Members for Democracy Archive

Urgent Open Letter to CUPE's President Paul Moist - The Sequel

Dear Brother Paul Moist

While the recent email responses from yourself, CUPE National President Paul Moist to myself aka "About Unions" and CUPE Manitoba President Kevin Rebeck to a sister (below) are welcome, they fall far short, far too short on dealing with the criminal-in-content email by Taz loco; not even so much as we're sorry, not even a genuine offer of a public apology by CUPE or Brother Terry Egan.

In the reply to "About unions" Urgent Open Letter to CUPE's President Paul Moist, Brother Paul Moist wrote:

Edit - Paul Moist's cell (613)-558-2873 number he conveniently chose not to include.

CUPE Manitoba President Kevin Rebeck wrote:

I would like CUPE to explain what bearing a discussion with the victim has on consequences due the attacker? The identity of or discussion with a rape victim does not lessen the guilt of the rapist nor does it alter the rape crime itself. If the rape victim is "Jane Doe", does that lessen the guilt of the rapist? Do you boys also expect rape victims to meet face to face with their violent attacker?

A violent threat was made, the attacker has been identified - there should be swift and adequate consequences so as to prevent a re-occurrence. Brother Moist you have not given us any assurances that there will not be any more re-occurrence of the grossly inappropriate violent behavior on the part of Brother Terry Egan.

Sadly though it would seem CUPE has its mind set on diverting the focus from the real issue and onto the victim. It doesn't matter who Brother Egan threatened, it only matters that he did threaten and very convincingly I might add.

It is obvious that CUPE can not possibly downgrade the attack if the victim won't co-operate, won't take off the mask so to speak. If CUPE is hoping to get me to take the sting out of their own reflection, this victim will not have any part in co-operating to make that happen.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind I'm sure, that CUPE would like to have a face to face meeting and bash things out within a quiet four walled mediation room.

The fact remains however that this victim did not do anything wrong to provoke such a violent attack from Brother Terry Egan and sees no demand for mediation. The face to face confrontation is the old fashioned way anyway; we reformers do it in the open before the whole world and CUPE is more than welcome to come join us at Members for Democracy and discuss this Brother Terry Egan ordeal further.

Brother Moist, my reluctance to reveal my legal identity should not and will not be used as a distraction from the real issue which is Brother Egan's grossly inappropriate violent response to a fair and non-confrontational enquiry. His initial reaction to me should provide ample reason for my decision to use a nom de plume. I have every reason to fear that approaching Brother Egan about anything may result in further violence - I suspected that going in and I most certainly believe that now.

Whether "About Unions", "Au Sol" or "Jane Doe" is a member of CUPE or just a member of the interested public, the questions were fair and warranted a fair response.

If Brother Terry Egan had a problem with not knowing Au Sol's identity although Brother Egan certainly implies he does in his email; he had the option of asking (politely) if he would mind identifying himself or, in the least, stating his interest in the forthcoming negotiations (is he a member, a journalist, a parent of a child in one of the Divisions schools, etc).

Of course, if Brother Terry Egan really didn't want to answer the questions, he could have just ignored it as most union leader do or stated that he does not respond to anonymous email from those who hide their identity behind the internet just like Manitoba Federation President Darlene Dziewit does. But no - Brother Terry Egan chose to (and it's important to stress that he chose to) respond and in the process chose to behave like a goon.

Brother Egan also chose to turn this situation into a public discussion by copying his mafia style note to a number of CUPE representatives. So, there's really no point in trying to confine this now to an issue between Brother Terry Egan and myself "Au Sol". This is now a public CUPE issue and Brother Terry Egan has made it so and it will remain in the public view until a resolution that is acceptable to the victim is achieved.

So, let's ask a few questions of you Brother Paul Moist: Is Brother Terry Egan's behaviour appropriate considering his leadership position within CUPE? What compelled him to respond to an inquiry from a member of the public the way that he did? What's CUPE going to do about Brothers Egan's actions? We all want to know.

Brother Egan's attack is symbolic of so many union heads at many levels of our labour movement in North America and a strong message must be sent that we will not tolerate such actions at all.

Yes Brother Moist I certainly would like the Brother Egan situation resolved. However Brother Moist I believe you are incorrect in your statement in which I quote: "Resolution to situations such as this requires a dialogue between the affected parties. That is impossible in this case as the writer has chosen to remain anonymous."

I as well as others Brother Moist believe you and CUPE alone should be the one taking action to resolve this Brother Egan situation.

In fact Brother Moist we're communicating right now and it seems to work just fine. I reiterate that my legal identity has no bearing on this situation at all unless of course knowing my identity would be very helpful too someone if they desperately wanted to launch an Ad Hominem attack. My legal identity really is only needed for identification purposes at the morgue should I be killed mysteriously falling from the top floor.

You have previously stated in your reply to me that CUPE does not condone nor support harassment or intimidation. I therefore expect nothing less than a full public apology Brother Moist from Brother Terry Egan. I should not have had to even mention it. A full and public apology from Brother Terry Egan should have accompanied your email Brother Moist.

Merely stating that CUPE officials have met with Brother Egan to discuss his email is unacceptable, and void of the grave seriousness of the situation.

One gets the feeling from what you CUPE representatives did not say; "like we're sorry, and here is a public apology"; that violent actions like that perpetrated by Brother Terry Egan are acceptable under certain conditions, even if only instigated by a simple honest information seeking email.

Only by sending a strong punitive message to violators like Brother Terry Egan that this type of behavior will not be tolerated now or in the future can there be any progress made for all. Failure to send a strong public message Brother Moist not only sends the wrong message that violence is ok sometimes, but it also reinforces those who continue to exhibit such horrifying behavior.

Anything short Brother Moist of CUPE ensuring justice, retribution and repentance are fulfilled will leave many believing CUPE does in fact condone and support harassment or intimidation.

To deny me or any other member of the public, union member or otherwise who have experienced such violent acts violates the very premises of justice, retribution and repentance.

Brother Moist I want to see some procedural justice, punishment, and truth-telling as in a public apology.

Brother Rebeck, President of CUPE Manitoba alarmingly has stated: "The matter has been addressed by CUPE". We can only hope that Brother Rebeck truly doesn't believe that CUPE has fully addressed this situation, for this situation will surely expand in its scope.

The fact that there has been no repentance on the part of Brother Terry Egan strongly suggests that he is not in the least sorry for his actions in which case it would only follow that Brother Egan still supports his action as being acceptable then and now. We have to wonder if CUPE does not as well.

I look forward Brother Moist to CUPE bringing a swift and just conclusion to the unacceptable display of human behavior by CUPE's Brother Terry Egan.

Fraternally

about_unions at ufcw.net

References

Cupe Leader Threatens MFD Reformer

Urgent Open Letter to CUPE's President Paul Moist

A version of this open letter was sent via email to CUPE President Paul Moist on June 30th, 2005. If a reply should arrive we'll be sure to post it.

If there are any union members who would like to contact the Cupe National Executive Board regarding this issue, you may do so by either calling CUPE's President Paul Moist on his cell 613-558-2873 and or calling Claude Généreux, CUPE national secretary-treasurer (porte-parole francophone), cell, 514-884-5074 or by clicking the following link (pre-formatted email):

Email the CUPE National Executive Board

Alternatively, we have compiled a list of individual email addresses for a number of CUPE executives:

National President

Paul Moist - pmoist@cupe.ca

National Secretary-Treasurer

Claude Généreux - cgenereux@cupe.ca

General Vice-Presidents

Rick MacMillan Atlantic/Maritimes - macmillr@nbnet.nb.ca

Mario Gervais Quebec - mgervais@scfp.ca

Patrick (Sid) Ryan Ontario - sryan@cupe.on.ca

Tom Graham Manitoba/Saskatchewan - tomgraham@sasktel.net

Barry O'Neill Alberta/British Columbia - lwatt@cupe.bc.ca

Regional Vice-Presidents

Donna Ryan Newfoundland and Labrador - dryan@cupe.ca

Betty Jean Sutherland Nova Scotia - bj.sutherland@ns.sympatico.ca

David Rouse New Brunswick - drouse@nbnet.nb.ca

Donalda MacDonald Prince Edward Island dmmacdonald@edu.pe.ca

Charles Fleury Quebec cf.scfp1500@qc.aira.com

Claude Turcotte Quebec - cpas@videotron.ca

Michael Hurley Ontario - michaelhurley@ochu.on.ca

Candace Rennick Ontario - c.rennick@sympatico.ca

Judith Mongrain Northern Ontario - jmongraii@shaw.ca

Kevin Rebeck Manitoba - krebeck@unitedwaywinnipeg.mb.ca

Frank Mentes Saskatchewan - fmentes@accesscomm.ca

D'Arcy Lanovaz Alberta - darcy@lanovaz.org

Colleen Jordan British Columbia - lwatt@cupe.bc.ca

Fred Muzin British Columbia - fmuzin@heu.org

Diversity Vice-Presidents

Dharam Boodhoo DVP (Worker of Colour) d.boodhoo@sympatico.ca

Leo Cheverie DVP (Aboriginal) lcheverie@upei.ca

And lastly those who Brother Egan is comfortable enough with or trusts to cc.

Archie Nicholson executive member of Cupe Local 110- archie.nicholson@shaw.ca

Doug McLaughlin CUPE National Representative- dmclaughlin@cupe.ca

Gale Storoszczuk CUPE Local 2938 President- gstoroszczuk@7oaks.org

Kevin Rebeck President of CUPE Manitoba- krebeck@unitedwaywinnipeg.ca

Rik Panciera CUPE National Representative- rik59@hotmail.com

Steve Edwards CUPE National Representative- sedwards@cupe.ca

Gerry Flood on Cupe Local 110 executive, on Gary Doer's NDP executive- gflood@wsd1.org

Wendy Wellborn CUPE Manitoba executive member- wwellborn@pein.org