|
So, as a Union Steward, I received my copy of the OPEIU Steward Update (Volume 6, Issue 3) today and thought, "Hmm, how interesting". (Yes, I'm most likely one of the very few OPEIU Stewards who opens the pamphlet and actually reads from it). Now, I confess, I don't often read all the articles; in fact, I often only read the headlines and skim through some of the articles looking for something interesting and informative which grabs my attention which may entice me to read further. Unfortunately, the articles within the Steward Update tend not to peak my interest very often. However, this latest issue, I'm pleased to say, actually has several articles which begged me to read them; "A new Look at Stewards and Communications" and "Jobs of the Steward: a Quick Quiz".
Both of these articles promote Union Stewards informing fellow Members in regards political issues which are relative to working people; And both of these articles encourage Union Stewards to initiate and engage Members in conversations in regards to these political and legislative issues. "Stewards should...pull together scattered, and sometimes quarelling, members by setting up their own effective communications network, using some of the new technology that's so popular," states 'A New Look at Stewards and Communications. The reason any of this made me do a double take was due to the upheavel which occurred and reaction I suffered, during a recent election. Prior to this election taking place, I took the initiative and researched the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Councils' voting recommendations (the OPEIU, Local 30 is a Member of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council). I then provided fellow Members of my Union, OPEIU, Local 30, with a link to these recommendations which were geared towards supporting working people (you and I) to ensure that they would be able to make well-informed election decisions. In response, I received a few supportive letters but mostly unappreciative responses from disgruntled Members whom preferred to be uninformed of the SD and IC Labor Council's recommendations rather than receive this information via email, from me. They seemed to find it more important to berate and belittle my attempt at providing them with responsible information in regards to the issues the SD and IC Labor Council found important enough to place recommendations for. The Executive Director of our Union, Walter Allen Jr. wrote a response to Members regarding my effort to provide them with this information, "As the elected leader of Local 30 it is my responsibility to provide you with information, news, and other materials to keep you informed." Wally went on to direct a comment specifically to me, "..Dustin I once again remind you that you have been asked before not to communicate to Local 30 members on behalf of your own self interests or those of any other parties or organizations not approved by my office [allow me to remind you readers that I had simply provided a link to a page which clearly stated that the voting 'recommendation's were those of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council of which the OPEIU, Local 30 is a Member] . All communications to Local 30 members will go through this office, without exception." As usual, Wally and his office never did make an attempt to distribute any of this information to the more than four thousand (4,000+) Members of our Union.
So, while the International Union sends out the 'OPEIU Steward Update' and our Local Union touts in it's Mission statement, "The central goal of this local union shall be to further the causes of organized labor, and to support working people in all trades, businesses, and professions.", in actuality, they have proven through their actions (and in-actions) that these are simply more empty promises. "In the years leading up to the American Revolution, patriots like Samuel Adams realized that fast and accurate communications among the colonies were essential to building a strong movement," stated the OPEIU, Steward Update article, 'A New Look at Stewards and Communications'.
So I ask, "Why don't our Union 'Bosses' want us to have a strong movement and when are we going to do something about it?"
Fraternally,
Dustin[/color]
|
