Opinion: Mark appears to handle himself well and his presence in actions such as the BeechNut Job and others have shown he is dedicated. There have been questions as to his organizing results but I have never been privy to Marks daily endeavors so I cannot comment. Lets have a look at his Business Reps weekly reports. I doubt you will find Mark at the Malta Dinner much and I would bet he is Organizing. Lets reserve judgment until after we walk in his shoes.Personal conversations reveal to me that he is a dedicated Union man but one who is aware of his limitations in the hierarchy. I heard rumors he tried to step outside the box and do what was right at RPI but got chastised and put in his place by little Kevin Weir. Just rumor but if he at least attempted to do right than it speaks for his character. I think Mark is a benefit to the members of Local 370 and I was disappointed he did not aim higher in the elections. The only negatives I see is his having TWO jobs to do that consume way to much time to do either effectively. I know now that since King Kevin is gone the position of Financial Secretary no longer runs our Local but the overlapping duty is a concern. Mark also must shake off the guilt by association factor. He is part of Weirs team and we have to wonder how much he has fought the sell out of Local 370 by Weir. If Mark stands up than he has great potential because I think he believes in the membership.

Endorsement: Irrelevant since he has already won but Yes I do support him. Aim higher Mark. You would best serve the membership in another role.

Opinion: A true Union heart. He has not been corrupted by the reality of Union membership and STILL truly believes in right,wrong and the concept of true Unionism. Many have ridiculed Chris Dugan. “Where did he come from.” “How did he get this job.”etc.I have joined them on a few occasions but mine was meant to be constructive criticism such as blow up rats and wanted posters. I think he is still the victim of youth but I would overlook that for the committed Union man that he is . Like Sowalski I was disappointed he did not reach higher in this election . Even as inexperienced as he thinks he is the Chris Dugan would have benefited the membership by reaching for a Office where he could put his sense of Fair Unionism in play. He needs to stop taking notes and start giving them. This local needs the ideals of youth if we are ever to stand a chance of recovering and putting a stop to the oppression of the Council. We do not know if Dugan would rise to the occasion but a youthful idealist might take on for the team. Compared to the Carpetbaggers we have now how could we lose with Dugan. I hope he wont wait another 3 years and makes himself available if these Officer spots open up due to investigation as should Sowalski.
Endorsement:Irrelevant .Unopposed he has already won but the answer is yes. You should vote for him just to keep him in play just in case. His true belief in Unionism is worth any vote he gets.

The most maligned member of Local 370. This member has been working for the 370 Rank and File for years and nobody is listening. Mr Hicks and Weir have portrayed Brother Newell as an agitator and malcontent who offers no solutions. The fact is Brother Newell has invested many hours and personal finances to pursue the solutions that the Empire Council and Weir are afraid of.He has worked with the NLRB,DOL,ERISA and any other agency he could interest to help restore our Local. They have worked very hard to slander his character because if the members had listened they would have found out that Brother Newell was, and is, telling the truth and the back door Unionism he has tried to inform the membership of is the TRUTH. Brother Newell has offered documentation to support his assertions and the Rank and File was not interested. I have watched other 370 members ridicule and harass Brother Newell at meetings while President Weir not only did nothing to stop it as is his duty but laughed while they did it. The members in this abuse involved are a black mark in our local who do not have a clue as to the condition of our Local and do not want to know. Their ignorance is so evident that it makes one feel sad for them but they never let that stop them from heckling those who do not share in their stupidity.

John Newell is the truest working Union man in our Local. He will not be bought by offers of Double Pensions and trips to Marco Island or the Montauk Yacht Club. He will not allow the members of Local to be crushed under the dictatorship of the Empire Council. He will not sign your rights away as the Present administration as so readily done. It is amusing to see John Newell ridiculed for taking the same positions that Kevin Hicks and William Weir stuck to when they first got into office. They to saw the the Empire Council as robber Barons they were and they to refused to vote for the destruction of Local 370. They said no.That did not last long. It is appalling to see John Newell labeled by the voices of ignorance because they have an agenda and are the most vocal.
(more to come)

I had hoped to interview Doug Blacklock before commenting but it appears we will not be able to do so. I would have liked to get some honest answers before commenting.Perhaps become privy to some secret plan that Doug has been holding back to help the membership.

One thing I will say for Doug Blacklock is that he has always stopped to answer the members questions. If he has told the truth or not is another story but he has always been courteous and never has had an arrogant attitude to me. Doug is the man on site and has taken the brunt of many angry members venting. He has done so with a fair amount of patience. Members are aware of Dougs position in the food change and we will not find his signature on any document authorizing the sell out of Local 370. We will also not find his signature or voice on anything protesting the control and sell out of our Local by the Empire Council. Doug seems to have become complacent in his “between a rock and a hard place” and does not make any waves. His assocaiation with William Weir and support of his actions again make him suspect.

Support: As much as I would like to support Doug in case he might break lose once he is out from under the shadow of Weir I have to go with James Avellino. If a recent interview is the real Jim Avellino than he is the type of Officer we need. Problem is I do not really know him to determine if he is indeed real. If Doug Blacklock spoke out for the men as Avellino has than perhaps Dog Blacklocks experience , time in office,charity work and gentlemanly conduct might have swayed me but in good conscience he has had time to speak out and has not done so. To bad. To bad.

William J Weir Opinion: Not a prayer. Shall we have 3 more years of this person selling us down the river. Will we ever recover from the sell out of the Local he and Kevin Hicks have orchestrated . Pension Fund in trouble . Health Fund in trouble. Members denied right to ratify contracts or vote on raise allocations.Membership numbers declining at alarming rate causing Local to lose a delegate spot.Local 229(370) members lose all health care and their Pension Fund destroyed and the funds all handed over to the Empire Council. All these things and many more are the direct responsibility of William Weir. He has done nothing to stop it and has handed over our Local to the Empire Council to be stripped and reduced to a shell. Through misinformation or just plain deceit Mr Weir has continued to run cover for the Empire Council deceptions and has given his allegiance to the Empire Council and has forsaken his duty to work FOR the members of Local 370. Fiduciary breeches as President and Trustee on whats left of our Pension Fund .One has to wonder how Weir can show his face let alone run for office. We hope to secure enough signatures to have him removed from the ballot. If ever you were needed to come out and vote the time is NOW. Members MUST take this opportunity to remove the Empire Council from the pockets of local 370 members. Will you allow 3 more years of pillage of your paychecks and our Locals Autonomy by this Council Business Representative. Here is the chance to prove that you can do something. Here is your chance to send little Patty Morin and the Empire Council packing. WE MUST VOTE!!!!!!

More to come