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!!!
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Would you trust your job to this?
It seems that the die hard union members are quite concerned about what every non-union hourly and salaried worker does. Yet when it comes to ensuring that the union members are doing their jobs and abiding by rules and laws the union has a habit of looking the other way. Take for example, the last contract/strike vote. How many people were out there in the parking lot of the Tucson Convention Center having beers afterward? I mentioned it to a union steward and nothing was done about it.
I also saw several people on the line with beer and alcohol. Once again, this was mentioned to a union steward, yet nothing was done about it.
When the strike was ended and a contract signed, there was a quote in the paper that caught my attention. It was from a union member on the negotiating team stating that the union, "won the right to be taken seriously." How is this going to help you get taken seriously when you hold double standards for union and non-union members? I've seen egregious complaints filed against the company, salaried employees, and non-dues paying hourly employees. But I have yet to see the union tell one of its dues paying members that they need to straighten up. This is what the union calls serious? It is one of my reasons for crossing. I (and many other employees that were too scared of the union to cross) could not take the union seriously. The last night I served strike duty, all but one person thought the union was not doing their job.
And this union thinks it has the sole right to dictate what my wages and benefits are? Neither of these actions is what a serious organization condones. When brought to the attention of such an organization, I would expect it to want to take action to ensure that they put their best foot forward in any future negotiations. These are not the actions of responsible adults. These are not the actions of a group that should be representing me at the bargaining table with the company. Maybe the union should take the phrase, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," to heart. They do not represent those of us that take pride in ourselves, our families, our work, and our company. And that is why IAMNOT933!
I also saw several people on the line with beer and alcohol. Once again, this was mentioned to a union steward, yet nothing was done about it.
When the strike was ended and a contract signed, there was a quote in the paper that caught my attention. It was from a union member on the negotiating team stating that the union, "won the right to be taken seriously." How is this going to help you get taken seriously when you hold double standards for union and non-union members? I've seen egregious complaints filed against the company, salaried employees, and non-dues paying hourly employees. But I have yet to see the union tell one of its dues paying members that they need to straighten up. This is what the union calls serious? It is one of my reasons for crossing. I (and many other employees that were too scared of the union to cross) could not take the union seriously. The last night I served strike duty, all but one person thought the union was not doing their job.
And this union thinks it has the sole right to dictate what my wages and benefits are? Neither of these actions is what a serious organization condones. When brought to the attention of such an organization, I would expect it to want to take action to ensure that they put their best foot forward in any future negotiations. These are not the actions of responsible adults. These are not the actions of a group that should be representing me at the bargaining table with the company. Maybe the union should take the phrase, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones," to heart. They do not represent those of us that take pride in ourselves, our families, our work, and our company. And that is why IAMNOT933!
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Lies upon lies...
I find it interesting that the union keeps up the appearance (or at least attempts to) that they fight for EVERYONE working as a Raytheon hourly employee. The simple truth is that they don't. How quickly they forget about the comments made about those that crossed the line and went to work within the first few days. How quickly they forget about their little sheet that was posted in the union hall listing the names of those that had crossed. It was there for all that were still on strike to see.
I did not agree with it then and had I known that it wasn't only unethical, but illegal, I would have made a copy of it. But then again, the union seems to make it a habit of harrassing their non-union counterparts, don't they? I have heard of things that were done around the various plants to impart the union membership's displeasure with the contract that had been offered.
I hope that they took great pride in putting my name on that list. I hope it gave them something to celebrate; that they could in some small way "get back at me" for abandoning their deceit.
It is funny (funny-ironic, not funny-ha-ha) that the union calls those of us that have begun to say "enough is enough" names and dishonest. I spin nothing. I present the truth. I believe the hourly workers are intelligent and deserve to be treated as such. People can't make an informed decision without the truth. Where else are they going to get it from? The union leadership? Even to this day those individuals in charge of the union cannot stick to facts. Instead they twist and contort the truth. I lay it bare. Granted, some of it may not be what we want to hear, but the only way to decide whether or not this union is deserving of our money, trust, and backing is for ALL the hourly workers to be informed. That is not going to happen through the union...and that is why IAMNOT933!
I did not agree with it then and had I known that it wasn't only unethical, but illegal, I would have made a copy of it. But then again, the union seems to make it a habit of harrassing their non-union counterparts, don't they? I have heard of things that were done around the various plants to impart the union membership's displeasure with the contract that had been offered.
I hope that they took great pride in putting my name on that list. I hope it gave them something to celebrate; that they could in some small way "get back at me" for abandoning their deceit.
It is funny (funny-ironic, not funny-ha-ha) that the union calls those of us that have begun to say "enough is enough" names and dishonest. I spin nothing. I present the truth. I believe the hourly workers are intelligent and deserve to be treated as such. People can't make an informed decision without the truth. Where else are they going to get it from? The union leadership? Even to this day those individuals in charge of the union cannot stick to facts. Instead they twist and contort the truth. I lay it bare. Granted, some of it may not be what we want to hear, but the only way to decide whether or not this union is deserving of our money, trust, and backing is for ALL the hourly workers to be informed. That is not going to happen through the union...and that is why IAMNOT933!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Here it goes again!
So IAM has managed to do it again, huh? The workers of Boeing have been driven to a strike by their union "leaders". These leaders have been quoted as saying that they aren't greedy, they just want a piece of the pie. Not greedy? Shall I visit the dictionary for a definition of that word? You make demands and when they aren't met, you walk away and throw a temper tantrum like a child. That is not greedy? I am sure that workers at Raytheon would have loved a contract like that.
I am not absolving the companies of any wrongdoing in this...far from it. But a company is there to make money. The union is supposed to be there to protect the workers. This is done through NEGOTIATION, not making demands. It seems that unions would rather drive companies into the ground than actually acheive something.
Take a look at the IAM national website. They have a "merger watch" on it about possible airline mergers. If you read what they have readily available on the website, they are dead-set against mergers because it may close some hubs or re-route major airline traffic flow. So basically the union leaders in all of their wisdom would rather see those struggling airlines go away...along with their jobs. Yes, mergers would cost some jobs. There is no doubt about that. But in an industry where quarterly losses are the norm, everyone is living on borrowed time.
This is something that the entire IAM organization does not understand. The relationship between corporations and the union should be symbiotic. Most companies that I have worked for at least attempt to understand this. The unions that I have worked under do not. Where were the union leaders during the Raytheon strike? Were they getting back to the table with the company? Were they working with the company to find resolve to their disagreements? No, they were standing outside the Herman's Road gate (when ANY form of media were present) badmouthing the company that they want to get more out of. What kind of logic is that? If you ground your teenager for statying out too late on a school night are you going to give in to their demands that they should be allowed to go to the movies because they call you names and claim you to be unfair? Hell no! So why would a company do that?
That is why I have zero faith in this union. They have not shown that they deserve my time, money, or trust. That is why IAM NOT 933!
I am not absolving the companies of any wrongdoing in this...far from it. But a company is there to make money. The union is supposed to be there to protect the workers. This is done through NEGOTIATION, not making demands. It seems that unions would rather drive companies into the ground than actually acheive something.
Take a look at the IAM national website. They have a "merger watch" on it about possible airline mergers. If you read what they have readily available on the website, they are dead-set against mergers because it may close some hubs or re-route major airline traffic flow. So basically the union leaders in all of their wisdom would rather see those struggling airlines go away...along with their jobs. Yes, mergers would cost some jobs. There is no doubt about that. But in an industry where quarterly losses are the norm, everyone is living on borrowed time.
This is something that the entire IAM organization does not understand. The relationship between corporations and the union should be symbiotic. Most companies that I have worked for at least attempt to understand this. The unions that I have worked under do not. Where were the union leaders during the Raytheon strike? Were they getting back to the table with the company? Were they working with the company to find resolve to their disagreements? No, they were standing outside the Herman's Road gate (when ANY form of media were present) badmouthing the company that they want to get more out of. What kind of logic is that? If you ground your teenager for statying out too late on a school night are you going to give in to their demands that they should be allowed to go to the movies because they call you names and claim you to be unfair? Hell no! So why would a company do that?
That is why I have zero faith in this union. They have not shown that they deserve my time, money, or trust. That is why IAM NOT 933!
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Where Is It?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary contains the following:
pride: 1: the quality or state of being proud: as a: inordinate self-esteem : conceit b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship
2: proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : disdain
3 a: ostentatious display b: highest pitch : prime
4: a source of pride : the best in a group or class
5: a company of lions
6: a showy or impressive group
Most people associate pride with the first definition...being proud. But what does proud mean? The same dictionary defines it as having proper self-respect. Almost everyone I've ever come in contact with would define these words as such.
So how can the union keep pushing their "Union Pride" slogan? What exactly is it they are proud of? Their unforgivable treatment of their co-workers (both hourly and salary)? Their sabotage of co-workers? Their slowdown of work? Their nepotism? Their complete disdain for the employer that issues them checks every other week? I am not sure that any of these things would elicit pride from the average person. In fact, I think quite the opposite is true. Yet the union continues to flaunt their "pride" with shirts and stickers on a regular basis. What exactly are they so proud of???
In fact, just before Memorial Day this year, a flyer was passed around, "Words From Watson" I believe the flyers were called, that stated:
"Old Pueblo Lodge 933 would like to take this opportunity to thank those Veterans in our Union who have served our country and would ask that all of our membership please pray for our troops who are in harms way."
It ends by saying "Stay Proud! ! !". Proud? Thank only those former military members in your union? How about the many others that aren't in the union? Did anyone from this union thank them? I didn't hear any, but then again, my hearing may not be what it once was. And this is a source of pride?
What really sickened me about this flyer was that the union was trying to recruit new members with it at the bottom of the flyer. Pride? Acknowledging only those service men and women that are union members and then trying to recruit on the same flyer? That is pride? I consider it a great disrespect to the men and women currently overseas in battle zones. The union leadership repeatedly says they support the warfighter, after all, that is our business, but do they really? I heard very little talk of how the strike, should it last quite a long time, might affect the troops on the ground. I don't really remember hearing of many employees going on strike during WWII while their military counterparts were overseas. Maybe I just haven't read the right books yet? I selfishly went out on strike like so many others without thinking of what implications my actions could have on the men and women depending on the products I make. That is perhaps what makes me the most disappointed with myself during the strike. I will never allow myself to make that mistake again. I will respect the warfighter and continue supporting them in ways that matter: making the best weapons possible as well as sending what necessities and creature comforts I can overseas. I will take pride in myself, my work, and my readiness to assist the troops in any way I can. Those are things I can be proud of. And that is why IAM NOT 933!
pride: 1: the quality or state of being proud: as a: inordinate self-esteem : conceit b: a reasonable or justifiable self-respect c: delight or elation arising from some act, possession, or relationship
2: proud or disdainful behavior or treatment : disdain
3 a: ostentatious display b: highest pitch : prime
4: a source of pride : the best in a group or class
5: a company of lions
6: a showy or impressive group
Most people associate pride with the first definition...being proud. But what does proud mean? The same dictionary defines it as having proper self-respect. Almost everyone I've ever come in contact with would define these words as such.
So how can the union keep pushing their "Union Pride" slogan? What exactly is it they are proud of? Their unforgivable treatment of their co-workers (both hourly and salary)? Their sabotage of co-workers? Their slowdown of work? Their nepotism? Their complete disdain for the employer that issues them checks every other week? I am not sure that any of these things would elicit pride from the average person. In fact, I think quite the opposite is true. Yet the union continues to flaunt their "pride" with shirts and stickers on a regular basis. What exactly are they so proud of???
In fact, just before Memorial Day this year, a flyer was passed around, "Words From Watson" I believe the flyers were called, that stated:
"Old Pueblo Lodge 933 would like to take this opportunity to thank those Veterans in our Union who have served our country and would ask that all of our membership please pray for our troops who are in harms way."
It ends by saying "Stay Proud! ! !". Proud? Thank only those former military members in your union? How about the many others that aren't in the union? Did anyone from this union thank them? I didn't hear any, but then again, my hearing may not be what it once was. And this is a source of pride?
What really sickened me about this flyer was that the union was trying to recruit new members with it at the bottom of the flyer. Pride? Acknowledging only those service men and women that are union members and then trying to recruit on the same flyer? That is pride? I consider it a great disrespect to the men and women currently overseas in battle zones. The union leadership repeatedly says they support the warfighter, after all, that is our business, but do they really? I heard very little talk of how the strike, should it last quite a long time, might affect the troops on the ground. I don't really remember hearing of many employees going on strike during WWII while their military counterparts were overseas. Maybe I just haven't read the right books yet? I selfishly went out on strike like so many others without thinking of what implications my actions could have on the men and women depending on the products I make. That is perhaps what makes me the most disappointed with myself during the strike. I will never allow myself to make that mistake again. I will respect the warfighter and continue supporting them in ways that matter: making the best weapons possible as well as sending what necessities and creature comforts I can overseas. I will take pride in myself, my work, and my readiness to assist the troops in any way I can. Those are things I can be proud of. And that is why IAM NOT 933!
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