Why I Choose To Not Vote

The recent reports of pointing responsibility on Cheap Transit Authority mismanagement for the Yellow Line crash—and the silence from candidates now running for office—has convinced me that voting in the Local 308 election is a total waste of time. 

Therefore, I am retracting every single endorsement and will NOT be voting. I know this will offend some of you. It is not personal. It is strictly about the good of our union and living with my conscience.

Until and unless a sizable contingent of members exercise their democratic and First Amendment rights where it really counts, our votes serve only to keep the CTA terrorist boots on our necks. 

I am not telling you to not vote or even suggest that you follow me in this act of defiance.

 

I am telling you that I am not putting ANY hope in the candidates. In fact, I am INSULTED by all of them. They are infatuated with their CTA mismanager friends, partners and lovers—and it seems they are scared to death to even think something critical about them. 

 

Our coworkers and many riders almost died last week because of criminal mismanagers and sellout concessionary bargaining by boss-loving, bootlicking business unionists! All I see is posts on Facebook about thoughts and prayers. No one talking to media! No one protesting! No one organizing us to fight and collectively punish the Cheap Transit Authority!

 

At the Chicago Transit Justice Coalition, we have proved over and over that you have a right to protest—and the Cheap Transit Authority and their union partners can't do a damn thing to punish you about it!

 

What the hell is wrong with you all?

 

This accident proves that there is not one single CTA manager that can be our ally, friend or partner. Not one! Unless they resign and hire on in a union job, they are our mortal enemy!

This crash has cracked open a wide, gaping hole on the CTA mismanagement’s utter failure to protect us and the riders. Moreover, the failure has been intentional! 

 

Why, in God’s Good Name, aren’t the current officers and candidates not jumping on this opportunity to build for mass action?

Our “Contract” ends in one month! 

Do you see the opportunity that is about to be lost?

The candidates and current officers are also in love with easy money, time off work and being “in power.”

Fear of oppressors and love of money are the classic textbook attributes of traitors. Are all the officers and candidates traitors? I have no idea. Time will tell. 

However, to me, they are all full of shxt. Mostly hypocrites. Until I see them organizing us to fight like a real union, I will hold my vote. I can’t even convince one of them to join me in a peaceful off-the-clock protest about the shxthole working conditions—or even organize their own!

Their excuse? They don’t like my “approach” or “tact.” So my personality is your excuse to not even ATTEMPT to do the right thing on your own?

Vote for me! Vote for me! But you are scared to death of helping protect our lives and jobs!

Liars. Hypocrites. The Yellow Line crash proved me wrong for believing in your potential. So I had enough and will let you prove your worth by seeing what you do for the members—and do against the mismanagers. You don't need to like me. You don't need to talk to me. You just need to unconditionally fight for our coworkers and stop kissing CTA mismanagers' axxes!

My hope is in the members who speak up at work, fight for each other and hold the union bosses accountable. Not elected people. From my experience, union officials are just stumbling blocks for union members. Just another boss! We don't need these bloodsuckers!

Yeah, I am running unopposed and will accept the position as Executive Board member. But I know that this position serves only to inspire members—and has NO POWER. The power they perceive is an illusion. The real power is in the members who do not obey tyrants!

I have very little confidence that I will last long anyway. That is why Boss Dixon ignored the bylaws—again—and falsely nominated an Assistant Executive Board member to replace me when his CTA masters need it. Whoever becomes the next president will quickly use their reliable loyalist to take my place. 

Eventually, the Board and President will lose patience with me. Since I will not conform to their corrupt ways, they will expell me. I see the patterns. I hear the words. I see the moves. 

 

Regardless, I will continue serving and organizing. Join my virtual union hall if you want to take our union back from the CTA. Unless  the members speak up in my defense when it happens, the union bosses—with the help of the ATU’s King Costa, the CTA and politicians—will get their way. 

 

I will be very comfortable not being an insider of their mafia den of death and tyranny. When the God strikes them down, I don't want to be around anyway.

From Boss Dixon’s sanctioned threats of assault and murder, to Warden Tom Moore’s parking lot cage match challenges to Pokeyman Fernando Lebron sticking his finger in my chest for calling Deb Lame what she is—a bootlicking, boss-loving sellout—I know there will be NO tolerance for Revolutionary Unionism or my funny-looking face in the union office. 

 

The insecure business unionists are determined to erase any chance of my presence in their meetings of madness.

All I can reliably do is report to the members what is going on in the union office. I will be your agent. Your informant. A no-vote on spending and a yes-vote on arbitration. 

But as long as you don’t participate in membership meetings, take initiative at work and speak up, NOTHING will change. I will continue to be the man you love to hate and will finish my days here in peace. Blame the boogeyman. But you really need to blame yourselves.

When I die, am fired or retire, I will be happy knowing that I never gave up. I never gave in. I fought and defended the my coworkers to the very end!

Go ahead: Vote and hope. I won't waste my time.

I will be working on saving our lives, our jobs and take our union back from the terrorist CTA and the politicians. When you are ready to start putting hope in yourself, you know where to find me. Besides, I have a 28th year anniversary to celebrate with the woman who tolerates my sacrifices of family time to fight the criminal CTA mismanagement and their union puppets.