Hughes Cancels Open Discussion on the Contract

ILA President Richard Hughes canceled his appearance at a local union contract meeting on 11/12/09 when he found out he would have to go on the record with his responses to local union members.

Hughes, through the ILA Public Relations office, asked to attend ILA Local 1588’s contract meeting. The local arranged a special day and location to host him. Hughes invited the press and an entourage of 14 international, district and other local union officers including two lawyers and the ILA public relations agent.

1588 planned to record the questions and answers and make them available to ILA members who may not have had the opportunity to question the ILA President about the contract.

When Local 1588 informed Hughes that–in addition to the press he himself had invited–they would video the meeting, Hughes refused to attend.

Local 1588 offered to put the video recording of the meeting to a vote of the membership, but Hughes refused to reconsider his cancellation.