DELACROIX
In the Spirit of Honore' Daumier
Good points considering what happened with the last contract, Hoffa barely retained office because of it if the TDU's statement of 70 percent of the UPS membership that voted did so for his opponent in the last election. I am thinking that Hoffa will step down soon, he is in the mid-70's and has to be feeling it, physically and mentality. The behind the scenes jockeying for leadership in the IBT will be wide open, the characters are already in the play. If he does sell the membership out, everyone on his slate and/or associated with him will suffer dearly in the political arena, financially he is well off, he does not need any more money, particularly from UPS. Also there is a term called "collusion", if proven the DOL, DOJ will come down hard on both parties, like prison time.
Another consideration is what happen to Ron Carey with the last strike, I sometimes think that the present leadership is actually scared of upsetting UPS and will do everything within it power to appease then. There is a lot of dirt on both sides that could be used if needed, again I compare it the the cold war era, neither party wants to push the red button.
The deadline for decision making is quickly approaching, no body knows nothing yet on what is or was on the table. Everybody be prepared for a lot of cramming when the contract is presented to membership, these committees had plenty of time to work it out and just from knowing the make up of both parties they been working on every scenario that could happen from day one after the last one.
The bylaws of below 50 percent of membership who do vote required to pass the national is not yet in play considering the 93 percent who voted for the strike authorization. That 93 percent will likely be the ones who will also actually vote on the contract, the rest simply do not give a hoot one way or another. I maybe wrong on this but I believe that a vast majority of that 93 percent are long term full timers, except maybe local 89 in louisville, who got the royal treatment with the last one.
Everybody has their issues to settle with this contract, mine is Pension and Health and Welfare coverage, the considerations mostly fall on your years of service. Wages need to be raises, particularly the starting hourly rate to keep and retain people I see it during the sorts, part time supervisors dressed for manual labor because that can not retain employees. People do not even file anymore in my building, it is so common place. Again the money is there to provide a decent retirement for every long member, corporate is currently providing an out to some of their management people (they have a very nice retirement benefit). If for some miracle they would provide a decent retirement benefit to ALL their union counterparts it will open up a lot of full time openings and would benefit both parties.
