President/Business Agent
January 3, 2012
HAPPY NEW YEAR
How to COPE with Union Busting
Nowadays, being a union officer is not the most secure, appreciated, or wanted job in America. No one understands why we are Union members. It seems like every time you turn around someone is out there bad mouthing unions in the public sector as greedy people who are overpaid and who have too generous of a pension or health care. Others, especially state Governors, are just out to destroy public sector unions. Union busting used to be the little things such as someone constantly putting lies and innuendos out that would undercut our strength as a union or the officer just so they could get the job. It was one union raiding another. There are always those unhappy folks who believe that if they don't get something from their employer others should not get it either. Others will do anything and everything they can for their own personal, political or economic gain. Over the years all unions have had these and similar problems.
Today, as we watch the national news, there is a new kind of union busting going on. Quite frankly, the Republican state Governors have decided they're hell bent on destroying unions. Years of labor peace, the right to collective bargaining, fair wages and benefits for our families, and the right to have a union protect you are under attack. Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana, Florida, New Jersey, just to name a few, have Governors who are all blaming unions for their state budget problems.
Forget the fact that when President Clinton left office in 2000 there was a federal budget surplus and a balanced budget. Forget the fact that we later entered into a war over the never-found "weapons of mass destruction". Forget the fact that the mortgage crisis and fraud by investment banks had nothing to do with what unions do for their members. Forget the fact that hard paying union member's taxes had to be used to bail out banks, Wall Street, and the Insurance industry (AIG). Many lazy politicians, "talking heads" and the media now find it so much easier to blame the public sector unions for all the budget problems. No one blames the wealthy bankers and corporations that stole money from our members' pockets despite the facts; it is unions that are under attack and fighting for survival.
The same greedy corporations we bailed out are behind these efforts in the states to take away our rights. And their pocket books are deep. Unions stand in the way of the corporations owning and controlling America. So do we fight or just give up? Obviously, we must join together and fight for our survival. Unions across America must come together to fight just to keep what we have. In order to do this, we will need the tools and money to fight.
The ATU International is putting their money where their mouth is. They have revamped the organization department and they are supplying our ATU Locals with the tools to survive and that includes money.
To assist all ATU Locals with the fight of our lives, the International has made a promise to the Locals. All COPE money raised in 2011 above the amount the Local contributed in 2010 will be returned to the Local and matched dollar for dollar to help that Local with the fights that we know are coming, even here in Illinois. This program applies to COPE money collected in 2011. The money can be used for contract negotiations, political donations, advertisement to thwart off the opposition, rallies, and whatever other efforts we can design to protect our rights as public employees.
We cannot do this alone. We need all members to donate to the ATU COPE or, if you're already donating, increase your donation if you can. This is a win, win situation for our Local but only if the members come together as a union and in unity. In the coming weeks, we will be asking everyone to join in solidarity and to prepare to fight the fight. More information about COPE-PLUS, along with the April 9th Labor Rally is in this newsbook.
In Solidarity,
Robert Kelly
President of Local 308
Email Address: rkelly@atu308.org
