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UFCW Members Assaulted

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Pearson	Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 2:08 pm
Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 1417 Location: Sun City AZ	Dateline September 29, 2006. Let's recap this seemingly impossible chain of events: * In November 2004, Doug Slaydon (candidate for president of local 588)is fired by Safeway for the use of the word crap as he was leaving the meat backroom. The "customer" claims he has no ties to either the union or the employer, but as we have come to find, there are some very interesting facts yet to be revealed. * The arbitration takes nearly 6 months to finally be held. The pressure to hear his case was pretty good as people all over the country demanded justice. * To date, even thou the union has contractual language mandating an award within 30 days, Doug has heard nothing. There is the usual provison for extentions, but the union has told Doug nothing about being asked or granting them...even though it is his worklife on the line. * In Agaust of 06 at a regular membership meeting a stacked house of officers and staff (some report 40 of them) attempt to intimidate a handful of members wanting answers. Led by president Loveall, several independent reports revealed staffers used terms so gross we won't repeat them. Suffice to say, the word crap wasn't one of them. * A long time member thinking it was important to get involved with the coming contract was in attendance. This soccer mom with lots of children was schocked and terrified over the language and the acts of intimidation she saw from staff. So much so she sent a letter off to the International President and Jacques Loveall. * To date, nothing has been done. No replies from the lords on high. No terminations for vile and foul language. No admissions of wrong doing. No reistatement for Doug Slaydon. Nothing, nada, zip. Seems the wheels of justice turn either very slowly, or they don't turn at all in yet another UFCW debacle. Shameful guys...and then you wonder why members don't get involved. _________________ If we don't do it, who will?
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Plutodog	Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:01 pm
Joined: 06 Feb 2006 Posts: 300 Location: Oregon	Pearson wrote: Dateline September 29, 2006. Seems the wheels of justice turn either very slowly, or they don't turn at all in yet another UFCW debacle. Shameful guys...and then you wonder why members don't get involved. That would be the question--or questions, Bill, do the biz union leaders really want to have the member get involved? And if the answer is that yes, at least at some points they do want members getting active for some activities, do they really want them to be involved all the time in all activities and to actually HAVE collective control of their union? All the facts on the ground make it clear that they definitely don't want that, are afraid of that, will fight and sabotage that. They would prefer no member involvement at all if the one requires the other. Maintaining their personal cash cow and false leadership positions is the first and last priority. The fact is that at least in these times, with what biz unions have done to shoot their credibility and their numbers in the ass (admittedly with the full-court assistance of the corporate world and their political whores), the one does require the other (any significant member involvement must be preceded by full worker involvement/control of their union). It will be up to the workers to blow through that roadblock because the troughers are busy blocking it. Rather than waste any more breath on the old boys, we should be asking ourselves what would Mother Jones do? What would Joe Murphy do? What would Lucy Parsons do? What would Joe Hill do? What would Bill Haywood do? Most importantly, what did all the workers, the rank and file members and cohorts of those and other true union leaders do individually and in cohesive solidarity? I'm sick and tired of counting on, waiting on trusting in the eventual common sense or sense of duty of any corporate unionist or political "ally". Piss on every damned one of them. It's up to us, and only us. Our future, our responsibility. Any change in the bleak future that's rushing in on us as we speak, will not come without us putting our bodies on the line, our personal health and financial wherewithal/welfare on the line to make that stand proactively. They are only going to be lost reactively and retroactively sooner or later anyway. Arise, wage slaves. Initiate justice. _________________ "I'm not a humanitarian,I'm a hell-raiser" -- Mother Jones
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loonietunes	Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 4:37 pm
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1210	Plutodog wrote: do the biz union leaders really want to have the member get involved? Yes- -they want them to go vote in this November's U.S. mid-term election- -because after all the only existance for the Biz Union model is to cultivate and harvest votes for politicians and various political parties and institutions. The UFCW--Brass act more like Political Consultants rather than actual Union "Labor Leaders." Real Union Leaders must be Worker Advocates first and Political Consultants second and not the other way around. --unfortunately-- the UFCW has never really understood this until just recently- -of course now its too late and that is why everyone is running for cover--and you don't see anyone fixing anything-- --they can't fix the real problems-because-they don't know how---they are just two-bit politicians! _________________ "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE"
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Pearson	Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 5:01 pm
Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 1417 Location: Sun City AZ	It is tragic pd and lt we have to look to the past to see our future. The guys that went to the streets may well be the only solution...we just ain't there yet. This whole question of union democracy, bottom up, member driven or whatever other phrase you wanna use is fascinating to me. There is no solution without the members and so the boys try and walk the line. Tell them they are the union, but make sure their role is to send in their dues. Occassionally a photo op is thrown in or a party for the stewards and of course, the phone banking for our democratic friends. It's all pure crap. Siggy posted an earlier link to Herman Benson and his comments that i wanted to respond to. This says it all: Quote: It is becoming fashionable, even among some activists and labor-oriented intellectuals, to derogate internal union democracy as an impediment to the great cause of reorienting and rebuilding the labor movement. “…[T]he crusade for union democracy,” writes one eminent advocate of a labor-intellectual alliance, “seems interminable and interminably futile.” Andy Stern writes, “Workers want their lives to be changed. They want strength and a voice, not some purist, intellectual, historical, mythical democracy.” And so the Change to Win Coalition, which he leads, proposes to reorganize the labor movement on a new basis, without concern for the rights of workers inside their unions. Stephen Lerner renders the thought deeper: “Considering union democracy as only a question of how a union is governed is too narrow….If only 10% of workers in an industry are unionized, it is impossible to have real union democracy because 90% are excluded.” Sterns take is frightenly stupid...and frankly it explains why nothing has happened to the 588 boys or for Doug. It speaks volumes on why they are looking at mergers. It spells out the agenda...build bigger locals so they can "fix" our problems. Pure fucking crappola. Business unionism is about the organization and the leadership. A labor movement is about the workers in it. If you ever want to see where we need go, i recommend you read Fight In The Fields. Cesar Chavez had it right; screw the powers that be and become your own power. I know, that begs the question: Where are they today? Here's the answer...the boys brought them in, swallowed them up and left them hanging to dry. It's the biz union way, if you can't beat em, buy em. _________________ If we don't do it, who will?
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ross53	Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 6:20 pm
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: california	Pearson wrote: To date, even thou the union has contractual language mandating an award within 30 days, Doug has heard nothing. There is the usual provison for extentions, but the union has told Doug nothing about being asked or granting them...even though it is his worklife on the line. Bill, The same method is used by UFCW Local 135 a union members was wrongfully terminated on July 2005 and the union Finally will have an arbitration date for October 2006, our contract as the same provision of your no difference. I cannot help wonder why the members always get the short end of the stick. My ho my it must be our fearless union leaders. Bill, keep up the great work, Ross53
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atuuschaaw	Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 6:32 pm
Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 781 Location: an ahwangan	Quote: Cesar Chavez had it right; screw the powers that be and become your own power. BP, you gotta love what Chavez stood for and this quote from him is one of my all time favorites: "The love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being but it is also the most true to our nature." Kinda off topic I know, but his story was one of the first I ever heard or read about back in my youth. As part of the sharecropper's era, I could understand what he was saying because sharecropping was a similar form of migrant life. And his attendance of over thirty schools made an impression with me also. I attended thirteen myself without ever graduating and I hated every single one that I attended. Had to get a G.E.D. in order to sell my labor! Chavez was one of my first "heroes" and his story should be an inspiration to anyone who has had to endure injustice within their lives. _________________ "Speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." George Orwell
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ross53	Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 6:33 pm
Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 1435 Location: california	To all of the uncharted members: YES IT IS CORRECT TERMINATED JULY 2005 ARBITRATION DATE OCTOBER 2006. REAPET THE DATES ARE CORRECT..... UNBELIAVABLE. Ross53
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loonietunes	Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2006 6:37 pm
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1210	ross53 wrote: Pearson wrote: To date, even thou the union has contractual language mandating an award within 30 days, Doug has heard nothing. There is the usual provison for extentions, but the union has told Doug nothing about being asked or granting them...even though it is his worklife on the line. Bill, The same method is used by UFCW Local 135 a union members was wrongfully terminated on July 2005 and the union Finally will have an arbitration date for October 2006, our contract as the same provision of your no difference. I cannot help wonder why the members always get the short end of the stick. My ho my it must be our fearless union leaders. I smell a potential "CLASS ACTION" law suit--- I wonder how many similar cases are on going right now--throughout the U.S of A and the great northern Canadian jurisdiction? I say we put it all together and hold a future International press conference. How about holding the press conference in the U.S. on- Friday--November 3--2006? I think its high time that we bust their balls and legally and politically bring them down to their fucking chins and when their down--- shove a batch of horse dung in their collective mouths once and for all. Meerly bringing them down to their knees has long since past--they missed their chance for that a while back. _________________ "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE"
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Pearson	Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 2:11 pm
Joined: 03 Feb 2006 Posts: 1417 Location: Sun City AZ	I do love what he stood for A. His fight was one of the most remarkable stories i have ever read. He lived his life true to the cause, never let the trappings go to his head. All the while he was fighting for the right stuff, the bastard owners, politicians and union leaders were busy trying to stop him. Simply a remarkable man. Then we get another picture; a snapshot of arrogance beyond comprehension. I have been boiling since i read this quote: “Workers want their lives to be changed. They want strength and a voice, not some purist, intellectual, historical, mythical democracy.” Perhaps the single most disgusting utterence by a union leader i have ever heard or read. Although i have to admit when Capt Jack Loveall brazenly told a newspaper reporter his members wanted him to live well, i was almost equally shocked. The most astounding part of that commentary is contained in the failure to understand the biz union model hasn't worked over the last twenty years. The top down controlled, no democracy machinery has been an abysmal failure. The grand plan for partnerships has been shipwrecked every step of the way. Employers used as when they needed us, and when it was time to dump us, we were little more than a good healthy crap for them. Christ, what will it take for the dummies running the show to wake up? Stern obviously believes he can do it better than the old bunch did; though his methods are virtually the same, just with NO democracy. What is democracy? What does it mean for workers to have a voice? Why is it important people have ownership in a movement? Why will some Don Quixote like figure chasing windmills never be our salvation? Easy answers; and they are historical and they are laden with what has been. Anything that has ever succeeded has done so because of people. Movements have happened because people were willing to fight for, die for the things they believed in. Not because some pomposs ass rich boy stood up an said it should be that way. Save us Andy? You arrogant self-serving asshole...if you want to fill a role, have a purpose in your life and a role in workers lives, take a page from Cesar Chavez's book... serve us. _________________ If we don't do it, who will?
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exraleys	Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:28 pm
Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Posts: 193	Quote: Christ, what will it take for the dummies running the show to wake up? They will wake up the day that they no longer have a union because of "right to work" will put these assholes out of business. The companies will be the ones to push this , too. It is in the companies best interest to have the pigs eat at the trough to the point of exhaustion. This is when the companies will strike because that will be when there is no more union.
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loonietunes	Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:42 pm
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1210	exraleys wrote: Quote: Christ, what will it take for the dummies running the show to wake up? --The booming voice coming from St. Peter standing at the gate-- -- telling these bastards--that they need to turn their sorry asses around and high tail it south. _________________ "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE"
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atuuschaaw	Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 4:54 pm
Joined: 29 Jan 2006 Posts: 781 Location: an ahwangan	Quote: -- telling these bastards--that they need to turn their sorry asses around and high tail it south. No way LT! We've got enough of their sorry ass kind down here already! _________________ "Speaking the truth in times of universal deceit is a revolutionary act." George Orwell
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loonietunes	Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2006 8:14 pm
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1210	atuuschaaw wrote: Quote: -- telling these bastards--that they need to turn their sorry asses around and high tail it south. No way LT! We've got enough of their sorry ass kind down here already! Sorry--Atuuschaaw I guess theres really no place for them to go-- --I suppose no one really wants to be in the company of folks who committed "Workers Artocities" _________________ "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE"
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doug slaydon	Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 3:26 am
Joined: 30 Aug 2006 Posts: 192	loonietunes:the principles in this Aug.8 incident have a history of making sexist and derogatory comments about female members of their local. Although I would be surprised to see this story make "fox", stranger things have happened. As far as justice being served, I'm sorry to state that the slowness of the process in itself makes for no justice! The Loveall regime has responded that all briefs are now before the arbitrator. where is the pressure to expentiite this? How can a working member sit out for nearly a year, waiting for a judgement? How can this possibly be called a "just" process? _________________ Doug Slaydon has been active campaigning to reform UFCW Local 8.
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loonietunes	Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 12:03 pm
Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1210	doug slaydon wrote: I would be surprised to see this story make "fox", stranger things have happened. True- -stranger things have happened! But what folks are missing here is that these "worker Atrocities" have been committed by so called "Union Leaders"--whose job was supposed to be to protect workers from these kinds of discriminatory behaviors. Kind of like a member of congress that is in charge of protecting children-- who then takes advantage of a 16 year old page---see my point. So I respectfully disagree with the notion that "Fox" news would not be interested-- --I think--they would-this and other similar UFCW stories-just need to be put in front of the right people. _________________ "BE STRONG AND OF GOOD COURAGE"
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