politics, unions, management, workersI have mixed emotions about unions. Right now I am definitely not a union man, the reason being that I am too much of a Republican. The union at NASJAX is the Teamsters, and when I look at their website http://www.teamster.org/ I see too much that I disagree with. They support the so-called "employee free choice act" which would do away with secret ballots in union votes. That seems contrary to democratic practices. They have a link to "Teamsters for Obama." In the past I’ve seen them rallying against Walmart. I’m not going to have my dues going to support union pet causes and Democrat candidates. But there once was a time when I was in favor of a union. It has been a while and I don’t remember the name of the union, something about agricultural and food workers. This was back when I was working at the old Food Lion Warehouse in Green Cove Springs. It was a better place to work than some other warehouses, but it was still a dangerous environment, and working there was the only time I ever carried AFLAC insurance. To make matters worse, several people told me that if you got hurt on the job management would try to make it look like it was your fault and you would get fired. I actually did get hurt one night, I went around a corner a little too fast on a motorized jack, the floor was wet, and I skidded out and slammed my back into a metal rack. I don’t know if I cracked a rib or just separated something, but it hurt really bad for about a month. I never went to a doctor, and I sure didn’t tell my boss because I was afraid I’d get fired. You could say it was my fault, but that night wasn’t any different than any other time. It was cold storage for produce, the floors were always wet, and we sped everywhere all the time because that is the way you work in a warehouse. When your slow you get fired. When the union guys came around I signed a card because I wanted a little job security and to know if I got hurt working I could tell someone. I went to a union meeting at the VFW in Green Cove, and that is when I started to dislike unions. It started out fun, the Food Lion truck drivers were on the side of management, and a group of them came in and questioned the union rep about allegations of corruption in the local chapter, and in response they were told to leave the VFW. I liked that, it made me feel like the union didn’t take nothing from no one. The bad part came later, they made us a lot of big promises, including that Food Lion could not legally close the warehouse while in union negotiation. They were wrong, I got laid off and had to find another job. Lately I’ve been spending a lot of time thinking about the Sheriff election and all the union involvement, and I’m starting to reevaluate my way of thinking. The way I see it, at Food Lion it was me, the worker, who needed management to get paid, but could only depend upon management as long as they wanted to keep him. I could have used a union there to help look out for my welfare. The thing that the workers vote them in so that they can negotiate their contract. That’s it, nothing more. Somehow, unions can never stick to just contract negotiations and they seem to want more and more power. The voter freedom act is just a ruse so the unions can control the votes of the rank and file, the big unions lobby for as many causes as the major political parties, and here in Clay we see the unions lining up behind each other to throw their weight behind the FOP endorsed candidate. When I see a deputy on the street I just see a deputy, not a representative of the county, state, and national FOP. The FOP might have endorsed Taylor with an 80% vote, but I don’t think that 80% of the deputies are behind him. The firemans union might have endorsed Taylor, but I’ve talked to at least one fireman who doesn’t think too much of him. I bet that none of the teachers care anything about Taylor. I know the teachers will be busy when school gets back in, but I bet there will be some going to their union reps and saying, "I joined the union to negotiate a good contract, not so you could endorse candidates in my name." I know there are reasons for unions and reasons why people join unions, my problem is when the unions start doing things for purely political reasons. The teachers have a union, but the Clay County Education Association is a part of the Florida Education Association, which is a part of the National Education Association, and that is one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington. What you end up with are teachers who have a legitimate reason for belonging to a union, but you have a union that is tied into a national union agenda of increasing the overall influence of all unions. Hence, we have Taylor, endorsed by proxy by all Clay deputies, firefighters, and teachers, and we get mail from Jacksonville telling us to vote against Sheriff Beseler. While I hate the politics of the unions, I can’t get away from the fact that workers often have legitimate complaints that are not addressed by management, and in the absence of a management solution a union is the only place a worker has to turn. The unions are so immersed in this Sheriff election that they have to be discussed. Here is the web address and mailing address of the Clay FOP Clay County Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 104 P.O. Box 65817 Orange Park, FL 32065 I’ve had several people in the blogs tell me that I have questions for anyone, I should ask them. If anyone wants to do that, here is the information to do so. If you look on their website you will see some of the union concerns that put their contract in impasse with the Sheriff’s office. Some are over the top, some are legitimate. The FOP wants more union representation on promotion boards, I consider that to be over the top. However, they also want a change in the CCSO light duty policy. I’ve previously blogged about that subject, and if it hasn’t changed by now it needs to be changed, because it seems to me that the policy seriously works against employee welfare. Here’s the Firemans union Clay County Fire Rescue Professionals If you have any questions or concerns about their endorsement of Mike Taylor, you ask them. I never noticed before that they are a member of the AFL-CIO. You see a fireman, the guy you are going to call when things go wrong, and he’s got a union to look after his interests, but along with the local union you get the baggage of the most powerful organized labor union in the country. Of course, their politicking worked against them a few years back when several of their member unions broke off, stating that it didn’t serve the purpose of their members to be devote their efforts solely to supporting the Democrats. Here we got the teachers union Clay County Education Association liz.crane@floridaea.org And down here we got our friends from Jacksonville Jacksonville Public Safety Officers 5530 Beach Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32207 I guess they don’t have any elections to keep them busy in their own county. Here’s something else a little bit interesting. If you check out http://www.campaignmoney.com/political/527/jacksonville-public-safety-officers-committee.asp you will see that our concerned friends in Jacksonville are a 527 that list no contributions and no expenditures. I assuming that the information on that page is not current, because otherwise it means all those flyers paid for themselves. While we’re looking up stuff and asking people questions, here are the e-mails of our three Sheriff candidates. Sheriff Beseler Mike Taylor mike@MikeTaylorforClaySheriff.com Gary Newman agnjustice@yahoo.com This is an election year, so if you shot any of them a question you’d probably give you answer. I guess what I’m getting at is that there are too many labor issues and too many political agendas wrapped up in this election. I can’t sort them all out. What I see in the blogs are a number of people making vague accusations and taking stabs in the dark, but nothing ever gets answered or resolved. If any of you want to really start looking at stuff, here are a few places you can start. "But why don’t you do it Felix?" Cause I’m going on vacation, and unless Mrs. Kulpah feels like giving up the Blackberry, I won’t be looking up nothing. It’s going to be great. We’re staying with the in-laws, I’m the only one who smokes, and for her birthday the wife wants to go to a gospel music breakfast show. I guess I picked the wrong week to quite drinking.
Submitted by Observer on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 3:55pm.
So if I understand you correctly, only 5 members of the CCEA make up the vote of who to endorse? Does that mean the entire membership did not have an opportunity to voice thier wishes? At least the FOP collected votes and the whole group got chose who they would support. Sounds to me the CCEA as a whole does not support Taylor, only five members. How about the firemen? If I'm wrong let me know, but it looks like endorsements don't mean squat. Submitted by Angela on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 3:56pm.
If those endorsements of Taylor are bad. I think Corey would be considered the union boss by the amount of endorsements she has. Submitted by pioneer on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 4:09pm.
Observer, You understand correctly. The CCEA, according to President Crane, did not endorse anyone. It was the 5 member PAC making the decision. The CCEA had no vote. When you research, you will find the same thing is true of the fireman. The PAC, made up of 5 voted to endorsed Taylor, not firefighters themselves. I was told the vote was 3/2. Endorsements don't mean "diddly squat", at least in this case. It makes me feel a little better knowing that the CCEA did not endorse Taylor and that the CCEA membership did not vote, just as the firefighters themselves did not vote. Submitted by pioneer on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 4:13pm.
After talking with Liz Crane, new president of CCEA, I have some things to clear up. She has tried to assure me that Clay County Education Association has not endorsed Mike Taylor for sheriff. A committee of 5 people, a PAC, did. An educator or support person does not have to be a member of the CCEA, and all CCEA members do not have to be a a member of the PAC. (Kind of confusing, when we see the endorsements on the Taylor signs.) Liz Crane was not president of CCEA when the endorsement of Taylor was given. She was present, but had no vote herself, when the PAC met yesterday for at least an hour with Taylor. The 5 PAC members voted yesterday to continue their endorsement of Taylor, after listening to him and his explanations. I do not know if the vote was unanimous.
Submitted by pioneer on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 4:20pm.
SORRY! When editing "PAC Endorsement of Taylor", the post is now out of order. From now on, I'll just leave in my mistakes and not edit again! Sorry for the confusion. Submitted by Angela on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 4:22pm.
So all those endorsement of Angela Corey don't mean "diddly squat"? Submitted by ladyjustice on Sun, 08/10/2008 - 12:41am.
Ladies, Ladies... This is just another smear attack on Mr. Taylor. I actually called a friend with the FOP today to ask some specific questions and I learned a lot. Maybe some of you should do the same before you start blogging. First of all, the Fraternal Order of Police Endorsement was NOT the UNION vote. Mr. Taylor himself was allowed a vote because he is a FRATERNAL member, just like Rick Beseler. So, in essence, the organization that INCLUDES Rick Beseler as a Fraternal Member has endorsed Mike Taylor for Sheriff. (Interesting...) Secondly, no one said a word when Rick Beseler got the Firemen endorsement last election. That was by the 5 member PAC (Political Action Committee). Just like this time. Large organizations appoint a PAC to screen their candidates for endorsement. Those 5 members interviewed on behalf of all of their members, all candidates seeking their endorsement. Thirdly, the CCEA DID ENDORSE Taylor, just like they endorsed the other candidates they screened. I also spoke with Ms. Crane. Since you are totally confused I will try to help you out. There are two Teacher Organizations that ENDORSED Mr. Taylor, 1) the Clay County Education Association (Teachers) and 2) the Clay Education Support Professionals (All Support Staff). They all appoint a 5 to 7 member panel to screen their candidates. Don't let anyone fool you. Rick Beseler interviewed and asked for their endorsements too. But, he did not get them. So, again we see if Mr. Taylor cannot be beat on the issues, let's attack him with falsehoods and half truths. Every candidate that bears the Endorsements of these organizations underwent the same interview process and there is no issue. Why with Mr. Taylor? C'mon bloggers you know why, you don't support him yourself. Well that is really okay. Just say why with credibility. You don't like his experience, you don't like his plan or you simply think Beseler has done a good job. But, when you stoop to discredit our policemen, firemen and teachers to attack a man who they endorsed, that is just another CHEAP SHOT. And yes, they endorsed him. They appointed or volunteered to participate on the PAC screening committee. Maybe Rick Beseler should have done a better job in the interviews. I am sure if he had gotten the endorsement, he would not be complaining right now. And to call them big union bosses. That is absurd. Again, Beseler got the endorsement from the Firemen in the last election. Did he owe them? What did he owe them? Where was that pay off? Should we call the FBI to investigate? No, relax, don't get worked up. I am just making a point. There was no pay off. It is just another dirty political trick. I won't be fooled!
Submitted by OldTimer on Sun, 08/10/2008 - 10:08pm.
What position did the labor unions take on our property tax reductions? They ran a lot of ads trying to convince the public to vote against tax reductions, claiming that basic services could not be sustained if they passed. Well, the voters disagreed, and government is learning to live within its means while still providing necessary services, thanks in part to the fiscally conservative policies of Sheriff Beseler. Perhaps Sheriff Beseler tried to knock some sense into the heads of the union bosses, and at the same time win them over. But I can't imagine anybody recognizing those unions for anything other than what they are... a tool to extract more money and power for their members, at our expense. People are talking about ...Here are the recent blog postings with the most comments. |
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Felix,
I called CCEA President, Liz Crane, yesterday because I have questions about why the education union would endorse Candidate Taylor for sheriff. She has not returned my call and has apparently been receiving MANY calls wanting to know the same thing. I won't hold my breath until I receive the call, but I will persist and let you know what she has to say. One thing for sure, CCEA members are not happy about the endorsement given to Taylor.