UPW members
could lose rule
allowing recall

Changes to the union's
constitution would end the right to
recall officials and consolidate
Gary Rodrigues' power

By Ian Lind
Star-Bulletin

Members of the United Public Workers will lose their ability to recall unpopular union officials or elect their own stewards if proposed amendments to the union's constitution are approved.

The proposals are part of a complex set of amendments being presented to UPW members during a series of two-hour meetings now being held across the state. The meetings continue through next week.

The changes, if approved, would further consolidate the power of UPW state director Gary Rodrigues, who has headed the union since 1981.

Voting on the proposals comes just weeks after a hearing officer cleared Rodrigues of charges he violated the constitution by refusing to disclose information about several questionable financial transactions, and then using the union newsletter to attack members who persisted in raising questions. Those charges were raised by three current or former chief stewards critical of Rodrigues' leadership.

Gary Rodrigues
HE AND OTHER OFFICIALS CAN BE RECALLED,
BUT NEW RULES WOULD END
THAT POSSIBILITY.

UPW members attending the meetings have been provided a two-page summary, along with a 27-page, single-spaced document containing both the constitution's original language and the proposed changes. The summary, which details only a few of the proposed changes, does not mention the elimination of recall, and does not discuss what the proposals mean for the average UPW member.

Neither Rodrigues nor the union responded to requests for comment.

Keith Chudzik, a former UPW chief steward who was among those filing charges against Rodrigues, said members don't have enough time or information to evaluate the amendments, and instead have focused on a proposed cut in dues.

Among the proposed amendments:

Cut union dues: The proposed reduction would result in a savings of about $4 a month for a UPW member who is paid $2,000 per month.

Eliminate right to recall: A union official can currently be recalled and removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the members. The proposed amendments completely delete this recall provision.

Appointment of stewards: If approved, stewards would be approved by the UPW executive board after being selected by the state director. Stewards are currently elected by union members. Under the proposed rules, bargaining units would hold separate elections for unit officers.

Smaller executive board and state convention: The proposed amendments reduce the overall number of delegates to both the executive board and convention, but add three neighbor island members to the executive board.

The state convention, held every three years, would be shortened from three days to two. The union says the combined moves will cut expenses by $90,000. But critics charge the moves are aimed at stifling dissent

New status: The new rules would create a special category of "active members" made up of "present and past state directors," which would include just Rodrigues, only the second person to head the union. UPW's founder and first director, Henry B. Epstein, died in 1995.

It is not clear whether the current voting can lead to final adoption of the changes. Amendments generally must be approved by the state convention, the union's highest policy-making body, unless accompanied by a petition signed by 10 percent of all union members.

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State of the Unions