DUSTIN TESKE
13322 Dana Vista Street
102
Poway, California 92064
Phone (858) 568-1333
Fax (530) 325-3489
dustin.teske@sbcglobal.net
www.OPEIU30.org
www.BeTheUnion.com
October 26, 2007
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
President's Office and Secretary Treasurer
265 West 14th Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10011
(800) 346-7348
Dear Union Brothers and Sisters,
Today I received an invitation from the International office soliciting my preference in regards to the candidates running for the office of the President of the United States. While I gladly completed the survey, I also chose to comment in regards to how unfortunate it is that such a solicitation is so unusual for the membership of OPEIU, Local 30, to receive.
During the time of our previous National and local elections I requested information from our Union in regards to ’Labors Recommendations’ to which I was informed that our Union doesn’t do that. I then researched the endorsements of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, of which our Local Union has membership within) and proceeded to make this information available to fellow Union Brothers and Sisters of our Local. Following this, I received a flurry of emails from Mr. Allen (our Local Secretary Treasurer) in which he clarified for the membership that our Local did not endorse any of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council recommendations and basically took a neutral, bystander stance in regards to politics. -How unfortunate for our Union, one the largest within the OPEIU, to take such a ’safe’ position during times when working people need to stand up the most in order to defend ourselves; the Employee Free Choice Act has stalled and our current President has promised to veto it if it ever does make his desk, the United Auto Workers Union struck General Motors and Chrysler in order to secure a marginally acceptable contract which essentially provides no wage increases, a new health care system for which the Union is responsible, and lower wages for new workers in return for a commitment by the Employers to reinvest in American factories, and overall Union membership has been on the decline for decades.
The upcoming election year provides another important opportunity for our Unions to engage and solicit the involvement of the memberships. I, for one, look forward to receiving additional election information from ours.
Sincerely,
Dustin Teske
