TTAC Scores UAW Letter to Chrysler's Local Leaders
In the blog concerning the United Auto Workers' (UAW) efforts to force encourage their Locals leaders to sign the new, proposed contract with Chrysler, we asked if a reader could provide a copy of the letter from the union's central office to the front lines. And here it is. In the missive, UAW Chrysler VP and Director General Holiefield instructs Local leadership to sell the contract. "All appointed union representatives" must show their support by returning the document with their signatures. The number of lines provided indicate that the letter is intended to be circulated by the Local President and Bargaining Chair to all appointees under their purview. Since the Local president and Bargaining Chair decide who gets the union's plum appointments, and the International gives final approval, if your signature ain't on this letter, you ain't getting squat (at the very least). Could this be what Gettelfinger was talking about when he told the press after the Chrysler Council meeting last Monday that "we have a democratic union?"
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Entitlements? What the H are they "entitled" to? They are employees of a company,if they don't like it there, leave! the only thing they are entitled to is a safe working condition and their paycheck at the end of a bonafide worked period of time. What a bunch of hooey, employee entitlement, how about customer entitlement? To honest dealers? no hassle warranty service? well made products? What a bunch of overindulged losers.
How are these union bosses elected? Is there a periodic vote by union-represented workers that can oust a non-performing president? If so, I have been overestimating the rank-and-file's collective intelligence. If not, the travesty is even worse than I had imagined.
I dont think most Unions are like the CAW and the UAW, I think they have been this way since they only represented Workers in the Auto Industry,When they first started up, In my case when I was working I was active in my own local for the CEP(Communications, Energy& Paperworkers Union here in Canada, I always was of the opinion that we should represent workers on the bottom, ie there opinions are most important and not like some other Unions that are Top down. If the rank and file dont have a say, then its hopeless.
Gentle Ted: The corruption and heavy handed tactics amoung unions are legendary (See Teamsters; Laborers etc.). Here in California, the Correctional Officer's Union holds enormous political clout, and pretty much gets what they want from the taxpayers, via politicians, same with Service Employee Unions; Postal Union employees; Nurses Unions; and let's don't even get started about the Teachers Union who make the teachers pay the union dues and the union does with the dues what they wish, such as contributing to politicians that the member paying the dues does not support. What is the benefit of unions these days?