The Art Pederson Documents
To: David Freeman, Recording Secretary, UAW Local 600, Bernie Ricke, President, 10550 Dix, Dearborn, Mi 48120
From: Art Pedersen, Electrician, DTP Final
This letter is to formally protest the Ratification Process and results of the recently concluded UAW FORD Contract Ratification Vote. The Protest is based on the UAW Constitution, specifically the section titled
“UAW ETHICAL PRACTICES CODES Democratic Practices” found on page 135, paragraph #4. “Each Local Union shall maintain adequate safeguards so that all of its operations shall be conducted in a democratic and fair manner. No corruption, discrimination or anti-democratic procedure shall ever be permitted under any circumstances.” Paragraph #3. Is also cited, “All Union rules and laws must be fairly and uniformly applied”
The Election rules posted on the Local 600 website show that an outside CPA firm was hired to conduct the 2014 Election for Local 600 officers, under the direction of the Election committee. The rules also indicate that the Election be held at Local 600 headquarters. While the Ratification Procedures may allow for some variation of this Election Process, the process that took place was seriously flawed. There were no Privacy Booths set up for the marking of the Ballots, the Ballots were not numbered, and no Signatures or initials were taken as the Voters names were crossed off the Membership lists.
The Election rules also specifically speak to Campaigning at or near the Ballot Boxes, “Electioneering and Campaigning: There shall be no electioneering; campaigning or coaching of any type within the balloting area, or within the confines of Local 600 while voting is in process.”
This rule was violated throughout the collection of Ballots which took place at DTP Final. For the Skilled trades the chain of custody of the Ballots and membership lists is in question as voting was stretched over almost 2 weeks, with some votes being taken at the committee room in the Dearborn Engine Plant, before much of the DTP Skilled Trades voting took place in the Millwright area of the Skilled Trades shop on 11/19-20/2015 where people argued both for and against the Tentative Agreement while standing right next to the Ballot Buckets. No Privacy Booths were available and ID’s were not always shown or required before voters were given Ballots. On Friday Morning, 11/20/2015, a welder was seen to be given his ballots, they were filled out and put in the buckets and he left when the person handing out ballots asked someone what his last name was. He had not even checked to see if he had already voted before handing him ballots. On top of this, a Bargaining Rep from Michigan Assembly Plant was in the Millwright shop area talking to many people about their need to vote Yes, in direct violation of the “no electioneering; campaigning” rule. An Election Committee member who was on vacation during the 2 week Ratification process, came in to cast her vote in the Committee room located at the Dearborn Engine Plant. After voting she was using the Copier and was asked if she was finished by a Bargaining Representative present. He stated to her that he needed to print up some Ballots. This ability to print off any number of Ballots would not have been possible on the Copier if the Ballots had been numbered.
This same scenario took place in the area known as the Green Mile where the voting took place for Production employees. Again, there was no Privacy Booths, and there was a tremendous amount of pressure being put on Voters to vote Yes! Another Election Committee member from the Production Committee at DTP has gone on record as stating that the Ballots for Production were counted by Union Representatives rather than Election Committee members or as outlined by the posted Election rules, counted by the outside CPA firm as done in the 2014 Election of Officers. As stated in the Press Conference held when the Tentative Agreement was looking like it as going to fail, 53 out of 54 Local Officers signed on as being behind the Tentative Agreement, so that those same Officers should have abstained from being involved with the count due to being biased towards the positive outcome.
All this and more can be said about the improprieties! If this had been a regular election every candidate would be protesting the results. The Local 600 Union Leadership and each Units respective Election Committee not only failed to maintain the “Adequate Safe Guards” spoken to in paragraph #4 of the Ethical Practices listed above but also failed as pertaining to Paragraph #3 “All Union rules and laws must be fairly and uniformly applied” The same rules applied to the Election of Officers should also have been applied to the Ratification vote.
Based on the above mentioned violations of the Ethical Practices, and the effect on the other UAW Ford Locals around the country, the results of the Local 600 Ratification vote must be thrown out and a new ratification vote conducted under the same rules and using the same procedures as used in the 2014 Election of Officers.
Sincerely, Art Pedersen, 30191 Cherry Blossom Ln, Flat Rock, MI, 48134 734-783-4775 11/24/2015
From: Art Pedersen, Electrician, DTP Final
This letter is to formally protest the Ratification Process and results of the recently concluded UAW FORD Contract Ratification Vote. The Protest is based on the UAW Constitution, specifically the section titled
“UAW ETHICAL PRACTICES CODES Democratic Practices” found on page 135, paragraph #4. “Each Local Union shall maintain adequate safeguards so that all of its operations shall be conducted in a democratic and fair manner. No corruption, discrimination or anti-democratic procedure shall ever be permitted under any circumstances.” Paragraph #3. Is also cited, “All Union rules and laws must be fairly and uniformly applied”
The Election rules posted on the Local 600 website show that an outside CPA firm was hired to conduct the 2014 Election for Local 600 officers, under the direction of the Election committee. The rules also indicate that the Election be held at Local 600 headquarters. While the Ratification Procedures may allow for some variation of this Election Process, the process that took place was seriously flawed. There were no Privacy Booths set up for the marking of the Ballots, the Ballots were not numbered, and no Signatures or initials were taken as the Voters names were crossed off the Membership lists.
The Election rules also specifically speak to Campaigning at or near the Ballot Boxes, “Electioneering and Campaigning: There shall be no electioneering; campaigning or coaching of any type within the balloting area, or within the confines of Local 600 while voting is in process.”
This rule was violated throughout the collection of Ballots which took place at DTP Final. For the Skilled trades the chain of custody of the Ballots and membership lists is in question as voting was stretched over almost 2 weeks, with some votes being taken at the committee room in the Dearborn Engine Plant, before much of the DTP Skilled Trades voting took place in the Millwright area of the Skilled Trades shop on 11/19-20/2015 where people argued both for and against the Tentative Agreement while standing right next to the Ballot Buckets. No Privacy Booths were available and ID’s were not always shown or required before voters were given Ballots. On Friday Morning, 11/20/2015, a welder was seen to be given his ballots, they were filled out and put in the buckets and he left when the person handing out ballots asked someone what his last name was. He had not even checked to see if he had already voted before handing him ballots. On top of this, a Bargaining Rep from Michigan Assembly Plant was in the Millwright shop area talking to many people about their need to vote Yes, in direct violation of the “no electioneering; campaigning” rule. An Election Committee member who was on vacation during the 2 week Ratification process, came in to cast her vote in the Committee room located at the Dearborn Engine Plant. After voting she was using the Copier and was asked if she was finished by a Bargaining Representative present. He stated to her that he needed to print up some Ballots. This ability to print off any number of Ballots would not have been possible on the Copier if the Ballots had been numbered.
This same scenario took place in the area known as the Green Mile where the voting took place for Production employees. Again, there was no Privacy Booths, and there was a tremendous amount of pressure being put on Voters to vote Yes! Another Election Committee member from the Production Committee at DTP has gone on record as stating that the Ballots for Production were counted by Union Representatives rather than Election Committee members or as outlined by the posted Election rules, counted by the outside CPA firm as done in the 2014 Election of Officers. As stated in the Press Conference held when the Tentative Agreement was looking like it as going to fail, 53 out of 54 Local Officers signed on as being behind the Tentative Agreement, so that those same Officers should have abstained from being involved with the count due to being biased towards the positive outcome.
All this and more can be said about the improprieties! If this had been a regular election every candidate would be protesting the results. The Local 600 Union Leadership and each Units respective Election Committee not only failed to maintain the “Adequate Safe Guards” spoken to in paragraph #4 of the Ethical Practices listed above but also failed as pertaining to Paragraph #3 “All Union rules and laws must be fairly and uniformly applied” The same rules applied to the Election of Officers should also have been applied to the Ratification vote.
Based on the above mentioned violations of the Ethical Practices, and the effect on the other UAW Ford Locals around the country, the results of the Local 600 Ratification vote must be thrown out and a new ratification vote conducted under the same rules and using the same procedures as used in the 2014 Election of Officers.
Sincerely, Art Pedersen, 30191 Cherry Blossom Ln, Flat Rock, MI, 48134 734-783-4775 11/24/2015
To Whom it may concern:
This is long so please bear with me. I am uploading a copy of my Ratification Vote Protest addressed to Local 600, and the response received back from Local 600. The "Protest" Doc has extra pages written as an example for members of other Locals to get involved with the protest. If you would like to continue the push for Reform, overturning the Ratification Vote would be a great place to start. Please take the time to read through it all. My Protest is based on the Language in the UAW Constitution, the section titled “UAW ETHICAL PRACTICES CODES, Democratic Practices”, specifically that found on page 135, paragraph #4. “Each Local Union shall maintain adequate safeguards so that all of its operations shall be conducted in a democratic and fair manner. No corruption, discrimination or anti-democratic procedure shall ever be permitted under any circumstances.” Paragraph #3. is also cited, “All Union rules and laws must be fairly and uniformly applied"
As written in my protest, Local 600 posted online the rules that were followed for the 2014 Election of Officers. Those rules and procedures included the hiring of a CPA firm to conduct the Election, under direction of the Election Committee, and counting of the Ballots. The 2014 election spanned all of 2 days, rather than 2 weeks. The Voting was to take place at the Local 600 Union Hall. There was also language forbidding "Electioneering and Campaigning anywhere near the Balloting
The basis of my Protest is that what took place during the Ratification voting violated and contradicted many of these same rules and was in violation of the UAW Constitutions Ethical Practices language, there were NOT adequate Safeguards against corruption, discrimination or anti-democratic procedure. And “All Union rules and laws” were not “fairly and uniformly applied"
1. No outside firm was hired.
2. No outside, impartial firm was involved in the counting.
3. There were NO Privacy Booths, the Vote took place at each individual Unit making up Local 600, sometimes right in the middle of the work area with many conversations, both Pro and Con, right next to the voting taking place.
4. A member of the M, C, & T Election Committee who was on Vacation when Voting began, was told by an elected Committee Representative in the Committee Room where she voted that he needed the Copier to make more Ballots. This would not be possible if the Ballots were numbered.
5. During M,C, & T voting at DTP in the Final Assembly Millwright shop a member of the Michigan Assembly Plant Bargaining Committee was present and was "Campaigning" for a "YES" vote. Why a member of ANOTHER LOCAL would even be in the building is questionable, add to that his "Campaigning", and it clearly violates the Ethical Practices language.
6. The process for handing out Ballots was flawed, as Proper ID was not always required due to the member being known, and while the members name was looked up on a membership list and crossed off or highlighted to indicate that Ballots were given out, there was no signature or initials from the voter, opening the door for names to be crossed off after the polls were closed. In essence, there is no proof that anyone from Local 600 voted.
7. At the Dearborn Truck Plant Final Assembly, members were given both the National Agreement Ballots and the Local Agreement Ballots at the same time, yet the posting of results indicates that there were 500 more votes cast for the National Agreement then for the Local, with only 9 blanks!
8. A member of the Final Assembly Bargaining committee sat in on the counting of the Ballots as an observer and witnessed multiple Ballots folded together in bundles being removed during the counting, folded together in a manner that would have been impossible if they had been folded and put in individually. This may explain the difference of 500 more National Ballots! The Bargaining Committee member has filed his own protest based on his observations.
9. And then you have the Press Conference held when it appeared as though the Vote was in jeopardy of Failing. Vice Pres Settles used insult and threatened strike if the Tentative Agreement did not Pass. If that was not trying to influence the Vote, what was it?
All this and the response received from the Local 600 Recording Secretary says "We find there is no basis to your protest, the ratification vote was conducted pursuant to the language as it is set forth in the UAW Constitution."
In the denial letter that is all it says. There is no language, Articles, sections, nothing specific cited, nor any answer to the arguments cited by my protest. As I said at the beginning of this post, there are a couple extra sheets with my letter, to be used as an example for members of other Locals. By not maintaining "adequate safeguards", the IUAW, the leadership at Local 600 and it's Election Committee have stolen your democratic right and discounted the Ballot that each of you cast! Whether it was a "YES" or "NO" by not insuring a fair Ratification procedure, they have said the result is going to be what they choose and as stated above and in my protest, that violates the UAW Constitution Ethical Practices language.
One more time, the UAW Constitution on page 135 says "No corruption, discrimination or anti-democratic procedure shall ever be permitted under any circumstances." Please join me and protest this at your Local! Article 32 on page 82 of the UAW Constitution explains that complaints on Ethical Practices go to the Public Review Board. That is where this Vote will be overturned. Mine is not the only protest, but the sooner more of you act on this, the better! Enough talk already, let's see more action! Find out when your next Local meeting is and take this protest to it, Read your UAW Constitution (If you do not have a copy of the UAW Constitution you can find it online), especially the Ethical Practices language, and Article 32. Para 4. Any complaint filed under Section 5(a) or (b) of this Article alleging violation of any UAW Ethical Practices Codes that may be adopted by the International Union, must be filed within SIXTY (60) days of the time the charging member first becomes aware or reasonably should have become aware of the alleged violation. The time to act is now
In Solidarity and for Reform, Art Pedersen
Art Pedersen 01/04/2016
To: International Executive Board
c/o UAW President Dennis Williams
UAW Solidarity House
8000 East Jefferson Ave
Detroit, MI 48214
From: Art Pedersen
30191 Cherry Blossom Ln
Flat Rock, MI 48134
Electrician, UAW Local 600
M, C, & T Unit
This letter is written per the UAW Constitution Art. 32 section 5 (a). Having filed a protest with UAW Local 600 based on the UAW Constitution’s Ethical Practices language in regard to the recently concluded Ratification vote for the 2015 UAW-Ford National Agreement and having received a rejection of said protest from the UAW Local 600 and the Recording Secretary, I now submit my complaint to the International Executive Board and the Public Review Board via the Office of the President, for redress.
Attached you will find my letter of protest as well as the letter of rejection from UAW Local 600. There is a few other attachments included in support of my protest. Specifically, a picture of the Ballot count from Dearborn Truck Plant, showing a 500 Ballot difference between the National and Local, a picture of the Ballot Can used in the Voting, and a Picture of the Ballots, showing a lack of numbers, something that can be copied.
My letter of protest speaks for itself. The UAW Local 600 response is lacking, not only in its failure to address any of my concerns, but also in its failure to cite any supporting language from the Constitution in answer to my protest.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Respectfully Submitted, Art Pedersen 01/07/2016
To: International Executive Board
c/o UAW President Dennis Williams
UAW Solidarity House
8000 East Jefferson Ave
Detroit, MI 48214
From: Art Pedersen
30191 Cherry Blossom Ln
Flat Rock, MI 48134
Electrician, UAW Local 600
M, C, & T Unit
This letter is written per the UAW Constitution Art. 32 section 5 (a). Having filed a protest with UAW Local 600 based on the UAW Constitution’s Ethical Practices language in regard to the recently concluded Ratification vote for the 2015 UAW-Ford National Agreement and having received a rejection of said protest from the UAW Local 600 and the Recording Secretary, I now submit my complaint to the International Executive Board and the Public Review Board via the Office of the President, for redress.
Attached you will find my letter of protest as well as the letter of rejection from UAW Local 600. There is a few other attachments included in support of my protest. Specifically, a picture of the Ballot count from Dearborn Truck Plant, showing a 500 Ballot difference between the National and Local, a picture of the Ballot Can used in the Voting, and a Picture of the Ballots, showing a lack of numbers, something that can be copied.
My letter of protest speaks for itself. The UAW Local 600 response is lacking, not only in its failure to address any of my concerns, but also in its failure to cite any supporting language from the Constitution in answer to my protest.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Respectfully Submitted, Art Pedersen 01/07/2016