Smoke and Mirrors... Or is it Truth or Fiction?

By now, you should have received your ballot regarding the Merger with SMWIA. The envelope contains a great deal of information and your voting instructions. It will be virtually impossible to digest it all in the time that you have been given. Make every attempt. As you read through the information, never forget that most of what you received was prepared by PR Professionals. It's supposed to look good.

As you are aware, my current position is to vote "no". I always get nervous when someone wants me to rush to signature. Sadly, there is every possibility this might be a good thing. Each of you will have to make your best guess. How informed that guess will be is directly related to how deep you can get into the information you've received. It is imperative that each and every member vote. Pay careful attention to the instruction to vote by phone. It is being handled directly by the American Arbitration Association and phone is the only method by which you can vote.

We've been told that:

  1. No local will be lost.

  2. No committee of adjustment will be eliminated.

  3. No legislative board  will be eliminated.

  4. UTU will continue to operate "As Is", known as the transportation division of SMART.

  5. UTU Constitution will remain intact unless there is direct conflict with SMWIA constitution, in which case the SMWIA constitution will prevail.

The SMWIA constitution contains language regarding how large locals must be and defines their number relative to area. The same is true for Committee of Adjustments. We probably wouldn't be merged with another local simply because SMWIA currently doesn't have any motor coach operators. Additionally, we are large enough to be self sustained, therefore we wouldn't be merged with a train local.

Undoubtedly, there will be changes to the constitution. Some would have occurred as result of the upcoming convention. What I find interesting is that we are headed to Miami to work on changes to the constitution that may all be void if they should conflict with SMWIA.