COMPLACENCY!! Do Not Read If You Need Help With Understanding the Meaning of Unity!

Complacency!!

DO READ THIS IF YOU NEED HELP WITH UNDERSTANDING THE MEANING OF UNITY!

DO READ THIS IF YOU’RE CONFUSED ABOUT THE ISSUES AND WANT TO GET INVOLVED!

DO READ THIS IF THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS BUILDING UNITY!

DO READ THIS IF YOU INTEND ON CROSSING A PICKET LINE, INTEND ON WEARING BAP APPARAL,

53INTEND ON NOT WEARING RED ON THURSDAY, BECAUSE YOU NEED TO BE EDUCATED IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!

As I sit writing this message I look around my house in appreciation of what I have worked hard to acquire. I’m thankful to all the union brothers and sisters that made sacrifices that my family and co-workers benefit from. This all came with a price that I never had to pay. I believe I have been benefitting for years because of the sacrifices my union brothers and sisters made years and years ago.

APRIL 7 2012 is the end of a contract that we will never see again. The contract we ratify after this day will be less then what we have had and the one after that will be even less. Does that scare you? Does that piss you off? Well it dam well should, because if we continue to be complacent and hesitant, that is exactly what’s going to happen! I invite you to debate me! Let’s all just pay union dues and assume that the union will take care of everything. Ok, OK I’m sorry for the sarcasm. Let’s get to the root of the problem.

I see complacency in a generation of union members that I can’t motivate. Do they not know the meaning of UNITY? Do they not know the power of UNITY? I see members sitting on their asses waiting for information to be spoon fed. I see members believing everything is going to be alright because they pay union dues. That’s all it takes right, I mean if we all pay union dues the union takes care of everything? Is this what you believe? Is that the reason you don’t participate? If so, I want to apologize for not talking to you. Don’t feel bad I used to be one of those members, but then I drank the Kool-Aid.

Today we are in the battle of our careers. Some of us only have months to till retirement, some have a few years, some have 15 years, and some have prematurely left the company. Where ever we are in our careers is not relevant. WE all need to start participating in work actions and start taking these bargaining reports seriously. The company is trying to strip away more, more and more.

We all need to get involved in this fight!

This is personal!

This is an attack on your rights, benefits and lifestyle!

Does this piss you off?? Does this make you want to get off your ass and participate?? If it doesn’t you need to be educated because you’re a part of the problem. If you’re not with us, you’re against us. I’m tired of members saying I don’t need to participate in work actions. I’ll be there for the big fight I won’t cross the picket line, I like wearing BAP apparel it’s free clothes. I don’t want to honk my horn. I just want to mind my own business. I take offense to you minding your own business. If we all minded our own business there would be no union. We would all be getting paid minimum wage if we minded our own business. If we minded our own business we would be communist! You’re an American right? You benefit from being an American, right? Exercise your rights!!!!!

NOT WEARING BAP APPARAL, WORKING TO RULE, GROWING OUT YOUR FACIAL HAIR, and CHANGING YOUR QUEUE STATUS are all small work actions that are formulated to build momentum. These are just practice runs for the big work actions. Work actions show the company that WE are united. These work actions don’t go unnoticed. These work actions give our bargaining team the reassurance that we are with them! When the bargaining team asks us to do and we do, that is a direct reflection on how united we are. When they ask us to do and we don’t is equally impactful in the wrong direction.

OUR bargaining team works 10-12-14-16 hour days away from their family, friends and lifestyle. They sit across the table from a company that wants to take, take, take!! They work diligently!!

 IF we don’t get a good contract proposal don’t blame them, blame yourself for not getting off your ass and participating in the biggest fight of your career!!

Ask yourself,

What am I going to do to make a difference!!!