328 replies to this topic

[11:58pm]

Stop trying to impress your friends here with your Google history lessons. Try generalizing a little bit. See if you can get what I'm looking for down to just a couple of strong sentences. I'm certainly not going to hand it to you but I'll be patient and give you some more time to get something meaningful down. I'm betting that you can't do it but let's see what, if anything you come up with.
Again, this union has been organizing workers for over 100 years. Who were these organizers, where did they come from and where did they finish their careers? It's important to know this and it's important to the future of the union.

[Sherri Henry]

MEMBERS put you local on Notice.
Demand NO LESS than Collective Bargaining Rights for ALL TEAMSTER EMPLOYEES!

IS YOUR LOCAL ORGANIZED?

You PAY THE SALARIES at the IBT.....THIS is YOUR UNION and you deserve to be PROUD not SHAMED!

[Caracol_La Fuerza]

Once again someone is trying to make it a question and answer thread to avoid the point of the thread. The organizers have organized and have requested Hoffa to recognize them. The truth of the matter remains in what our great union stands for THE WORKING CLASS. If that means organizing new membership, organizing current membership or getting the entire Labor Movement to fight for the very rights that have cost lives to obtain. Then there is no way to not recognize the organizers.

Ask yourself why would the organizers want a CBA?

What has happened for this organizing drive to be so strong?

Are the organizers second class citizens and don't rate representation?

On the other hand

How do you feel knowing that some of the organizers have left their co workers out in the wind by not standing with them?

How do you feel about those organizers actively campaigning against the organizing?

How does that impact their ability to organize?

Take a moment to review your encounters with organizers you will realize that there are those collecting a check as salesmen and those that truely believe in our great union for what it stands for.

Once you have covered that ground ask yourself how is it these people are organizers today. Was it a favor by Jack, Manny, Kim or Jeff? Is that why some of the organizers are actively campaigning against. Their decision is based on how they got to be organizers.

I wonder what Manny will say next? Here you go I fought hard for you to get this bump in pay. I fought hard to change your assignment. I took a lot of heat to get you moved. The organizers are tired of the games that you have been playing Manny.

Jack don't you think for one second that you are not knee deep in this. You have pushed and treated organizers just as bad as Manny and at times worse. You come in have a drink with your favorites and leave people off to the side. Putting everyone down about the status of a campaign when your favorites have been the ones in the lead position. Wake up Jack, explain why you had to go and save Terry Stark in Florida to then reach out to Farmer to save you. Did you choose Farmer over Keller based on her loss at CAL-UAL?


Hoffa fix this problem by recognizing the organizers.

[Thee 99%]

Manny tells every organizer the same bullsh** His favorite is " I'm taking a lot of heat "
He's been taking heat for a long time now. Only difference now is that people are voicing their concerns and disgusts about Manny. Instead of traveling to Portland on some half blind mission you should be worried about the people you are in charge of. I hear you axed a organizer in Vegas today, you must love firing people, I can't wait for the palace to finally figure out what a lame piece of sh** you really are. You and that other nit wit Wheres Waldo should be terminated. Farmer did u find your guru on your trip to India? Your no Steve Jobs you idiot. And put your hat on the right way, stop wearing it backwards like a little kid. Your an embarrassment to the Teamsters union. You non Teamster piece of trash!


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[11:58pm]

Stop trying to impress your friends here with your Google history lessons. Try generalizing a little bit. See if you can get what I'm looking for down to just a couple of strong sentences. I'm certainly not going to hand it to you but I'll be patient and give you some more time to get something meaningful down. I'm betting that you can't do it but let's see what, if anything you come up with.
Again, this union has been organizing workers for over 100 years. Who were these organizers, where did they come from and where did they finish their careers? It's important to know this and it's important to the future of the union.

Sorry for the repost but I believe what we are after is much more important to the survival of this organization then any ones desire to better their own self.

[Thee 99%]

11:58
I know that prior to the organizing dept being formed i'd say about 10 years ago the organizers came out of the local's and the joint council's. And most of those organizers finished their career's there. I know this question isn't towards me or my comments but i don't get your point and where your headed with this.

[IBBadDude]

11:58pm, on February 03 2012 - 05:06 PM, said:

Stop trying to impress your friends here with your Google history lessons. Try generalizing a little bit. See if you can get what I'm looking for down to just a couple of strong sentences. I'm certainly not going to hand it to you but I'll be patient and give you some more time to get something meaningful down. I'm betting that you can't do it but let's see what, if anything you come up with.
Again, this union has been organizing workers for over 100 years. Who were these organizers, where did they come from and where did they finish their careers? It's important to know this and it's important to the future of the union.

I know this question isn't for me but I can't resist an answer. My understanding of organizers over our history is as such:

They originated from the Locals, every staff member was an organizer first and that created a membership base with a priority of organizing at all levels. There wasn't a Department per say because organizing encompassed all aspects of the organization. It was a part of discussion in every facet, meeting, member and Hall. Organizers and the craft of organizing was considered the penical of all labor organizations. Organizers that were very successfully formed their own Locals, were chartered and then jurisdictions were broken up because the growth was so fast, it was the only way to manage the system.

General organizers were created and they reported directly to the GP. Once again they were considered the best of the best. As the conferences formed they hired organizers and the JCs followed suit as well. Every staff, every Local, every JC, every conference had organizers because everyone knew organize or die. Organizing conferences were held all the time.

Something happened and a transition occurred when the BA was perceived as the penical of achievement. Our numbers have dropped dramatically since. We put ourselves in a position of only protecting what we have verses organizing to protect what we have. The IBT has had an Organizing Department since the 70s, ironically categorizing organizing instead of maintaining a constant presence in all areas. Reactive verses proactive.

The 80s, 90s, and beyond have seen a scaling up, down and up in organizing activities but clearly as of now most Locals dedicate 10% of resources to orgaizing and organizers are out numbered 10 to 1 when it comes to staff. When every member, Local and JC truly embraces the craft of Organizing we will grow exponentially again. I believe that transition is here now and as we move through it, there will be growing pain, disagreements and fights between the reactive personalities and the proactive personalities.

If my understanding of the history is misunderstood, that would be a more encouraging conversation here as opposed to our dirty laundry being aired out on the Internet.

[Sherri Henry]

If you take a look at the actions of the Organizing Department over the last decade, the behavior, certainly less than admirable, speaks for itself.

Consider the National Bus Campaign and First Student. Since spring of 2006 when this campaign kicked off in Baltimore, not ONE single contract included PENSION CONTRIBUTIONS. Not ONE single CONTRACT included decent health care and in most of the contracts the pay and grievance procedures are a joke.

There are NON-UNION facilities in this company producing EQUAL or BETTER PAY and BENEFITS than MOST of the TEAMSTER CONTRACTS. Why would the IBT want to TARNISH TEAMSTER HISTORY by choosing to REPRESENT a CLASS of WORKERS that this UNION COULD NOT ADEQUATELY PROVIDE FOR?

The LOCALS and JOINT COUNCILS don't want to deal with these bus drivers. They are expensive and a lot of trouble. Why? Because their contracts leave TOO much room for improvement.

The majority of the bus drivers don't utilize the grievance procedures, because they were CONTENT with their EMPLOYER to begin with.

The small groups you see represented in IBT FLIERS and VIDEOS are not PLEASED because the Teamster Contract has enhanced their lives, they are pleased because the IBT sends them all over the COUNTRY to claim they have!

You might find a shop steward that will brag on the union, but not because their life was improved. It is because their life was changed and all of the sudden they hold, what they believe is an important position, which can probably be identified as their highest attainable rank. None the less, if you see a First Student worker bragging on the union it is either because they are dating the BA, have been placed in a position of power, or they enjoy the camera flash and a plane ticket now and then.

While employed with the IBT, I appeared in more than a dozen fliers and brochures. Not one time did I ever write the caption and the comments included were not my own. They were written by the IBT organizing department.
Members certainly shouldn't believe what they read and base the success of the union on what comes out of the Marble Palace.

I challenge anyone to visit a First Student Site, at every single one of them you will find a good size group that DON'T want TO be in the UNION.

First Student TEAMSTERS do nothing more than CUSHION the CASH FLOW for the IBT, it is YOUR LOCALS that pay for the expensive REPRESENTATION.
It was not and will never be "a successful endeavor" because the SUCCESS of a UNION can not be based on the NUMBER of ELECTIONS you WIN. The contracts are an embarrassment to COLLECTIVE BARGAINING and to the membership of the Teamsters Union.

The only reason you are not continuing to see more DE-CERTIFICATIONS is the pitiful 7 page national agreement. Any moron could read that "PAMPHLET" and see that all it did was secure the UNIONS ability to continue collecting their dues. Nothing more!

Well congratulations to the IBT and to the Membership thereof; for taking a WORKERS MONEY and giving them a piece of paper that in no way has any hope of IMPROVING their STANDARD of LIVING.

[Der Rittmeister]

Sherri Henry, on February 04 2012 - 10:52 AM, said:

If you take a look at the actions of the Organizing Department over the last decade, the behavior, certainly less than admirable, speaks for itself.

I have to agree here. What has the Organizing Department really done? Nothing that I can see but spend money traveling around playing games.

[JustaTeamster]

Has anyone considered the fact that some of these organizers are resistant to another union because once they join they are no longer Teamsters? Being a Teamster is not where you work, it's the Union which you belong. Once they join that other Union they become their members and an employee of the Teamsters. Just asking.

[atwilliam]

great answer ibbaddude wonder if that's too much for 11:58 where do you stand on this


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[atwilliam]

justateamster myself and most of the staff organizers have been teamsters ourselves all of our careers when we started we said we will remain teamsters I do not think there is one staff organizer that sign a card that did not vote for James Hoffa in this last election we kept the campaign underground until the election was over we ask plenty of locals to represent us one stood up and said yes we did not put our campaign out there we did what we do in our campaigns our IBT model we ask for recognition no reply so we file for an election


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[Der Rittmeister]

Thee 99%, on February 03 2012 - 09:38 PM, said:

Farmer did u find your guru on your trip to India? Your no Steve Jobs you idiot. And put your hat on the right way, stop wearing it backwards like a little kid. Your an embarrassment to the Teamsters union. You non Teamster piece of trash!

I found this very funny because the only time I met Farmer he was wearing a suit coat, high water jeans, white socks and running shoes with a backward baseball cap. I thought, "Whollyfuck, does this guy think he is Steve jobs?"

[11:58pm]

I B Bad you are on to something . I applaud your ability to see the question and articulate a proper reply. An answer worthy of the question.

I'd be interested in carrying on from the point of understanding with you.

[Caracol_La Fuerza]

IBBadDude, on February 04 2012 - 09:54 AM, said:

I know this question isn't for me but I can't resist an answer. My understanding of organizers over our history is as such:

They originated from the Locals, every staff member was an organizer first and that created a membership base with a priority of organizing at all levels. There wasn't a Department per say because organizing encompassed all aspects of the organization. It was a part of discussion in every facet, meeting, member and Hall. Organizers and the craft of organizing was considered the penical of all labor organizations. Organizers that were very successfully formed their own Locals, were chartered and then jurisdictions were broken up because the growth was so fast, it was the only way to manage the system.

General organizers were created and they reported directly to the GP. Once again they were considered the best of the best. As the conferences formed they hired organizers and the JCs followed suit as well. Every staff, every Local, every JC, every conference had organizers because everyone knew organize or die. Organizing conferences were held all the time.

Something happened and a transition occurred when the BA was perceived as the penical of achievement. Our numbers have dropped dramatically since. We put ourselves in a position of only protecting what we have verses organizing to protect what we have. The IBT has had an Organizing Department since the 70s, ironically categorizing organizing instead of maintaining a constant presence in all areas. Reactive verses proactive.

The 80s, 90s, and beyond have seen a scaling up, down and up in organizing activities but clearly as of now most Locals dedicate 10% of resources to orgaizing and organizers are out numbered 10 to 1 when it comes to staff. When every member, Local and JC truly embraces the craft of Organizing we will grow exponentially again. I believe that transition is here now and as we move through it, there will be growing pain, disagreements and fights between the reactive personalities and the proactive personalities.

If my understanding of the history is misunderstood, that would be a more encouraging conversation here as opposed to our dirty laundry being aired out on the Internet.

I B Bad- the history is clear as to where the organizers have been and now we must move forward in the direction you call a proactive approach. I believe that by strengthening our union within our core industries will not only grow our union but secure our foundation on which it was built on. As we have expanded into other industries it is important not to just blow through like the trade winds organizing to return a season later to re-organize the same group of workers.

The changes that our union has gone through and has survived despite the loss of membership goes to show that although we continue to adapt we our strong enough to deal with the growing pains. That is why I believe this organizing drive will make us stronger as a union.

Justa Teamster- you are correct in your post. I still don't understand how other union organizers can hold their heads high in representing the union they work for not being the union they belong to. Many of the organizers come from our rank and file and to leave that behind is not an option.

When this is all said and done we will need to get on a plan to organize to build our union back to the Biggest and Strongest Union in America. During this process union members have been educated and see the need to come together at all levels to address our real problem the un-organized competition.

The question that every member should ask themself is "Do you now your neighbor?" as is stated one can assume I'm talking about your community. Let us all be proactive and meet our neighbors at home and at work. How can we protect what we have if we don't understand the dangers that surround us on a daily basis?

The fact that the expected retaliation has been conducted just goes to show how much work we have to do to strengthen our organizing department in order to face the brutal campaigns to come. The anti campaign should never have been allowed or promoted.

[myrandebo]

After reading these posts I am wondering why would anyone want to be a Teamster organizer and not be a Teamster? Also what seems to be the reason you would want to form a union? I have not read any real reasons in this post just a lot of name calling. Every organizer I have run into seems to be treated very well and if what I hear is true the pay and benefits are great. Working for the membership should be a honor. I would take your job and you can go back to yours in a heart beat. Just saying.

[Thee 99%]

myrandebo, on February 04 2012 - 05:25 PM, said:

After reading these posts I am wondering why would anyone want to be a Teamster organizer and not be a Teamster? Also what seems to be the reason you would want to form a union? I have not read any real reasons in this post just a lot of name calling. Every organizer I have run into seems to be treated very well and if what I hear is true the pay and benefits are great. Working for the membership should be a honor. I would take your job and you can go back to yours in a heart beat. Just saying.

As a rank and file member i thought the exact same thing until the day i was let go by the IBT/Manny and left out in the wind. Now i wasn't a staff organizer i was just a project organizer but i saw all the BS that goes on and how people are treated.
My question now is for all the STAFF organizers that signed cards and then wanted them back! HOW CAN YOU GO OUT AND DO YOUR JOB WITH A CLEAR CONSCIENCE? And to top it off I heard that some of those organizers don't even pay dues !!!!!! What kind of sh** is this????? IT'S JUST A PAYCHECK FOR YOU ISN'T !!!! And you know who i'm talking about on the west coast !!! You should never be allowed to wear anything Teamster again! And Retardo your days are numbered working for the IBT... Everyone is going to know where you stand on this issue ..

[Caracol_La Fuerza]

myrandebo, on February 04 2012 - 05:25 PM, said:

After reading these posts I am wondering why would anyone want to be a Teamster organizer and not be a Teamster? Also what seems to be the reason you would want to form a union? I have not read any real reasons in this post just a lot of name calling. Every organizer I have run into seems to be treated very well and if what I hear is true the pay and benefits are great. Working for the membership should be a honor. I would take your job and you can go back to yours in a heart beat. Just saying.

It is hard to understand why some of the organizers are not standing with their co workers. There has been a few post along with the name calling that touch on the real reasons for wanting a union those being a grievance procedure, voice on the job, job security, to change the "at will" to "just cause" status of employment, respect and dignity. Do you work under a CBA with representation are you willing to give that up? Would you work without a CBA?

Most of the organizers agree with your point about the money and benefits and that it is an honor to Organize for our union. The challenge that is present with the constant threat of the "at will" status of employment is the catalyst for this drive. What it all boils down to is being Teamsters in the Organizer job classification.

Before you go and take up a position as an organizer you better check your contract for recall rights and the terms to make sure you don't become a victim like others. You know the ones that have been let go after a few years and have had nowhere to go back to as you stated.

Are you a trade unionist? Where do you stand on this issue? With the organizers or against them being recognized.

Do you agree with the anti union campaign?

You don't get to bring your current CBA with you as an organizer. just saying.

[Thee 99%]

Caracol_La Fuerza, on February 04 2012 - 08:28 PM, said:

Before you go and take up a position as an organizer you better check your contract for recall rights and the terms to make sure you don't become a victim like others. You know the ones that have been let go after a few years and have had nowhere to go back to as you stated.

We all know Manny and the IBT are taking care of that as we speak. They are just not going to hire any rank and file members. What i don't understand is how are we going to organize new members if the new organizers have never worked anywhere, these people are often students, people manny is doing favors for and never worked a day in there lives. We have people that "get" it and we have people that just collect a paycheck. Manny and the IBT want people that just want to collect a check and never give them any push back on the stupid ideas they have.

[myrandebo]

I believe that any BA or Organizer who works for the IBT should be a Teamster. After making a call to the NLRB I found out that a union can not represent the people who work for them in a legally binding contract. Then after getting this bit of information I referred to the IBT constitution and it is spelled out the General President has the right to appoint or remove a Rep or a Organizer at any time. It appears that most if not all of the posts are from people who are no longer employed as organizers. Any staff organizer who would try to become a member of another union is in the wrong job and should look for work else where so that real Teamsters could step up and fill those positions. My BA has been around along time with out a collective agreement and is still there because he does his job and makes his executive board look good. The day he does not do his job I want him gone and I want my President to have that power. My BA has earned the respect and dignity of not only the executive board but the members he represents. If there are problems with your department it should be brought up to the IBT executive board members not splashed around on Tnet or for the employers and TDU.