Chicago District Council Election-flawed, undemocratic, and unconstitutional

Laborers for JUSTICE Press release 03/06/2000 as found on
Illinois Police and Sheriff's News web site http://www.ipsn.org/

Chicago District Council Election 05/12/02 Comedy of Errors II

On March 1, 2000 the delegates to the District Council elected James Connolly Business Manager in the only contested election. See press release from Edward Hogan, counsel to District Council who is also is a lawyer to IBEW 134 . IBEW wants to hire electrical apprentices to dig holes for cable conduit is the last I heard. Members of Laborers Local 2 want to retain that work jurisdiction. No conflict here?

Mr. Bloch was the judge of elections and told me this morning that our new General president, Mr. O'Sullivan, granted a variance to constitutional provisions that allowed the offices of president and secretary-treasurer to be combined-this despite the sound financial practice requirement requiring two signatures on checks- the signatures of the President and Secretary-treasurer. Mr. Riley will now sign his name on as many checks as he wants and no one but Mr. Riley will know when he signs a check. This is reform. !!

The president of the District Council Executive Board conducts the meetings. The Secretary-treasurer records the meetings. Will the delegates allow Mr. Riley to report what he conducts. He can't do both things simultaneously. Mr. Riley by combining offices also is disqualified from serving as a delegate to any affiliated labor bodies. The District Council Constitution forbids the appointment of both the president and secretary to the same bodies. Mr. Riley is both president and secretary-treasurer.

By permitting "his favorites" to get elected, Bloch safeguards against the possibility of new trustees being appointed to the pension fund and welfare fund who might replace Mr. Bloch's law partner, Peter Dowd, as counsel to both funds. No conflict here? Did Mr Bloch as judge of elections have a financial interest in seeing that certain candidates were elected. I say he does. I say he has the same conflict as deputy election officer under the LIUNA Election Officer, Mr. Goldberg.

I also say that the appointment of counsel to the pension funds was not done at arms length. Mr. Jorgenson (pension and welfare fund administrator) told me that Harvey Nathan and others were temporarily appointed as trustees to the fund by Bloch to assure the appointment of Dowd as counsel.

By not strenuously objecting to the General president's granting of a variance, Bloch has now permitted an Executive Board to exist with 6 members and no provision for breaking tie votes. He has also deprived the locals with no members on the executive board of the right to have one. The constitution calls for a seven member executive board.

By not inculcating democratic policies, procedures, and practices in the district council as charged by the consent decree and order and memorandum of trusteeship, Mr. Bloch has forfeited any right to further remain as supervisor of the district council.

Mr. Bloch should not be allowed to receive any payment for services as LIUNA Deputy Election Officer while remaining as supervisor of the Chicago Laborers District Council.

Jim McGough, Director
Laborers for JUSTICE
55 S. Northwest Highway
Palatine, Il 60067
847-202-3838