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From: David D. Wigley
Category: General
Date: 03/21/07
Hello All, Our national contract has been ratified...for now any how and our local elections are over and there are no contested offices. Next up on the agenda will be local negotiations. I'd like to make a couple comments regarding the subjects I mentioned above. Are you aware that less than 60 % of our membership voted on the most recent national contract? Why???????? This was our opportunity to endorse the national leadership and their negotiated contact or to tell them we were unhappy with their final product and to get back to the negotiating table and do some more work. Instead the message we and numerous other locals in the country sent was: I DON'T REALLY CARE! Personally, I find that to be sad and can only pray you don't treat the rest of your family the same way! Regarding our local elections, I'd like to thank all the individuals that showed an interest in holding an office; without you and others like you existing through out the country, union's would totally become extinct. I can only hope I don't live long enough to see that day. Many of the individuals that ran for and were elected to office are brand new and have no previous experience, however they have already shown interest in learning exactly what their responsibilities are and how to go about carrying them out. The area we have the largest number of new faces exist within our steward positions. Maintenance Michelle Archuleta, T-3 Alvin Kern, T-1 Mike Anton and Josh Boyd. I had a couple 4 hour class's with them already. They seemed very interested in educating themselves as to how to research and determine if and when a grievance exist. I'd like to thank them for stepping up to the plate. I believe you should too. I feel they will do a fine job for the membership. They will also have an added advantage in the performance of their jobs when seeking guidance from our other union officers and their numerous years of experience. Note: I'd appreciate your help in cutting them a break, if they occassionally get tripped up in the process of attempting to help you. Learning under fire is a difficult thing to do, however in the long run it makes you stronger and as time go by they will become stonger also. Again thanks to all of you for your assistance in attempting to make our local the best it can be. Yours in Unionism and Justice for All of Us! Dave