CLEAT Executive Board Votes to End Merger Talks With TMPA
On January 14th, The CLEAT Executive Board voted to discontinue reunification talks with TMPA. The CLEAT Board believes that there are fundamental philosophical and organizational differences between CLEAT and TMPA that cannot be overcome by further discussions.
For over 34 years, CLEAT has operated as a labor organization that believes in traditional labor values and improving the lives of our members. CLEAT's predominant focus is on the improvement of wages, benefits and working conditions for our members at the bargaining table and in the Texas Legislature; and the protection of our members' due process rights and other labor rights by our staff attorneys. The Board’s perspective of TMPA is that it is a training organization that offers labor services only secondarily; and that a merger would substantially diminish the vitality of CLEAT's labor values.
CLEAT is governed by an elected Executive Board that is chosen by all the members of CLEAT. Consequently, our members always have the ultimate review and voice over the decisions made by the CLEAT Executive Board. It is our belief that by allowing staff to totally run the organization, the TMPA governance structure minimizes the opinions and concerns held by the members who pay dues to the organization.
Additionally, CLEAT's one-man-one-vote system of membership voting is a vital part of our governance system. The Board feels that the TMPA system of delegate voting would deprive our members of a basic and important right of participation in their organization.
As CLEAT moves forward as the state’s largest law enforcement group, we will continue to actively organize and provide services to our local associations and members. The CLEAT Executive Board wishes to thank TMPA and its leadership for participating in these discussions.
Todd Harrison, CLEAT President
