SBN Columnist "Old Skool"
presents
When the "Circus" Came To Town
I would like share some of my more recent thoughts and musings. I got a chance to see our Union in action when I had the rare privilege of attending the so-called Due Diligence meetings. Ladies and Gentlemen the "Circus" was in town on May 11 & 12, 2009. But this time the tables were turned, it seemed like our Executive Board was the audience and the lowly union members were the performing acts.
Yes, I was present as our leadership attempted to intimidate our brothers and sisters by taking each one individually behind closed doors in a futile effort to use a show of force to blunt the protest. I am proud to say 99% of those who testified stood strong. I personally read and submitted my statement that my rights had been violated and protested such behavior. Since I was firm in my resolve they had no questions or response to my statement.
The only question they did ask was "How long have you worked at Beta?" I took it as their assumption that as a newbie I did not know how a Union functioned. Sorry to disappoint, but I have been a loyal Union member since I was 15 years of age, probably longer than most of our Officers have been alive.
While comparing notes with other attendees I noted a recurring statement made by the Executive Board to certain interviewees that they were acting as an "Electoral College" of sorts in representing the membership. I ask anyone who reads this to please contact someone at Steel Barrel News and let them know if anyone has ever asked you who your choice for Officers was. I know I was never contacted, and an "Electoral College" always votes as their electorate votes. This is very dubious at best and fraudulent at worst. In any case I feel no member in good standing was adequately represented in this recent election process.
One last funny performance occurred during this "Circus" appearance. As a consequence of "Due Diligence" our testimony was to be recorded, I made my statement on Monday. On Tuesday morning I was called and informed that the recorder had run out of tape and I should return to record my statement once again. The tape recorder looked like something out of a bad Mission Impossible episode. I expected it to self-destruct after the meeting was over but it didn't wait that long. I thought that it was quite ironic that a Union that collects so much money in dues and spends so much money on computers has such antiquated recording equipment.
These activities would really be funny if the subject was not so serious.
Fraternally,"Old Skool"
Joe Zaragoza
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