On Jan. 3, a Stipulation of Settlement between the U.S. Dept. of Labor and Local 732 of the American Postal Workers Union was approved by Magistrate Judge Jeff Kaplan of the U.S. Ct. for the N. Dist. of Texas.
The stipulation requires the local union to open and count 75 ballots cast by eligible members that were not included in the tally completed on May 19, 2001. After the tally of these 75 ballots is completed and the results of the May 19, 2001 officer election are revised accordingly, The U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards (OLMS) will supervise new nominations and a new election for all Local 732 offices affected by the 67 votes that were cast by ineligible persons. OLMS will complete this supervised election on or before May 31, 2003. [OLMS 1/21/03]
Previously Barred Member Allowed to Run for Union Office in Washington State
On Jan. 7, a stipulation and order of settlement between the U.S. Dept. of Labor and the Bremerton Metal Trades Council (BMTC) was approved by the U.S. Dist. Ct. for the W. Dist. of Washington.
After an investigation by the Seattle branch of the U.S. Ofc. of Labor-Mgmt. Standards, the DOL filed suit against the BMTC for not allowing a member of an affiliated American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) local to run for office because the AFGE national union is not affiliated with the Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO. The case was in the district court on remand from the Ninth Circ. Ct. of Appeals which ruled for DOL on the jurisdictional issues raised by the BMTC but remanded it for further factfinding on the election issues.
Under the terms of the settlement, OLMS will supervise a new election of officers by July 31, 2003. [OLMS 1/23/03]