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Statement of the case:
Donald Thompson, the President of AFGE Local 987 (Warner-Robins AFB, Georgia) was suspended by AFGE National President John Gage "pending investigation of charges filed" against him on or about April 5, 2004. This supsension was at the request of AFGE District 5 National Vice-president Charlotte Flowers, succumbing to pressure from the certain members of the Local 987 Executive Board. When one member of the Executive Board showed his support for Brother Thompson, he was ousted from his office, just like Brother Thompson.
AFGE National President John Gage, suspended Brother Thompson "pending investigation" of charges brought by District 5 NVP Charlotte Flowers. NVP Flowers had been in contact with certain members of the Executive Board behind Brother Thompson's back,
Some members of the Executive Board allege that they were pressured into signing the charges against Brother Thompson, after being told that if they didn't, the charges would be filed agasinst them, too.
At the March 16, 2004 membership meeting, NVP Flowers appeared uninvited at the meeting without giving the Local President notice that she would be appearing
NVP Flowers took over the podium from the elected President and announced that she would be "bringing the Local into line" at the request of the Executive Board.
After the meeing, NVP Flowers attended a victory celebration at a local eatery and pub to celebrate Brother Thompson's upcoming suspension.
The actual motive for them was reprisal for charges that Brother Thompson filed against Tony Claiborne. Meanwhile, Tony Claiborne has been appointed "Acting President" of Local 987, and the investigation of the charges against Brother Thompson has not been completed after more than 120 days. Even after the expiration of the 120-day limit to complete the investigation, Brother Thompson has not been reinstated as President of Local 987!
Read the article in the Macon Telegraph
Read an e-mail to AFGE National President John Gage from an AFGE Local 987 Steward
Analysis:
The charges filed against Brother Thompson were based upon complaints from certain members of the Local 987 Executive Board that were clearly retaliatory in nature. Considering that NVP Flowers was aware of the charges that Brother Thompson filed against Tony Claiborne, she should have suspected the motive of the Executive Board (including Tony Claiborne) for filing the charges against Brother Thompson in the first place. It defies reason that NVP Flowers suspended a sitting Local President based upon nothing more than hearsay, especially while charges he validly filed against one of his accusers are swept under the rug!
Any "mere member" of AFGE who holds an elected office can be suspended "pending investigation" of charges filed against them - effectively damning them and damaging their reputation, often irreversibly. The National President is empowered under the AFGE Constitution to suspend officers of Locals, without giving them an opportunity to defend themselves, and without observing due process obligations. National officers of AFGE, however, are afforded the opportunity to present their side of the story before the National Executive Council can suspend them. Clearly, in AFGE, "RHIP" (Rank Has Its' Priviliges)!
Conclusion:
After the expiration of the 120-day limit for completing the investigation of retaliatory charges filed against Brother Thompson, the Committee of Investigation has returned no finding of merit to the charges. If there is not enough evidence to support the charges against Brother Thompson, the charges should be dismissed, he should be reinstated - and NVP Charlotte Flowers should be investigated for collusion, favoritism, abuse of authority, incompetence, malfeasance and misfeasance!
UPDATE!!
A trial has finally been scheduled to coincide with Local 987 elections, in an obvious attempt to influence the outcome of the elections.