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March 31, 2008  UNITED WE STAND
Unite - to put or bring together so as to make one, to bring together in common cause, to act together.
Unity – the state of being united, oneness, singleness.
United – Combined; Joined; Made One
Union – A uniting or being united, combination; junction; fusion an organization or confederation uniting various individuals, groups, political units, etc.
From the Webster’s New World Dictionary
When I was hired as a part-time student at the Chicago Transit Authority in the summer of 1975 I wasn’t truly aware of what a union was. I was 19 years old and excited to work for the company that my father was working for at the time. I was even more excited about the money I was going to make (at Harris bank making 2.56 per hr. CTA was going to pay me 4.19 per hr). Still, I had not been truly educated on what the union was. The only things that I remembered about unionism at that time was my father going on strikes in 1969 as a bus operator and jimmy Hoffa’s missing body. But, I was working and going to school and was a union member.
As the years passed and I became a more experienced seasoned employee I started to learn what unions were all about. I experienced and participated in the 1979 strike by our local and local 241. I started to become truly involved when I talk to then Board Member Jesse Finley about unfair treatment towards me when I was a Pool instructor in the late 1980’s early 90’s. As I attended Stewards training classes at the University of Illinois in 1995 I was excited about the prospect of becoming a union steward. Presently, I’m still eager about seeing to the needs of you, the members. What troubles me sometimes is that our family misinterprets the meaning of the word union: US!! For us to be an effective bargaining unit we must understand that we are one. What effects one department within our local could have an effect (positive or negative) in another department? We must “Look Out” for each other, whether its’ a Janitor, Customer Assistant, Shop Personnel, Operator, Clerk, Switchman, Supervisor, Instructor, Flagmen, Etc. We Are One!! Even when it comes to union officers, Executive Board members and Stewards the most effective unit is a unit that works together as one. Will there be disagreements between departments? Yes Will there be disagreements between officers, board members and the Stewards? Yes. But when you attempt to iron out the differences and come to one accord, that’s power! That’s unity! That’s a Union! Let’s give it a try
In Solidarity!
Bryant |
