Why try to hide it?

I have heard from some union members that they were told not to visit, mention, or acknowledge the websites and blogs of those interested in disengaging from this union's representation (or lack thereof). I am left to wonder why? If the union's stances and practices are so upright and noble, then surely the people they claim to represent can make the choice that is best for them and retain the union. Or is it because the union leadership knows that the hourly workers are not stupid and just might find an alternative to this broken organization? Haven't there been other groups throughout the world that have attempted to control people through limited access of information? The hourly workers at Raytheon Missile Systems are not simpletons. Yet the union leadership seems to think that they are and continues to treat them as such.

It is absolutely hilarious that the union leadership has now attempted to "reach out" to those that disagree with them. If they were honestly concerned, they would have done this before. Where was this effort in the past? Where was it in the last three contracts? Where was it during the strike? On one particular occassion there were six of us on the strike line late one chilly night (of course, none of the big guys were to be found because the cameras and news weren't around) and none of us could find a reason for the strike to be going as long as it had. We were all fed up and wanted answers. When we tried to get answers from the union leadership we got the same worn and used lines. That was the time to reach out to the membership that was disgruntled with the union. That was the time to work towards representing the needs of the workers. But the union's track record of failure and bad decisions continued.

Now, that doesn't mean that I agree with all the decisions and actions of others that are interested in getting out from under this union. Quite the opposite is true. However, we are united in one goal: to have our wages determined by our abilities, skills, and work ethic; not by some paranoid group of nepotistic, morally and ethically bankrupt union insiders. They do not represent me. Had they represented me, they would have listened when I went to them before the strike with my concerns and those of my co-workers. That is what representation is supposed to be. And that is why IAM NOT 933!!!

Where's our profit sharing?

If this union does such a wonderful job representing all of the hourly employees, then why is it that the hourly employees don't get RONA? The salaried workers do. And, unless they are completely worthless, they get raises every year as well. Meanwhile, we had to go several years without raises. Now we have costs going through the roof for basic food items and the whole time most of the bargaining unit's wages have remained pretty much stagnent.

I say "most" of the bargaining unit because the union does help some of its members out. I was recently shown a flyer that they went back and negotiated for some workers. How nice that the union leadership thought it wise to spread around this wonderful news that they got $70K for roughly 50 employees while the rest of us are struggling.

On a different note, it has been noticed that the union has been trying to collect information on those that do not agree with them. Why would this be? Focus should be placed on the issues, not the individuals. But again, that is not how this union operates. If it did things correctly and fairly, there would not be the need for the blogs and websites that are popping up all over the internet. If they actually worked towards the good of all employees, then I wouldn't be writing this. But they don't. And that is why IAM NOT 933!

What's good for the goose...

...is good for the gander.

That's right ladies and gentlemen. I have heard that recently there have been some union members that have gotten a little upset with tactics that some non-union types have taken to. Guess what? You've been doing much worse for years and if you are going to, so are we. The workers deserve to hear ALL sides of this issue that very much affects them. No longer is your side the only one that is going to be presented. According to the NLRA it is completely legal. You get a voice and so do those of us that are tired of your hypocrisy.

And that brings me to one of the largest lies the union has tried to release. I really enjoy that on all the propaganda they leave strewn about there is a line about, "Together We Can Accomplish More." More for whom? They had a great following this last contract, heck, for the last two contracts. Instead of fighting for all employees equally, there were targeted raises. Fighting for all employees? That doesn't sound fair to me. Even if I am one of those targeted employees, it is not fair that one occupation gets more of an increase than another. Oh, wait, I get it now. These jobs had the highest percentage of employees being loyal union members. Fair and equitable indeed.

So if the union wants to file spurious grievances because they don't like the way the company legally handled something (i.e. the firing of an employee, etc.) then perhaps there is a need for a few complaints to be filed about the union and some of their very questionable practices (e.g. work slowdowns, creating hostile work environment, etc.). These are the acts of a very selfish organization that causes more work and stress for the employees it is supposed to protect and friction with the company it is supposed to work with. There is absolutely no reason that this group should be representing me. I take pride in myself and my work. And that is why IAM NOT 933!

Jobs Worth Fighting For...

...but evidently not worth doing.

During the strike an oft heard line was that the union was on strike because the jobs were worth fighting for. In a year and a half since the strike ended there are still a few that believe their jobs aren't worth doing. "Work slowdowns" have been noted by coworkers and management, but nothing has been done about it. The union isn't solely to blame for this because management has not done anything about it.

Meanwhile, the employees that do take pride in the job they do on a daily basis have been forced to witness this lack of pride and lack of production. This is going to get us the money we deserve for the job that we do at the next contract? How? The union just keeps making one stupid decision after another.

Many of them seem to believe that this should be (or in some extreme cases, is) a union shop. Sorry, but they are wrong. Arizona is a right to work state. I have the right to work free of harassament. I have the right to work free of union propoganda. I have the right to get paid according to my abilities. That is why this union must go. That is why IAM NOT 933!

Another example

So how many of you that went out on strike to support the union in their attempt to save their asses (like myself) have noticed that your effective hire date has been changed? For many of us it doesn't make much of a difference and really isn't a big deal. But for how many others (especially workers hired within a year or two of the strike) will it make a difference? If you were out the entire time, that is 10 weeks that your date gets moved back. So if your anniversary was anytime between the middle of October and the end of December, your anniversary now falls in the next year. Which means that at the first of the year, when you should be getting your PTO advance for the year, you are going to get ripped off at every interval. Was this something the union told you before you cast your vote for a strike?

Hell no!

I know for a fact that this was never brought up. I also know a person affected by this in my work area. How many others were caught unaware by this lack of information from the union? And if the union truly did not know about it, why didn't they file an Unfair Labor Practices claim with the National Labor Relations Board? They seem to have no problem filing those like crazy for "offenses" they have no chance of winning. We will discuss this more at a later time (probably next week).

So what other nuggets of information has the union kept from us? What other things have they failed to tell us, the working individuals that they "represent"? Every time I hear one of these officers trying to corral a new employee into the fold, I just want to scream at the top of my lungs, "Don't listen to their doublespeak!" The time has come to end this "selective" distribution of information by the union.

I AM NOT 933!