NO!!!
While there are some trustworthy individuals on the committee the committee as a whole cannot be trusted. The International run committee has decided to lock out the membership from the process and is using bullying tactics-the threat of expulsion from the talks, to keep the membership out. Ironically the same International always complains about the lack of membership participation and blames the demise of working conditions on that lack of participation. The hypocrisy is overwhelming. This move, typical for the TWU, is just yet another example of the autocratic hypocritcal nature of this organization.
There can be times when its justified to temporarily keep secrets from the membership-such as if you don’t want the company to find out what your plans are for some reason or another-but in this case the company has been informed of the committees propsals so telling the members wouldnt do any harm. So what’s the excuse? John Iuliano,President of Local 562 and representative of maintenance for the mechanics at Local 562, claims “The committee(he defers all blame to the committee but then tells us about what a man he is) doesn’t want the members to negotiate the contract on the floorâ€. What does he mean by that? Most of the articles have tentative agreements and the company already has the unions proposals on the rest, so what damage could letting the members know what they are asking for do to the “processâ€? Unless “the process†is to sneak through another TWU concessionary contract?
Recently Iuliano, said that even though he feels as we do and if he were still just a member he would be outraged, “As a man I gave my word†that he would do whatever the committee dictated even though he knew it was wrong. Agreeing to do what you know is wrong is not being a man-its being a coward or a sellout. So what is he a coward or a sellout? Is he doing as he has done from day one in office-jumping though every hoop the International holds up because he is afraid of being removed by the International or is he trying to set himself up for one of those six figure International jobs like Gordon, Gless, Videtich and Conley? I dont think he is a coward. Got knews for you John there is no room at the Inn, the TWUs payroll is already inflated and if Little wants to get reelected at the next convention he has to bring someone who does not come from AMR into the International.
I could give Iuliano a pass on agreeing not to disclose the contents of the proposal until they gave them to the company but I can not give him a pass on agreeing to not disclose what the proposals are after they gave them to the company.
What I find utterly reprehensible is the fact that Iuliano agreed to not even disclose how he voted on keeping the information secret. This is a typical International tactic to keep complete control of the committee in their hands and out of the memberships hands. The International knows how each member of the committee votes and can work to isolate and compromise those who oppose their lead, by keeping it secret from the membership it prevents those who lick the Internationals boots from being revealed ,and held accountable , to the membership they supposedly represent. In other words it helps the International eliminates opposition. Opponents of International sellouts have a much harder time defending those who they represent as they face unrelenting pressure from the International and their lackeys to submit to their will when they cant get support from the floor. Thats what they mean by "We dont want the members to negotiate from the floor". In other words we should have no say in the process.
There is no reason for us to trust the negotiating committee. The committee apparently trusts the company more than they trust us. The committee keep secrets with the company and keep us out of the loop. The committee is supposed to be representing us, not the International nor the company, it asks for our blind support but has done nothing do deserve or prove that it should be trusted with such support.
While there are some trustworthy individuals on the committee the committee as a whole cannot be trusted. The International run committee has decided to lock out the membership from the process and is using bullying tactics-the threat of expulsion from the talks, to keep the membership out. Ironically the same International always complains about the lack of membership participation and blames the demise of working conditions on that lack of participation. The hypocrisy is overwhelming. This move, typical for the TWU, is just yet another example of the autocratic hypocritcal nature of this organization.
There can be times when its justified to temporarily keep secrets from the membership-such as if you don’t want the company to find out what your plans are for some reason or another-but in this case the company has been informed of the committees propsals so telling the members wouldnt do any harm. So what’s the excuse? John Iuliano,President of Local 562 and representative of maintenance for the mechanics at Local 562, claims “The committee(he defers all blame to the committee but then tells us about what a man he is) doesn’t want the members to negotiate the contract on the floorâ€. What does he mean by that? Most of the articles have tentative agreements and the company already has the unions proposals on the rest, so what damage could letting the members know what they are asking for do to the “processâ€? Unless “the process†is to sneak through another TWU concessionary contract?
Recently Iuliano, said that even though he feels as we do and if he were still just a member he would be outraged, “As a man I gave my word†that he would do whatever the committee dictated even though he knew it was wrong. Agreeing to do what you know is wrong is not being a man-its being a coward or a sellout. So what is he a coward or a sellout? Is he doing as he has done from day one in office-jumping though every hoop the International holds up because he is afraid of being removed by the International or is he trying to set himself up for one of those six figure International jobs like Gordon, Gless, Videtich and Conley? I dont think he is a coward. Got knews for you John there is no room at the Inn, the TWUs payroll is already inflated and if Little wants to get reelected at the next convention he has to bring someone who does not come from AMR into the International.
I could give Iuliano a pass on agreeing not to disclose the contents of the proposal until they gave them to the company but I can not give him a pass on agreeing to not disclose what the proposals are after they gave them to the company.
What I find utterly reprehensible is the fact that Iuliano agreed to not even disclose how he voted on keeping the information secret. This is a typical International tactic to keep complete control of the committee in their hands and out of the memberships hands. The International knows how each member of the committee votes and can work to isolate and compromise those who oppose their lead, by keeping it secret from the membership it prevents those who lick the Internationals boots from being revealed ,and held accountable , to the membership they supposedly represent. In other words it helps the International eliminates opposition. Opponents of International sellouts have a much harder time defending those who they represent as they face unrelenting pressure from the International and their lackeys to submit to their will when they cant get support from the floor. Thats what they mean by "We dont want the members to negotiate from the floor". In other words we should have no say in the process.
There is no reason for us to trust the negotiating committee. The committee apparently trusts the company more than they trust us. The committee keep secrets with the company and keep us out of the loop. The committee is supposed to be representing us, not the International nor the company, it asks for our blind support but has done nothing do deserve or prove that it should be trusted with such support.
