Now Is The Time For All Good Members To Come To The Aid Of Their Union.

With the recent events involving the decision by Secretary(?) Ray Marshall involving the trusteeship hearing, I feel that it is time for me to start poppin' off about what I believe.
The opinions that I've formed are based on what I saw at the hearings in San Mateo and San Jose, as well as information fed to me from both SEIU and UHW.

As I see it, both sides feel strongly about what is the right thing to do for us as members. That being said, if we are truly a democratic union, no part of the union (local or international level) should be beyond criticism. Never should we as members feel as if we have no real say in what happens with our union. It's way past time for all of us as dues-paying members to start holding our leaders accountable to US. We do not work for Andy Stern (or The IEB, for that matter), they work for us.

Every time you receive a flyer, phone call, or anything saying "SEIU" or "UHW" on it, it was probably paid for with money that originated from the dues of members. We, as those dues-payers, put up the money used for investments, salaries, events, operating union offices and halls - just about anything "union".

We all deserve to be lead at the local level by those who are voted in by us, known by us, and accountable to us. Someone who is appointed by the International union in Washington D.C. is only accountable to the person who appoints him/her, and clearly does not have our best interest at heart. I do not have any confidence in this or any "trusteeship" that ignores the wishes of of those most affected. Removing over 65,000 of our brother and sister members from UHW and placing them in a union already in trusteeship is absolutely wrong.

I am going to ask my fellow members to help me send the folks at our international a petition to formally declare a statement of "no confidence" to those leading at the international level. More about this later.

For some, this would seem to be just a waste of time. I do not believe so. We must never stop raising our voices and putting pen to paper to protest, question, or even support whatever we feel needs to be brought to light. It's time for we, the members of UHW, to really get mad..

More from me later.

In Solidarity,
The Coffee Guy

2008 – The Year from the Edge of My Seat

What a year.

From the very beginning, my life as a UHW member has been a roller-coaster of emotions. I've been encouraged, uplifted, and very, very proud of the victories that we've achieved.

We’ve won strong, positive contracts. Organized thousands of new members. Given strength, hope, and pride to so many who were looking to improve their lives and working conditions.

I've been so impressed with the spirit of togetherness and the resolve of my fellow members, both staff and my fellow rank-and-file workers. I've had the privilege to talk to so many folks who, like me, care deeply about our patients and co-workers. The work we do is very important, and we are very proud of the job we do.

So why can't I just be just terribly thrilled?

Why do I feel so betrayed? So stepped on?

Why, as a steward am I still having to sign petitions, make calls, and have meetings to answer questions and to calm the fears of co-workers?

Why are we, as UHW members, being treated with such disrespect by SEIU? Aren't they supposed to work for us, and not against us?

There are so many, many issues that we need to be working together to address. Why do we have to waste so much effort and resources defending ourselves?

We are member-driven and we intend to say that way. I have yet to find any other UHW member that thinks that it is better to be dismantled as a union as led by people that are not voted in by us, not accountable to us, and who we believe do not have our best interest at heart.

This is why I feel such betrayal. Supposedly the idea of “trusteeship" is to be in our best interest. Since when?

SEIU, we will not go quietly in the night. The belief that we, as members are generally ignorant of the plotting and scheming to destroy UHW and disband our leadership has not been and will not ever be acceptable.

Stay strong, UHW. This blogger believes in you. Never give up the good fight.

In Solidarity,

Joe “Coffee Guy” Thomas


P.S. Thanks to Jerry, Nikki, Kit-Kat and the rest of the gang in Woodland. You make it fun to go to work each day.

YO!

I've been taking a break from all of this blogging...but it looks like it is time for me to get back behind the keyboard. I've had enough rest and now that my brain is all filled up, it's time to start emptying (sharing).

More from me tomorrow.