I'm going to respond to a couple of points here, and then ask that we get back to the subject, as we are straying away what this thread is supposed to be focused on. If you want to start a Local 81 criticism thread, there is an appropriate forum for it elsewhere on this site.
Quote:
Originally Posted by silvertooth  "...I honestly hope people do not vote by slate this time, I probably will not vote for Tom while I do recognize he is probably the best negotiator in all of local 81, if your hearts not in the right place, that doesn't matter. Currently full time officers do not work together, or communicate effectively, when I ask the BA what is going on at OHFL, I should not know more about it than he does. When Tom put Craig in the hot seat, I was told the truth would come out, that he had done something horrible but the E-board and Tom's accusations were thrown out by the JC, and the only charge that was found to have any merit was shaky at best. This incident offended allot of members, as it should. The reason (Tom) he has allot of support at OHFL is also the reason he has waning support at the master barns, because our fights aren't worth his time apparently..." |
Umm, once again your information is wrong. Tom's charges against Craig were not thrown out. He was found guilty on two of the three charges, and his sentence is pretty profound. My understanding from what I have been told is that he is appealing his sentence to the General Executive Board, and once that is settled and assuming the verdict is upheld, he will be serving his sentence at some future date. If you don't believe me, call and ask Tom yourself. Perhaps if you asked Tom directly about a few more things, you wouldn't be making your mind up about things you clearly know little or nothing about.
Craig has little knowledge of Oak Harbor because they are not his unit, and there is a damned good reason for that. He managed to screw some things up there when he first got into office, and the shop stewards complained to Tom, and Tom told him to stay hands-off with the OHFL unit. That is his perogative as principle officer, and most of us who are aware of the things that went on are fully supportive of that.
As far as your vote goes... vote for who you want. I think it's funny that you recognize Tom's abilities, but can't get past the fact that you feel he betrayed you all or something in the NMFA deal. He said very clearly why he did what he did, and told you all that he respected however you chose to vote.
You are all just mad that your fellow NMFA employees passed it by a wide margin, and are looking to blame it on anyone you can. That is childish. Tom is your elected leader, but that doesn't mean he is a puppet on a string. We elected Tom because of his knowledge, his abilities, and his judgement. No one person is always going to be right 100% of the time, but you sure seem to expect a higher level of perfection out of him than anyone else or even yourself.
Let me tell you something. Tom doesn't represent your
opinions... Tom represents
YOU. I have not always agreed with Tom on certain things, but I respect his opinion even when I disagree with him, and because I know that sometimes he does things that may not be popular, but are for the the greater good of the unit in question and/or the Local.
Quote:
Originally Posted by silvertooth "...To me one vote would have made a world of difference, the confirmation that Tom and the other delegates made at the two man meeting was what set the stage for the internationals vote yes campaign... I believe one vote can make a difference..." |
I got news for you. That "yes vote" campaign was on well before Tom or any other S/T even got to Washington D.C. The IBT was trying to strong-arm this thing through, and they were going to steam-roll over anyone who tried to be a roadblock. Tom's vote would have made zero difference in the long haul, but if you want to believe otherwise, I am not going to try and talk to a brick wall.
Quote:
Originally Posted by silvertooth "...that means every one that voted yes, approves of the contract, and thinks it is the best deal we can get. Tom misrepresented us there, and his vote meant more than any of our no votes. Who knows maybe if he had stated to other delegates his intention was to vote no, more people may have done the right thing, but we will never know, because he fell into line with the rest for fear of repercussions from the Intl..." |
Wow. You are so, so far off-base. Tom's vote meant more than any of
your votes? Let me tell you something, boy. Tom doesn't ratify that contract... you do. And every other NMFA member. The fact is that if anyone let anyone down here, you guys let yourselves down, and now you are all looking to blame it on someone, anyone.
Tom flat-out said that based upon the financial information he was presented by the IBT, he felt that he had to recommend to bring it back to you guys to vote on. So unless the IBT and Tom and every other S/T in the country is part of some massive conspiracy to screw you personally, I think you had better re-think your position. Part of being a union member is to take a little accountability, and the contract was approved in a democratic, majority vote.
Point fingers all you want, but you look like a fool doing it. That's not just my opinion, either. You would be surprised at how many comments I have heard about your posts, expressing just how negatively many OHFL Local 81 members feel about your posts.
Quote:
Originally Posted by silvertooth "...Evey time someone has a issue with this new contract, Tom can't blame the contract, or the Intl. he gave it his and our full support..." |
He recommended it to come back to you guys to vote on. Get over it. Move on with your lives. He will continue to do his job to enforce the contract and represent the membership, no matter how whiny or ungrateful they are. I wouldn't want his job for all of the tea in China, having to represent such a bunch of whiners. I used to be proud to be a member of this Local, but if this is what we can expect from our fellow Teamsters, I wonder if this entire union isn't doomed...
Quote:
Originally Posted by silvertooth "...I really want to know what you mean by repercussions from the Intl., could you expand on that for me? What are they gonna do? Take away our by-laws!" |
They can make all of our lives quite difficult. Let's say in the current OHFL situation. Our negotiations have been taken over by the IBT. Let's say they have an axe to grind now over the fact the Locals 81 and 174 were the only two locals in the West to vote down the NMFA. What if negotiations get a sensitive point, and then the IBT just ups and walks away from the table? What if things start going sideways and they don't grant us strike authorization (which as of this writing, they haven't)? What if Tom starts having problems with grievances down at JWAC? What if he requests help or information from the IBT, such as legal advice or information requests, only to find his requests being lost or taking forever to be granted? Go talk to Tom Leedham over at 206 sometime, and ask him what it feels like to be a pariah in this union.
Right or wrong, Tom has always tried to work within the system and to play by the rules, for the betterment of the Local. For the betterment of you and me. Being a rogue local leader just results in a lot of roadblocks and red tape and hostile responses fromt he IBT. That is what I meant in my earlier post about we live in a political world. You can downplay it all you want or pretend it's irrelevent, but by doing so, you are just displaying naivete.
Quote:
Originally Posted by silvertooth "...With the memory of a strike fresh in their minds I think you will find it much easier to deal with the VP's. Sometimes the simple answer is the best one. While you think I should shut up, and my knowledge of labor law may not be up to speed. I am looking at this from the outside, a strike is the only solution, this will never stop, crippled and beat down with a 1/4 of your customers gone, big ones like Gap. The company will not try this again, while they may need concessions, and you may lose several guys to layoff, it would be a victory..." |
You don't even have a clue what you are talking about. If there is a strike, there isn't going to be any coming back from it, or any dealing or teaching of lessons to the VP's. If there is a strike, it will simply be the end of Oak Harbor. Gone. Done. Bye-bye. They would not survive more than a one-day or two-day strike, because their customers would be gone... gone... GONE! And if they take us out on strike, it is out intentions to put this company into the ground and put our knees in their throats, and make sure they don't EVER get back up again!
I know you have never walked a strike line, but you sure seem eager to see us go out. We
will go out if that is what we have to do, but it isn't going to be to teach a lesson... it's going to be war, and no one rever really wins in a war. There are victors, and then there are the defeated, but we will all pay a price in the end. We will do it, though, if we have to, and damned the consequences...