Meeting Candidate Pennie McCoach

When I discovered that I had no opposition in the election for Vehicle Maintenance Executive Board, I sent this text message to our presidential candidate, Sister Pennie McCoach:

 

 

She responded immediately and we met at the Local 308 office the next day. I arrived on-time and didn't need to wait more than a minute before she appeared.

 

As a steward I help many coworkers write and submit grievances. Ironically, I often forget to write and submit my own. I had composed a grievance for wage theft. She promptly read it over, stamped it as received and sent it immediately to the CTA Labor Relations. This was nothing unusual for her.

 

What does that have to do with anything? 

It’s an example of Sister Pennie's seriousness about her job as Second Vice President. We pay her to do this as per the Local 308 bylaws. Unlike her opponent in the current race for Local 308 president—Brother Ken Franklin—she is not a procrastinator. 

She’s not perfect—and that is okay. I did not like how she towed the line for the CTA's horrible Pandemic Sick Leave plan and the various Contracts the CTA and ATU shoved down our throats. But she really knows her job—and helps me do my job as a steward. Former President Ken Franklin—once I refused to rescind my bylaw reform to establish dues discounts for part time workers—refused to even grant respect for my democratic rights as a member. 

 

Everything and anything I submitted was out of order.

But Sister Pennie never disrespected my rights when she had the opportunity. In fact, she did more than her job duties require over and over these past three years during President Eric "Out of order and run 'em over" Dixon's disastrous regime. When he and our Secretary-Treasurer, Deborah "Get Cosey with The Boss" Lane refused to respond to me, she filled in. It was really quite sad, but she did it. 

 

She was also frequently humiliated by Dixon and Lane as they used her as a fist against my efforts to help members that the CTA mismanagement terrorized. 

 

Once—after Darth Dixon made her tell me to leave a member who Sasquatch Tom Moore wanted to assist—she sent off a message to me, thanking me for helping members on my own time.

So despite her shortcomings, I have more hope in her that she would at least respect our rights to democratically direct our union—which could possibly reverse the death spiral dysfunction of Local 308.

In our discussion, I shared with her my agenda as the Executive Board Member for Repairers, Servicers and Motor Blower. I have written extensively about that in another article and video below: 

She was very supportive to say the least. But what I wanted to hear from her was would she silence me—or others—when we motion for issues at the membership meeting that may not be to her liking. She said no. However, she said if she thought they were wrong, she would say so in a debate if it is seconded. 

This is critical point of my meeting with Sister Pennie, brothers and sisters:

The knee-jerk business unionist response—and often mockery—to my motions by President Dixon, Franklin and—inappropriately Lane and her peanut gallery—is the primary reason why our membership meeting suck so bad. Whether someone motions that we all do 25 jumping jacks, use pencils instead of pen for ballots or for strike authorization, it must be treated with respect.

She and I discussed how peaceful the meetings are when she and Vice President Weems chair them. Debate is vigorous. But the disrespect for outspoken members doesn't exist. They allow seconded motions to get a vote. When they are mine, I often lose. But that's it. That is okay. 

I also shared my heartfelt desire to end the civil war at Local 308 and put 100% of my energy into helping us vanquish our enemies at CTA headquarters. I said I would not cease holding her accountable, however. She seemed to clearly understand that my issues with the elected leadership is not unique to me. She said she wanted me to continue being outspoken. 

She also said what I have done with the Chicago Transit Justice Coalition is valued. Doing similar things—with my help—at Local 308 is something she desires. From virtual meetings, to organizing action, real paper reports and open access to information for my department, she was very, very enthusiastic about what I could offer to the entirety of Local 308. 

Mind you, Ken Franklin also was enthusiastic about working with me. But he deferred to Deb Lane and her outrageous tantrums regarding anything I was involved in—and she was a complete tool for the mayor and CTA mismanagement. I will never forget Sister Kim Mitchell telling me—who was Secretary-Treasurer during Franklin's first term—that Ken was a "snake" and to be careful working with him. 

She was so right. He was and is a highly skilled salesman in strawberry-scented bullshxt. But back to what really matters: My meeting with Sister Pennie.

I added that I don't want her to feel that she ever needs to like or agree with me. She should feel free to always call me out when I am wrong or make a mistake. Yet, when I tell the Truth, back me up. Even better, I said, she should see me as her attack dog that is trained on freeing our coworkers from harassment, abuse and poverty time jobs. 

She seemed to nod as if something clicked. 

I told her that she should feel free to go meet with the upper mismanagement, talk nice and whatnot. But feel open about reminding them about what awaits outside if they keep up the crap. And if she can respect the members' rights, their desires—and help them achieve it—I will be the worst nightmare of those mismanagers. 

If she backs the members, I will fight like hell to back her. I am loyal to them over any ATU official. I made that clear and I think she understood. I also lamented that I failed to reconcile—after a few attempts—with President Dixon. Finding common ground for the sake of the members should be our mutual goal.

We also discussed some cases and interactions with Local 241 officials. These things I will not discuss as it is concerning specific members' cases. 

In conclusion, I can say I left 11204 S. Western in very good spirits (Usually, I leave that building sick to my stomach, angry or extremely depressed). After dealing with elected union leaders for almost six years, I have a good sense of which ones are habitual liars. I got no sense of that from her. 

Does she say things that go against the grain of Revolutionary Unionism? Certainly. 

Is she the "lesser of two evils"? Dixon certainly was when I voted to fired Ken Franklin three years ago. But I honestly don't see Sister Pennie in that kind of comparison. 

She represents the potential of the next step in establishing union democracy at Local 308. It may be a quarter step. It may be a half-step. However, I believe she has humility in her heart that can be reached if we hold her accountable.

Based on our conversation—and my experiences with her—I believe that once Sister Pennie is free of the funk of Dixon and Lane, she will be able to spread her wings and start taking flight as the president we need to give Local 308 back to the members. 

If she shows an ounce of compassion for us and fears violating our democratic rights as members, she will instantly prove that she was the best choice. If not, we can put charges on her for removal.  

Let's give Sister Pennie a chance to be our president.

Do you agree? Disagree? Put your thoughts in the comments field.