I am happy to report that the ballots regarding the dues increase were counted on Wednesday, March 5th.  The final count was 990 in favor of the dues increase, 854 disagreed with 14 ballots voided.  A 73% return on 2,543 ballots mailed out with 1,858 returned.

This entire Executive Board is very grateful to the entire membership for your confidence and trust.  We will now be able to move forward on strong financial footing. 

This union has had the blessing of good leadership and financial stewardship for many years and we will now be able to move into the 21st century.  We will now be able to serve the membership better, through our staff, which must grow; better served through enhanced and increased services and better served through better benefits and better served by placing this union’s finances on firm financial footing.

As promised, I am proposing new by-law changes that will clearly address the concerns raised by some members at our GMMs.  These changes will only improve the governship of this great union and I implore all members to look over these proposals carefully and when the ballots go out, to vote in the affirmative.

Fraternally,
John J. MCdonnell
President