Category Archives: Action

Action, UPS

You are Under Attack

You are a good union member at UPS. You support your union, and vote the issues important to the union. You pay your dues and feel you have a good living because of your membership in the union. You know that the company would not provide you with the quality of health care, the wage levels, a solid pension, and the job security without specific action from the union. Like it or not, you are one and the same!You watch the news and see what is happening with the Auto Companies, but feel that any of that doesn’t affect you or your union. What you aren’t seeing is the media’s use of this situation to turn public opinion away from the unions. To many people the only information they have about a union is what they see on TV. When they see a UPS guy, they don’t see a Teamster. They know you have a good job, but ever notice that many will ask you, “they’re a good company to work for, aren’t they?”.We all know they’re a good company to work for, because it is a good union job! Unions are something less than 8 percent of the workforce today, so many people never even come in contact with a union. Of course when they look for a job, the union jobs look inviting for obvious reasons, but the union jobs are slowly going away, (not so slowly in the auto industry), with the deliberate push to eliminate people’s perception that our country needs unions. The media is painting the union as some “commy” plot to destroy the country. The reality is of course the unions provide a real middle class. Something the corporatist’s hate. Keep in mind that the corporatists own the media. They hate the unions and what they stand for. They are fighting for the bottom line in their corporations, and they hate the unions there also. If you’ve noticed the muffled cry from the papers, and other media outlets, the unions are systematically being busted and broken. They do it by eliminating the company initially, then bringing it back in some other form, without the union attached. If you think UPS is not looking for the possibility of eliminating the Teamsters, you’re sadly mistaken. The only thing helping us ride out the current financial crisis is the length of our current agreement. My suggestion to you all is first to write your Senators, and Congress people, and demand they support the Employee Free Choice Act. Do not feel afraid to threaten their jobs. By that, I mean, for you to let them know you will support primary challenges against them if the do not back EFCA. Let them know that we took back our government from the right-wing corporatists, and we will take it back from them!
It’s time for a government for the people. Not the corporation!

End the Corporate Rule

Fight the Union Busting

Strengthen Your Union


Action

Democrats and ‘The Magic Bullet’

As counsel for the Warren Commission, Arlen Specter described a “magic bullet” that changed America. Four decades later as a U.S. senator, Specter is providing another history-altering magic bullet – one Democrats will either fire off in a starting gun, or use in their suicide.


By leaving the Republican Party this week, the five-term Pennsylvania lawmaker eliminated the last Democratic rationale for inaction: the Senate filibuster. With Minnesota Democrat Al Franken expected to be seated soon, and now with Specter, Democrats will have the 60 Senate votes needed to overcome all parliamentary obstructions.


This legislative magic bullet will force Democrats to fulfill their policy promises and commence an era of dominance, or fail and get annihilated at the polls.


No longer can they blame Republicans for stopping bills to reform health care, tax, defense and trade policy. In command of the White House, the autocratic House of Representatives, and soon a filibuster-proof Senate, Democrats will have total authority to do whatever they want, and no scapegoat to fault. That means, as ABC News’ Rick Klein said, “This is Democrats’ turn to govern, no excuses” – and it means we’re about to find out whether their pledges were genuine.

David Sirota, Common Dreams

Action, UPS

Do Something, Even If It’s Wrong

     Doing the wrong thing isn’t always the worst thing. Very often the worst thing is doing nothing at all. Many of the problems we have I'm a Bad Girlin our world are simply a result of the inactions of others. We have the politicians we have because many people simply do not vote. We have the Union leaders we have for the same reason. Often the election results are decided by less than a quarter of the people involved. In a solid presidential year the number of voters is usually less than half of all the people that can vote.
          The fear of doing the wrong thing often drives people’s inaction. The first consideration would be that the “wrong thing”  is actually a matter of perspective. You may be told you are doing the “wrong thing” for representing a driver that is accused of stealing time from the company. How many times have you heard, “why would you take that guys side?” In reality many times the company has jumped to the conclusion that the driver is guilty until proving innocent, and they are expecting you to make the same leap. Very often, after further investigation, you find that the company’s case is unfounded. Had you jumped to the company’s side, you would have done the “wrong thing”. That driver would have been gone. It turns out the “wrong thing” was the “right thing” to do. You certainly did the right thing in the driver’s eyes.
          Had you done nothing at all, the result would have been very similar, but an example would be set. Doing nothing would set you up as a “do nothing” steward. The company would know they could run rough shod over you in the future, making things worse on the next go-round. By standing your ground, right or wrong, you let them know they can’t buffalo you. A reputation that will follow you for a very long time. Your reputation among the drivers will become more solid, and you will represent the Union in a better light to the Rank-and-File. Your membership will know they can turn to you. Your own self-esteem will improve. You will become more confident in your ability to represent people in the future, and stand up for what you think is right. You will also become a person people will look to for answers. 
                                     All by doing the “wrong thing”.
              You can always fix something wrong.
 You can’t fix what you didn’t deal with in the first place.
    

Action

Contact Our Elected Leaders Today

Today is the day to get in touch with our leaders. The two major issues of the day are the Employee Free Choice Act, and the possibility of a National Health Care Plan. Barack Obama’s election was bought and paid for by the Rank and File American. He would appreciate a reminder when it comes to decision time. Below are the contact links. I also suggest you contact Harry Reid, and Nancy Pelosi and remind them that they work for the American people.


Tell President Obama What You Think!!

Let Harry Reid Know What You Think!!

Let Nancy Pelosi Know What You Think!!

Remember these people work for you. We elected them to save our economy, protect our jobs, and to work for us for Health Care, and the Employee Free Choice Act. You have every right to demand that they hear your voice. You do not have to be afraid to let them know what you think, and demand action on the legislation that affects you! 
E-Mail them today!

Action

The Health Insurance Debate Has Begun

It is appearing the health insurance debate is beginning to rise to the top. Obama’s push seems to be motivated by the desire not to have the debate occur in an election year. My goal here is not to comment one way or another, just bring you the coverage. The The New Health Planinteresting part of the debate will be the special interests that rise to the top, and which one the politicians listen too. Obama campaigned on a “people, not lobbyists” mantra. We’ll see if he sticks to it. He needs to remember it was the people that funded his campaign, and the people that voted for him. Not the lobbyists. Be ready for the media blitz.

                                       Early news reports here.

Action

Systematic Corporatist Theft of the American Dream

               In case it isn’t obvious to you, the corporatist agenda has been to gut the American Dream of having a good job, owning a Corporatists on the Hunthome, retiring with a comfortable pension. We all used to sit back and watch as the corporate thieves gutted the airlines. They would create scenarios where they would sell off the assets, inflate the stock, then throw away the trash, after everything was gone. Leaving the poor employees, and the stupid investors that were left holding the stock, to pick up the pieces. Sounds like today. Our country has been gutted. Notice the disparity in wealth in our country.
              The middle class has decreased, with many people falling into the poor category. While the top 2 percenters have gained more wealth than ever before in our country. Meanwhile every move has been to sell out our pensions, steal the equity from our homes, or own our homes outright, and also to steal our health care so we will all just die and go away. The gutting of the airlines was successful. The gutting of the American dream continues without fail. Many of us sit back and support it all with our vote, and our political dollars. I have one question for you all. Has your financial life improved with the corporatists in power?
              Better rise up or better yet, wake up!

Action

You Got the Power

When Congress returns to work on April 20, they are sure to begin debate on the Employee Free Choice Act.

You can have an impact on how your elected officials vote and it takes less than 90 seconds to tell them where you stand.

Here is what you do:

Take chargeOpen:               Roll Call Congress
  
Step one:      Select —                      email,           
                        Enter subject —          EFCA,                       
                        Select —                       Labor
                        Type —                         Support the EFCA 
                        Closing —                   Sincerely
                        Type —                         Your name         


Step two:        Enter your contact info   

Step three:     Hit —                             Send Message


It takes longer to read this article than it does to send the message.

Take action.                                    Do It Every Day for a Month!!