2014 Fleet Service Discussion

[Harry Callahan]

I;m another one for voting should be at the station. In the past I've had to miss because there was no way I could make it,
 
Wishing everyone the best.
 
CLT hopefully I'll see some of you folks Th. that I haven't seen since retirement
Harry

 

[WeAAsles]

I'm not condemning the fact that unions want to hold on to the "ritualistic" approach of past practices. I'm merely stating that those practices are no longer working and changing with the times is needed. We all know it for a fact but we have to get the ball rolling now.

In life you either adapt and evolve or your species becomes extinct.

 

[700UW]

How hard is it to call your local and and get the form to request an absentee ballot?
 
Or ask your shop steward or any officer of the lodge?
 
I was RS for 1725 and Editor I would put the election notice in the Newsletter and a copy of the absentee ballot request form.
 
When are people going to take personal responsibility for themselves?
 
And if you requested in the proper manner and time frame and didnt get it, why didnt anyone follow up?
 
I ran many local, district and a few International elections and never had an issue.

 

[mike33]

How hard is it to call your local and and get the form to request an absentee ballot?
 
Or ask your shop steward or any officer of the lodge?
 
I was RS for 1725 and Editor I would put the election notice in the Newsletter and a copy of the absentee ballot request form.
 
When are people going to take personal responsibility for themselves?
 
And if you requested in the proper manner and time frame and didnt get it, why didnt anyone follow up?
 
I ran many local, district and a few International elections and never had an issue.

And you probably had a low turnout. I think that is everyones point. It's the 21st century. Should be online

 

[700UW]

When I was involved we lobbied in the international to modernize the voting system, at the time there wasnt the reliability and security of the system.
 
Will the advent of numerous online voting systems it is time for a change.
 
If the NMB can use it for elections and other unions it is time for the change.
 
The IAM Constitution needs to be changed.
 
But once again, the members have to take some personal responsibility in the matter, to get out to vote, same goes for Contract votes, people dont take the time to vote.
 
Same goes for political elections in this county.
 
People dont care, they are too busy.

 

[blue collar]

Yes, there is a matter of personal responsibility- but using that as the 'catch-all' excuse does not create an engaged membership. Apathy runs rampant in labor, and by not making it easier for someone's participation, you're just fostering more of it. If someone requested an absentee ballot within the proper timeframe, the onus isn't on them to make sure they get it. How many times should someone have to request for an absentee ballot?

 

[700UW]

Things get lost in the mail too, so if you dont get it, you should follow up if you want to vote.

 

[blue collar]

I wasn't necessarily talking about via the mail- but would it be too much to make them available at work? Or a PDF through the local's website? That way, the responsibility is shared.

 

[700UW]

When I was RS for LL1725, we had them in the ramp and maintenance grievance committee offices and union offices.
 
And had them on the union bulletin boards.
 
And I always carried the with me, dont know what else to tell you, when I was in charge they were available.

 

[blue collar]

When I was RS for LL1725, we had them in the ramp and maintenance grievance committee offices and union offices.
 
And had them on the union bulletin boards.
 
And I always carried the with me, dont know what else to tell you, when I was in charge they were available.

That's a good thing. That's how it should be- make them readily available so you can provide them when requested. That way the blame doesn't fall on you.
It sounds from other posters that it's not that way in their local, and that's a shame.

 

[700UW]

I always put the members first, and I was available 24/7.
 
I was on vacation with my son in Daytona and got a phone call from two members who got in trouble, told them exactly what to do, called the foreman and got it all straightened out.

 

[blue collar]

I always put the members first, and I was available 24/7.
 
I was on vacation with my son in Daytona and got a phone call from two members who got in trouble, told them exactly what to do, called the foreman and got it all straightened out.

That's commendable. Too bad they're not all like that

 

[700UW]

Too many reps are in it for themselves, I was in it to make the work environment better.

 

[Harry Callahan]

Regardless of any past differences on this forum 700 was the person & he for sure was for the members.
 
Harry

 

[700UW]

Thank you Harry, very kind of you.