Electoral Crisis in YUFA

We are a group of YUFA members who are concerned about a breakdown of democracy in YUFA. This crisis will prevent us from making our voices heard in the upcoming contract negotiations. Like Arthur Hilliker in his message sent on May 19, we too call for "us [to] unite and work together in the best interests of our members." However, without due process, democracy and transparency, this will not be possible.

THE STOLEN ELECTION
Each academic unit elects Stewards who represent them at the YUFA Stewards Council (SC). In turn, the Stewards Council elects two of its members to the YUFA Executive. Although Executive members sit on SC, only elected Stewards can vote for their representatives to the YUFA Executive, following a November 2007 resolution passed by SC. The May 2009 election for the two Stewards representatives to Executive began with the clear understanding that the November 2007 decision would stand. In fact, this decision was re-affirmed by Stewards Council on May 1, 2009.

Despite this, the Executive overturned Stewards Council's decision and insisted on voting in the election, giving the Executive undue influence over the choice of Steward representatives.

In the YUFA Constitution, the Stewards Council is described as the body that "directs the affairs of the Association between general meetings". It has broad powers to review the actions of the Executive and to operate as a check on its power.

At the moment, the Stewards Council and the Executive are deadlocked over this seriously flawed election. YUFA members need to intervene to call for a new election, to be held according to the Stewards Council's rules which place the power to choose their representatives entirely in the hands of elected Stewards.

MORE UNANSWERED IRREGULARITIES
This situation is of grave concern; however, it is not the first time there have been serious problems in YUFA elections. In this academic year, for many units, the election of their stewards to the SC was fraught with constitutional irregularities and unnecessary intervention by the YUFA executive. The election of Winter 2007-2008 was called off and re-run due to irregularities, irregularities the officers of the union refused to disclose.

Jody Berland
Linda Briskin
Laurence Green
Ricardo Grinspun
Nuri Jazairi
Stan Jeffers
Jan Kainer
Nick Lary
Patricia McDermott
Arun Mukherjee
Martin Muldoon
Janice Newson
Nancy Nicol
Norene Pupo
Geoffrey Reaume
Ester Reiter
Harry Smaller
Lorna Weir
Richard Wellen

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