What about Cindy and Deandre?
In this crucial election, understanding all candidates is vital. Let's delve into Cindy and Deandre's role, their intentions, and how their candidacy impacts our union's future. It's important for every member to be informed.
Charisma vs. experience
Cindy and Deandre are charismatic individuals running for President and Vice President. However, neither has ever served as a steward, which means they have not yet gained firsthand experience with the day-to-day workings of our union—handling grievances, navigating the contract, or dealing directly with management in disputes.
More concerning is that their campaign appears to rely on the assumption that the union will provide training after they are elected to teach them how to perform the very roles they are campaigning for. Unfortunately, no such training program exists. Leadership in our local is not something you can learn after the fact. Whoever is elected will need to be ready to step in immediately and handle complex issues from day one.
It is also unrealistic to assume that the previous administration will provide guidance during the transition. In fact, experience suggests the opposite—that they may offer little assistance and could even make the transition more difficult. That means any new leadership will have to be prepared to hit the ground running.
If they do not already know how to navigate the contract, handle management, and protect the membership, the union will suffer while they try to figure it out. Leadership cannot be outsourced, and it is naive to believe that management will suddenly become cooperative or reasonable simply because new people are in charge.
We already have a president who too often gets misled by management and falls into the trap of believing management will play fair. Anyone with even a year of postal experience knows the reality: management does not play fair.
Russ and Riz recognize that Cindy and Deandre have energy and potential. They would welcome them into leadership development roles within the union and support them in becoming trained stewards where their abilities can grow and be put to good use. But placing individuals without steward experience directly into the highest leadership positions of our local is a serious risk—one our union cannot afford right now.
The vote split concern
A major concern among union members regarding Cindy and Deandre's candidacy is its potential impact on the election outcome. The race for president is currently very close, almost a 50-50 split between Russ and the incumbent, Bob. With Cindy and Deandre in the mix, there's a real risk they could split votes that might otherwise have gone to Russ. This could inadvertently lead to Bob winning with a plurality – a victory that represents significantly less than a majority of the members. Understanding this dynamic is crucial for every member casting their vote.
Our path forward together
Cindy and Deandre are absolutely welcome to join union leadership under Russ and Riz's presidency. We believe in nurturing new talent and integrating fresh perspectives. However, it's highly unlikely they can win this election given their zero union leadership experience. A vote for them, unfortunately, could easily ensure that Bob wins, an outcome that many of us are actively working to prevent. Russ and Riz bring a wealth of real, hands-on union leadership experience, ready to guide our local towards accountability, solidarity, and action. Let's unite for experienced leadership.
"Experience isn't just a preference, it's a necessity for navigating the complexities of our union's future."
A concerned union member