wear a wire. have it broadcast streaming audio real-time over MFD.
Int'l Convention
Is it worth to go to the UFCW Int'l convention?
I could go as an alternate(I usually get really depressed when I watch the hogs at the trough) and I am under no illusion of making change.
How about MFDer's? Let it rip.
St. Paul Trotsky
If you have a terminal illness you might consider the palestinian suicide bomber routine.
Otherwise, I would advise you go anyway and collect some quotes and observations. How I wish that I could be there if only for that purpose. In time, the endless broken promises and documenting the events adds up. How many accounts like yours will interested members be given? Very few I suspect. I may seem generous with your time but I say go and report back from the Trough Ball.
Just kidding about the wire. bear in mind max weber:
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Politics is a strong and slow boring of hard boards. It takes both passion and perspective. Certainly all historical experience confirms the truth - that man would not have attained the possible unless time and again he reached out for the impossible. But to do that a man must be a leader, and not only a leader but a hero as well, in a very sober sense of the word. And even those who are neither leaders nor heroes must arm themselves with the steadfastness of heart which can brave even the crumbling of all hopes. This is necessary right now, or else men will not be able to attain even that which is possible today. Only he has the calling for politics who is sure that he will not crumble when the world from his point of view is too stupid or too base for what he wants to offer. Only he who in the face of all this can say "in spite of it all!" has the calling for politics.
I'm with the rest of the mfd'ers, sounds like an opportunity to me. Takin' notes, observin' the way ufcw members dues are expended, well this would be good to know. Pack up your tent and off you go SPT. 
Pack your own lunch.
Yep, ya got my vote to Mr. St. Paul Trotsky. Take the plunge and enjoy the ride; there is always something to be learned that we can all pass on from our experiences.
SPT, go with an open mind. Talk to the bright-eyed "youth" and see what they really think is going on. Collect data, on what percentage of the attendees come from small locals and which come from the mega locals. Pay attention to lavish waste and look for stuff that really could work.
See if you can answer the question: "How does the International Convention benefit the Power Source?"
Take pictures lots of 'em.
And leave a million cards with the "visit www.ufcw.net layin' 'round. 
Of course you should go SPT. These opportunities present themselves for a reason. You can use it as an opportunity to gain further insight into the problems that plague the biz union(s), the reasons why it's so difficult to fix them and - on a positive note - to corrupt the minds of the participants with dangerous reformist ideas.
Write down your observations and insights and send them in to MFD. Happy trails!
All four original Planet of the Apes movies are playing back-to-back tonight on Encore.
Brothers and Sisters,
thanks for the support. I may or may not go. I recall one convention about 15 years ago where microphones got cut off, members berated, and about a million spent on the banquet. Wynn was still in power and a boor.
Keep posted.
Solidarity!
St. Paul Trotsky
quote:
thanks for the support. I may or may not go.
The vote is in ... 98.6% says you're going.
All right-I'm going but I will hang out at night with the IWWer's that I know, and some brothers from the ILWU, and I will do it my dime. This will make some of the porkchoppers (an old term) shake their heads.
What now?
Solidarity,
St. Paul Trotsky
quote:
What now?
Start saving your dimes? 
SPT we could start a conference cup for you if ya' like. How much is three squares at the hotdog vendors and a good camping spot going to set you back? We're here for you. 
How about a challenge for all the other ufcw conference attendees to do it on their own dime. The buttons could read "I Did it on my Time and My Dime
The last Int'l Convention that I attended was in Toronto and I think I survived on 125 (U.S.) for the week. It was a week of excess, food, liquor, and slapping each other on the back on how well things were going.
We need to give the delegates a dose of reality and proclaim that things are a mess, and the only way to make things better is to turn it all back to the power source.
Solidarity,
St. Paul Trotsky
The Toronto convention was a sight to behold. I worked in the media centre. Most of our time was spent in keeping the media dumb until at least Bill Wynn was elected.
REAP was very active back then. They were running a candidate against Wynn. They needed the requisite number of locals backing him to qualify. I believe he got suckered. He thought he had the support, but when he announced his supporting locals, some of them said that they had never heard of him. He couldn't run.
There was a big sigh of relief--that was until the rumours about Wynn's house deal started to surface.
The party was outrageous! I've never in my life seen anything on such a grand scale. And let me tell you, I've been to Las Vegal Teamsters' conventions, and most of their parties pale in comparison.
The Americans treated guys like Kukovica like a water boy. Jesse Jackson got to use the International jet to come on up to speak his fine words, but boy what a grumpy asshole in person. Some say the bill for the Toronto event cost around $1 million.
The whole thing was like the part in the Wizard of Oz where the "Great Oz" is bellowing and smoking at Dorothy and pals, when Toto pulls back the curtain to show a little man pulling levers and pushing plungers to operate the "machine" that was a lot of smoke and a whole lot of bluff.
The convention will be populated by business agents, cronies, and winners of the free trip to San Francisco. The agenda will be set and orchestrated by International minions who know only too well which side their bread is buttered on.
St. Paul, I look forward to hearing your reflections on the convention when you get back.
I'm very interested in something HJF: I believe this convention was the one held here in Toronto sometime in the early 1990's (1992 or '94 or thereabout). This is was very hard time for UFCW members. The recession was on and employers in both the meat packing and retail food industries were playing hardball for concessions (which they got by the bucket full).
Given that this was going on, how did the people who attended this convention rationalize the lavishness of it all? Did any feel uncomfortable that such an ostentatious do was being held while thousands of members were struggling just to survive? Did they think that this high-priced group hug for the "chosen ones" would somehow make the union stronger? Or was being there - as one of the chose few - such a high, such a euphoric experience that all thought of the poor bedraggled members flew out of their ears as soon as they heard that they were on the guest list?
How about you? You were right up in the communications apparatus. What was your reaction to the fancy dress ball?
Actually, it was 1993.
The herd of "the bewilderd" forms the bulk of attendees. They are sent there to find a sense of purpose and do strongly develop a sense of "belonging." The UFCW like all "controlling" groups depend on large numbers with a strong sense of belonging to succeed in controlling the rabble, whom they supposedly represent.
Freud ascertained that the family group is the prototype of all groups. Following along that line, they come to worship the father and elders. They come as members of the family.
The message, "It's the family against the world" and with out the family, "You are defenceless and you are worthless."
The bewildered are shown lavishness that can be theirs if they behave. They are shown demonstrations of power and wealth. They have no problem with "dad's" wealth because they will inherit it if they behave. They are the chosen few of the many children.
Ya, ya, there are some naive babes who think that they were 'elected' to 'represent' their brothers and sisters, but if that happens, it's a rarity.
The bewildered are carefully culled from the large herd because of their blindness, greed and gullibility.
A disproportionate number of the attendees are machine heads and mine rats. They go because it's a free trip, which they consider their God-given right. For example, the Local 1518 reps get to go as a condition of their collective agreement because the are members of and represented by 'UNITED STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA, LOCAL UNION 2952 UNION REPRESENTATIVES' UNIT.' That collective agreement gives them $60 US a day to spend on whatever their hearts desire, plus airfare, hotels, taxi fares etc. They even have a formula that stipulates how many get to go to each and every convention:
quote:
CONVENTIONS
It is understood that all members shall have opportunity to attend conventions and such through 1/3,1/3,1/3, method as specified by the President.
You have to remember, a person's status is measured by how many conventions and conferences he or she is allowed to travel to.
For some peculiar reason, the average member is greatly impressed by the fact that his or her mine rat is 'out of town' or 'out of the country' or 'in an arbitration' every time she or he needs information or assistance. That's even more so when one considers that the average mine rat wouldn't know how to advocate at an arbitration if his or her life depended on it.
The convention was also a good chance to fake power. A local labour dispute would be found, but it usually had to be close by, and the call to march on the site of the dispute would go out. In a party atmosphere, throngs would march to the location, make a bunch of noise while 'dad', the 'uncles' and the odd aunt would say pretty words, and then the party would meander back to the convention activities.
Hey, doesn't it make you wonder with the imbalance of uncles to aunts and definitely no moms, how the hell the family got so many children?
The answer lies in the 'impregnation' (sometimes literally) of the bewildered by the dad and uncles with the sperm bath known as the International Convention.
My reaction was one of awe. I was awed at the level of corruption. I was awed at the amount of wealth picked from the bones of the many to fatten up the bellies of the chosen few.
What was really sick was the night turned into a drunken debacle. The so-called elected started to steal props and anything of value as souveniers of the disgusting night.
As an aside, at the 1998 Convention in Chicago, one of the female business agents died. She had better life insurance than any ordinary member. She had a huge salary and benefits. In effect, her family was in better shape than any ordinary member's who dies.
However, all the big hearts had no problem passing the hat and collecting near $225 thousand for her family. That would have been fine if it had of come out of machine heads' own bank accounts, but instead it came out of local union coffers.
There are dozens if not hundreds of UFCW members who die tragically every year, and that year in particular. Why did the delegates choose to cough up close to a quarter million dollars for a business agent? This was a person who two years earlier had been making $18 thousand a year as a deli-clerk in a Superstore. There are many rags-to-riches stories to be told by those who "belong".
It's a show that if you "belong" you will reap the rewards--in life and in death. That's a pretty strong message. It's a pretty good reason to tow the line.
The business agents actually bargain attendance at the convention into their own collective agreement?! For some reason that strikes me as very odd. It must be a very coveted thing to get invited for sure. Sort of like making a pilgrimage to some holy place. Unbelievable.
This may sound like a really stupid question but what kind of props did people steal and why would they want to take a prop home when I'm sure that there were lots of more conventional souveniers to be had all over town?
I imagine that this event had to have its fair share of speeches. Who spoke and what did they speak about? What kind of messages were directed at the participants? Was the media allowed in at all?
Hey, don't you find it ironic that the Steelworkers bargain with the UFCW to let Steelworkers attend a UFCW International convention?
These aren't a bunch of part-timers who have to have two jobs, so they get stuck with having to join two unions--one for each part-time job. These are fulltimers dragging down $80 thousand or more. They hold dual membership so they qualify for the free trips.
What did the buggers steal? Everything from huge ostrich-feather plumes to a horse saddle. Some of these drunks would have wakened up with all sorts of odd things, and probably wondered where they came from and how they would get rid of them without being charged with theft.
The big speeches were about 'market share'. The UFCW wanted market share in the food industry-mainly retail. I thought it a strange phrase. I always equated market share with corporations like Safeway. However, when you think about it, the UFCW is a lot like a corporation.
I kept pushing to get some media attention until I was told outright that we didn't want the media hanging about while there was any chance of controversies arising, such as a challenge to the presidency. Once REAP was effectively neutralized, the media showed up to hear guys like Jesse Jackson. They had Roberto Duran show up and I was in his hotel room in the Royal York where he was bitching because the UFCW hadn't coughed up his $10 thousand appearance fee yet. They pay Jesse big bucks to show up too.
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Some of these drunks would have wakened up with all sorts of odd things, and probably wondered where they came from and how they would get rid of them without being charged with theft.
With penalties topping out at house arrest for those in labours' top positions who steal thousand of members' dollars, these petty thieves probably feel well within their ill conceived rights. Monkey see ...
If there is any good news here it would be that the kind of appalling behavior you describe at these labour parties HJF, no longer comes as a surprise. It's been a steady stream of eye openers for ufcw membership, just a *bloody* stream. 
The greedy had better be looking over their shoulder at the 2003 convention, what was once kept out of members view is no longer. Take note ufcw troughers; Greed it, then read it. 
Oh man. What have I got myself into.
St. Paul Trotsky
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Oh man. What have I got myself into.
Whatever do you mean SPT?
Convention Tip# 37: Be sure to take some ear plugs (also referred to as "bullshit protectors"). If it gets to be overwhelming and you find yourself wanting to steal something, put them in and focus on your breathing.
Good advice v_t!
Back to HJF for a moment: What on earth were they doing with ostrich plumes and horsie saddles at a union convention???!!!
And why would the union pay Roberto Duran, a professional boxer, 10 grand to be there?!
The International hired The Kamber Group to manage the party. I think there was a fleet of about 22 semi-trailers with all sorts of props and shit sent to Canada to outfit the party.
If my memory serves me correctly, the ostrich feathers topped Greek-type columns. The horse saddles were part of a western theme in one of the party rooms. There were several themes each having it's own hall or room. There would be appropriate bands to go with each theme. For example, it was country and western in the room with the tack and hay bales.
There was more food than anyone could eat and more free booze than even the most determined alcoholic could drink--but that didn't stop the hogs from trying.
There were roving entertainers and photographers would come to your table and take poloroids so you and those at the table could have a free picture.
The numbers of absolutely besotted drunks was beyond imagination. There were more drunks than attended Cliff's so-called retirement tribute.
As for paying the boxer $10 grand, the UFCW used him as a "name" to attract Latino workers in organizing drives. A latino boxing champion says the UFCW is good, and people believe him.
Guys like Jesse Jackson don't show up at UFCW events because they want to help so much as they are paid big bucks to add "celebrity" to the affair.
Sister Siggy,
whenever I go to these things, I feel like I went 15 rounds with Ali. I will go and report on the going ons and hope to talk to some real rank and file. That's all.
Solidarity,
St. Paul Trotsky
I must confess that I have always admired the demeanour of St. Paul Trotsky. To me he has the qualities I would trust if I had to have a leader.
Mr. St. Paul Trostsy, you got my vote and my respect.
The UA convention of 2001 had a price tag of $20,000,000! 
The General President and General Secretary-Treasurer were so angered by their loss of control over the entire extravaganza, (due to the democratic process which transpired during the convention), that they issued a directive for the International Reps to "get with the locals in their area, and find out what the hell went wrong". They were astonished that the democratic process almost prevailed in ousting them!
There is a desire and a need for reform within these International Conventions and as more and more members see it for exactly what it is, the change will come. It may be a slow deliberate change for some and it may come as a bolt of lightning for others, but the change will come! Concerned members such as yourself, SPT, are the people who will spread the truth and plant the seeds of change!
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if I had to have a leader
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whenever I
go to these things, I feel like I went 15 rounds with Ali
Don't stand near the dessert table? 
Brother SPT the whole affair will be expensive, untimely, and in grand labour tradition, an exercise in troughing, but if anything good is to
come for workers then Lic is right, those who can must.
Go plant those seeds in the labour dirt.
God, i hate to admit this, i've been to six of those overblown celebrations of leadership. The first was in Hawaii in 76 as a rank and file member. Then came the merger convention in Washington DC. Then Montreal, Frisco, Toronto and Chicago. With the exception of the first, i had quit drinking, and i saw them wholly different than most. While sobriety can color ones opinion about alcohol, these drunken nights are embarassing to even those who like an occassional cocktail. Moderation is not a word that has much meaning in the planning of these grand fiascos.
I was never comfortable with them. There has been far too little genuine effort to allow dissension, debate or even serious discussion. They are orchestrated down to the gnats ass, and it was painfully obvious to watch, knowing this is where things are to be dealt with. This year may be different thou...more on that in a bit.
I will tell you, there have been some improvements the past two conventions. Every morning, the UFCW education department runs a series of classes that are very good. They have open mics, and there is a free flow of ideas and discussion. At 789, it was a condition of going to the convention, that you attended the classes. No matter how much you consumed the night before, your butt best be in the chairs, learning what they had to give. My frustration was, i didn't see many officers sitting in those classes, guess they knew all the answers already.
This year may well be very different, from any in the past. Even the dimmest bulb in the box, knows the UFCW is in serious trouble. They are losing members as walmart and other non-union stores take business from union employers. The monster machine needs the per capita to fuel it, and as membership declines, a whole bunch of bad things happen. The International has actually done a decent job in cutting and controlling costs on fixed expenses the last couple of years. The problem is, the way the structure was built, it almost doesn't matter.
The benefit package that was put in place to help make the merger with the Amalgamated and the Clerks happen was exceptional. Course back then, guys weren't making the fat salaries. The leadership was working forever, and the actuarial assumptions on retirement were like most other funds. Most folks didn't access early retirement. The last ten years has been devastating. The retiree benefit costs has pushed the International to try and do bandaid fixes to get by.
Even that has come to pass to be seen as an abysmal failure. With three down years in the market, the staggering loss of 100 million dollars in 1998 (when everyone else was making 25 % investment returns), and the local unions that are taking MASSIVE salary increases in their last 4 years of working (those are nothing but unfunded liabilities), costs are eating them alive. And the reality is, the costs of buying (bringing) the small internationals into ours (there were 5, if you are counting) has been incredibly expensive to our retiree benefit plans. Can't imagine you'll be seeing any more of that type of growth.
Hell, this year alone, the pension plan reduced future service credit, and increased the cost to buy them. Yes, we pay into the plans, they aren't free. That's only a small part of it. The health insurance for retirees is killing them. They have tried to get their arms around it, but like everywhere, there are no solutions. As union officers and staff retire early (many leave at 55 like i did), the retiree health insurance that used to be free, now has to be paid for, at least a little. That will have to change.
On the floor of the convention, that issue will be dealt with. Many employees will have to decide, stay and work under new rules, or leave by the first of the year and get whats there now. It won't be pretty. Add to that, rumors of huge per cap increases, all from locals who are struggling to make ends meet, and there is the potential for a massive floor fight over the changes in benefits and the higher costs of belonging to the International. It's all about relative value.
Just when you think it doesn't get any better, there's even more drama. Will Dority stay? Who will be his successor? Are there any scandals like Wynn's house deal that will apppear suddenly? Can these large locals support more per cap, when their revenues are shrinking, and their ability to negotiate good agreements are dwindling? Is there any truth to the rumors that one of the leaders will walk away with a huge cash settlement before the end of the year?
My goodness, this could be more interesting then that famous Dallas series, and the nagging question, "who shot JR." Stay tuned, i'm sure there will be more drama to follow.
Fearless Leader,
Tonight at the Ex-Board I introduced a resolution for a freeze on the per-capita. It talked about the machine living within its means, etc. and how we have to organize.
We passed the resolution and I stand committed to passing it (I'm a dreamer)
Solidarity,
St. Paul Trotsky
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We passed the resolution and I stand committed to passing it
Huh?
For the sake of clarity and all the members who don't know how the per-capita works, could someone in the know explain the who, what, where, and the big one ... why?
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Back to HJF for a moment: What on earth were they doing with ostrich plumes and horsie saddles at a union convention???!!!
And why would the union pay Roberto Duran, a professional boxer, 10 grand to be there?!
punch drunk beasts of burden stickin their heads in the sand?
What are talking about. It has been a long day. I got another card signed at Target. We were talking about how bizarre the convention is. They will ram a per cap increase and we will fight. Sometime the juice is in the fight, even though we will lose. I know this isn't real coherent-but sooner or later we will mobilize the power source and we will kick ass.
Solidarity,
St. Paul Trotsky
Keep in mind that you never lose. To speak up is to plant a seed. The only thing is you never know when it will take root or how big a crop it will yield.
Be the sow and sow from St. Paul. And think of your city's name sake. He was quite a reformer himself. Sow on St. Paul.
I see things clearly from both sides of the inside UFCW now!
If they guys at the top of the Union make a lot of money, who cares? It is still not enough for all of the bullshit that comes with this job! Yes some of them suck at the top others do not, but they are working their asses off, and to bitch about somebody making "TOO MUCH" is anti-union in itself! bitching of valid issues is the right thing to do, keeping it "in-house" and trying to fix things is good, but the UFCW is not the only union under attack right now from the inside and outside, ALL UNIONS SHOULD BE ON RED ALERT AND AT BATTLE STATIONS RIGHT NOW!
I have seen the REAP sheets and the other "internal democracy" flyer's and web sites over the years, and the one reoccurring theme is trying to get members angry over the wages, it is the same song a dance the UNION BUSTERS use at the captive audience meetings "Do you know how much they make" "what kind of cars do they drive" "they have a jet"! those forms of organizing people against something are motivated by 1 thing "JEALOUSY" and that is a double edged sword with lot of bad karma!
If you can not organize people with real issues then you might as well sell bad used cars!
I think they system that the government has in place works for every interest except the labor movement. Look at the system "it is good for the members" like the government cares what's good for them, yes it has the appearance of democracy on the surface, that a member can run for any high office with in the UNION regardless of qualification (I am glad the airline industry does have this, and some asshole at the back of the plane said "I got this petition and 3/4 of the passengers signed it (Most signed to get the drunk away from them) and it's my turn to fly the plane" Move over Captain of many years! let me crash this vessel it's my right!) Yes, it is their right run and try to get elected, yes it could allow change. But more than anything it allows chaos, destruction and distraction from what a union is design to do, Organize and represent it's members. It freaks out every union official months before an election window and it should it is their job! And how can they focus on the task at hand? I have seen union leader's from around the country good and bad ones turn into paranoid assholes during election windows even when there is no opposition! why should a person who has worked their ass of for the union and labor movement and given their life to working people's cause have this risk their position because a member who has never help the union, never walked a picket line, been a SCAB during a strike, just left Wal-Mart with a new TV and doesn't even vote in government election and if they do vote they votes for Republicans wants to run for no other reason than EGO or Jealousy?
If you can make the labor movement better by all means do so but if you can't do not run against some one who is a asset to the Union!
Do not get me wrong the members should be able to run, I am not against that but the law should have at least a "BAR" or a standard to pass in order to run, or maybe the union's By-Laws should address the issue that after so many hours of a member investing in a picket line or an organizing champaign they have a "vesting of sorts" then if they get enough signatures, then they can run for office? I do not know the answer, I and just making a suggestion. Because when there is internal in fighting and mud throwing in an entire International Union it hurts all of the labor movement! and the employers must love us beating the shit out of each other around election time! In fact I know some of the things I read about this president or that local has to be put together by the employers and some $500.00 + an hour union buster! The bottom line is when it is all said and done we are supposed to be Brother's & Sister's in a Union.
Let try not to forget it, even if some of our Brother's and Sister's are Jerks and Assholes!
Well... what a compendium of bad ideas!
John Doe? do you have an idea?
Meanwhile ...
"John Doe looks for his thesaurus!
I concur with JD.
I'd like to refute your points "Ex-UFCW 588 Rep", but it seems you don't have any.
Much like the jingoistic rubbish bad unions pander to their members, every statement you've made is completely unqualified and, to be blunt, ignorant.
Welcome to the forums!
ExRep, the "in-house" terminology you use is one which has been used by the proponents of "Us" and "Them"! Anything which places borders between the officials and the members is archaic at best! This is the dawning of glass houses and the free exchange of information.
The bottom line, organized labor should be (members-up), not (officials-down)! I see people here who devote so much of their time and efforts in helping others and they do this with no thought of pay, but out of compassion for justice! This compassion I see within the forums here cannot be bought and it cannot be learned! If there should be any qualification for a position within organized labor, then it should be this same compassion I see here every day of the year! It is entirely up to the MEMBERS to decide who is an asset to THEIR union!
I think some of you forget, that the official's are attacked started out as members, and are still members, some of them working in the industry before most of us here we were even born!
The member don't see that when you leave the house before you kids are awake and you come home after they are asleep and one day you wake up and your kids are about to move out and you missed those years with them!(serving the members) they do not see how a rep's pay check is "Cut in half" $$ wise when that Rep. is working 80 to 90 hours a week instead a flat 40 hours,
They don't see the 40 to 50 page's a day and the countless phone calls to keep up with, they don't see all of the "LOST" sleep when you went to bed wit h how to solve the members and union's problems on your mind! They do not see how Labor Law has been destroy and almost worthless due to employer's and people voting for Anti-Union politicians makes the Union's Job harder and harder.
Those of you who have been on the front lines understand this, those of you who have been on the "SIDELINES" do not! You can't unless you been there.
I understand having frustration with a union or a rep. Or an administration, believe me I have my own Grievances on a few people in this organization-but that is between me and them! Do I want their JOB? Hell no their jobs suck! If you saw what it takes to be a Labor Leader you would not want it. You might want the position the power and the money that it has but at what toll does it take on a person.
But I would like to see some answers, some concepts and agenda to fix problems in the long term for all the labor movement, not just personal "BEEF'S" yes some of use have a legitimate grievances and some of us appear to be pissed off because we have a political Handicap and cannot get into power.
There once was a clerk who got into power by pushing the REPS. make to much Money! That person got narrowly elected, and then when that person found out how much position paid, that person kept the money and at the first chance was able to raise it even higher than when that person took the job as a union official. Like I said before if people make a lot of money great! that's one of the idea's of having a union! but it was a hypocritical agenda that that person ran on to get elected
But I think it is ironic that that person got elected by throwing BOMB'S over the reps. Wages, Most member's get to go home after their shifts, for most reps. the job doesn't end.
I am not seeing answer's to UNION'S over all problems?
but I am asking to see some....
Ex-UFCW 588 Rep., I used to be a UFCW Local Rep, Local officer and International Rep. Some of the guys at the top are robbing the members blind and lining their own pockets.
Many of the elite travel a lot, but don't confuse that with working a lot. They make bad business decisions, and they engage in corrupt practices.
Yes, the REAP site and this site too for that matter, has a lot of negative stuff to say about the UFCW and some of its leaders. However, just because it's negative doesn't mean it's false.
Some guys do work their butts off. However, some guys use the union as a place to enrich themselves, their spouses, their children and their cronies.
I was there and stuff like this isn't an anomaly. I was there when this shit went down, and the affidavit only tells part of the sordid story.
Hi ex-rep, welcome for sure. My first thought is why the *ex*?
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I think some of you forget, that the official's are attacked started out as members, and are still members, some of them working in the industry before most of us here we were even born!
I don't think anyone here is attacking anyone who has spent their working lives actually working or caring. BTW, does being here before we were born make someone more worthy to be an official?
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The member don't see that when you leave the house before you kids are awake and you come home after they are asleep and one day you wake up and your kids are about to move out and you missed those years with them!
This is easily applied, and probably more so, to working people who have to work 2 and 3 jobs to just get by. No-one understands the value of family time better then those that don't have any.
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(serving the members) they do not see how a rep's pay check is "Cut in half" $$ wise when that Rep. is working 80 to 90 hours a week instead a flat 40 hours,
1/2 of $80 thousand is $40 for 90 hrs worked, plus car plus plus plus. An $8 job is less then 20 thousand a yr minus minus minus ... and workers are putting in the 60 and 70 with no overtime paid to keep the job or have two to make it to the next bill. In B.C. workers have to start at $6 no benefits. Want to try again? 
Without a doubt, there are reps who put in the time for the cause because it is right and without compensation deserved. I do believe from all BP told us , he is one of them, and a short read around gives you an idea of the high regard MFD'ers have for his 789 and their objectives. Good things are easily separated from the bad.
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They don't see the 40 to 50 page's a day and the countless phone calls to keep up with, they don't see all of the "LOST" sleep when you went to bed wit h how to solve the members and union's problems on your mind! They do not see how Labor Law has been destroy and almost worthless due to employer's and people voting for Anti-Union politicians makes the Union's Job harder and harder.
Please, workers are the ones the broken laws fall on. And as for sleep? Well I think it much easier to sleep knowing that you've got a paycheck coming that will actually cover your bills as opposed to none which won't. Give me a break!
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Those of you who have been on the front lines understand this, those of you who have been on the "SIDELINES" do not! You can't unless you been there.
"Walk a mile in my shoes" .... pass the guccis, we're willing to try. 
Been there, done that Ex 588. 12 years in the store, 9 years as a rep, 9 as secretary treasurer, and 9 as president. Served on the e-board, as a steward, went to conventions as a member, pretty much did it all.
I came to this site, defending the folks that work for unions. I still feel they do a good job. Having said that, i wouldn't have gone back to the stores for one minute. I loved what i got to do everyday. The hours meant nothing, it was the outcomes, the difference i/we could make in workers lives.
I wrote an article once for our local union paper, and the thrust was very blunt. The longer i had my big old butt planted in a chair, the farther removed i became from the membership. It wasn't critical, it was honest. We continually say the members are the Union, but then, it's like they exist for us. The truth is, we exist for them. They are a hell of a lot more important than some officer keeping his or her job. Most don't get kicked out of office because they did too good a job for the members.
The fact is, the job gave me things far better than the members ever got. Lets be real honest here, i'm retired at 55 because of my position with the Union. I paid in for over 25 years, but this international pension was built to keep local unions in line, to insure they didn't stop paying per cap.
Let's get even more to the heart of the discussion. Large local unions have entire departments that do virtually everything for the president. Media experts, negotiating departments, organizing departments, etc. The bigger you are, the more you just manage the people under you. Again, that's not a criticism, its just the way it is. The growth and mergers that have created these massive locals, has got leaders leapfrogging each others salaries. They justify higher salaries based on what the guy down the road is making. Here's the problem with that:
Lets take an nameless president from a large local union in northern california. Suppose he is worth $400,000 a year. The last thing i am, BTW, is jealous, i would be mortified to be in that position. Lets say the membership felt he was worth it, and the jets and the body guard and the rest of the perks were all okay by them. The thing is, are they aware, when he retires, he will be making over $200,000 a year. The 415 limits use to cap it, but those will rise for the next several years, and he will continue to have his face in it till the day he dies.
The bigger problem is, his pension and health insurance will be subsidised by the per cap payments to the international. I know we all paid into the pension out of our own check, but it doesn't begin to cover the actual costs. In the past 10 years, union leaders have taken huge increases and it has the potential to cause the international to collapse. Literally imploding from with-in. If you think i am wrong, watch what happens in San Francisco this year.
I'll just add, in a snarky kind of way, some union leaders did not get to see their kids grow up, so they did the next best thing and put them on staff at over a Hundred thousand a year. You do know the lm2's are on line now, right?
Final point. If the leadership was doing a kickass job, my guess is, no-one would care how much they were being paid. The UFCW has some awesome contracts all over the country. Hell, california used to be the model for the world. How have those last couple of settlements been? How do you feel about the hundreds of millions of dollars in givebacks via the vacation holidays on benefit payments? Have we kicked walmarts ass yet? Is safeway running over us, because they see us as a paper tiger? How do you feel about your local sticking it to the 11 other locals that wanted to take safeway on? Do you think signing a me too agreement, and then actively working to get safway members in other locals to vote against supporting their own leaderships plea for a strike vote was part of the "Solidarity Works" mantra?
I am glad to see you here Ex 588. One of the problems in the labor movement is this inability to be this honest and open. You can't change whats wrong by ignoring the problems. We have hundreds of suggestions to fix the current structure. The first is to get rid of the top down mentality. Untill the members are actively engaged in the process, nothing will change. That means a more open a democratic system of governance. I know, that's scary, because some guy making a bunch of money might get beat, course they other thing is, he/she just might do a better job, and then not have to be afraid of a member running against him.
I eagerly await your response.
For those who have been wondering where ex UFCW 588 was typing from, it's beautiful Roseville California unless he/she lives next to BP in that retirement heaven. And BP I won't be able to join you as I had wanted, my pension plan will only pay $1,074.00 per month when I retire. In USD that's what appx. 6 bills.
A hell I'll have to ask Judy Darcy if I can live on her porch when she retires to the beautiful retirement province of British Columbia. I'm sure her pension will afford her a plosh retirement cabin along some scenic remote unpolluted river. At $123,000.00 she will be able to afford a pretty fancy boat to entertain her business friends on sunny days. To bad she did not belong to the UFCW, she may have an even better pension. Forgive me if there is no humor.
Like I have any control over what goes on in my old local, I am no longer there. for reasons that have nothing to do with my work performance, Somebody wanted me out and here I am and oddly enough none of the Bay Area Local want a EX-588 Rep. regardless of my what I have done in my career does the Internation give a dam? I leave a call for Doirty to let him know I am looking for work and Doirty calls back, but it to a (916) number but it was not my phone number and guess who called me after wards? FUNNY how that works.
I think I'll go stand in front of the new Wal-Mart in ROSEVILLE NAKED Screaming unfair!
Wouldn't that be interesting, to stand outside of a Walmart - Screaming 'Unfair'. Individuals should take a position when they deem it fit to do so. Not sure about being naked, however, perhaps the sign 'unfair' would be positioned correctly.
In the past, headlines can be made in the media by a lone individual protest. If one opts for this, contact your media first and explain what you are doing...yellow light...proceed with caution...
Before you can blink an eye, the media is there - and low and behold...one person can and does shut an entire operation down.
Sorry ex 588, didn't mean to sound like i was hammering you. You've seen the dirty little inside stuff that is so frustrating. Frankly, i always found the reps who were out there doing there jobs well, to be working far harder than the guys with the big salaries and the important titles. For years, i watched in silence, other than in the privacy of the innner circle, and said nothing. Always used that same logic, " can't say anything, it could hurt the labor movement." Hell, we're choking on our own vile whether i say anything or not.
I've come to the conclusion, if we just continue with more of the same, we will be gone. We may be gone (meaningless) anyway. You've seen the good, the bad and the ugly (say ain't old right wing Clint out from your way, Carmel?), so lets here some of it.
I'm sorry too ER, for pressin' on the ex thing.
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For years, i watched in silence, other than in the privacy of the innner circle, and said nothing.
Looks like you and BP both have some 'splaining to do eh?
I have had 2 unions in my past, the union never screwed me, but the politics sure did! Our members would have NEVER would have gone through the BS that I had to go through working there, the "artificial" Crap that had nothing to do with my job what so ever! I think some times it was done to me for Amusement and other times just to make my life hard in the hopes I quit.
It is a good local, a flag ship in many ways of the UFCW and I was proud to be a part of it but it almost killed me (NOT KIDDING)
and I'd never become the "FLETCHER CHRISTIAN" of the ship, I would have jumped over board instead! but after being "KEEL DRAGGED" and cut lose they could have throw me live boat!
We were allways told It's not just a job it's a way of life, and we all like a famliy here (my last name didn't start with the same letter I guess) and Loyality was important ( that is suppose to be a 2 way thing) and never forget where you came from!
I NEVER DID FORGET WHERE I CAME FROM! but I now question if the person who said that to me the day I was hired FORGOT?
what does that mean above?
Wow, schools out and thank Darwin for that. Hey EX-588 rep, I know you came by the hall looking for work but you must understand that old your boss is not one of our heros. We have an open position but we are using the money for SPURR projects.
You must have done something to make the old man suspect you were up to something for him to hose you. I do not doubt that working there almost killed you. Hell, the politics suck just about everywhere. The union is a family affair to your old boss, he has hired every member of his clan. It is too bad he could never forgive us for curbing his ambitions, but you win some and you lose some.
Go to the BART website, they usually have an open position for someone of your skills. At least it was that way before the budget crisis and we hope things work out for you and your family.
Wow again, EX-588 rep, your post on page two of this thread is most interesting. In times past I personally have talked people out of running against your former boss because I felt that the danger was too great plus they did not have the right stuff to run that massive union. That union is way to big for its own good and it shows. Some have the opinion that it was built by overly aggressive tactics i.e. buy em or fry em. Others had the opinion that your old boss was using the corporate raider tactics of the 1980's and the end result was almost the same for the old locals swallowed up. Why concentrate so much power in the hands of one person? How can your boss run political operations in 38 counties in the 7th largest economy in the world? It is simply not possible. Your old bosses form of top down unionism is killing us, members should be encouraged to be involved.
Labor leaders at the top have a pretty good life, free food, drink, travel and all the perks of power and privilege. I know most business agents work only 40 to 50 hours a week. The job pays well, has great benefits and is a wonderful opportunity to help people! You sound pretty burned out by your experiences. If you worked that hard you are the exception, not the rule. It could be why you got fired.
I also know of someone who got elected to run a union and took a pay cut and froze the salaries of the business agents who make more than double the highest paid workers they represent and in some cases, know less. The concept and agenda to fix the internal problems was set in place long ago, it is called the election process. They take the job, the money, the benefits and the power but not the risks of running for office; which many cannot face without stealing ballots and bullying people. Hey, wait a minute that sounds like the 2000 presidential election in America! There goes that point.
Anyway, it is nice to see you post.
Go to the BART website? and what position would they have for me? I fail to see why BART would hire someone with my background. I think you may be trying to insult me. and you said you have a position open but you won't hire an EX-588 Person even though you have No-One on your staff with my skills, when was the last time your local orgainzed anything and got it under contract? You have a VOID on your staff and I need to work.
I have no "Special Allegiance" to ANYONE, Except my family and the labor movement!
We just organized a Raleys, the same company that has dozens of non-union grocery operations in your old jurisdiction.
Bart has had some excellent good paying jobs open for people with knowlege of union matters. I check their website regularly looking to get out of this mess myself. Their supervisors belong to unions as well as their employees.
You must be politically brain dead not to understand why a Bay Area Local would not hire an ex 588 business agent. How is that for an insult?
And to ask Dority for help? What a joke.
Look, I have heard about your situation, I do not know all the facts but even if you sat on the right hand of God himself no one in the Bay Area will hire you because of who you worked for. Try some of the Southern Cal locals.
I hope that things work out for you.
Raley's? did you do that with a card check or an NLRB Election? long ago 588 was the one's who got the Contract Language for a "Card Check"
Also the insult was asking me to go to work out side of the union for management.
Try the So-Cal locals? Been there done that-same response.
No one will hire an ex-588 rep.? So I am "BLACKBALLED"?
I didn't go to work in the labor movement nearly 15 years ago
because I wanted anything to do with politics, I did it to help working people from the same kind of Bullshit I am going through right now, and now the rest of the UFCW wants to cast me aside?
for reasons that have NOTHING to do with what I can do for a union?
Those of you who did not even send me a letter back saying we are not hiring or did not even bother to grant me an interview (even though you were hiring) I think you are cowards and hypocrites!
You don't even know me you didn't even try to find out about me.
There was 1 local in California that did send me a nice letter back, and showed me some respect as a fellow union person, and said they were not hiring, but said they would keep in touch. Even if that was bullshit? it was nice professional bullshit.
I am starting to get real pissed off at everyone in the UFCW! it is more productive that I am pissed off at the employer's and the union busters and least that way my energy and skills wind up helping out working people.
It appears that no one in the UFCW has any answers to this members and ex rep's problems.
You know if I was hired as a "Consultant" I cannot run for any office?
so that that would not be an issue.
It would not be the first time a fired 588 rep who came to us looking for a job that went to work for management and it will not be the last.
Do not apply the UFCW retail turdly standards to Public entities like BART and the State of Califonia which are entirely different animals. A good labor relations consultant like yourself has something to offer from the other side of the table as well. You would not be "selling out" going to work as a labor relations consultant for a public entity. You would be if you went to work for one of the employers on the other side of the table.
You could do it untill something else comes up and gain valuable experience form the other side that may come in handy in the future.
The UFCW screwed you, wow thats a first. You want to work and have nothing to do with politics? How is that even possible.
We all know that your old Boss did everthing with the contract and all the other locals just stood around and watched in awe. Everthing was done with the contract before he came on board at 588 and he has been busy taking all the credit ever since.
The contract language in the Bay Area is stronger than in the Valley. For example, we do not have courtesy clerk step up, which steals hours from checkers.
My whole point was, in the beggining, do what is best for you and your family, screw the button heads at the UFCW. If I insulted you I apoligize. You are talking to a member who has been put through hell by your old boss, and his team. I have seen what he does to people who stand in his way, I have experienced it firsthand, in the flesh.
I have been turning down positions at my local for 15 years because I prefer to watch my kids grow up. That does not preclude me from watching over the bastards as a union member.
I will talk to the boss about you today but I do not think it will do any good. That is the best I can do for you and my guess is it is better than most others. Go to one of my previous posts and hit the email button on the left and drop me a line.
Anyway, I do not want to piss you off more than I already have so I will leave you alone and leave it at that. I hope things work out for you.
Yup, they're changing faces. Out with the full-time, higher-paid faces and in with the minimum-wage, low-hour, no-benefit faces.
The voices are rising too. In fact, they are screaming, "Quit ripping us off, you corrupt machine-head bastards!"
And, of course the UFCW is a growing union. It's growing smaller and smaller, as it grows less and less effective.
Enjoy your party in San Francisco.