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MEDIA ALERT
Attention: News Assignment
For Immediate Release

Restore The Vote Slate
www.getridofmac.com

Contact:
Rachael Perrotta ~ (773) 569-0568 ~ rmperrotta@hotmail.com
Ken Little ~ (253) 576-8950 ~ ranknfile@earthlink.net

Restore the Vote Slate Battles for Rank-and-File Democracy Despite Campaign of Fear and Intimidation

Dissent and discussion are thwarted in District Caucuses as McCarron cronies push through endorsement; Free Speech Resolution is ruled out-of-order.

Las Vegas, August 24, 2005 In a bid to reshape the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBCJA) into a fair, responsible, and democratic union, rank and file carpenter Tom Lewandowski will accept the nomination for the General President of the UBCJA on August 24th at the Carpenters' 39th General Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada. Other candidates on the Restore the Vote slate include Ken Little for General Secretary-Treasurer, and Scott Brineman for District Vice President/Western District.

"In Sunday's Caucuses we saw the continuation of McCarron's rampant campaign of fear and intimidation," says Tom Lewandowski, candidate for General President. "In each Caucus, rank-and-file democracy was thwarted as McCarron's hand-picked delegates called for endorsement of his candidacy, which was seconded by all Regional EST's, immediately following opening statements by each side. As the same process was seen in each Caucus, it became clear that McCarron and his cronies are running a coordinated campaign to silence discussion and dissent in our Brotherhood."

The Caucuses also saw an attempt by McCarron to discredit the healthcare plan being put forward by the reform slate. In each Caucus, one of McCarron's cronies asked hostile questions, misstating the 'Restore the Vote' plan to lower health care premiums for young rank-and-filers without families to support.

"McCarron's cronies tried convince the Caucuses that our slate will take away health care for young carpenters," says Lewandowski. "In reality we will set up a two-tiered system where both young, single carpenters and carpenters with families will be able to apply for the health care plan that fits them best."

In some Caucuses, including the Western District Caucus chaired by Michael McCarron, brother of the General President, the rules of order were overturned and delegates were allowed to make multiple statements smearing the platform of the reform slate.

On Monday, a Resolution in Support of Free Speech at UBC General Convention was brought to the convention floor. The resolution upholds the principles of democracy and debate, and would make it a violation of the rules for any delegate to act as a "floor whip" to seize control of the convention or to prevent, discourage, intimidate, or threaten any delegates from reaching the microphones to freely express their opinions on debatable issues.

Although the motion was ruled out of order and was not passed, debate was allowed on the issue. After the motion was presented, in a victory for free speech and dissent, McCarron backed away from his long-standing policy of silencing discussion and allowed delegates to speak in opposition of all other motions put forward.

The 'Restore the Vote' slate regrets to announce Joseph Durham, running for General Vice President, has withdrawn his candidacy. However, Durham will attend the remainder of the convention as a delegate.

For more information on the Restore the Vote slate, please visit www.getridofmac.com or www.ranknfile.net

-30-

HAMMERHARDmediaworks
PHONE: 773.569.0568 FAX: 312.733.2182
EMAIL: rmperrotta@hotmail.com

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Save Our Brotherhood

Resolution in Support of Free Speech at UBC General Convention

Whereas: Once every five years the United Brotherhood of Carpenters holds its General Convention and makes decisions of important historical significance to all workers, and

Whereas: The Brotherhood gathers members from all over the United States and Canada who are active in working for the Greater good of not only Union Carpenters but of all workers, and

Whereas: The greater good of all working people is manifest in the ability of them being able to communicate to each other their ideas, dreams, and visions, and

Whereas : Our forefathers from the founding of this Great Nation, the United States of America to the founding of this Great Union, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters fought for the right of all workers and Union members to speak about their ideas, dreams, and visions without threat of prison, violence or death, and

Whereas: The US Constitutional Bill of Rights under the First Amendment guarantees all citizens the freedom of speech, be it therefore

Resolved: It shall be a violation of the rules to call for the question to cut off debate before any debate has occurred.

Resolved: It shall be a violation of the rules for any delegate to act as a "floor whip" to seize control of the convention or to prevent, discourage, intimidate, or threaten any delegates from reaching the microphones to freely express their opinions on debatable issues.

Resolved: One hour per convention day shall be reserved for "good of the order" so many delegates will potentially be able to share their views with the entire delegation. Ground rules for "good of the order" shall be 1) confine your remarks to subjects which are of importance to the working class, especially Carpenters. 2) prepare your statement for presentation in under three minutes. 3) no delegate is allowed to speak more than once unless there are no other delegates wishing to speak.

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To: All Canada Locals, District and Regional Councils

From: U.B.C. General President candidate TOM LEWANDOWSKI

Subject: CANADIAN AUTONOMY

Greetings Brothers and Sisters,

As the current administration continues to strive toward corporate unionism and the continuing of corporate style mergers, Canada is holding their own AND making gains in the area of worker's rights. Canada is directed by a different set of labor laws than those of the contiguous United States. The past few years have shown greater differences in attitudes toward labor between our neighbors to the North and the rest of North America.

We have seen Brothers and Sisters in British Columbia withdraw from the U.B.C. over differences in member's rights and how member's dues are spent. The time has come to grant the Locals and Regional Councils of Canada your autonomy. We need to look at having a different affiliation with you, our Brothers and Sisters North of the border.

And what would that relationship be? Canada would be an AFFILIATED but SEPARATE entity that has your own officers and collects and spends your own monies. You would be a SEPARATE BUT EQUAL union of carpenters, millwrights, industrial, shop and other represented workers. This is restoring the original ideals of our founder Peter J. McGuire. He was dedicated to the principles of everyone belonging to a union and everyone having self-direction. With the differences between Canadian and U.S. labor laws it is time to let YOU have the self-direction and self-determination that you DESERVE. To continue on the course that we are on today would simply set up more opportunities for disharmony and fracture within the U.B.C.

TOM LEWANDOWSKI says, "this pledge is consistent with our goal to restore the member's rights and to restore Local Union sovereignty. It is paramount that we are successful in keeping this pledge. We must do this in order to maintain credibility with the public, and the most important people, the dues-paying members, and even our employers. The RESTORE THE VOTE slate will strive to make this happen!"

In Solidarity,

Brother TOM LEWANDOWSKI
www.ubcforlew.com
Contact MEMBERS TO ELECT LEW at: 815-985-4573 or
Email: lewgo.1@netzero.net

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