From Allies to Enemies

I am feeling really depressed. 

As I discussed in yesterday's unofficial online union meeting, the Local 308 Board Meeting was emotionally and spiritually devastating. When I look at the video I made highlighting my campaign for president, I actually look and sound depressed. 

The destruction of my grievance 0526-40—mismanagers threatening punishment on members who did not want to pick an unpaid vacation—was astonishing. 

One of the fellow union reps who frustrated me the most is Sister Cassie Collins. She led the attack on grievance 0526-40 at the meeting. 

I remember when she used to be pro-member (back in 2018). She was a longtime part-time Customer Assistant. She suffered alot, like all of the part-timers (now she is a full-timer). 

For a Customer Assistant who was exploited by the CTA to be so adversarial on this grievance seemed to exacerbate the effects of the loss in my heart.

We had a really positive relationship as active union members, looking out for the members and holding leadership accountable. I trusted her and referred many members to her—even as I noticed she began to resent me (typical for many insecure so-called union leaders).

The above photo was made during a trip she and I made to talk to members about getting active in the union around May 2019.

Now she's a Boss Agent Pro and you won't catch us in any expression except scorn. But under that is a sadness that I feel for her—and all of us. 

However, it's really not her fault that she has turned into a boss agent.

I watched the boss agents slowly beat her down into over the years. Gaslight. Shame. Fear. Flattery. Favoritism. This is how they do it with all outspoken, caring members. 

I witnessed this done to Brother Tom Moore too. They turned him into cruel boss agent that continues to threaten me with violence and tries to provoke fights because I do not capitulate to the union presidents and I care about the members he and his fellow boss agents choose to abandon. 

They constantly tried to do it to me, but I always resisted. Now, they either ignore me, send the bosses, the cops or use violence to control me. But that still doesn't work. In fact, the more they push me, the more I pull them.

Sister Cassie and I are on polar opposites of union philosophy and it hurts to think about how much she has changed. 

However, as I get older, I start to realize that people don't really change. They just become more comfortable in their own skin. So as we grow, we end up further apart from each other—and closer to others who think like us.

Maybe one day we will reconcile. I am definitely open to it (the same goes for Brother Tom Moore, Sister Pennie, Brother Mark and others). This is why I do not support using violence or criticism on anything but their philosophy. 

However, as long as she and others continue to defend the outlaw mismanagers, they will have no ally in me. As president, I will hold them accountable for their treason with no hesitation.

Members can help me overturn the treason of 0526-40 on September 12 at 10am. Please show up and vote yes on this grievance.