Yesterday, we told you that the BNTU president-elect was stepping down before even taking office. In a letter she wrote to the outgoing president, Elena Smith, she stated that quote, "Certain Council members have been adamant in ensuring that they discredit me and your apparent silence enabled it to escalate which has brought great pain and suffering to my family, especially my children." End quote.
But 24 hours after she sent that letter, Ruth Shoman rescinded the resignation. The back and forth triggered an emergency meeting to discuss the way forward.
And at the end of that it was decided that Shoman would remain, even with past charges of theft and forgery that were levied against her for an embezzlement case of over $100,000.
And today after the almost 4 hour meeting, we spoke to Smith about this decision.
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"As you all know she tendered her resignation and this morning she rescinded that resignation so she remains our president-elect and come July 3rd she's going to be in office as our new BNTU president for the next two years."
Courtney Menzies:
"So she will stay president, but what about the stipulation in your internal constitution which states that a person with a criminal record cannot be an executive member?"
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"We've met and we've said she is going to be the president, the membership elected her, and so she's our president and we'll move forward with that."
"At the end of the day, we are one BNTU and as every organization there are challenges and we have to face them when they come and so that is what we did today, we faced those challenges, we look at how we go forward and that is what we'll be doing, we'll be going forward with our president and our council in a support of her going forward."
Courtney Menzies:
"How has the transition period between you and her and I know you spoke about it before that it isn't very difficult because she's been there every step of the way, so do you feel satisfied relinquishing the reins?"
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"I'm very satisfied, as I've said, I've done my best that I could have done and it is now her turn to do her part as the next national president along with the council, they will chart the way forward in terms of what they want to do over the next two years, each president has his or her own vision that they want, following or going within the mission and vision of the union and they will work with the council to ensure that the vision that they have over the next two years will come to fruition and so we don't expect anything differently, we know that the president doesn't make decisions, it's the council that makes decisions and so that will continue and we expect the union to continue to be strong, as we all are, and again, we may be going through a rough patch right now, but we will continue to be who we are, the proud, the strong, the mighty BNTU."
Courtney Menzies:
"What was your reaction when you saw the letter of resignation when she sort of put some of the blame on you for remaining silent on the whole matter?"
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"Disappointed I will say, I think we were all disappointed, but at the end of the day, we have to respect people's opinion, whether we accept it or not, we have respect their opinion and as I said, we move from there. We are at the point where we have moved on from that and we will continue to work together, she has attended our council meetings and she will continue to do so, we will move forward from here, and we want for the public to know and to understand that we are moving forward united."
Courtney Menzies:
"What's the next step from here, do you go back to your membership now?"
Elena Smith, Outgoing President, BNTU
"Yes we will inform our membership of what has transpired so that they are aware that this is the position going forward because I'm not sure if they are aware so it's our duty to inform them."
Ruth Shoman did not attend the meeting. She takes office on July 3rd.
