Arbitration Shell Game
Just because your grievance was voted for arbitration does not mean the union presidents sent it to the arbitrator. This minor detail needs to be made known to members. Sometimes this is because the union officials—and lawyers—involved want to cut a deal. Other times it is because they want to sit on your grievance and starve you out. I experienced this with my Truck Shop Overhaul grievance . In April, it was recommended for arbitration by Vice President Mark Weems, voted affirmative by the majority of his Executive Rubber Stamps (Local 308 Executive Board) and I let members know. However, at the June meeting, the grievance found its way back to the Executive Rubber Stamps and they destroyed it. He even went so far as to accuse me of cutting off work for my coworkers. That should have never happened. I can only guess that his CTA masters told him to pull it for a favor. Being the master manipulator he is, he murdered the grievance and pinned the crime on m...
