Saturday, May 10, 2008

YOUR NEW DIRECTION TOP OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE BOARD CANDIDATES

Patricia Morris Felecia Browning Julia Curry Mennen Gibbs
(President) (Vice President) (Financial Secretary) (Recording Secretary)

As candidates in the upcoming election we would like to first take the opportunity to express our gratitude towards all of our supporters and those who have returned the surveys addressed to the New Direction Team. We appreciate your feedback. The information from the surveys will give the New Direction Team the opportunity to address your issues and concerns, during the negotiation period once we are elected to office. Remember any candidate has the option to distribute information to the membership for their concerns including surveys, because there is not an official survey process, established in the Constitution, Bylaws, nor Master Labor Agreement. Please continue to return your surveys to us. “Your Opinions Matters”

Recently you were introduced to the New Direction Bargaining Team, and now it’s time to meet the Executive Board Candidates supported and endorsed by our team:


Allen Iles Lenora Shorter De'Arra Henderson
Trustee (BCBSM) Trustee (BCBSM) Trustee (BCN)

Alecia Green Cassandra Carr
Sargeant of Arms Guide

As governed by the constitution, the Executive Board shall be empowered to represent the Local Union between membership meetings when urgent business requires prompt and decisive action.

Please note this is the first time in our local’s history that Blue Cross Blue Shield and Blue Care Network have united to ensure the continued success and progress of Amalgamated Local 1781.

We ask you to support us as the New Direction Executive Team; the team moving forward.


“Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.” Barack Obama, speech, February 5, 2008

Brothers and Sisters remember to come out and cast your vote on May 15, 2008, for your team of the future The New Direction, “Moving Forward”

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Greetings Brothers and Sisters of Amalgamated Local 1781:

We would like to take the opportunity to introduce the New Direction Team. We are a diverse team, with a wide range of experience. Our team is comprised of members with as many as 28 years of seniority with a vast array of knowledge.

The New Direction Team’s vision is to lead and guide Local 1781, with supreme and vigorous leadership. We have collectively joined together to deliver the representation that you can rely on, by providing the consistency and support that you are entitled. We are a team of people that believe leadership is about serving everyone equally and respectfully regardless of friendships. Often during election times candidates feel the need to slander their opponents and distribute malicious literature; however we feel that our record and reputation speaks volumes. This is not personal, this is business.

New Direction’s top priorities are negotiations, the grievance process and effective leadership. As your team of the future we will investigate and interrogate, leaving no stones unturned. Many of us have either served as, alternate committeeperson, committeeperson, chairperson and top leadership positions of Amalgamated Local 1781. Like other candidates a number of us have been at the negotiation table, including all four top officer candidates. The experience helped us realize that bargaining takes the entire committee and never one individual, as one may lead you to believe.

As a team running in the upcoming election we are well aware that the company is moving in a direction that we have not yet adapted. It is going to take determined, intelligent and articulate individuals to ensure that the upcoming changes will not violate the Master Labor Agreement (MLA), nor hinder or bring harm to our members. We will hold the company responsible for adhering to the MLA that was agreed upon by both parties. We do appreciate the agreement and our former and current Union counterparts that helped in this process. As a team we pay homage to those who served before us. However, at this time we believe in order for Amalgamated Local 1781 to reach our full potential, it is time for a New Direction.

In closing, we are certain that this team of well rounded and diverse individuals will prove the next three years to be beneficial to you. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please email us at: newdirection2008@gmail.com


In Solidarity,

New Direction