P. REZ said:
Tim,
Two things I would like to know in highlight above. 1. You haven't promised anybody else that they will run against the rest of 141 Rising in 16? MM, FO and NH are solid and will do what needs to be done but I doubt they will trust that they aren't going to be run against in 16. 2. What is the column of leadership in PHX? Why did they not want change? Why wasn't GG considered? Don't think he was happy about being dissed.
How is anybody going to help AV if he wins when he states he will clean house if elected? If he were elected and I'm not I will do as I swore when I was elected and pass him everything so he can start on the right foot. Problem is the guy has never had a conversation with me and according to many people, he hates me. If the leaders were fine without change what do you expect from this scenario? I don't see any positive coming with this scenario in PHX. The guy has never attempted to be a Shop Steward or anything else and only talks s**t about me and other leaders.
I'm not bashing you or trying to put you on the spot but I'm not seeing how this will benefit anyone here or anywhere else. You can say he is a solid guy but he has yet to prove anything here.
P. Rez
I think Artie proved that he has the respect of PHX when he secured his nomination. I think all of the leaders [District and Local column] were against him, since he stepped out of line, but the members covered, had his back, and that was impressive. I can't speak for Artie but me and him are very close and there hasn't been any talk of promises to future candidates. The membership has to vote for change first, in 2014, for either of us to be in a position to further build the sorta unity our membership says it wants. If we are privileged to represent the members I think our main vision and focus will be on the joint talks.
Me and Gus remain friends but his St Louis rams really do suck. He is an awesome brother and we converse from time to time. I always enjoy talking to him.
As far as MM, FO, NH, I can say that I can pick up the phone and would feel comfortable talking to two of the 3 opposing candidates at any time and feel comfortable about it. I have. However, I haven't talked to NH but I do respect him. I made sure he was the lead AGC in 2008 but unfortunately he yielded it and chose not to reach his potential that I knew he was capable of. He chose to stay comfortable and wasted the potential leadership that I saw in him. That stuck our members behind the 8 ball with MC who was never meant to be a lead AGC, but Delaney went with the weakest to split our unity and NH decided to take it in the shorts. Actually, I was surprised.
And, not surprisingly, MC couldn't handle the lead role and dialed out. There are things that me and NH have to work out but that is between me and him. If we have to work together, then we will work it out. That's my version of things, anyways.
Does that mean they can be a part of what the members are trying to build in unity? That's a good question. The membership will decide and maybe it decides that it doesn't want me to be a part of what it wants to build. But, at least two of them are of unbending loyalty to Delaney so I wish them the best in 2016. Their support of Delaney will definitely put them on the other political aisle. That's their decision. I mean, no way in a 1,000 years could I ever support Delaney in an election. He is pro management and a detriment to Labor. Two different cloths. Prolly be really hard for our United members to stomach any current United AGC that is hand picked by Delaney if Delaney chooses to retire instead of taking a political beating in 2016. So, my assumption will be that those who support Delaney will also seal their political aisle by supporting his hand picked successor if he retires. The members are coming for him, it's inevitable that he will lose, unless he does the right thing and thinks about his family and retires.
Another thing that may determine political aisles in 2016 and answer your question, regardless of who wins in 2014, is if any current AGC's doesn't stand up against a unfair agreement for our people. I expect any US AIRWAYS candidate that thinks he is worthy in 2016 for our members, to make a difference in this current moment. Is there a different drummer? Time will tell. Why would I want to be a part of the same political aisle with someone who signed or endorsed an unfair TA for our own people? My politics is less forgiving for those sorts. So, as you can see, some things will prolly be answered by present loyalties or immanent actions. And to be sure, if I get in, I'm not going to choose the comfortable route. I'm going to choose the route that has the membership as the core.
Going back to my column of leadership statement. The banishment and alienation that our current union leadership places upon any Local Chairperson, or otherwise that steps out of line, by questioning the grand Poo Pah, really has oppressed diversity of opinion and caused some which may have been suitable candidates to 'stand down'. Whatever happened to diversity of opinion? Either because they don't want to risk their place in line or are fearful and put themselves in political bondages where they have no freedom of expresson. Pity I'd say, but when there are moments of decisions that benefit our membership, most of them haven't taken that step to make it happen. If they can't stand up against Delaney then how the hell can I or anyone else think they are sharp enough to stand up against management without folding?
Thus the column of leadership has lost its teeth as the membership sees the weakness, and so does management. Consider ORD. The whole ORD United committee, 6 AGC's, and the entire column of leadership pushed for you and 141 rising. Yet, they got absolutely POUNDED. I think Bartz only got 7 votes which means one of his own didn't vote for him. Cyscon has no juice at all here as he has absolutely polluted himself attaching to Delaney and Stenberg as he stood down to the contract at United. Political suicide by his own choice. And the same is true for all of the largest locals in our District on the United side. The masses see the pathetic fear and emptiness of the column of leadership as witnessed with the shitty contracts, and no diversity of opinion, so I'm not surprised that the column of leadership meant nothing to the masses. It's become rotten to the core and put this union at the crossroads. But I think the message of the membership to rebuild with change and unity is going to succeed. And in June, I think they will make the most of it.
