EAA’s Culture of Retaliation

Predictable, Much?

EAA Governor Jack Kayajian, aided by Executive Director Steven Belhumeur (who cannot file charges against members), filed Trump-ed up charges against Lisa Barr, Michiko Murakami and Serene Chen-Pang. This is a clear demonstration of retaliation against the three most visible members who have spoken out against the self-serving actions by the Board of 2019. Kayajian is requesting that the Board hold a disciplinary hearing and remove the status of Ms. Barr, Ms. Murakami and Ms. Chen-Pang as members in good standing no later than March 5, 2020. See: Agenda (Motion #9).

Summation of Ridiculous Allegations and Preliminary Rebuttals

Kayajian accuses Ms. Barr of "dual unionism” (whatever that means because all EAA members who are also IBEW Local 11 members are engaging in dual unionism, which is permitted) and Disloyalty to EAA for filing the charges against the Board of Governors on October 9, 2019 "for the purposes of disrupting EAA and in an effort to supplant existing EAA Board of Governors and staff.” The purposes as demonstrated in the remedies requested for each charge were accountability and transparency. See: Charges Against Governors.

Kayajian accuses Ms. Barr of Election Fraud for not being an IBEW Local 11 member for six months before serving as an officer of EAA. This is not a requirement. See: 2019 Election Announcement or EAA’s Election Manual (Chapter III). Kayajian states that Ms. Barr "engaged in election fraud by using a separate organization under her control to remove EAA leadership and staff.” This is a patently false and libelous statement.

Kayajian alleges a Breach of EAA’s Code of Conduct by Ms. Barr, Ms. Murakami and Ms. Chen-Pang as it relates to impartial communication by stating that the EAA Accountability website is used to "disseminate false and bias[ed] information about existing EAA Board of Governors and the EAA Executive Director.” EAA Accountability is a repository of documents and correspondence. It is factual. Kayajian also states that the website is "controlled by an unidentified rival organization under Ms. Barr's control whose purpose is to disseminate biased information against EAA Board of Governors and EAA Executive Director” and that Ms. Murakami and Ms. Chen-Pang are "members of a rival organization that was created for the purpose of supplanting the existing EAA Board of Governors with the leadership of a rival organization.” These are patently false and libelous statements.

Kayajian accuses Ms. Murakami and Ms. Chen-Pang of Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation and defamation for making "untrue statements against Steve Belhumeur” when describing how they felt about their experience at a meeting to review the verification of the recall petitions. The statement in question is, “It felt perverse, voyeuristic and cowardly, and adds to our discomfort as women.” See: Correspondence re Recall Petitions. Kayajian also accuses Ms. Barr of Harassment, Discrimination and Retaliation based on hearsay claims that Ms. Barr "threatened” Belhumeur and used expletives. The statements and details submitted by Kayajian are, again, false.

Kayajian alleges an additional Breach of EAA’s Code of Conduct against Ms. Murakami and Ms. Chen-Pang for "failing to exercise good sense and good judgment with regard to the fiscal impact of filing meritless recall petitions” with intent to "cause discord and dist[d]ain” against Governors with “the purpose and intent to disrupt the cooperation and solidarity between the Board of Governors and their membership.” More than 400 members supported the recall efforts ignited by the Board’s refusal to cooperate with members, disregard for fiduciary obligations and fiscal irresponsibility in squandering members’ dues.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

In the documents filed on February 7, 2020, Kayajian states that he does "solemnly swear or affirm” that he is a member in good standing, yet he is not currently working in a EAA-represented classification since starting as an External Affairs–Labor Deputy for Councilmember John Lee on January 13, 2020. According to the EAA Constitution, members must belong to one of the represented bargaining units i.e. MOUs 1, 19, 20, and 21. While representation may be granted to other units, a minimum of one hundred employees is necessary for a member of the unit to be a Governor. See: Constitution (Article VI. Representation).