MONTREAL, Aug. 24, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - The elected president of the Syndicat des Cols Bleus regroupés de Montréal CUPE 301, Chantal Racette, after much thought due to the state of the situation under the reign of the administration that currently paralyses all democratic union and all actions to efficiently defend the interests of the members for which our Union was founded in 1943, has decided to announce today the she will not renew her candidacy as president for a second mandate.
"My objective: send a clear message to the National president that it is high time to proceed as promised to the election of a new union executive as important negotiations are happening and others are being prepared without having a leader elected by universal suffrage with real powers to represent the entirety of our members at the negotiating table! While the 375th is in full gear and Mayor Coderre is preparing his fall election in complete tranquility, it is high time that democracy speaks to ensure that we have the autonomy which we deserve before it's too late.
This is why, in order to facilitate matters, I have decided to put forward the collective interest before my personal interest, as is the case for my dear friend Jacques Rochon who, taken by acute sickness and disgust due to the politicking of these last months, has also decided to not renew his candidacy as treasurer, but will still continue to be an activist until his retirement, of which he is starting to think about seriously.
For my part, even though being deposed of my responsibilities as president is unjust, I will continue to fight with conviction and honesty like I've always done before and will keep myself available for any other role where the members would democratically request of me, although after living these trials, I will admit having no particular expectations.
I would like to thank with all my heart my colleagues who gave me the honor of electing me as the first woman at the head of the largest local union in Quebec. I know I disturbed the usual practices of a lot of people of my union structure at the office… So as to increase our service and availability towards our members. I thank all those who accepted to make the additional efforts for the cause. I know I wasn't easy or perfect, I always admitted it, but I did everything that was humanly possible for the collective interest.
My biggest error was to cast a shadow over a designated director, someone non-elected, and to have underestimated his great power of influence. I think all of the elected leaders of local unions in Canada need to take action, to clarify the national constitution and revise them so that the appeal process in a case like ours has a mechanism that ensures a truly impartial revision.
Today however, when I see my local union reduced to a role comparable to an insurance company with a reduced schedule, when our office had become a hive, a stronghold and a refuge for our members that only stopped late in the evening, often at night, I worry. I do not put blame on anyone as there are no more leaders to provide an example and motivate the people… But, I say it is high time that we take back our destiny.
To conclude, I sincerely and solidarily wish good luck to our successors who I know are ready to face all the challenges that we will encounter and resolve them with ingenuity and perseverance. Do not let yourselves get taken by easiness and learn from our mistakes, but also of our good deeds."
Members have the right to have an elected president to negotiate their next collective labor agreement, it's a fundamental right!
Note to media:
In respect of the administration, no further comments are planned.
SOURCE Chantal Racette,Col bleu
Chantal Racette, [email protected]
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