2010 National Convention: Wednesday

Wednesday is traditionally the day that the body in convention tackles Constitutional issues, or how your national union takes care of its internal business. It's the one day of the Convention, more than any other, at least, that your nationally elected officers play the role of management, and the delegates play the role of unionists, and we are both in negotiation with each other over how to do things.

There is usually a lot of heated discussion on this day. One thing leads to another, the votes are close, and someone - or more likely a whole host of someones - cry out, "Division!" and all the delegates have to stand to cast their votes, instead of simply crying "aye" or "nay" and raising their hands.

If that still leaves the Chair in doubt as to the outcome of the vote, a "teller count" is mandated, and each individual delegate has to be counted by those serving as sergeant-at-arms. As you can imagine, with 2,000+ delegates in the hall, this is a lengthy process, and the floor is sealed so no one can leave or enter, so there's no bathroom breaks during a teller count, which is why we're given eight minutes prior to the beginning of the count to either grab a quick biological break or use that time to sway as many of your fellow delegates to your viewpoint as possible.

To my surprise, there were only two teller counts today, and we had gotten through 99% of the proposed resolutions by the end of the convention day.

Some of the issues: A move to add two hours to the length of the convention day (go to 9-5 instead of 10-4) but cut it down from five days to four days was defeated ... the Pre-Convention Craft Conferences can now be shortened from two days to one if the National Craft Directors feel there are not enough issues to warrant two days ... the salary of the Retiree Department Director was not increased, even though that department is the fastest growing one in our union (and, surprisingly, Florida - the land of postal retirees - voted against it!) ... in fact, retiree issues in general took it on the chin once again in this convention; I'm sure Al LaBrecque is penning a fevered rebuttal to today's events even as I write this ... a teller count ensued on a resolution to give the national president the power to fill - or not fill - national offices should they become vacant mid-term. That notion was defeated.

Others: a motion to increase your dues by $3.00, and then by $1.00 was defeated ... an increase of 1.5 cents in per capita tax allotted to the APWU Auxiliary was defeated, and an increase of 3-cents per capita sent to the Postal Press Association was approved, but only after some passionate arguments from the floor and a large grassroots awareness campaign weeks ahead of the Convention. And finally, a resolution to create the position of Veteran's Director - a position to be filled by a volunteer - was defeated after much debate and another teller count.

Seven additional committees are scheduled to report out on Thursday.