September 4, 2008 - 11:28am
News

CWA Local 1040's election committee reviews Bruno's petitions

 

MINNEAPOLIS - Challenging the sitting president of CWA Local 1040, Tom Bruno says he is confident that the local’s election committee will rule in his favor either today or tomorrow in a case concerning the validity of his petition signatures.

The local requires 200 signatures to get on the ballot. On Tuesday, self-styled reform candidate Bruno turned in his petitions to challenge long-serving President Carolyn Wade.

Three of his petitions don’t have dates on them, and the committee is presently reviewing the situation.

"I’ve been with the union 27 years and I’ve never known about the date requirement," said Bruno. "I’d be glad to add the requirement to the bylaws, but at present our bylaws don’t require a date. The bottom line is that any change to the bylaws requires a vote by the delegates."

If the committee sees it differently, rules against him and throws out his petitions, Bruno said he would appeal all the way up to the National Labor Relations Board, if he must.

But he doesn’t think it will come to that.

"If they rule in our favor, the ballots could go out next week, and then we’d have 15 days to ballot," said Bruno.

Based in Trenton, CWA Local 1040 represents roughly 7,200 state workers. Bruno is challenging Wade in part because he does not believe she worked hard enough to secure a better 2007 state contract.

Wade was not available for comment.

Max Pizarro is a PolitickerNJ.com Reporter and can be reached via email at max@politicsnj.com.

Related topics: Carolyn Wade, Tom Bruno