Originally Posted by
johnso29
I appreciate your suggestion, but you can't help someone who isn't interested in being helped. Do you see these "brothers" showing any appreciation for the hard work that our Reps, NC, MEC, or other people are putting in? Do you see them doing anything other then attacking and insulting those that disagree with them?
Johnso,
Insulting, berating and being disloyal to their union is a member's prerogative under the legal standards which govern unions. The union owes it's members a "fiduciary duty" which basically means putting their interests before it's own. It has to deal with them in the upmost good faith.
The standard might not be fair, but it is what it is. The union has to help them, even the ones with the DPA stickers who purposely try to undermine our association.
A person who stabs his union in the back is a fool. As long as the union represents them, they should want the strongest, most effective, representation they can get.
Mostly, union work is a thankless job. Mostly union leaders are not given the credit, or respect, they are due. The only way to reconcile this reality is to realize from the get go that union service really is a humble job, undertaken because you want to help others in the profession. It is extremely frustrating, but like raising children, you have to take the tantrums and still love 'em.
(not specifically directed at you ... I just got on my soap box)