Growing financial irregularities

After learning about the financial irregularities we call on John Samuelsen with his TBOU leadership team asking not to exclude the membership in participating in the financial standard. It may or may not be the case that John Samuelsen has the right to bar the membership in setting the financial review, but it is not wise.

We here in why did you join the union believe John Samuelsen would want to engage the membership in his financial activities and give every member as much opportunity as possible to become aware of and get involved with the work of TWU Local 100 - especially concerning the financial well being.

It is not a good sign of his leadership to bar executive board members’ concerns about the financial irregularities. Samuelsen should address many of their concerns since it will only benefit TWU Local 100. On June 16, 1858, more than 1,000 Republican delegates met in the Springfield, Illinois, statehouse for the Republican State Convention. As Abraham Lincoln said to his Republican colleagues in the Hall of Representatives ‘A house divided against itself cannot stand’. 

It also goes against the grain especially given the questions of secrecy that have arisen with respect to the financial irregularities. We think barring executive board members’ concerns sends out the wrong message. Openness can only work to the advantage of the TWU Local 100 and enhancing its mission of protecting the membership.

We here in why did you join the union question the role of the TWU Local 100 in the hands of John Samuelsen? While he touts himself as being transparent he acts as if it is a private entity. We would like to remind him TWU Local 100 is a democratic organization -  his decision has an impact on the membership. Membership involvement is key to a successful TWU Local 100.

It is important all the issues related to the financial irregularities are addressed in order to move forward. He must keep the membership abreast of all the development and encourage full transparency. Opening more to the membership at large as well as the executive board members would be a great start. Transparency and inclusiveness are critical to any process especially when it concerns the membership dues and how they are spent.