I wanted to share my thoughts before I dropped my Teamsters DHL National Contract ballot in the mailbox. I finally got around to watching the DVD that the International sent to the membership and a few things that Slawson said alarmed me.
What immediately alerted me was Slawson's praise of Hoffa before his presentation of the new national contract. By calling Hoffa "the best General President the union ever had" he at once aligned himself against any critics or dissidents who call for grassroots democracy within the union. I don't necessarily have anything against Hoffa but why heap praise on Hoffa during a presentation of a workers' contract.
I don't doubt that Slawson and the rest of the Negotiating Committee "worked hard" during the past few months. I question how hard they worked for future members who will now be faced with starting at $10/HR and at Part Time hours.
Slawson mentioned that he wished Consolidated Freightways (CF) would have contacted the Teamsters before they shut their doors laying off thousands of Teamsters. He said he would have worked with CF in finding a way to stay open. Slawson never mentioned the fact that the CEO of CF was Robert "Steve" Miller now the CEO of Delphi Corp. Miller is a notorious "turnaround" specialist CEO on Wall Street, taking companies into bankruptcy and shedding union jobs for investors. Miller never had the intention of contacting the Teamsters.
Slawson said "we must be partners with DHL" because of their position in the competitive U.S. market thus helping them grow. What about being partners with the rank and file workers? What about being partners with the working class? It is labor that creates value and profit and not the other way around. This is what union officials have forgotten over the decades.
Finally, Slawson mentioned the "negative websites" out there that will pick apart this new contract. Does he mean that any criticism or dissent among the rank and file is negative and is to be ignored? Does he mean that when a worker speaks out in criticism it is unimportant and negative?
In summation, I voted "Yes" on this new national contract not because Hoffa, Slawson or anyone else urged me to do so but because I would hate to see what the current DHL Negotiating Committee would do "in partnership" with the company if we voted this down. I voted "Yes" in the hope that a new negotiating committee in partnership with the rank and file will negotiate the next contract and if the Germans call asking if there is a TA I would hope the Chairman of the Negotiating Committee will say "No, the rank and file still need time and will not be forced into a TA".
In Solidarity,
DS
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The DVD and the Ballot
Started by DougSmiley, Apr 13 2008 05:46 AM
2 replies to this topic
#1
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#2
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Posted April 13 2008 - 08:05 AM
Doug, "me boy", I'll ask but 'tis your privelidge to deny.
Doesn't your NO vote on the PUD or regional still carries its share of balance.
I always figured we were on the more "positive" websites. Where does he visit??
Be well
Doesn't your NO vote on the PUD or regional still carries its share of balance.
I always figured we were on the more "positive" websites. Where does he visit??
Be well
OUR OFFICERS FOR OUR NEEDS
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Posted April 13 2008 - 04:01 PM
DougSmiley, on Apr 13 2008, 02:46 PM, said:
I wanted to share my thoughts before I dropped my Teamsters DHL National Contract ballot in the mailbox. I finally got around to watching the DVD that the International sent to the membership and a few things that Slawson said alarmed me.
What immediately alerted me was Slawson's praise of Hoffa before his presentation of the new national contract. By calling Hoffa "the best General President the union ever had" he at once aligned himself against any critics or dissidents who call for grassroots democracy within the union. I don't necessarily have anything against Hoffa but why heap praise on Hoffa during a presentation of a workers' contract.
I don't doubt that Slawson and the rest of the Negotiating Committee "worked hard" during the past few months. I question how hard they worked for future members who will now be faced with starting at $10/HR and at Part Time hours.
Slawson mentioned that he wished Consolidated Freightways (CF) would have contacted the Teamsters before they shut their doors laying off thousands of Teamsters. He said he would have worked with CF in finding a way to stay open. Slawson never mentioned the fact that the CEO of CF was Robert "Steve" Miller now the CEO of Delphi Corp. Miller is a notorious "turnaround" specialist CEO on Wall Street, taking companies into bankruptcy and shedding union jobs for investors. Miller never had the intention of contacting the Teamsters.
Slawson said "we must be partners with DHL" because of their position in the competitive U.S. market thus helping them grow. What about being partners with the rank and file workers? What about being partners with the working class? It is labor that creates value and profit and not the other way around. This is what union officials have forgotten over the decades.
Finally, Slawson mentioned the "negative websites" out there that will pick apart this new contract. Does he mean that any criticism or dissent among the rank and file is negative and is to be ignored? Does he mean that when a worker speaks out in criticism it is unimportant and negative?
In summation, I voted "Yes" on this new national contract not because Hoffa, Slawson or anyone else urged me to do so but because I would hate to see what the current DHL Negotiating Committee would do "in partnership" with the company if we voted this down. I voted "Yes" in the hope that a new negotiating committee in partnership with the rank and file will negotiate the next contract and if the Germans call asking if there is a TA I would hope the Chairman of the Negotiating Committee will say "No, the rank and file still need time and will not be forced into a TA".
In Solidarity,
DS
What immediately alerted me was Slawson's praise of Hoffa before his presentation of the new national contract. By calling Hoffa "the best General President the union ever had" he at once aligned himself against any critics or dissidents who call for grassroots democracy within the union. I don't necessarily have anything against Hoffa but why heap praise on Hoffa during a presentation of a workers' contract.
I don't doubt that Slawson and the rest of the Negotiating Committee "worked hard" during the past few months. I question how hard they worked for future members who will now be faced with starting at $10/HR and at Part Time hours.
Slawson mentioned that he wished Consolidated Freightways (CF) would have contacted the Teamsters before they shut their doors laying off thousands of Teamsters. He said he would have worked with CF in finding a way to stay open. Slawson never mentioned the fact that the CEO of CF was Robert "Steve" Miller now the CEO of Delphi Corp. Miller is a notorious "turnaround" specialist CEO on Wall Street, taking companies into bankruptcy and shedding union jobs for investors. Miller never had the intention of contacting the Teamsters.
Slawson said "we must be partners with DHL" because of their position in the competitive U.S. market thus helping them grow. What about being partners with the rank and file workers? What about being partners with the working class? It is labor that creates value and profit and not the other way around. This is what union officials have forgotten over the decades.
Finally, Slawson mentioned the "negative websites" out there that will pick apart this new contract. Does he mean that any criticism or dissent among the rank and file is negative and is to be ignored? Does he mean that when a worker speaks out in criticism it is unimportant and negative?
In summation, I voted "Yes" on this new national contract not because Hoffa, Slawson or anyone else urged me to do so but because I would hate to see what the current DHL Negotiating Committee would do "in partnership" with the company if we voted this down. I voted "Yes" in the hope that a new negotiating committee in partnership with the rank and file will negotiate the next contract and if the Germans call asking if there is a TA I would hope the Chairman of the Negotiating Committee will say "No, the rank and file still need time and will not be forced into a TA".
In Solidarity,
DS
