For Elected Shop Stewards of Metro Ambassadors
Raymond Whitmer IBT Local 986 Secretary Treasurer
On service terms: Having completed our first contracted year as IBT 986 members, many Metro Ambassadors are left wondering about the term status of our shop stewards. There was never a defined or outlined term limit conveyed to us nor can any such information be found in our local’s bylaws.
On capacity: As it stands, we have seven shop stewards serving over 300 Ambassadors, spread across six deployment sites. There has not been a strategic effort to disperse an equal number of shop stewards across deployment sites nor consideration of proportionality to ambassadors at each deployment site. The Shop stewards service at deployment sites has been left to be randomly designated based on each individual's respective bidding results.
On democratic process: Out of the seven shop stewards currently serving, only two were voted in by IBT brothers and sisters at one deployment site, Union Station.
Example of the problem of capacity vs democracy: As a result of the recent annual bidding, only one voted shop steward remains at Union Station.
We need a reconfiguration of shop stewards per deployment site to more effectively serve their fellow rank n file co-workers.
We, the dues paying IBT 986 Ambassadors at LA Metro feel that we all deserve a chance to democratically elect the shop stewards who are here to serve and uplift us.
Sponsored by
To:
Raymond Whitmer IBT Local 986 Secretary Treasurer
From:
[Your Name]
1) Democratic election: We, the entire BU across all six deployment sites, want a fair chance to vote for all shop stewards relevant and respective to our deployment sites, going forward; We also want the ability to recall shop stewards by majority
2) Increase shop steward quantity: For the five smaller deployment sites, we would like to vote for two shop stewards each; one who works AM shift and one who works PM shift; For our largest deployment site, Union Station, we want to be able to elect four shop stewards; two for AM shift and two for PM shift
3) Defined terms: Maximum of 3 year terms