Fuload

Well the count is about half over and already TDU has started the spin machine. It's time that the members of TDU stepped back and looked at how they are acting. Instead of any kind of classy concession speech or congratulations and sending a message of unity among the members, TDU is already trying to make excuses and further animosity. On their website, they ask themeselves the following questions; "What can we learn from the results so far?" and "What about the split anti-hoffa vote?" The TDU answer being "The ballot design and slate box is the biggest factor." Are you kidding me! In other words, the membership is too stupid to vote for who they want and can't outsmart the ballot...........the ballot that was approved prior to the election. I'm sorry, I just don't think the membership is that stupid. I find their spin just downright insulting to all the members. Not to mention the fact that Sandy could have had a slate but didn't find anyone to run with her. Who's problem is that? She and TDU made their choice, guess it was a bad one.

They were also apparently insulted that Sandy was only offered one spot on the Gegare slate. Are you #$%%$$ing kidding me? She only has one spot on her own slate. Was Fred supposed to offer her three spots? They aren't even dealing in reality and all I can do is hope that more and more members see through their actions and demand change within TDU. It seems that TDU is out of touch with the membership, after all, they seem to be speaking loud and clear! Shouldn't TDU at least listen to the members' desires for leadership and stand behind the member's choice in the Hoffa slate?

Maybe it's time the members of TDU stood up and inserted leaders in that organization that would act and support the overwhelming wishes of the membership. Oh wait, the members of TDU have no say in the leadership of TDU, there are no elections, just a steering committee that is chosen at their convention (sounds like the structure of the Teamsters before the Consent Decree). Ken Paff will be the leader of TDU for LIFE as there is no way for the TDU membership to vote him out.

TDU will continue to spin, make excuses, sometimes blame but always ask for you to join them and pay money into an organization that can be characterized as nothing more than totally hypocritical. I am asking the TDU members who truly want to make change that instead of throwing your money at them again and again to instead support the Union that fights for you every day. Give the money to a struggling brother or sister's family or spend your time helping with an organizing campaign. Do something that will show character and actually make a positive impact.

Thanks for reading.

One of the best moments at the convention was the speech that Pat Flynn gave on Leadership. I have copied it here from the Wednesday Proceedings for your reading pleasure.


DELEGATE PATRICK FLYNN, Local 710: Mr. Chairman, again, Pat Flynn, Local 710, Joint Council 25. While many local unions in this country were adversely affected by Yellow/Roadway’s failure as a company, I don’t think any local union was more adversely affected than Local 710.

Local 710 had one of the largest Roadway brake bulks in the country. They had by far the largest Yellow brake bulk in the country. And by Holland standards, they had a very large Holland facility as well.

Prior to this meltdown, we represented over 4,000 members at the YRC companies. We lost 2200 of those members. As a result of YRC’s failure, I don’t think we’ll see those 2200 members come back ever.

But thanks to the Teamsters’ response, the positive response, we did have a positive effect. Those 1800 members that remain working there today, while granted at 85 percent of their wages, while granted at 25 percent now of their pension benefit and their pension contribution from before, they’ve had for over two years now, as every YRC member has had, 100-percent health-and-welfare and pension coverage.

(Applause)

All those prescriptions that they and their families had over the last two-plus years, the braces, the diabetes, the heart care, and those poor families that suffer from cancer, that has all been taken care of because this great International Union protected the members in this time of trouble.

I read with interest the June 28th “New York Times” article. A Ms. Sandy Pope was quoted as attacking our General President for his lack of leadership, that he wasn’t aggressive enough. They criticized his handling at Yellow Freight.

Well, you know, there’s a funny thing about leadership; you need to be a leader to lead.

(Standing ovation)

Part of being a leader is making those tough decisions.

I’d like to tell you just a little personal history I have of this YRC issue. When this issue arose,YRC employees, our members, represented less than three-and-a-half percent of this great International Union. But you, Brother Keegel, and you, Chairman Hoffa, threw 100 percent of our resources into protecting that three-and-a-half percent of our membership. You put together a team from all regions of the country. I was on that original team. You gave us all the financial help. You gave us all the legal help. You gave us the auditors. You two gentlemen gave us yourselves.

Many a night we sat at that table till 2, 3, 4:00 in the morning night after night, and not once were we unable to call either one of you, because you both had your phones on. You were both sitting at home wide awake as we were, worried about the outcome of this situation. And when that phone rang, you answered it on the first ring. That’s leadership and that’s what you gave us during this ordeal.

(Cheers and applause)

We reached an agreement. We reached an agreement. In fact, we’ve reached a number of agreements since that time, each of which have been voted on by the rank and file, each of which has been ratified by the rank and file.

So, Sister Pope, regardless of your thoughts on General President Hoffa’s leadership, I tell you this: There’s two reasons why YRC’s in business today. One, again, is the leadership of the Teamster team that saved this company. And the captain of that team, Jim, is you.

The second reason this company is in business today is because our membership has carried that company on their backs and continues to carry that company on their backs till today.

Jim, you know what? You took a political bullet for this one. Funny thing about the members. I love them to death, but you know what? They need a tire to kick. They need a barrel to kick. They got tired of kicking YRC, who should be kicked, and they started kicking us. But you know what? We’re big boys, we’re big girls; we are leaders.

And you took a political bullet on this one. But you know what? Leadership’s about doing the right thing at the right time for the right reason. It’s not about —

(Standing ovation)

Jim, Tom, it’s not about worrying how your decision is going to affect your political future. It’s about worrying about the working men and women in this country that we represent. You two gentlemen couldn’t exemplify that more than any two gentlemen I know.

I again ask the delegates to support this resolution. And I thank you for allowing me to speak on it.