combat corruption and adequately police themselves without further government involvement and court supervision.”--Judge Haight August 11, 2008
(pause)
The other night my opponent said "the government is not our friend and isn't there to help us."
If it wasn't for government oversight On-Par, Boom, Tri-Built and L&D would still be defrauding our pension and welfare funds out of tens of millions of dollars right under his experience trustee nose.
(pause)
The membership expects us to seek elected office for the right reasons, and
The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good,
and to leave this union better than we found it.
No one expects us to agree on everything.
But we are expected to govern with integrity, honesty, good will and clear convictions.
(pause)
Change is going to come by having an
Independently elected voice at the district council,
who is not part of the unity team
to act as a "check and balance" to prevent abuse of power.
(pause)
There is a famous quote by a 19th century historian.
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
(pause)
This union needs an Independent voice at the district council
Fighting for and looking out for, We the people...
(pause)
On election day
I ask that you do one thing.
(pause)
Ask yourself.
Are you better off Voting for three leaders all singing from the same song book?
Leaders who betrayed your trust!
Leaders who mislead you!
Or are you better off Voting to challenge the status quo?
(pause)
This is your moment
This is your moment to question authority and challenge the status quo
This is your moment to agitate, speak up and lead.
This is your union
Thank you
God bless you
Vote John Musumeci on Election Day
Go to my blog at nycdistrictcouncil.blogspot.com and join me.
___________________________________________speech 4
Thank you Mr. Chairman, Brothers and Sisters
Nine years ago you put your trust in the Unity Team and elected them to lead this union.
On my campaign website I have outlined in great detail how the Unity Team has betrayed that trust.
(pause)
I urge all of you to go to my website.
Tonight, I will be addressing two issues.
I am in favor of the membership voting on all contracts and assessments.
(pause)
Every major union in the country has this fundamental democratic right written into their by-laws.
My opponent is opposed to a membership vote.
My opponent will tell you we have a representative democracy,
a system where the membership elects delegates to speak and vote for you.
Having been an elected delegate for eight years,
I am here to tell you that the system has failed you.
(pause)
In the 2001 contract negotiations The Unity Team "bargained away" the job referral rules.
The Unity Team had absolutely no constitutional or legal authority to bargain this rule away.
(pause)
The Unity Team has abused their power,
violated their oath of office,
violated the Consent Decree
and more importantly betrayed the trust of the membership.
(pause)
Our Bylaws plainly state, the "delegate body" has final approval on all contracts.
Yet your elected delegates never voted for this contract change.
(pause)
Why? Because The Unity Team stole the Vote from the delegates.
It was not until September 15, 2005 in a NY Times article that we learned of this unconscionable deceit.
(pause)
Now my opponent is going to tell you
that what I am saying never happened, never existed.
He is going to tell you
everything was "explained and spelled out."
(pause)
Well, I challenge my opponent to show us
where the negotiating committee recommended bargaining away the job referral rules,
and replacing it with a "new system" where contractors handpick 100 percent of the work force.
(pause)
I challenge my opponent to show us the Carpenter Magazine
where you clearly explained this "new system" to the membership.
(pause)
On February 20, 2007 after years of costly litigation The Unity Team was found GUILTY OF CONTEMPT by the United States Court Of Appeals for illegally bargaining away the job referral rules.
(pause)
Last month The Unity Team was in court arguing that bargaining away the job referral rules was
"Good for you... but bad in its execution."
(pause)
The consequence of their willful deceit and corruption is still to be determined by judge Haight.
(pause)
The Unity Team has spent millions of YOUR dollars defending their corrupt actions.
To pay for their deceit they Tripled Your Assessments giving you the BIGGEST DUES INCREASE in the history of the carpenters union,
and they support plans to take even more of YOUR money after the election.
Of course denying you a membership vote!
(pause)
My opponent is going to tell you
they did nothing wrong,
(pause)
Yet they were found guilty of contempt
for illegally bargaining away the job referral rules.
Judge Haight is charged by the court of appeals
to find a remedy to the action
the Unity Team says does not exist.
(pause)
On July 1, 2006 The Unity Team CUT your pension benefit by 26% and told you it was an increase!
(pause)
My opponent has now decided to tell you
that your pension was cut
because I have raised the issue.
He will say (said) of course we cut the pension
As trustees we have to make tough decisions
to keep our pension sound.
(pause)
I am not debating the policy decision
of cutting the pension 26% or implementing new job rules
whether they were right or wrong.
(pause)
I have challenged my opponent, four times now
to show us the Carpenter Magazine (hold up)
where these policy decisions
were clearly explained to the membership of this union.
(pause)
That should be easy enough.
(pause)
You cannot, because in both these examples
you have misled and deceived the membership.
(pause)
Last night the Unity Team again
deceived the membership
they said that when they took office
our pension benefit credit was worth $80.00.
(pause)
The International union change the benefit formula in 1998
one year before the Unity Team took office.
(pause)
If The Unity Team can't be trusted to tell the truth about the 2001 contract and the 2006 Cut in our pension,
how in the world can they be trusted with two billion dollars in assets?
(pause)
There is a debating tactic that says,
if you cannot defeat the facts
of what your opponent is saying
invent false issues
in an attempt to mislead and distract the audience.
Sadly that is the path my opponent has chosen.
(pause)
1. You will hear i didn't do picket duty.
This is a silly issue
they make a bookkeeping error, I get fined,
they tell me it will be corrected... end of story
2. You will hear that the General President removed me from office.
Nonsense, The General President has no authority to remove elected officers from office at will.
Local 157 was placed under trusteeship, which I exposed as phony.
As a result of being under trusteeship
all local meetings even our Christmas party was suspended,
all elected officers and activities are suspended
until the trusteeship is lifted.
I did not seek re-election...end of story.
3. You will hear I have no accomplishments
Ridiculous, I have more important things to say to you,
go to my website to read my accomplishments... end of story
4. You will hear I have no experience.
This is where they got me and I plead guilty.
I have absolutely no experience
at misleading and deceiving the membership.
(pause)
Let me give you an example of their experience.
On-Par, Boom, Tri-Built, L&D
These companies were notoriously known as cash companies
and defrauded our union out of million of dollars for years
under their watch.
(pause)
That's what they call leadership!
(pause)
Let me add one more thing about On-Par
On April 2, 2008 On-Par filed a 100 million dollar lawsuit
against the district council
alleging among other things
the district council engaged in a conspiracy to utilized a corrupt scheme
to manipulate the job referral rules
in exchange for secret payoffs.
(pause)
Let me quote two Independent Investigators and a federal judge
Assessment of the Unity Teams
Anti-Corruption program
quote
"The union’s anti-corruption program is nearly worthless.” --Walter Mack June 3, 2004
quote
"The anti-corruption program is composed of members of the district council who do not have any formal investigative training or experience; do not have a handbook of investigative procedures or written guidelines and cannot on its own do much more than inquire into allegations of improper conduct."--William Callahan December 2007
quote
“The district council has not demonstrated they can combat corruption and adequately police themselves without further government involvement and court supervision.”--Judge Haight August 11, 2008
(pause)
The membership expects us to seek elected office for the right reasons, and
The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good,
and to leave this union better than we found it.
No one expects us to agree on everything.
But we are expected to govern with integrity, honesty, good will and clear convictions.
(pause)
Wouldn't our membership be better served by having an
Independently elected voice at the district council,
who is not part of the unity team
to act as a "check and balance" to prevent abuse of power?
(pause)
There is a famous quote by a 19th century historian.
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
(pause)
This union needs an Independent voice at the district council
Fighting for and looking out for, We the people...
(pause)
On election day
I ask that you do one thing.
(pause)
Pause, Ask yourself.
Are you better off Voting for three leaders all singing from the same song book?
Leaders who betrayed your trust!
Leaders who mislead you!
Or are you better off Voting to challenge the status quo?
(pause)
This is your moment
This is your moment to question authority and challenge the status quo
This is your moment to agitate, speak up and lead.
This is your union
Thank you
God bless you
Vote John Musumeci on Election Day
Go to my blog at nycdistrictcouncil.blogspot.com and join me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------Speech 2
Thank you Mr. Chairman, Brothers and Sisters
Nine years ago you put your trust in the Unity Team and elected them to lead this union.
On my campaign website I have outlined in great detail how the Unity Team has betrayed that trust.
(pause)
I urge all of you to go to my website, its been called the most informative website you will ever see.
Tonight, I will be addressing two issues.
I am in favor of the membership voting on all contracts and assessments.
(pause)
Every major union in the country has this fundamental democratic right written into their by-laws.
My opponent is opposed to a membership vote.
My opponent will tell you we have a representative democracy,
a system where the membership elects delegates to speak and vote for you.
Having been an elected delegate for eight years,
and the only opposition candidate with real experience, who has spoken out on this issue,
I am here to tell you that the system has failed you.
(pause)
In the 2001 contract negotiations The Unity Team "bargained away" the job referral rules.
The Unity Team had absolutely no constitutional or legal authority to bargain this rule away.
(pause)
The Unity Team negotiated this contract change without
seeking the approval of your president (John Greany) and your elected delegates
(pause)
The Unity Team has abused their power,
violated their oath of office,
violated the Consent Decree
and more importantly betrayed the trust of the membership.
(pause)
Our Bylaws plainly state, the "delegate body" has final approval on all contracts.
Yet your elected delegates never voted for this contract change.
(pause)
Why? Because The Unity Team stole the Vote from the delegates.
It was not until September 15, 2005 nearly four years later in a NY Times article that we started to learn and become aware of this unconscionable deceit.
(pause)
Now my opponent is going to tell you that what I am saying never happened, never existed.
He is going to tell you everything was "explained and spelled out."
(pause)
Well, I challenge my opponent to show us the delegate body minutes, where it was clearly explained and spelled out.
I challenge my opponent to show us where the negotiating committee recommended bargaining away the job referral rules,
and replacing it with a "new system" where contractors handpick 100 percent of the work force.
(pause)
I challenge my opponent to show us the Carpenter Magazine where you clearly explained this "new system" to the membership.
and I challenge my opponent to show us the Headline that read:
Good News: Carpenters no longer dispatched on the basis of how long they are on the out-of-work-list.
(pause)
On February 20, 2007 after years of costly litigation The Unity Team was found GUILTY OF CONTEMPT by the United States Court Of Appeals for illegally bargaining away the job referral rules.
(pause)
Last month The Unity Team was in court arguing that bargaining away the job referral rules was
"Good for you... but bad in its execution."
(pause)
The consequence of their willful deceit and corruption is still to be determined by judge Haight.
(pause)
The Unity Team has spent millions of YOUR dollars defending their corrupt actions.
To pay for their deceit they Tripled Your Assessments giving you the BIGGEST DUES INCREASE in the history of the carpenters union,
and they support plans to take even more of YOUR money after the election.
Of course denying you a membership vote!
My opponent had his moment to speak up and raised his voice over this deceit, corruption and violation of office.
He had his chance. He has not led. We will.
(pause)
On July 1, 2006 The Unity Team CUT your pension benefit by 26% and told you it was an increase!
(pause)
In the 2006 Summer Issue of the Carpenter Magazine,
The Unity Team wrote
Listen carefully, I am quoting:
“The current pension contribution rate for an outside journeyman is $7.81, so, for 1500 hours, at the new 1% formula, you will gain a benefit of $117.15 for the year."
End Quote
Notice how they deliberately use language to mislead you.
"you will gain a benefit"
(pause)
Using their 1500 hour example your old benefit credit was worth $158.15.
After the new 1% formula your new benefit credit was worth $117.15
Clearly $158.15 is more than $117.15
How did you gain a benefit?
(pause)
YOUR pension benefit was CUT by 26 percent!
(pause)
The Unity Team does not speak in clear straight talk that we can understand.
Their mantra is, How can we fool the membership today!
(pause)
Again I challenge my opponent to show us the Carpenter Magazine
where you clearly explained to the membership
their pension benefit was cut 26% and the reason for it.
(pause)
In both examples I am not challenging the merits of the policy decision.
I am not debating whether they were right or wrong.
(pause)
What I am challenging my opponent is to show us where these policy decisions were clearly explained to the membership of this union.
(pause)
You cannot, because in both these examples you have misled and clearly deceived the membership.
(pause)
If The Unity Team can't be trusted to tell the truth about the 2001 contract and the 2006 Cut in our pension,
how in the world can they be trusted with two billion dollars in assets?
(pause)
Let me say one more thing
my opponent gave you (is going to give you) numbers on the rising hours worked
over the last four years, taking credit for the natural business cycle
as evidence of their leadership asking you to judge them on that record.
Using that logic if work hours are down over the next few years
you should throw them out of office!
(pause)
Let me give you a better example of how you can judge their record.
On-Par, Boom, Tri-Built, L&D
These companies were notoriously known as cash companies
and defrauded our union out of million of dollars for years
and they did noting to stop them
(pause)
That's what they call leadership!
(pause)
My opponent had his moment to speak up and raised his voice over this deceit and violation of office.
He had his chance. He has not led. We will.
(pause)
The membership expects us to seek elected office for the right reasons, and
The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good,
and to leave this union better than we found it.
No one expects us to agree on everything.
But we are expected to govern with integrity, honesty, good will and clear convictions.
(pause)
Sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests.
That's why true reform is so hard to achieve.
(Pause)
That's why we need an Independent voice up at the district council
(pause)
Wouldn't our membership be better served by having an independently elected
voice at the district council, who is not part of the unity team?
(pause)
Wouldn't it be beneficial to the membership to have a
a distinct Independently elected vice president
to act as a "check and balance" to prevent abuse of power?
(pause)
There is a famous quote by a 19th century historian.
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
(pause)
This union needs an Independent voice at the district council
Fighting for and looking out for, We the people...
(pause)
My opponent had his moment.
He had his chance. He has not led.
And now my opponent comes asking for another chance, another shot.
Our answer?
Not this time.
Not this year.
This is not a time for a third chance;
it is a time for new beginnings.
(pause)
On election day you as you find yourself alone in the voting booth.
I ask that you do one thing.
(pause)
Pause, Ask yourself.
Are you better off Voting for three leaders all singing from the same song book?
Leaders who betrayed your trust!
Leaders who mislead you!
Or are you be better off Voting to challenge the status quo?
(pause)
When I announced my candidacy for Vice President,
I did so to remind this Union of what it has forgotten.
More than one hundred years ago a great labor leader,
the founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters of America,
Peter J. McGuire wished to embed his wisdom
of questioning authority,
challenging the status quo
and being an agitator forever in our memory.
His hope was to remind future generations of union brothers and sisters
that fairness, justice, and freedom
are more than words, they are perspectives.
This is your moment
This is your moment to question authority and challenge the status quo
This is your moment to agitate, speak up and lead.
This is your union
Thank you
God bless you
Vote John Musumeci on election day
Go to my blog at nycdistrictcouncil.blogspot.com and join me.
-------------------------------------------------------------old speech 1
Thank you Mr. Chairman, Brothers and Sisters
Nine years ago you put your trust in the Unity Team and elected them to lead this union.
On my campaign website I have outlined in great detail how the Unity Team has betrayed that trust.
(pause)
I urge all of you to go to my website.
Tonight, I will be addressing two issues.
I am in favor of the membership voting on all contracts and assessments.
(pause)
Every major union in the country has this fundamental democratic right written into their by-laws.
My opponent is opposed to a membership vote.
My opponent will tell you we have a representative democracy,
a system where the membership elects delegates to speak and vote for you.
Having been an elected delegate for eight years,
and the only opposition candidate with real experience, who has spoken out on this issue,
I am here to tell you that the system has failed you.
(pause)
In the 2001 contract negotiations The Unity Team "bargained away" the job referral rules.
The Unity Team had absolutely no constitutional or legal authority to bargain this.
(pause)
The Unity Team negotiated this contract change without
seeking the approval of your president (Jack Cavanaugh) and your elected delegates
they certainly didn't seek the approval of the membership of the Best Millwright Local in the country Local 740
and they didn't seek the approval of the federal government who has oversight supervision.
(pause)
The Unity Team has abused their authority,
violated their oath of office,
violated the Consent Decree
and more importantly betrayed the trust of the membership.
(pause)
Our Bylaws plainly state, the "delegate body" has final approval on all contracts.
Yet your elected delegates never voted for this contract change.
(pause)
Why? Because The Unity Team stole the Vote from the delegates.
It was not until September 2005, nearly four years later that we started to learn and become aware of this unconscionable deceit.
(pause)
On February 20, 2007 after years of costly litigation The Unity Team was found GUILTY OF CONTEMPT by the United States Court Of Appeals for bargaining away the job referral rules.
(pause)
Bargaining away the job referral rules has given rise to the “contractor request”
which has destroyed the out-of-work-list.
Bargaining away the job referral rules has deprived carpenters of jobs and a fair out-of-work-list system.
Bargaining away the job referral rules has caused tremendous damage and corruption which is to lengthy to discuss here tonight.
(pause)
Last month The Unity Team was in court arguing that bargaining away the job referral rules was
"Good for you... but bad in its execution."
(pause)
The consequence of their willful deceit and corruption is still to be determined by judge Haight.
(pause)
On August 11, 2008 citing continued corruption, Judge Haight wrote, The Unity Team
Quote,
"has not demonstrated they can combat corruption and adequately police themselves without further government involvement and court supervision"
end quote.
The Unity Team has spent millions of YOUR dollars defending their corrupt actions.
To pay for their deceit they Tripled Your Assessments giving you the BIGGEST DUES INCREASE in the history of the carpenters union,
and they support plans to take even more of YOUR money after the election.
Of course denying you a membership vote!
My opponent had his moment to speak up and raised his voice over this deceit, corruption and violation of office.
He had his chance. He has not led. We will.
(pause)
On July 1, 2006 The Unity Team CUT your pension benefit by 26% and told you it was an increase!
(pause)
In the 2006 Summer Issue of the Carpenter Magazine, The Unity Team wrote:
Listen carefully, I am quoting:
"Although there is a small reduction in the formula, the net benefit is still greater than what it was under the old benefit credit formula."
"Example: The current pension contribution rate for an outside journeyman is $7.81, so, for 1500 hours, at the new 1% formula, you will gain a benefit of $117.15 for the year."
End Quote
Notice how they deliberately use language to deceive and mislead you.
“the net benefit is still greater”
“you will gain a benefit”
It's all lies.
Using their 1500 hour example your benefit credit was worth $158.15 on June 30.
After the reduction your new benefit credit is worth $117.15
Clearly $158.15 on June 30, is more than $117.15 on July 1, the very next day.
Unless you are in Unity Team land where $117.15 is greater than $158.15
(pause)
YOUR pension benefit was CUT by 26 percent!
The Unity Team does not speak in clear straight talk that we can understand.
Their mantra is, How can we fool the membership today!
(pause)
If The Unity Team can't be trusted to tell the truth about the 2001 contract and the 2006 Cut in our pension,
how in the world can they be trusted with a billion dollar Benefit Fund or anything else they tell you?
My opponent had his moment to speak up and raised his voice over this deceit and violation of office.
He had his chance. He has not led. We will.
The membership expects us to seek elected office for the right reasons, and
The right reason is to challenge the status quo, to serve the common good,
and to leave this union better than we found it.
No one expects us to agree on everything.
But we are expected to govern with integrity, honesty, good will and clear convictions.
(pause)
Sudden and relentless reform never sits well with entrenched interests.
That's why true reform is so hard to achieve.
(Pause)
That's why we need an Independent voice up at the district council
Fighting for and looking out for, We the people...
(pause)
My opponent had his moment.
He had his chance. He has not led.
And now my opponent comes asking for another chance, another shot.
Our answer?
Not this time.
Not this year.
This is not a time for a third chance;
it is a time for new beginnings.
The rising generation of this union has its own appointment with greatness.
(pause)
On election day as you make your way toward the district council,
you are going to be bombarded by
Unity Team signs,
Unity Team balloons
Unity Team tents
I even heard a rumor that
The Unity Team is going to bring in circus animals
and have a petting zoo for the kids!
(laugh)
As you walk down the block,
High Five The Unity Team.
Cheer them on,
Wish them good luck.
Don't look for me standing on the opposite side of the street,
I'll be at the petting zoo feeding the animals.
(laugh)
As you navigate your way past the supporters,
Pass the election committee staff,
You will eventually find yourself alone in the voting booth.
I ask that you do one thing.
(pause)
Pause, Ask yourself.
Are you better off Voting for three leaders all singing from the same song book?
Leaders who betrayed your trust!
Leaders who lied to you!
Or are you be better off Voting to challenge the status quo?
Your vote has tremendous power.
Your Vote for me will send a shock wave throughout the UBC.
(pause)
And will keep the Unity Team up all night!
(laugh)
When I announced my candidacy for Vice President,
I did so to remind this Union of what it has forgotten.
More than one hundred years ago a great labor leader,
the founder of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters of America,
Peter J. McGuire wished to embed his wisdom
of questioning authority,
challenging the status quo
and being an agitator forever in our memory.
His hope was to remind future generations of union brothers and sisters
that fairness, justice, and freedom
are more than words, they are perspectives.
This is your moment
This is your moment to question authority and challenge the status quo
This is your moment to agitate, speak up and lead.
This is your union
Thank you
God bless you
Vote John Musumeci on election day
Go to my blog at nycdistrictcouncil.blogspot.com and join me.
