October 3rd, 2006
Dear Fellow Local 802 Member,
I am writing to you as a longtime member and a former president of Local 802, who is deeply concerned with the state of our union.
The current president, David Lennon, was elected three years ago, after having worked on staff for several years. I hired him in 1999 as a Business Representative because he seemed eager to learn and to serve the membership, despite having no background in the union movement and no history of activism at Local 802. In 2000, he was named an Assistant Director for the Concert Field.
In 2003 I supported his candidacy, along with that of the Members’ Party slate, in spite of my reservations regarding his readiness for the office of the presidency. I had hoped he would grow in the office. In this, I have been deeply disappointed.
The two problems that most disturb me, over and above any policy disagreements which I may have, are the inappropriate use of union funds and the nearly complete breakdown in relations with the other entertainment unions that had been so carefully built prior to the last Broadway negotiation.
Earlier this year it was found that President Lennon had charged more than $10,000 in personal expenses to the Local 802 American Express card. Included in this amount was approximately $3,000 for a stay at an Arizona resort. This credit card misuse resulted in a Department of Labor investigation and has cost the union more than $35,000 in legal and accounting expenses. Further investigation uncovered another $1,700 in checks belonging to the local that had been cashed by him.
When a majority of the Executive Board requested his resignation, he refused, and is running for re-election. I do not believe that his continuing in office is in the best interests of Local 802 or its members.
Fortunately, there is a positive alternative. A large group of rank-and-file members, along with several current Executive Board members, have put together a slate of candidates running as Concerned Musicians of Local 802. They have nominated Mary Landolfi for president. She served for five years, during my administration, as Financial Vice-President and Concert Supervisor. In this position, she demonstrated extraordinary abilities as a spokesperson for musicians’ interests. I have never known anyone who created a greater level of trust among those who were being represented.
Mary currently serves as an Executive Board member. Bill Dennison is their candidate for Recording Vice-President. He is the incumbent. Prior to his election in 2003, he had been Assistant to the President for eight years. From my own personal experience, I know him to be a highly skilled negotiator, an extraordinarily intelligent administrator, and someone totally dedicated to the best interests of all Local 802 members. He is a highly respected and lifelong member of the trade union movement.
Mary and Bill, working with the Concerned Musicians slate of seasoned rank-and-file candidates for the Executive and Trial Boards, will work to reunify our union. They can restore the integrity and trust so necessary to our credibility both within Local 802 and in the larger entertainment and trade union worlds.
It is important that you vote. Please use the form below to request an absentee ballot and when you receive it, please vote the Concerned Musicians slate. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Bill Moriarity
LOCAL 802 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
REQUEST FOR ABSENTEE BALLOT
You may request an absentee by sending an email request to: recordingvicepresident@local802afm.org
The request must include your name and union card number and must be received no later than October 15, 2006.
You may also request an absentee ballot by completing the form below and submitting it to the Recording Vice President’s office no later than October 15, 2006. Completed requests may also be faxed to 212 489-6030.
NAME CARD NUMBER
ADDRESS
SIGNATURE DATE
Ballots will be mailed by the American Arbitration Association and must be received for counting no later than December 4, 2006.