Dissident Teamsters Still Agitating for Union Democracy - Page 2

Bufbill · #7 (**permalink**) 07-14-2006, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifterknob

Let's get down to facts here...

It's the internal politics that are undermining the overall strength of this union, and both sides are to blame.

Frankly, I don't really think it matters a whole bunch just who is running the show in DC. It matters a lot more who is running the show at the local and JC level, and just what kind of representation they are providing.

In my opinion, we need some drastic systemwide improvements, or this union will suffer a long and painful decline. Members need to get involved and stay involved in both the electing and the running of their respective locals, and they need to demand good representation.

It ain't rocket science, but as long as we stay involved in name calling contests and mud-slinging festivals, no one is going to win.

Just get it back to basics, and everything else will fall into place:

Negotiating good contracts
Enforcing those contracts fairly
organizing & education

Do those things right, and let the politics stay in the barnyard where they belong...

Shifterknob,I can not agree with you more,I think that everything you said is correct ,however I cannot support the TDU as I was a member in the 70`s and learned very fast that it was not the organization to have your name assotiated with,and I will leave it at that.

shifterknob · #8 (**permalink**) 07-16-2006, 03:06 AM

I'm personally about as apolitical as they come. I do think the TDU does raise interesting points, but they act as if they own those points, and they don't.

They never did.

Myself or any Teamster can raise issues or have problems with current union policies or whatever without having to have an organization like the TDU behind us. Simply playing political football accomplishes nothing and divides our forces.

I have no problem with dissent, so long as it is constructive dissent and it leads to improvements, not the same old things being done a different way, with the same indifferent results.

I daresay, if more Teamsters would become involved in their union at the local and JC level, there wouldn't be "dissident" groups like the TDU.

My point is, every Teamster ought to be an activist. For themselves, for each other, and for the betterment of their local union, their International Union, and their country.

They ought to run for shop steward positions at their place of work, or run for local officer positions, or even by simply attending meetings and becoming knowledgable about the inner workings of their respective locals.

Involvement by the rank-and-file keeps our leadership honest, and our unions open, transparent and working for the members.

It isn't rocket science, but it does take time and energy and giving a damn, and that often seems in short supply even amongst the most die-hard unionists in this day and age...