35 replies to this topic

[Sherri Henry]

MEMBERSHIP IS DOWN TO 1,364,059

FROM 2008 THAT = 38,819

FROM 2007 THAT = 58,979


HMMM -- The IBT reported an "OUTSTANDING YEAR" in 2008 for organizing more than 60,000 bus drivers.
Unless they lied on the revised report to the DOL this means they lost as many as they organized.....THAT REALLY SUCKS

That also means the "ORGANIZING REPORTS" from Farmers office would be just a little bit inflated???
You do the math......it aint rocket science.

I could also report better than three pages of lawsuits pending as of 12-31-08 ----- (reported on LM2 additions because the IBT expects financial liability on all of them)
Yes three pages -- included are claims =

CIVIL RIGHTS
DUTY OF FAIR REPRESENTATION
VIOLATIONS AGAINST LMRDA
DISCRIMINATION


WTF ----------------------

HOFFA GOT A PAY RAISE?
THE WHOLE MARBLE PALACE GOT A PAY RAISE?

HOW MANY TEAMSTERS LOST THEIR JOBS, THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE?
WOW AND HOFFA COULD NOT BE SATISFIED WITHT THE WHOPPING BASE SALARY OF $287,949 ON DECEMBER 31,2008
(TOTAL PAYOUTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR WHAT EVER REASON = APPROX 383,000 FOR 2008)

FARMER OR KELLER ------ WHICHEVER ONE OF YOU IS RUNNING THE DEPARTMENT THIS WEEK.................


CAN YOU EXPLAIN THIS?


THE MEMBERS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW!

re: 2009 LM2 report -- Department of Labor

[city truck]

it doesn't take a rocket scientist either to see that this young lady has a personal ax to grind. i haven't been around the politics of this website business for long but it wasn't that hard to read back and see where this lady was coming from.

60,000 new members in a year is a success by any unions book. even if you lost 60,000 or more the same year through attrition it doesn't support the point that i think you are trying to convince the readers to believe.

all of organized labor has be on decline since the 1970's and over the decades i have seen the number of members in this union rise and fall as economies got worse then better, but its no indictment of any individual or of the organization as a whole.

your argument and rational is quite flawed. makes me wonder what side you are on. you will probably respond that you are on the side of the members. i sure hope that they have someone better then you representing their issues here.

[Sherri Henry]

You're absolutely right. I do have an ax to grind.
The actions of the adiministration as well as many affiliates there of have made idiots out of all of us.

Running around the country bragging about campaigns that are a mere illusion of what the members expect the truth to be.

YRC takes a hit along with many many others and the IBT just keeps moving forward.
If you don't take this as an insult to the very intelligence you tried to protray in that response, you must be one of them.

Why don't you ask the laid off and those with cut salaries -- are you one of the lucky ones like I am that has steady work and therefore you don't believe it is your problem?
I have been very fortunate this past year, but that does not make me able to turn my back on the now 1,364,059 people out there who are supporting organizing that is not producing ---

Furthermore, while Hoffa continues to improve his standard of living, there are laid off truck drivers, construction workers and so many more that would take all day to list............not to mention organized workers that have chosen the Teamsters union as their exclusive bargaining agent and yet are HANGING in limbo while the BA tries to battle negotiators at the bargaining table -- when he isn't qualified to do so in the first place.

All this and then the members continue to struggle for Teamster jobs while remaining loyal to their UNION by paying their dues and supporting their locals and for what?????...............

SO THAT THE IBT CAN CONTINUE TO FORCE REPRESENTATION ON BUS DRIVERS AND LOW PAY WORKERS, AS THEY ARE EASY TO PERSUADE AND NOT EDUCATED IN DISPUTING THE ACTIONS OF LOCAL BA'S AND UNQUALIFIED INTERNATIONAL REPS.......IN A HIDEOUS OVER ALL EFFORT ------------ TO MAINTAIN HOFFA'S STANDARD OF LIVING!

Just Take a look at that Bootcamp picture, where they are trying to get members to work for nothing.....so they can again continue to organize at a lesser rate and improve their standard of living. have you seen it -- because if you haven't -- he is pointing like he is Uncle Sam --- lol --- the caption should read "We want your money".

AN axe to grind....no thats too conservative......I'M DAMN MAD!


So save your time --- if you disagree with my information -- dispute the contents.
Personally attacking my integrity will get you no where.....the IBT has been trying for months. All your doing is joining the severely disturbed at the marble palace!

[city truck]

lady you're all over the place. get a grip on yourself before you try to fix everything else on the planet.

[city truck]

the sherry henry person is stalking me now. does she do this with everyone? is this normal on this site? she left this message for me on my profile.

"You have a problem with me. We can deal with it. I will tell you like I have told many others...don't hide your chicken shit posts behind a mask!"


i'm not sure, yet, if i have a problem with you personally but i do have a problem with the bullsh@t you are trying to sell as intelligence.

excuse my language ladies and gentlemen. i didnt take guff from fellow members 40 years ago and i'm not going to start to take it now.

[scotch tape]

city truck, on April 10 2010 - 06:37 PM, said:

the sherry henry person is staking me now. does she do this with everyone? is this normal on this site? she left this message for me on my profile.

"You have a problem with me. We can deal with it. I will tell you like I have told many others...don't hide your chicken shit posts behind a mask!"


i'm not sure, yet, if i have a problem with you personally but i do have a problem with the bullsh@t you are trying to sell as intelligence.

excuse my language ladies and gentlemen. i didnt take guff from fellow members 40 years ago and i'm not going to start to take it now.

Yes, she does it to everyone, your not alone. Just view the past many months prior posts and you'll see for yourself. No one really knows where she is coming from or in which direction of her posts, as she tends to be all over the place and anti union posts, although she claims to be for unions? But most of us just ignore her blogs and/or some respond to her posts, yet she is all over the place, and attacks most of anyone( for a debate)whom does not agree with her in which most do not. I wouldn't worry about it, just don't be thin skinned about it, as you mentioned don't take her guff, or ignore her as most do on t-net. It's typical of her so just thought I'd let you know.

Apparently from reading past months blogs, she was an entry orgaziner?- and didn't cut the mustard so to speak. So that is her axe to grind I believe? IBT Organizing is not for everyone, some like it, some do not, as it requires long working hours and travel.

[city truck]

thanks for the heads up scotch tape. i just don't like it when people try to deceive others into believing their own point of view.

[ROLLTIDE1]

SHERRY

I USUALLY JUST READ THE POSTINGS ON TNET AND IF I DONT AGREE, I JUST MOVE WITH MY BUSINESS ON AND TRY TO REPRESENT MY MEMBERS THE BEST I CAN . I HAVE BEEN A TEAMSTER FOR 22 YEARS AND I PICK UP SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY (THIS JOB DID NOT COME WITH TRAINING). YOU SEEM TO BE VERY HATEFULL, JUDGEMENTAL, AND CRITICAL OF THIS GREAT UNION, THAT I HOLD IN VERY HIGH REGARDS. PLEASE ANSWER A FEW QUESTIONS FOR ME. 1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A TEAMSTER? 2. HAVE YOU EVER HELD A STEWARD POSITION? HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ELECTED TO A LOCAL OFFICERS POSITION? IF SO WHAT POSITION HOW LONG? ARE YOU GOING TO RUN FOR A POSITION ON THE GEB? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHERE SOMEONE AS KNOWLEDGABLE AS YOU THINK YOU ARE COMES FROM. REMEMBER ITS EASY TO BE CRITICAL WITHOUT WALKING IN A MANS SHOES.

[Shaman]

Hello Sherri:

It is best to not say anything when you are angry! Anger doesn't serve you. This is exactly what the employer does in order to set up the employee for discipline including termination. People do less than wise things when they are angry. It is not a good time to communicate, you could loose your job and any respect you have earned. I don't follow angry people. The most aware aren't interested in following angry people.

You may want to check out what some inspiring leaders and practitioners of Ahimsa have to say about avoiding anger as a motivational emotion. Ghandi, King and the Dalai Lama were motivated by something other than anger.

Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe. -- Dalai Lama
Click here for Dalai Lama quotes

At the center of non-violence stands the principle of love. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. -- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Click here for Martin Luther King quotes

A coward is incapable of exhibiting love; it is the prerogative of the brave. A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history. An error does not become truth by reason of multiplied propagation, nor does truth become error because nobody sees it. An eye for an eye only ends up making the whole world blind. -- Mohandas Gandhi
Click here for Mohandas Gandhi quotes

What is motivating me? What is the price that I will pay for my choices? Am I willing to discuss these things?

Truth, attitude, motivation, loyalty, relationship and the opportunity to serve humanity should all be considered. The word "Union" has a universal and transpersonal significance.

Charlie Engel
theshaman@earthlink.net

[Dutch Uncle]

I haven't posted on T-net since Jan 2009. I decided to log in/catch-up and read a few threads only to find Sherri once again at the top of the list grinding her ax of discontent continuing her one-woman war against her former employer.

T-net may have a new look, but sadly, something's haven't really changed.

[city truck]

I'm new to all of this website chatting. I'm newly retired with a new computer. normally i would never jump on lone disturbed woman like this but it is clear that she just wants to hurt unions as a whole. what she is doing does not hurt a leader or a person specifically. she is doing damage to the entire membership, the entire organization and the entire labor movement. She points to all the bad things that are hurting workers today then points the finger of blame towards the union. It could be easily construed that she took a job with a union busting law firm.

I've done my work. my days are over. i want to give thanks to the teamsters union. hopefully my pension check is all the mail i will get for the rest of my life. a bad economy has set upon us but i believe that this union will pull through. we have faced greater difficulties in the past. Good luck to the future.

[Sherri Henry]

Have a nice day everybody!

[Sherri Henry]

city truck, on April 10 2010 - 06:11 PM, said:

lady you're all over the place. get a grip on yourself before you try to fix everything else on the planet.

First you say "its all about a grinding axe" and now you say "fix everything else on the planet"

Which is it that you have a problem with? The fact that I am mad about it or that I want it FIXED!

[local138]

Sherri Henry, on April 13 2010 - 04:46 AM, said:

Have a nice day everybody!

With the economy in the tank all union member ship is down not just in the Teamsters, instead of saying that, you chose to bash the Union .I am sure you are a good Union member but your words hurt the Teamsters .

[Sherri Henry]

local138, on April 13 2010 - 05:36 AM, said:

With the economy in the tank all union member ship is down not just in the Teamsters, instead of saying that, you chose to bash the Union .I am sure you are a good Union member but your words hurt the Teamsters .

Ok thats a good point.
My intention is not to hurt the Teamsters. I once believed this to be "A GREAT UNION".
I still believe it can be. But I also know that "right now" it is not.


IT CAN BE A GREAT UNION!

If I didn't believe that, I would not bother.
I believe the focus should be resolving these issues so it can be a GREAT UNION!
I am not bashing the UNION, but I am very against the choices of the administration.
My words are just that, words. The actions of the IBT are hurting this UNION.

[scotch tape]

Sherri,

I'm just curious to what is your gripe about the IBT Organizing in 2008? As I was on an IBT Organizing campagin,(For the lst time in my life) as an organizer in 2008 until project completed and everyone had great results! My prior position to IBT organizing, many years as Local Business Agent and staff local organizing for a local. And yes, I'll say that IBT organizing is a bit different to a slight degree in how they do things,(compared to local organizing) yet I'm wondering what your gripe is, as the 2008 organzing efforts and end results were good ones! I worked with some great guys in N. CA on organizing efforts, and then sent alone to cover 3 (East coast)US States as the only IBT organizer in those US states! And yes, I was tired, yes I worked my A--off, driving throughout those 3 states alone, daily/nightly!- and maybe from time to time, I didn't always agree with my campagin coordinator in that area, as I was meeting with the potential workers and furlong workers,(organizing the un-organizied)in the field while or compared to campagin coordinator behind a computer, but I'll say this much, whatever I might agree with and whatever I might disagree with as I have much experience under my belt, you don't see me complaining on T-net about what or what not I personally experienced and/or whom with.

I don't know who you have your gripe with or why? But you need to let it go, as hate will consume you and it is not overall good for potential members or new members to come on t-net and read your negativity re: Administration organizing efforts, regardless of your personal experience that was to your disliking.

I'm not trying to beat you down, yet give you a better understanding of things.

Let me try and explain this to you... A lot of union members believe that or I should say recieve the 9-5 and/or(40hr wk week) with benefits,etc that the unions provide for them in general speaking. However, when your a local business agent, that rule does not apply to us. Some days, we have the normal working hours and mostly we work overtime without overtime pay, as on weekly salary. The union members will always get overtime pay if working overtime,etc. The titan operators, administrative union staff will work the 8-4, or 9-5 schedule. But the representatives of the local unions, are working much longer hours than you can imagaine. THIS IS NOT A VIOLATION OF anything you mentioned in your prior above posts! We don't have to work overtime hours, but a good rep does work overtime hours, and does so for the union members of the locals. On contract negoiations, or a sudden strike that occured, and/or just spending more time at the office, even at nights returning phone calls from members, finishing up on other projects, as who knows what the following day will bring? And anyone who has been or is a Business rep, understands this. And the same rule applies to union organzing. If you want to accomplish a project,(within a time frame) you have to put in the long working hours.

When I was a BA in CA,.. this was my normal working hours... I would wake up around 3am, around 4am leave my house, and be on job sites and/or chasing trucks from 5am to 8am, then go into the local union office, make sure the union adminsitrative gals were not alone in early mornings when opening up the local doors,(as not a good area) work at my desk for while, throughout part of the day, back in the field again, back to the office again, take an hour lunch or just grab a sandwhich someplace quickly and eat in my car or at desk briefly,while working. Interfacing daily with contractors, members, other local unions, dispute settlements, grievances,jursdicational disputes,etc. Then after 5pm after all adminsitrative gals left the office, I would then be in the union office sometimes past 10pm usually still working. And I did that for several years. Only few rare occasions, I left around 7pm or 8pm in which was early for me to leave the union office. One occasion my S/T of the local came into the local at early morning hours,and said to me, "You got here early this morning!", and I replied, I never went home from last night, I was too tired to go home as working all night and I slept at my desk (probably drooling on paperwork) We laughed about it, and he said you need to go home and get some rest, and I said, I have another change of clothes in my car, but I have too much to do today to drive home and drive back to the local again. And that is just the way it is sometimes. And why do we work those odd long hours, for the membership, for the members! If we didn't care, we would not work long working hours and leave at 5pm on the dot every day.

As Rolltide1 mentioned, unless you walked in our shoes you don't know how it really is.

I'm not saying everything is perfect, there is always room for change, new ideas,etc. But many of us are proud Teamsters, that have worked hard for the membership for many years as we do care.

And when you do hear about Teamster officals and/or business reps getting together for a dinner on occasions,(group settings) in your thinking it's on the membership funds, we'll it's a nice break you would think to have a dinner out, but the real truth to those dinners, are that we always talk union business, as they are meetings always, with an occasional brief conversation of what did you do over the weekend or brief mention of someone recrecational outdoor hobbies?-so we seem human and not like work robots, then back to business negotiation conversations, as that is all we talk about. When we go home at nights, our work is on our minds, when we have the weekends, the work is still on our minds and then it's Monday again back at the office, and it's like this for every union rep.

Some agents don't return phone calls nearly as much as they should or leave early, sad I know, but for the overall representation, they work hard, with little recognitation in this trade. We accept it, we deal with it and we move on in a positive way for the members.

I think I said enough for now. But I just wanted you sherri to have a better understanding of this proud union.

[SHIFTALKER]

scotch tape, on April 13 2010 - 02:44 PM, said:

Sherri,

I'm just curious to what is your gripe about the IBT Organizing in 2008? As I was on an IBT Organizing campagin,(For the lst time in my life) as an organizer in 2008 until project completed and everyone had great results! My prior position to IBT organizing, many years as Local Business Agent and staff local organizing for a local. And yes, I'll say that IBT organizing is a bit different to a slight degree in how they do things,(compared to local organizing) yet I'm wondering what your gripe is, as the 2008 organzing efforts and end results were good ones! I worked with some great guys in N. CA on organizing efforts, and then sent alone to cover 3 (East coast)US States as the only IBT organizer in those US states! And yes, I was tired, yes I worked my A--off, driving throughout those 3 states alone, daily/nightly!- and maybe from time to time, I didn't always agree with my campagin coordinator in that area, as I was meeting with the potential workers and furlong workers,(organizing the un-organizied)in the field while or compared to campagin coordinator behind a computer, but I'll say this much, whatever I might agree with and whatever I might disagree with as I have much experience under my belt, you don't see me complaining on T-net about what or what not I personally experienced and/or whom with.

I don't know who you have your gripe with or why? But you need to let it go, as hate will consume you and it is not overall good for potential members or new members to come on t-net and read your negativity re: Administration organizing efforts, regardless of your personal experience that was to your disliking.

I'm not trying to beat you down, yet give you a better understanding of things.

Let me try and explain this to you... A lot of union members believe that or I should say recieve the 9-5 and/or(40hr wk week) with benefits,etc that the unions provide for them in general speaking. However, when your a local business agent, that rule does not apply to us. Some days, we have the normal working hours and mostly we work overtime without overtime pay, as on weekly salary. The union members will always get overtime pay if working overtime,etc. The titan operators, administrative union staff will work the 8-4, or 9-5 schedule. But the representatives of the local unions, are working much longer hours than you can imagaine. THIS IS NOT A VIOLATION OF anything you mentioned in your prior above posts! We don't have to work overtime hours, but a good rep does work overtime hours, and does so for the union members of the locals. On contract negoiations, or a sudden strike that occured, and/or just spending more time at the office, even at nights returning phone calls from members, finishing up on other projects, as who knows what the following day will bring? And anyone who has been or is a Business rep, understands this. And the same rule applies to union organzing. If you want to accomplish a project,(within a time frame) you have to put in the long working hours.

When I was a BA in CA,.. this was my normal working hours... I would wake up around 3am, around 4am leave my house, and be on job sites and/or chasing trucks from 5am to 8am, then go into the local union office, make sure the union adminsitrative gals were not alone in early mornings when opening up the local doors,(as not a good area) work at my desk for while, throughout part of the day, back in the field again, back to the office again, take an hour lunch or just grab a sandwhich someplace quickly and eat in my car or at desk briefly,while working. Interfacing daily with contractors, members, other local unions, dispute settlements, grievances,jursdicational disputes,etc. Then after 5pm after all adminsitrative gals left the office, I would then be in the union office sometimes past 10pm usually still working. And I did that for several years. Only few rare occasions, I left around 7pm or 8pm in which was early for me to leave the union office. One occasion my S/T of the local came into the local at early morning hours,and said to me, "You got here early this morning!", and I replied, I never went home from last night, I was too tired to go home as working all night and I slept at my desk (probably drooling on paperwork) We laughed about it, and he said you need to go home and get some rest, and I said, I have another change of clothes in my car, but I have too much to do today to drive home and drive back to the local again. And that is just the way it is sometimes. And why do we work those odd long hours, for the membership, for the members! If we didn't care, we would not work long working hours and leave at 5pm on the dot every day.

As Rolltide1 mentioned, unless you walked in our shoes you don't know how it really is.

I'm not saying everything is perfect, there is always room for change, new ideas,etc. But many of us are proud Teamsters, that have worked hard for the membership for many years as we do care.

And when you do hear about Teamster officals and/or business reps getting together for a dinner on occasions,(group settings) in your thinking it's on the membership funds, we'll it's a nice break you would think to have a dinner out, but the real truth to those dinners, are that we always talk union business, as they are meetings always, with an occasional brief conversation of what did you do over the weekend or brief mention of someone recrecational outdoor hobbies?-so we seem human and not like work robots, then back to business negotiation conversations, as that is all we talk about. When we go home at nights, our work is on our minds, when we have the weekends, the work is still on our minds and then it's Monday again back at the office, and it's like this for every union rep.

Some agents don't return phone calls nearly as much as they should or leave early, sad I know, but for the overall representation, they work hard, with little recognitation in this trade. We accept it, we deal with it and we move on in a positive way for the members.

I think I said enough for now. But I just wanted you sherri to have a better understanding of this proud union.

scotch tape,

Thank you for your service brother.

[scotch tape]

SHIFTALKER, on April 13 2010 - 02:50 PM, said:

scotch tape,

Thank you for your service brother.

Thank you shiftalker, I appreciate your comments. However, I am a sister Teamster, but I'm like one of the guys so either way works. -smile.

[scotch tape]

city truck, on April 12 2010 - 01:36 AM, said:

I'm new to all of this website chatting. I'm newly retired with a new computer. normally i would never jump on lone disturbed woman like this but it is clear that she just wants to hurt unions as a whole. what she is doing does not hurt a leader or a person specifically. she is doing damage to the entire membership, the entire organization and the entire labor movement. She points to all the bad things that are hurting workers today then points the finger of blame towards the union. It could be easily construed that she took a job with a union busting law firm.

I've done my work. my days are over. i want to give thanks to the teamsters union. hopefully my pension check is all the mail i will get for the rest of my life. a bad economy has set upon us but i believe that this union will pull through. we have faced greater difficulties in the past. Good luck to the future.

Attention: City truck,

I appologize for the delay on not replying to your most recent posts, yet a Teamster dear friend of mine informed me he was to undergo surgery and I was concerned about the outcome. I don't always reply to every post, and/or everyone that posts on t-net, as mostly I just from time to time view only, but I had wanted to reply to you.

Congrats on your retirement! I have great respect for the retirees, and wanted to tell you, I do hope you enjoy your retirement! I appreciate your thanks to the union movement and I'm sure all of us appreciate your dedication to the Teamsters as a union brother for so many years.

Enjoy your new computer and remember your days are not over, you will always be a teamster.

[city truck]

No need to apologize young lady. I hope your friend recovers well from their surgery. As for my retirement, its just one day at a time for now.