Was Members’ Money Used to Pay for Approval Rating Poll?

By Tim Sylvester

“How am I doin’?” Mayor Ed Koch used to ask that all the time. It was kind of his signature line. As an elected official, it was good for him to know where he stood with the voters.

Koch’s question didn’t cost New Yorkers a dime. But in Local 804, it’s a different story.

Many Local 804 members report that they received phone calls from a professional polling company located in Alabama. Members were asked questions about how we felt about the UPS contract, our stewards, our benefits, and our union officials.

The poll included questions about Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain but a major item was how Local 804 members feel about our union leaders.

The poll-takers specifically asked us to rate each of the three H’s: Howie, Hoffa and Hall. They even asked how we grade our Executive Board.

It seems like Koch is not the only one who likes to know where he stands with the voters.

Politicians do polling all the time. But they don’t make voters pay for the polls. If our dues dollars or DRIVE contributions were used to pay for this poll, then Local 804 members should be told the results.

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