As a former local union president, OAPSE #627

[votesparks]

My experience with many top union officials is that they are nothing but politicians with the name union following their name.

[JaneyVee]

1. Because they are elected by members.

So yes, there are parallels with politicians.

[NurseJackie]

7. There must be a better way!

Boxing? Mud wrestling? Pie-eating contest? A "rap battle" thing? Shots of vodka, last-person-standing?

[Sheepshank]

2. So Unions are not worthy of support?

I don't know where you think your comment would lead?

[votesparks]

3. Unions are VERY worthy of support

There is just a Yuuuge disconnect between top brass, and folks on the local level from what I've experienced.

[merrily]

10. +1

[Hepburn]

4. IMO, that sums it up.

Look at the anger with some unions where the leadership went for Hillary and the members had no say-so. If one is paying dues to a union, then one should have a voice in endorsements.

[Cheese Sandwich]

5. Unfortunately that is true

But it's also undeniable that Clinton has huge leads and it's not surprising to see like for example SEIU to back Clinton if 70% or more of their members want her.

We have serious problems on both levels. Sometimes we just have to accept that we lose because they are just not that many of us.

But like with this SEIU thing, there was never any doubt, they would never endorse Bernie Sanders. Supporting Clinton was always been the default position for them. Even given her history.

One of the things that really comes out of this primary season is it exposes that we need also need some new strategies for how to get progressive politics connected to a workers organizations. Maybe we need to go back and build our own organizations.

[in_cog_ni_to]

6. Aah, so they can be bought and paid for to do exactly as the purchaser wants...such as endorsing a

Candidate who doesn't support the will of your membership.

Got it! Thanks for verifying that. Just what we thought was going on.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

[NCTraveler]

8. You mean leaders often elected by membership?

This is a blatantly republican argument. Corrupt union leadership. This is one of the main arguments republicans have been promoting for decades and decades that has hurt unions. People need to stop carrying their fucking water. Zero fucking difference in this thought process and the right wings welfare queen thought process. Zero. Find a problem or two and smear a whole group. Just fucking sick to see on a democratic board.

[votesparks]

9. Hardly

This came from years of dealing with state higher ups who were rarely, if ever were there for locals when needed. Often they were doing deals behind the membership's back.

I went through six months of grievances to finally win over 30k in stolen wages for drivers in a contract when high up union officials (behind the membership's back) agreed to change the pay scale of after the contract had been voted on by the local.

[NCTraveler]

11. I side with unions. nt.

[votesparks]

12. I do too, and proved it with my actions

I've fought for and won pay increases, benefits and better work rules in contract negotiations, and represented members in numerous work matters.

[artislife]

13. Thank. you

The destruction of the unions is instumental in breaking down the middle class.

[NCTraveler]

14. I will take your word for it.

It is clear only one of us is currently disparaging unions. It isn't me. I support unions. Not just when they endorse who I want.

[votesparks]

15. You don't have to

You are free to call Dayton, Ohio Public School System and look up if I was an employee there between 2004-2011. You can also request copies of past union contracts to see my name signed. You are encouraged to FOIA.

[NCTraveler]

16. Yeah. Right on it.

Any chance you will stop disparaging unions while I make the calls? I'll get to it sometime in the next twenty or thirty years. Think you can refrain from the whole union leaders are corrupt garbage until then?