Originally Posted by
Hetman
This misconception clearly illustrates the greatest downfall of the RAH union. "The Union" is not the Bargaining Agent (IBT) or the leadership (EXCO).
The Union is the membership.
Historically, the RAH "union," as you mistakenly call it, has performed poorly because historically, 20-50 people out of the whole group try to make a difference while half of the remainder cheer from the sidelines and the other half heckle from the sidelines. It will not matter who the Bargaining Agent is or who the EXCO is; nothing will change until the RAH union starts to do something other than talk.
You are correct, I should have said union leadership. So who do you think really gets things done, the union members or the leaders? Who negotiates our benefits, wages and working conditions? Who decides if an issue is worthy enough or important enough for us to vote on collectively? We wouldn't need union leaders or need to pay dues if the members had the power to get things done.
Lets say that all 2,000 of us really tried to "
make a difference" everyday. What
specifically would this involve doing? I've heard the same general statements over and over but never any detailed actions of anything that
will directly cause change. If it was an easy as an attitude or a weekly Super 8 dance, we would have already done it and have a contract.