SECTION 10--RESPONSIBILITY "SEC. 10. It is the obligation and responsibility of every officer, member, local union and council of this Association, to comply with the provisions of this Constitution and the valid decisions of the officers of this Association in conformity therewith and they shall refrain from any conduct which interferes with the performance by the Association or its subordinate units of their obligations under law or contract or from any conduct which defeats or is designed to defeat or subvert the lawfully declared and established policies and objectives of this Association, or which may defame it or any of its officers, members or subordinate units." (Emphasis Added) From the above it appears that the SMWIA has adopted a military code of conduct that requires every member to march in lockstep as ordered by their superior officers. The problem with an army, by definition, there is no democracy. There is no legitimate reason to move from a union that permits free speech and the organized efforts of officers and members to dissent to a union that specifically prohibits it. The UTU Constitution once had a similar restriction against speaking out, however it was removed from our Constitution. Obviously, we now have a very important conflict between our UTU Constitution and the SMWIA Constitution. If for no other reason than to protect their right to speak out, the Members should vote "NO" to the merger.. |