Fax: (202) 457-6315

August 29, 2000

To the Members of Local 2:

I write to set the record straight on the reasons for the substitution of Randy Dalton for Joe Romano as Trustee of Local 2.

This is not about politics or personalities. I am substituting Randy Dalton for Joe Romano- just as I had previously substituted Joe Romano for Dave Schippers - because I believe that Randy Dalton has the skills that Local 2 needs now to complete the trusteeship and protect the interests of Local 2. In particular, the local needs interim leadership that is familiar with the operation of a LIUNA local union and with the District Council. I have been concerned that while Joe has carried on the valuable work of his predecessor in reforming the internal operations of the local, insufficient attention has been paid to protecting Local 2's jurisdiction and to its interests in dealing with employers. It is also essential that Local 2 function as an integral part of the District Council. But I very clearly did not, and would not, remove Joe Romano because of personality differences with the District Council leadership. .

In his letter to the members, Joe speculates that his initiatives to foster democracy within Local 2 "frightened some people in the council" who requested his immediate removal. Nothing could be further from the truth : Joe is justifiably proud of :his many accomplishments as trustee, including a newsletter, regular membership meetings, a handbook on conducting local union meetings, and. classes for stewards and others. I explained to him in terms that left no room for misunderstanding that I expect that Randy Dalton will foster and expand these initiatives. I will also work to ensure that Local 2 has a greater voice in the District Council, even though its delegates do not vote during a trusteeship.

I have expressed concerns about Joe's proposal to appoint interim officers, not because I oppose self-governance, but because the appointment of interim officers is flatly incompatible with the LIUNA Constitution and the responsibilities of a trustee under federal law. In every local that has been the subject of a trusteeship since 1995, we have sought to foster, not prevent the return to self-government by the appointment of business agents, with increasing responsibilities for the affairs of the local, by conducting regular meetings of the local union, and by teaching interested members about the skills required to operate a local union.

Local 2 has made great strides during the trusteeship, particularly when measured against the state of the local and its members under the control of its corrupt former officers. The GEB Attorney and the Inspector General did not free Local 2 from the control of organized crime in order to permit some other group to seize control. Our only goal is to restore Local 2 to officers chosen by its members in free, fair and open elections.

Joe's letter to the members states the trusteeship will or should end in November 2000. He has never discussed with me the appropriate date for setting an election, and I have reached no final decision on the matter. We will set an election as soon as Local 2 is ready to succeed without outside supervision; your cooperation with the trustee will hasten that day.

Joe Romano has made valuable contributions to the welfare of Local 2 and its members. I regret that he has mistaken a difficult but necessary personnel decision as a judgment about reform and that he has apparently confused his own status with the future of democracy in Local 2. Our efforts in support of reform in Local 2 preceded Joe's tenure and they will continue after his departure. Joe deserves our thanks for his excellent service. Randy Dalton deserves your support and wholehearted cooperation. And the members of Local 2 deserve and will get an opportunity to control their destiny.

Yours sincerely,

Robert D. Luskin