Alberta 1325

Comments by Rod on Saturday, September 14, 2002 at 18:11
The delegate body voted today to remove the message board. The good news is that it will be moved to my personal webspace were I will take any liability and it will still have a link from www.albertacarpenters.com. You will notice no difference except the new link will open a window with another web address. This will be done this weekend so this portion of the site may be up and down during the move. I would also like to mention that any comments I post on this or will post in the future is not necessarily the view of the Regional Council and is my own opinion and views.
Thank you for all the members who tried to talk to their delegates about this issue as freedom of speech is important and you can move the location but discussion will always take place.

Comments by Jan Noster on Monday, September 16, 2002 at 17:12
Knowledge is power.
The BC Carpenters Union, as you may or may not be aware, (since you won't read it in the Carpenters Magazine)is still McCarron-free and fighting for the democratic rights of members to vote on who runs thier union.
There are only two opinions you can have on membership democracy. For or against. Those against, worry about such things as shutting message boards. The rest, have nothing to hide.
Fight the power. Jan
Canada http://www.carpentersunionbc.com

(Brother Kennedy also spoke at the 2003 B.C. Convention in April)

Transcripts from speech at BC Carpenters Union Convention, Vancouver, April 27, 2001
Introduction by President Len Embree:

We have, over the course of this convention, had a visit from a member from the Edmonton local of the Carpenters, who has been instrumental in trying to restore the democratic rights of the members in that province, and he’s made the comment over the last couple of days that he’s really feeling positive. (Applause)

ROGER KENNEDY, member of Local Union 1325 Edmonton, Alberta

Brothers and sisters:
I’m not used to standing up on the stage. When the President told me to appear, I thought maybe I was going to get lynched……(Laughter) or crucified!

Well, I come from Alberta, and I was not sanctioned by our poor International executive out there. The Alberta poor International executive calls you members here, quote: “a creeping cancer,” and the brothers from Seattle, “weirdoes or nutcases.” I do not believe that you are a creeping cancer or our American friends nutcases. I believe you’re the winds of change. These people haven’t figured it out. You are the wind of change. I’m from Alberta. I want a rank and file system of one man, and one sister, with one vote, one union, one country. (Applause)

Also, I commend you; I salute you. I only wish Alberta could have done this. When you retire from this union and we are one nation with one union, you will be able to say to your sons and your grandchildren, “I had a part in that!”

I’m hoping Alberta will take you by the hand, and we shall march east until we have one Canadian union. And we shall be friends with our American cousins -- I like Ken Little from Seattle.

I hope that blows right through. We are the wind of change, and we’re going to bloody blow gale force.

Alberta Local 1325 United Brotherhood of Carpenters Joiners and Allied Workers 10425 Princess Elizabeth Ave. Edmonton, Alberta T5G 0Y5 Alberta Regional Council of Carpenters click to visit: http://www.albertacarpenters.com
	Comments by Rod on Saturday, September 14, 2002 at 18:11 The delegate body voted today to remove the message board. The good news is that it will be moved to my personal webspace were I will take any liability and it will still have a link from www.albertacarpenters.com. You will notice no difference except the new link will open a window with another web address. This will be done this weekend so this portion of the site may be up and down during the move. I would also like to mention that any comments I post on this or will post in the future is not necessarily the view of the Regional Council and is my own opinion and views. Thank you for all the members who tried to talk to their delegates about this issue as freedom of speech is important and you can move the location but discussion will always take place. Comments by Jan Noster on Monday, September 16, 2002 at 17:12 Knowledge is power. The BC Carpenters Union, as you may or may not be aware, (since you won't read it in the Carpenters Magazine)is still McCarron-free and fighting for the democratic rights of members to vote on who runs thier union. There are only two opinions you can have on membership democracy. For or against. Those against, worry about such things as shutting message boards. The rest, have nothing to hide. Fight the power. Jan Canada http://www.carpentersunionbc.com (Brother Kennedy also spoke at the 2003 B.C. Convention in April) Transcripts from speech at BC Carpenters Union Convention, Vancouver, April 27, 2001 Introduction by President Len Embree: We have, over the course of this convention, had a visit from a member from the Edmonton local of the Carpenters, who has been instrumental in trying to restore the democratic rights of the members in that province, and he’s made the comment over the last couple of days that he’s really feeling positive. (Applause) ROGER KENNEDY, member of Local Union 1325 Edmonton, Alberta Brothers and sisters: I’m not used to standing up on the stage. When the President told me to appear, I thought maybe I was going to get lynched……(Laughter) or crucified! Well, I come from Alberta, and I was not sanctioned by our poor International executive out there. The Alberta poor International executive calls you members here, quote: “a creeping cancer,” and the brothers from Seattle, “weirdoes or nutcases.” I do not believe that you are a creeping cancer or our American friends nutcases. I believe you’re the winds of change. These people haven’t figured it out. You are the wind of change. I’m from Alberta. I want a rank and file system of one man, and one sister, with one vote, one union, one country. (Applause) Also, I commend you; I salute you. I only wish Alberta could have done this. When you retire from this union and we are one nation with one union, you will be able to say to your sons and your grandchildren, “I had a part in that!” I’m hoping Alberta will take you by the hand, and we shall march east until we have one Canadian union. And we shall be friends with our American cousins -- I like Ken Little from Seattle. I hope that blows right through. We are the wind of change, and we’re going to bloody blow gale force. this page last updated 1/31/07 CUBC home page