Well it looks like the TWU International is up to their same old tricks again.
On Tuesday, International Reps Jim Little, Gary Yingst and Robert Gless treated the Executive Board of local 562 to an expensive dinner.
During the meeting Jim put forth the same promises he made four years ago when he replaced Ed Koziatek. All the typical corporate style BS about “improving communication†and “meeting the needs of the member†etc.
The conversation only briefly touched upon the concessionary contract that Jim Little, “without further ratification†signed into place. And of course, like I stated many times before, according to the International “Its all the Local Presidents faultâ€.
Whats really ironic is that some of these Local Presidents still don’t realize how they were set up by the International. It might be starting to sink in to Nestor Rodriguez as he is back slinging bags down in RDU but a lot of these Presidents are still obviously oblivious.
I wonder if Nester is saying "guys it was my fault" or "it was the International"?
That will be the gist of the TWUs strategy. As time goes by and the magnitude of the concessions take their toll the International will distance themselves from the Presidents, pushing them out front as the sacrificial Lambs. "Dont blame us fellas, it was your own Presidents that did this to you, and you can vote THEM OUT!" "Honestly, we left it up to them, they came up with this plan, and they decided on it."
Last Summer I said this would happen.
The fact is that several court cases prove that their assertion that the Presidents council is to blame is a lie.
When the seperate Locals were formed the Presidents council voted against it. Sonny put it in place, some of the Presidents sued. The judge ruled that the Presidents council for all practical purposes doesnt exist. The TWU testified that the Presidents council was merely a creation for the conveince of the International. They have no power.
When Title II in Boston decided to join Local 562 Sonny Hall said OK despite the objections of their President. He sued. Once again, the the TWU testified and the courts agreed that the Local President has no authority over the International President.
Last year when we got that concessionary contract rammed down our throats by Jim Little with his crooked voting system and his "without further ratification" signature, several Locals sued. In court the TWU said that we do not even have the right to vote on our contracts, its the Internationals contract and they can modify it as they see fit without our permission, and the court, after reviewing our Constitution, agreed.
All you have to do is look at the cover of the contract book. It states that the TWU owns this contract, no individual Local has jurisdiction.
So while the TWU tells the members about how they are in control and the locals are autonomous, just look at what they say in court when the members or Locals want to actually assert the rights they were led to believe they had. They say the direct opposite. Their own testimony exposes them for the liars they are.
The TWU International directed Chuck Schalk, President of a supposedly "autonomous local", to sign a letter to the members of his Local that was in fact written by the International. When he refused to be made a mouthpiece for someone else they removed him from office. They removed him from office because he would not say exactly what they wanted him to say! Thats autonomy? No Its totalitarianism!
This is typical of just about any tyranny. No tyrant admits that he is a tyrant. They all claim to be democratic. Even Stalin was elected. So was Hitler. However merely going through the motions of an election does not a democracy make.
In order to have a Democracy there has to be free speech. My attempt to practice this essential component of Democracy got me removed form office.
When you hear how the negotiations were conducted and what went on its all too clear what happened there. Another elaborate fascade to create the illusion of Democracy.
First of all the "negotiations" were conducted on company property where management could monitor the discussions between the Presidents.
Secondly, despite the fact that it was done on company property the committee and the company were only face to face for around 16 hours.
The committee was directed by the International to meet the companys number of $660 million in savings. There was no "negotiating" the figure. The International determined who had what share. Again no negotiations.
The company came up with all the numbers. The International presented them to the committe as Gospell.
The committee originally proposed meeting the figure through layoffs, the company refused, cllaiming that they could not run the operation as they wanted to with that many furloughs. (No $#!+)
When the committee came up with a proposal it was given to Little who may or may not have even bothered to present it to the company. Jim Little informed the committee of the company's determination. They did not have the opportunity to present their arguement to the company.
When members of the committe asked for non-monetary changes in the contract they were told by the International that they could not ask for ANYTHING. They could only give, and thats what the TWU calls negotiating.
The committee was kept on company property in the room for long hours even when nothing was going on. The International said to the committe "We have to make it look like we are working towards a package" when in fact this was merely a tactic to wear down the committee both physically and mentally.
The International used their most simple minded Presidents to steer the committee towards their predetermined "package". International Reps would slip little notes to certain Presidents and tell them to bring up what was written. It was done this way to make it 'appear' that the council came to this conclusion.
Before that committee ever even officially met, Jim Little and AA already had our contract pretty much worked out. They locked these guys in a room and simply eliminated any other avenue other than what they had already worked out as they were proposed. Then when the only thing that was left was finally put forth they said "Good job, YOU guys did it".
So the peices were put in place. The concessions were in place and they already had the Presidents council set up to take the blame.
Now they are already out there selling it in the hopes that by deflecting the blame to the Presidents they can convince the members that they have it within their power, within the TWU to change it. Just dont ask why we cant change Jim Little, for you will surely get the lie that he is merely a facilitator that works for your Presidents. As he tell you that remember that it was Jim Little who decided, without consulting the Presidents council to put this contract in place "without further ratification. Remember that it was Jim Little that had Chuck Schalk removed because Chuck would not sign the letter that Jim demanded he sign. Remember that it was the TWU that testified in court that the Presidents council had no power and the members do not have the right to vote on their contracts.
The problem is not the Presidents. The problem is not the members. The problem is the International and the only way you can get rid of them is to vote out the TWU and vote in AMFA.
When the ballott comes in the mail, remember that this is the only opportunity you will have to hold Jim Little accountable for puting in this agreement "without further ratification".
Remember its the only opportunity you will have to really vote for change, by voting for AMFA.
Remember that the last time International officers faced a vote of confidence from the members was 1946.
Remember the graph of mechanics pay vs CPI and how this union managed to always grant concessions, in bad times and good, to the company.
Remember how this union, the TWU lied to you over and over again with "system attrition, early out packages, me too clauses, autonomous locals, members having the right to vote on contracts and on and on.
Remember the fact that this union, the TWU has a $3 million a year "understanding with the company.
Remember that its your life and AMFA gives you the right to have a say in the union that will affect your life, they will let YOU decide what is good for you!
On Tuesday, International Reps Jim Little, Gary Yingst and Robert Gless treated the Executive Board of local 562 to an expensive dinner.
During the meeting Jim put forth the same promises he made four years ago when he replaced Ed Koziatek. All the typical corporate style BS about “improving communication†and “meeting the needs of the member†etc.
The conversation only briefly touched upon the concessionary contract that Jim Little, “without further ratification†signed into place. And of course, like I stated many times before, according to the International “Its all the Local Presidents faultâ€.
Whats really ironic is that some of these Local Presidents still don’t realize how they were set up by the International. It might be starting to sink in to Nestor Rodriguez as he is back slinging bags down in RDU but a lot of these Presidents are still obviously oblivious.
I wonder if Nester is saying "guys it was my fault" or "it was the International"?
That will be the gist of the TWUs strategy. As time goes by and the magnitude of the concessions take their toll the International will distance themselves from the Presidents, pushing them out front as the sacrificial Lambs. "Dont blame us fellas, it was your own Presidents that did this to you, and you can vote THEM OUT!" "Honestly, we left it up to them, they came up with this plan, and they decided on it."
Last Summer I said this would happen.
The fact is that several court cases prove that their assertion that the Presidents council is to blame is a lie.
When the seperate Locals were formed the Presidents council voted against it. Sonny put it in place, some of the Presidents sued. The judge ruled that the Presidents council for all practical purposes doesnt exist. The TWU testified that the Presidents council was merely a creation for the conveince of the International. They have no power.
When Title II in Boston decided to join Local 562 Sonny Hall said OK despite the objections of their President. He sued. Once again, the the TWU testified and the courts agreed that the Local President has no authority over the International President.
Last year when we got that concessionary contract rammed down our throats by Jim Little with his crooked voting system and his "without further ratification" signature, several Locals sued. In court the TWU said that we do not even have the right to vote on our contracts, its the Internationals contract and they can modify it as they see fit without our permission, and the court, after reviewing our Constitution, agreed.
All you have to do is look at the cover of the contract book. It states that the TWU owns this contract, no individual Local has jurisdiction.
So while the TWU tells the members about how they are in control and the locals are autonomous, just look at what they say in court when the members or Locals want to actually assert the rights they were led to believe they had. They say the direct opposite. Their own testimony exposes them for the liars they are.
The TWU International directed Chuck Schalk, President of a supposedly "autonomous local", to sign a letter to the members of his Local that was in fact written by the International. When he refused to be made a mouthpiece for someone else they removed him from office. They removed him from office because he would not say exactly what they wanted him to say! Thats autonomy? No Its totalitarianism!
This is typical of just about any tyranny. No tyrant admits that he is a tyrant. They all claim to be democratic. Even Stalin was elected. So was Hitler. However merely going through the motions of an election does not a democracy make.
In order to have a Democracy there has to be free speech. My attempt to practice this essential component of Democracy got me removed form office.
When you hear how the negotiations were conducted and what went on its all too clear what happened there. Another elaborate fascade to create the illusion of Democracy.
First of all the "negotiations" were conducted on company property where management could monitor the discussions between the Presidents.
Secondly, despite the fact that it was done on company property the committee and the company were only face to face for around 16 hours.
The committee was directed by the International to meet the companys number of $660 million in savings. There was no "negotiating" the figure. The International determined who had what share. Again no negotiations.
The company came up with all the numbers. The International presented them to the committe as Gospell.
The committee originally proposed meeting the figure through layoffs, the company refused, cllaiming that they could not run the operation as they wanted to with that many furloughs. (No $#!+)
When the committee came up with a proposal it was given to Little who may or may not have even bothered to present it to the company. Jim Little informed the committee of the company's determination. They did not have the opportunity to present their arguement to the company.
When members of the committe asked for non-monetary changes in the contract they were told by the International that they could not ask for ANYTHING. They could only give, and thats what the TWU calls negotiating.
The committee was kept on company property in the room for long hours even when nothing was going on. The International said to the committe "We have to make it look like we are working towards a package" when in fact this was merely a tactic to wear down the committee both physically and mentally.
The International used their most simple minded Presidents to steer the committee towards their predetermined "package". International Reps would slip little notes to certain Presidents and tell them to bring up what was written. It was done this way to make it 'appear' that the council came to this conclusion.
Before that committee ever even officially met, Jim Little and AA already had our contract pretty much worked out. They locked these guys in a room and simply eliminated any other avenue other than what they had already worked out as they were proposed. Then when the only thing that was left was finally put forth they said "Good job, YOU guys did it".
So the peices were put in place. The concessions were in place and they already had the Presidents council set up to take the blame.
Now they are already out there selling it in the hopes that by deflecting the blame to the Presidents they can convince the members that they have it within their power, within the TWU to change it. Just dont ask why we cant change Jim Little, for you will surely get the lie that he is merely a facilitator that works for your Presidents. As he tell you that remember that it was Jim Little who decided, without consulting the Presidents council to put this contract in place "without further ratification. Remember that it was Jim Little that had Chuck Schalk removed because Chuck would not sign the letter that Jim demanded he sign. Remember that it was the TWU that testified in court that the Presidents council had no power and the members do not have the right to vote on their contracts.
The problem is not the Presidents. The problem is not the members. The problem is the International and the only way you can get rid of them is to vote out the TWU and vote in AMFA.
When the ballott comes in the mail, remember that this is the only opportunity you will have to hold Jim Little accountable for puting in this agreement "without further ratification".
Remember its the only opportunity you will have to really vote for change, by voting for AMFA.
Remember that the last time International officers faced a vote of confidence from the members was 1946.
Remember the graph of mechanics pay vs CPI and how this union managed to always grant concessions, in bad times and good, to the company.
Remember how this union, the TWU lied to you over and over again with "system attrition, early out packages, me too clauses, autonomous locals, members having the right to vote on contracts and on and on.
Remember the fact that this union, the TWU has a $3 million a year "understanding with the company.
Remember that its your life and AMFA gives you the right to have a say in the union that will affect your life, they will let YOU decide what is good for you!
