Fake Meetings, Real Fear

At this weekend’s fake Contract Proposal Meeting, our president was fawning over a loyalist for showing up. 

She said “It’s so good to see a member who has been in negotiations here to contribute valuable ideas.”

His idea?

It was almost identical to mine (which was retrieved from many coworkers during my own surveys).

But he showed up after it was discussed and promptly discarded as unrealistic by the presidents.

But because he said it—and he is an open detractor who tells coworkers to not listen to anything I say or do—it’s OK. 

In fact, the union presidents and secretary-treasurers have an unwritten litmus test to weed out non-loyalists: When they suspect anyone may be a supporter of mine, they immediately threaten or criticize them.

I have NEVER seen this loyalist at a membership meeting in my nearly 8 years as a member. NEVER! But he is the president’s agent for maintaining good relationships with the managers. 

This fake Contract Proposal Meeting was conducted with the purpose of keeping us in line with the business union status quo. 

It was also a stage for the business unionists to repeatedly cast shade on my belief that we should demand no less than a 33% raise.

Being at a "table" for negotiations is not how real unions fight. History and the victories of unions with rank-and-file participation show us every day. Yet, as one would look upon my fellow officials, they resembled CTA bosses: They sat in comfortable chairs at a table while we sat on uncomfortable chairs facing them like beggars. 

The hate and fear for me was palpable in this meeting. At every opportunity, they tried to hijack some of my ideas and trash others. A few were received with no comment.

This meeting confirmed that I am winning hearts and minds. I am proud to be the number one enemy and target for the business unionists and CTA mismanagement. I hope I win president on November 17th so I can pry Local 308 out of the grimy hands of our stingy, outlaw employer.