Equal Time

The following is a comment posted on this blog earlier this evening by Jim Marlow. While i understand this reads like a Marlow handbill, i felt it was necessary to re-post this on the main page so that everyone had an opportunity to read and respond to it. I also believe that it would not be right for me to post my criticisms of Mr. Marlow in headlines on the main page while burying his response on the back page. While this blog is primarily my own thoughts and opinions, i am willing to open it up to allow all different viewpoints to be expressed.

Mr. Marlow's comments are being posted in their entirety and completely unedited.

Jim Marlow said...

My first visit to this site. My compliments. I can't help but whole heartedly agree that there are a many more important issues facing our members other than this election. But to be fair, when you lose your right to vote for your leadership -- you're done. Everybody knows that our current leadership is not negotiating in the members' best interest. Far from it. And, after last Friday, it appears that Harry Bogan is not either. To have the audacity to declare to the media 'he has knowledge of a closing date but cannot share it at this time' is a disgrace for a so-called union leader. When our members are facing the loss of their jobs, possibly their homes and even their entire way of life, his actions are incredibly insensitive. While our members are wondering where their next check will come from, Mr. Bogan is drawing two paychecks -- one as a retiree from GM and the other from our union dues as an employee of the IUE. The last time I checked Jim Clark runs this union. And it's time he gets a handle on Harry Bogan. Enough said on that subject. For the individual who suggested that I, Jim Marlow, am more interested in getting elected than the members' needs...that could not be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, I spend hours on the phone every night after I get home from work trying to help members with their problems and many times I am successful. These are problems our elected leaders should be handling, but are too busy taking care of number one. In fact, one of the first arguments I had with John Harlow was over my helping fellow members with their problems. John pointed out I was out of line and over-stepping my boundaries! As far as the election goes, I humbly accepted the opportunity to run on this ticket. I knew two things: 1)the current leadership was in way over their heads and 2) I have the experience to do the job. There are no personal gains in this for me. Thanks to all for visiting our website: www.save798.com. It's our first effort at constructing a website; we're trying to make it informative and user-friendly. Hope you enjoy some of the old pictures/slide shows. Thanks for the opportunity to vent.

September 29, 2008 9:10 PM

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Hmmmm.....

Whatever hysteria exists is inflamed by mystery, suspicion and secrecy. Hard and exact facts will cool it.
Elia Kazan

I cant help but notice that the boys over at www.save798.com have picked up on my idea to flood our International Union officials with phone calls demanding answers. However, it seems that they are only interested in answers regarding the election. Why aren't they instructing people to demand answers regarding why Harry Bogan is effectively now representing management by keeping secrets concerning our future from the dues paying membership???

Look, i believe that our local should conduct a "free, fair and equal" election as dictated by our constitution. However, the election is a secondary concern to me and, i believe, the rest of this membership. My primary concern is the secrecy taking place within our unions upper echelon and how that secrecy is affecting my ability to plan for the future.

Why is Harry Bogan keeping secrets from us? What is the status of negotiations? What exactly is being negotiated?? What/who is holding us back from reaching an agreement?? Will our sub pay be replenished?? Will there be a jobs bank? Will we have a REAL transfer opportunity and not just a transfer agreement that does nothing but put our names on a meaningless SEPO list?? Will there be a VEBA and if so, how will it be funded? Will there be another SAP and if so, what are the details??

These are the primary issues that affect each and every one of us. These are the things that must be answered in order for us to move forward with our lives. I would think that the folks over at http://www.save798.com/ would be aware of this and would be advising members to seek answers to ALL of the above issues and not JUST those regarding an election.

I have personally placed calls to Jim Clark and Harry Bogan demanding that they be transparent with us regarding the issues listed above. I will continue to place daily calls to these men until our concerns are answered.

I can not encourage you enough to do the same!

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BOGAN ADMITS KEEPING SECRETS

In case you missed it, here is the link to the recent Dayton Daily News article concerning our plants future.

http://www.daytondailynews.com/b/content/oh/story/business/2008/09/26/ddn092608gmweb.html

In this article you will find Harry Bogan admitting that he has be informed of the exact closing date for our plant but apparently he is not at liberty to make it public. WHAT??????????????? Who EXACTLY DOES THIS CLOWN WORK FOR????

Let me get this straight....Harry Bogan, regional director for the International Union of Electronic Workers-Communication Workers of America, is in possession of information that is CRITICAL to the membership of this union. However, Harry Bogan has decided to keep this information from the dues paying membership. Harry Bogan has decided that keeping management secrets is more important than the well being of THIS UNION?!?!?

WE SIMPLY CAN NOT ALLOW THIS!!! I believe this is completely absurd and reinforces concerns we have had regarding whether the International is really acting in OUR BEST INTEREST. How long has Harry Bogan known the exact date of our plant closure?? What other secrets is Harry Bogan keeping from this membership???

WE DESERVE ANSWERS AND WE DESERVE THEM NOW!! This crap of keeping secrets until Management decides on a time frame that is in their best interest can not be tolerated.

We need to let Harry Bogan, Jim Clark and all the rest of those International clowns know that THEY WORK FOR US.

Below i have listed the phone numbers for our top IUE-CWA officers. It is my suggestion that we absolutely flood these officials with phone calls DEMANDING that they place our well being above the wishes of the Company that is eliminating our jobs. Perhaps these guys need a little reminder who exactly it is that they work for! It is obvious that our local leaders can not get information out of these International buffoons. It is up to us, the membership, to take action. Please take a few minutes out of your day to place a few calls and let these guys know what you think about them keeping secrets from us! I also encourage you to pass the word around the plant floor tomorrow so that we can get everyone involved in this.

It is obvious that our future has been decided, the least these clowns can do is allow us to go out with dignity instead of keeping vital information from us.

THE TIME IS NOW! PLEASE ACT!

Jim Clark President Phone: 937-294-9764

Lauren Asplen Assistant to the President Phone: 937-298-9984

Willie Thorpe Director of Member Benefits Phone: 937-294-7813

Harry Bogan Regional Director Phone: 937/294-1491

Bill Duncan Executive Council Member Phone: 937/244-5085 Ext. 16

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Random Thoughts

* I believe we will find out our plant closing date this week.

* I believe we will not have a new contract this week.

* I can't believe we are having ANOTHER union election this year.

* I think GM would love nothing more than to bankrupt its North American operations.

* I think Mr. Marlow is more interested in an International appointment than being our Shop Chairman.

* I think Mr. Marlow will still beat SC Harlow....easily.

* How many people have taken a buyout and succeeded in anything?

* I think all the talk about Transfer Rights is just a smoke screen to keep people distracted from real issues.

* Does anyone in the Dayton media really care that we are losing our jobs?

* I wish everyone would read The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey....its life changing.

* Does everyone REALLY think they are going to be a nurse?

* I have to admit, i am a little excited about starting fresh.

* I do not think GM will ever build another product in Dayton, even though it makes a lot of sense.

* For the first time in my life, i wont rule out test driving a Toyota.

* Considering my Father, Grandfather, 2 uncles and 3 Great uncles all retired from GM/Frigidaire/Delco/Delphi...i cant help but feel a little embarrassed that Moraine Assembly is closing during my tenure....even if it isn't my fault.

* I am not so sure I'd be feeling all that great about my health insurance in the hands of union if i was a retiree.

* I wonder if we will ever find out exactly when the decision was made to close our plant. Trust me, it wasn't June 3rd 2008.

* I remember when my Dad wouldn't allow a foreign car to park in his driveway.

* Voting for George W. Bush may be the most embarrassing thing i have ever done.

* I wonder if Toyota assembly plants have stupid motto's that they don't understand or care about like "One Driven Team, Building Customer Dreams.

* I think cutting edge product design is what actually builds customer enthusiasm.

* I think Quality should be expected, not something to get excited about.

* For some strange reason i don't feel like i wasted the last 14 years, even though i think i might have.

* Does anyone really still think we will be working next year?

* Rick Waggoner is a clown, but i think Jim Clark isn't much better.

* I wonder how many of my co-workers actually have a plan for when the plant closes.

* I think the next 60 days are going to be the longest of my life.
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Upon Further Review

You know, funny things happen when you go without electricity for a few days. Your mind actually begins to break free from the mind numbing effects of the television and you find yourself doing something that, at first, seems entirely foreign. You actually begin to THINK. I know that seems crazy, but it really is true. Its amazing what your brain can come up with once it shakes itself free from the hypnosis of our modern electronic gadgetry. Has anyone else experienced this over the past few days?? Or is it just me???

Regardless, here is what I've come up with.

Ever since Sunday's union meeting i haven't been able to shake something. What has been bothering me is the notion that perhaps President Turner and SC Harlow really are just as boggled as we are. Is it possible that these guys really don't know anymore than we do? It crossed my mind briefly at the meeting, but i quickly dismissed it as nonsense. But after a few days of reflection, i am convinced that my first instinct was correct.

Allow me to elaborate....

Lets start with Sunday's meeting. I admit that i walked into the meeting expecting the same old song and dance. I expected lots of questions to be asked with very few answers provided. I was not disappointed. However, what i did not expect was the almost "hands in the air" demeanor of our leaders. It was almost if they stood on the podium and surrendered. They knew the questions were going to come and they knew they had nothing to give us. Perhaps that's why they hired the cops. This membership is fed up with being in the dark and things have progressed well beyond just a mild curiosity. People are losing their jobs. In fact, people HAVE lost their jobs. Lives are being turned upside down and people are beginning to get desperate. Heck, if i was walking into that meeting knowing that i didn't posses any answers, id probably hire some cops too.

The first sign of this surrender was when President Turner admitted that he did not support continuing negotiations involving a VEBA. Huh?? From everything i have heard the past few days, our contract IS going to include a VEBA. And our President doesn't support this???? This tells me that he is basically out of the loop in terms of the direction of negotiations. Say what you will about SC Harlow, but by almost all accounts President Turner is a well respected man. I can not imagine our President pursuing a path of negotiations that he did not believe was best for our membership. When he openly critiqued the inclusion of the VEBA in any future agreement, that told me that our local leaders are not steering this ship. It appears to me that International officials have completely taken over negotiations to the point that our local leaders are just as much in the dark as we are. Is that possible? I admit i didn't think so even a few days ago, but now I'm not so sure.

The second clue came courtesy of SC Harlow. When questioned about the official closing date of the plant, Harlow all but admitted that Harry Bogan, Regional Director IUE-CWA Region Seven, potentially possessed information that the local boys were not privy to. In fact, Bogan does refer to such information regarding our plant closing in his most recent handbill. I think most people read that handbill and assumed that the local boys also had this much needed information. I know that i certainly did. That, however, was before SC Harlow stood in front of the membership Sunday looking weary and defeated while proclaiming "if anyone still believes this plant has a future, i feel sorry for you." While i have never been a fan of SC Harlow, i do believe that IF he knew anything he would have told us at that point.

So what am i saying?????

What i am saying is that we as a membership are being played by our union officials once again, only this time it reaches past the local boys to the International level. Look, i understand that it is customary for the International boys to take the lead in national negotiations. That makes perfect sense. What strikes me as unusual, however, is the apparent complete lack of communication between International and local official. Shouldn't there be open sharing of information between fellow negotiators? shouldn't the LOCAL PRESIDENT have some say in the direction of the agreement?? Are International officials negotiating the best possible deal for LOCAL 798 or are they trying to get the best possible deal for IUE-CWA?????? To me, this is a very fair question! No offense to our fellow union brothers and sisters within the IUE-CWA, but i don't give a crap about them at this point! This negotiation should be about the retirees and workers within our Local. It should be directed towards meeting OUR needs as we approach and move beyond our plants closing. This seems fairly straightforward, however negotiations continue be held up by the International Officials who seem to be seeking to protect themselves and their desires more than their membership.

Please don't get me wrong here, i am not letting our local boys off the hook just yet. They are still woefully lacking in the area of competent leadership. They still continue to leave this membership uninformed. What they can't seem to grasp is that this membership deserves communication at the very least. Hey guys, if you don't know anything, stand up and tell us that you don't know anything! Furthermore, stop trying to protect the International officials. If they are holding up negotiations or if they are keeping you in the dark, TELL US THAT! What President Turner and SC Harlow have failed to grasp is that they are not the International's representatives to us....THEY ARE OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO THE INTERNATIONAL! Meaning, they work for us. They are to report our desires to International and then report the response back to us and vice versa. It really doesn't seem all that difficult.

Ok, sorry for the wide ranging commentary here. Please feel free to post comments below if you agree or disagree with me. My goal here is to start a much needed conversation before it is too late.

In the meantime, i think i will go watch TV.

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A Brief Word From Mr. Jordan

There probably aren't many people left at the plant that remember these days, but i found this humorous to say the least. Nostalgia may be all that we have left, so we might as well enjoy it....



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Cops & Robbers

In case you missed it, Sundays union meeting took place in hurricane like conditions under the watchful eye of the Dayton Police Department. Thats right, our union officals made the unprecedented decision to hire two of Dayton's finest to provide protection. Who EXACTLY was being protected and the EXACT nature of the threat was never made clear. The only thing we know for sure is that WE are picking up the tab for a few hours of protection from the boys in blue.

Other than that, the meeting itself was relatively uneventful. Some people said some things and then some other people said some other things. Questions were asked. Answers were given in the form of shrugs and "i dont knows". Yada Yada Yada. While DP&L works hard to restore electricity to the Miami Valley, members of IUE-CWA 798 continue to sit in the dark.
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Union Meeting

Just a quick weekend reminder of the upcoming union meeting this coming Sunday at 3pm. I encourage everyone to show up armed with questions for our local leaders. The handbills from Thursday and Friday simply will not cut it. We need information about what is taking place within the negotiations. We can not afford and do not deserve to be put on hold for ANOTHER two(2) weeks. I believe that our union leaders are doing their best to secure the best deal possible, but i also believe that they have done a great disservice to this union by keeping us in the dark for so long. I encourage you to show up and let your voice be heard. We don't have many chances left.
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Never Forget

Today, we set aside all workplace drama and just simply remember.










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Slow Fade

Two days from now another light goes off here at Moraine Assembly. By midnight friday, another chapter in our history will be closed. Moraine Assembly will be down to just one operating shift, and the clock will be ticking louder than ever. By now, only the most optimistic among us believe that our plant can be saved. The rest of us hear the death knell tolling in the distance and we know it is getting closer by the minute. There are, however, still many questions. There are many uncertainties. There is anxiety and quite honestly there is fear. We need leadership. We need direction. We need answers. Desperately.

I encourage anyone and everyone to be at our union meeting this weekend. We have so little time remaining. If we are going to be heard, IT MUST BE NOW! We can not allow our union leaders to hide behind the cloak of "negotiations" any longer. We deserve the right to know EXACTLY what our options are so that we can plan our lives accordingly.

Another light is being turned off with each passing day. If we continue to be left in the dark we have only ourselves to blame. Its now or never.
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GM Opens Virtual Toilet Stall

Have you ever found yourself at work reading up on the latest rumors and gossip written on the bathroom walls? How many times have you wished you had a pen handy so you could add your two cents to the "discussion"? Well good news union brothers and sisters!! General Motors has officially opened their own virtual toilet stall where we can post our questions from the comforts of our own home. This apparently will give GM executives something to read in the bathrooms of the Renaissance Center. GM will then post the questions and the corresponding answers on the web site listed below. No word on whether or not the executives will literally be sitting on the toilet when they answer the questions, however a load of crap is definitely expected.

http://gmfactsandfiction.com/
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Back to the future..Part II

Looks like its that time of year again. Let the politics begin......again.

http://www.save798.com/
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