My brothers & sisters,
For decades we've been getting our butts kicked at every turn. We know the companies are determined to bust the unions, but why must we assist them? Throughout the years they have successfully divided and conquered all of their employees into small, separate, adversarial groups. By doing so, they've had us over a barrel in negotiations for so long that none of us have anything to bargain with, and they know it. Where does that leave us, and what does it mean for the future? The future is what we make it. We can sit back, as we have for too long now, and let the companies eliminate us, or we can truly become the union we're supposed to be and reclaim the future.
For our brothers and sisters at NBC's various locals, the wolves are and have been at the door, and the leadership is welcoming them in with open arms. What the leadership and the company both rely on is the apathy and disenfranchised attitude of the membership. Not that this sentiment is unearned, but again, the future is what you make it.
This is no different than the fate that awaits the members of ABC's various locals, with the contract now expired. The members must look long and hard at what their elected officials have, or have not done to better the lives of the members. They must look to see if pertinent information has been shared, or covered up, and whether problems, both contractual and non-contractual have been dealt with by the leadership in a timely manner. It is my humble opinion that we begin by replacing our leaders with members who will look toward the future, and not trudge through the remainder of our collective existence holding onto the past while hoping for the best. If you want it better, you have to make it better.
