Freedom of Speech?

If you are reading this, you probably are firmly for our rights as individuals to freedom of speech. Even if that speech is something that you do not agree with or necessarily like. It appears that the IAMAW presents that face to the world as evidenced by a video posted on the grand lodge website (http://www.goiam.org/iamglc2008/freedom_of_speech.htm). But if that is the case, then why when certain hourly employees began wearing non-union shirts expressing their beliefs, did the union try to stop them? Why did several union members and stewards go to supervisors and call HR trying to get those employees to remove their shirts. Some of them even did this while wearing their union shirts!

Oddly enough, after the union was told that we have just as much right to express our views as they do, a letter went around stating the union is a firm believer in one's right to freedom of speech. Note that this was AFTER they couldn't get what they originally wanted. Now it appears that the IAMAW is doing the same thing. They posted this video, yet I just recently found out that they are attempting to get the website www.iam933.net shut down. Freedom of speech? I guess the only freedom they really want is the freedom to dictate what the hourly employees can and cannot say, hear, and or read.

So this is the great machine working for all of us, huh? While they wear shirts that make derogatory statements directed at their employer, non-union coworkers, and everyone that dares to disagree with them, they throw a temper tantrum that someone dares to challenge them. Meanwhile, I am expected to believe that these same people have MY best interests at heart when dealing with the company. After trying to get non-union workers in trouble for a t-shirt that is, by all accounts, less inflamatory than what they wear on a daily basis, I am expected to let them decide my pay and benefits?

It would be nice to think that they would be grown up enough to set aside personal feelings when dealing business. But I know that this is not the case. They have shown us, the non-union hourly workers, that they cannot be that adult. They can not be that grown-up. Then they don't need my money, my support, or my vote to keep them here. That is why IAM NOT 933!!!