Post-Election Reflection: A Shameful Display and Serious Concerns About Our Union’s Direction

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With the election results now in, many members are left feeling disappointed, frustrated, and deeply concerned—not just about the outcome, but about what the process revealed about the state of our union.

The Unity Team has been re-elected. But what we’ve heard from multiple reliable sources about what took place during the vote count has only deepened the mistrust and disillusionment that many members already feel.

According to several reports from members who were present, some Unity Team incumbents and their partners began celebrating before the count was even complete. This wasn’t a quiet acknowledgment—it was open, loud, and, frankly, inappropriate.

We've been told they were singing “We Are the Champions,” drinking alcohol on the upper patio, and even heckling the member-observers from the Members First Team—members who volunteered over 10 plus hours of their day to support the democratic process. These observers were not outsiders. They were dues-paying members who stepped up to help ensure the integrity of this election—despite knowing full well the risk of being ostracized or blacklisted for standing against entrenched leadership.

This kind of behaviour is not just disappointing—it’s disrespectful, particularly from individuals who are supposed to represent and serve all members, not just their supporters. Leadership means leading with integrity, humility, and respect—even when others disagree. Mocking those who are participating in good faith undermines the entire foundation of democracy and shows a disturbing disregard for the responsibilities that come with elected office.

But that wasn’t the only issue.

We also heard from numerous members who had their ballot return envelopes sent back to them by Canada Post. Why? Because the return label—containing the member’s information—was placed on the back of the envelope, when it should be on the front left corner of the envelope. As a result, an unknown number of Canada Post workers mistook it for the delivery address and returned the envelope to the sender.  If this happened to you, please email as we would like to hear your concerns about what happened, so that your voice is heard and shared.  

This was not a random postal error—it was a direct result of the Judge of Elections deviating from their own published guidelines. The format of the return envelopes, including how and where to place labels, did not follow the standards originally set out. That failure had a real impact. It obstructed the voting rights of members who followed the process in good faith and were unknowingly set up to have their vote rejected or lost.

In an election with a turnout of just around 16%, this kind of systemic failure is unacceptable. Every vote matters—and every member deserves a fair and functional process. Instead, the system appears to have been flawed from the inside, creating unnecessary obstacles that silenced member voices.

To the Members First Team observers who stayed through it all—thank you. You showed dignity, commitment, and courage in the face of arrogance. You stood for transparency and accountability in a space where both seem to be in short supply.

This campaign was never just about winning—it was about restoring trust, respect, and democratic values to our union. That fight doesn’t end with this result. In fact, it only reinforces why we must keep pushing forward.

In Solidarity,

The Voice of the Members