Real Teamster
TB Veteran
- Credits
- 513
You know LV, it looks like you just shot yourself in the foot! You would never receive 100 letters. They would have bounced you out of there before it got anywhere near that far. As for the charges against a brother Teamster, I had one of my colleagues threaten exactly that. My response was: please do! He got very quiet because he knew he had been trumped. As for some folks needing a refresher course, I agree! Here's some of that refresher course:Yes I am! For this simple reason, THAT'S THE WAY IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE!!
I'll take 100 letters before I will be part of a system set up by management that could put a Teamster against another!
I'd rather be at the panel then at the Union hall bringing charges against someone!
Maybe there are some out there who need a refresher on what it means to be a Teamster!!!!!
1) We are Teamsters-we strive to improve the wages, working conditions and lives of our members.
2) This is the de-regulated trucking industry, and has been for over 35 years. For us to enjoy top-of-the-line wages, working conditions and benefits, we have to do a better job than our non-union counterparts. This is because we are competing for the same customers as those non-union companies, and the customer's most important criteria for selecting a freight carrier is: $$$ they have to spend to get their freight moved.
3) XPO (formerly ConWay) has cameras in their equipment that face inward as well as outward. They don't have a contract, they don't have a grievance mechanism that has any teeth in it, and they don't have any recourse when their management "calls them on the carpet" for a camera event. We have Teamsters reviewing our outward-facing (only) camera events, helping our drivers to do a better job. This in turn helps to reduce our cost of accident claims and lawsuit liability, which in turn helps to pay our wages and benefits. Which way would you REALLY rather have it? This seems like a no-brainer to me.
4) Being a Teamster is a proud legacy. Unfortunately, for entirely too many, that's all it is: a legacy. The dynamics of this industry have changed considerably in the last 35 years, and those changes have not benefited us. It isn't pleasant, but it is reality.
5) The leadership of this Union hasn't done us many favors; some, but not many. If you think that their primary concern is to look out for our interests, please pull your head out of the sand. Those people are looking out for themselves above all else. Just take a look at what's happened in the Boston Locals, most of the NY/NJ Locals, Local 710, and some of the California Locals. Charges brought and upheld for bringing reproach on the Union, theft, embezzlement, grossly failing to serve their members, etc. etc. That is a significant part of the reason that they are having such difficulty organizing the non-Union barns.
6) In the 21st century, Teamster pride means taking pride in what you do, taking ownership of our circumstances, and working hard to improve our perilous situation. That must be our mission, or we will "go down in flames".