There are a few positive qualities he will bring to the position. Though unschooled he has innate organizational skills (albeit tres Machiavellian) and will improve hiring hall and dispatching proceedures demonstrating that higher education was wasted on both priors. Barone will not be intimidated by installers while in pursuit of his duties. He will not be intimidated by foremen/employers when enforcing basic provisions of the contract. He will also fight hard for our jurisdiction. And any improvement made in the stewarding system is welcome.

I remember when Beenthere was president. Installers were in the process of creating a new position to deal with specific problems related to the realities of the trade show industry. The two bimbos that were in office proved genetically unable to respond to the needs of working members. Seeing an opportunity to leverage their power base the International offered to pay in exchange for the authority to appoint the new officer. Guess who they were going to appoint. Guess who agreed. Beenthere believes control of the local by IBPAT in the best interests of members.

But the members disagreed and rejected the offer. Rightly so. The installers of local 510 once led the nation in negotiating terms and conditions in the industry because they were able to resist control of the International and strike forward in new and creative directions. Other unions have used our agreement as a guide in their negotiations. But we have fallen a long way. Today we reward our leaders for what they did not give away.

I remember Beenthere was President when installers held a button contest. Sick of the same old garbage they invited members to submit designs. Only one presentation arrived for the voting but there were two versions (a red and a blue). Discussion was divided. So Beenthere asked those who preferred blue to raise their hands, then those who preferred red. It was a tie. He paused to think and obviously thought nothing because he called for any additonal new business and when there was no response he ended new business and adjourned the meeting.

Everyone was dumfounded. It was the most absurd ineptitude I had experienced in a long and illustrious carreer on the lunatic fringe. To this day I am overwhelmed by a wide grin whenever the union officers pump out another volume of funereal buttons. For additional amusement I keep the third version (red, white & blue) tacked on my wall.

I remember when Beenthere was Business Agent a whistle blower complained that a boss instructed a worker to place a ladder on a fully extended scissior lift in order to reach the ceiling. The average installer cannot reach a 29' ceiling from a 20' platform.

When Beenthere finally arrived to evaluate the complaint the boss insisted the proceedure was safe. He sent the installer up to demonstrate. When he was on the second step of the ladder the foreman said, "See, its ok" and Beenthere, not wanting to appear lacking in front of an audience, called up to the worker and asked, "Do you feel comfortable?" The worker looked down at one or the other or both and nodded. Whereupon the foreman said "Go up another step" and Beenthere asked again "Do you still feel comfortable?"

The law is clear on safety.
The duties of an agent equally clear.
And clearly I wasted a dime.

I remember Beenthere was also the officer in charge of the Color&Design debacle. Many members attribute the fiasco to his brilliant strategy and consummate leadership. I was not involved and cannot say for sure, but I tend to believe them. And finally there is the revision of the Installer Handbook for the JATC. Or should I say there is no revision.

Give someone else a chance.

In my 25 years as a member I have always been involved in the decisions and directions taken by our union. I am currently serving as vice president. I also served as union trustee and a member of both the proposal committee and the negotiating team. I am a member of the executive board and was a consultant for the display installer's handbook. I have been a member of the bylaws committee, pension committee, seniority committee and many others. I have also been steward on numerous shows and general foreman for two major contractors.

Always I have put 510 before any personal agenda. I have put my job on the line upholding union rights. I understand our contract and will tenaciously uphold our jurisdiction. I will do everything possible to guarantee that the hours needed for medical coverage will not be increased. This is a high priority issue for all of us. The combination of union activities and general foreman experience gives me the skills and savvy needed for this position.

Our dispatch system must be strong and flexible, I will work to improve the flow of information from the employers and look into extending the dispatch hours to facilitate our growing needs. Each employer's 'call by name' list will be made available to members at the union hall. I will also make every effort to see that stewards get a list of everyone dispatched by the hiring hall and everyone 'cleared in to work' from out of town.

On every office and committee that I have been elected to, I have never failed to fulfill my duties.