Why people do the things they do

It is ironic how some people are lead down the garden path through greed and a sense of wanting to be some one / whatever that is supposed to mean. What I am trying to say is; many of the members who get involved with the Cupe organization and move up the ladder, sort of speak, to become provincial presidents and divisional presidents and then onto national boards are usually nobodys that are in the right place at the right time and get entrenched in the idea of becoming the leader of some form of religious cult or organization with sectors throughout the country. They actually believe they are of greater knowledge than the average person and they believe they are untouchable and they think some day they are going to make history and the world will be a better place because of something they did. The other aspect that really gets to me is they all think they are the only one that can run this outfit. I have news for them, anyone who can talk the talk and pretend they believe all the rhetoric can run this outfit because it is so far out of control that a high school kid surrounded by ten groupies who can take orders and pass the buck can run this show and quite a show it is. There is a distinct difference between running an organization properly with the best interest of the members who are the contributors and running an organization with only the interests of a select few in mind. Cupe is operating fine ;but not with the true best interest of it’s members. Real proof is in the results. Watchdog annie.

CUPE never makes mistakes

I have been around for many years and only once have I heard a national representative apologize for making a mistake; and actually he was apologizing for another representative’s hostile and ridiculous behaviour. People make mistakes, so own up to them and apologize and try to earn some respect. This is not the cupe way: they would rather try to hide the mistake or make up some excuse or bare face lie about ever stating what was stated or performing what ever act they performed. Do we pay to train these people to act like this or does it come natural to them ? Whatever the answer is does not really matter because a complete overhaul of the system is required and a whole new form of accountability and conduct must be created, if this organization is going to survive. I hope and I truly believe the next generation is not going to put up with the foolishness that is tossed our way by national today. I think they are going to persuade governments to change legislation to put the members in the position to give national unions ultimatums. Basically, shape up or ship out. I hope I am still around when that day arrives. Watchdog annie.

CUPE and Mental Illness

As time goes on, it becomes more apparent that there is and can be very unhealthy individuals holding executive positions on many locals and at the national level. What I mean by this is, there are many people today who have various degrees of mental illness, addictions, and physical illnesses such as diabetes that affect their mental states and in turn can affect the way they proceed in their decision making in relation to how they think members should be represented or not represented or how the composition of an organization like cupe is to look like and conduct itself. This may sound off the beaten track but it is not; believe it or not, people with mental illnesses are involved with cupe at the higher levels and their ability to remember and apply common sense is somewhat tainted when the sugars are up or they neglect to take their medication and properly look after themselves. Please do not get me wrong, I am not stating people with difficulties should not be involved with managing the organization; but what I am stating is, if you have problems, these problems should be identified to the rest of the executive members and monitored so these people are not making decisions that are jeopardizing the welfare of the membership when they are not in the right frame of mind. One person who is having difficulty with stability can ruin many lives without anyone knowing or suspecting; and when it finally comes to light, the damage is done and irreversible. Take a look at your top hogs and try to figure out if they are doing what is right for the majority and for the right reasons and making common sense to you. Watchdog annie.

More CUPE foolishness

Did you check out national’s website lately? They are canvassing for some encyclopedia outfit for donations. What is this all about? Sometimes I question as to what other scams are they really involved in outside of supposedly looking after union business for their members and I also question as to what kind of kick backs they are receiving. Do not forget they give exclusive rights to certain companies for selling tee shirts and flags and sweaters,etc. and they promote certain companies to deal with when we look for outside legal advice or purchase flyers,etc.. National has a policy that they can only accept I think it is up to 100.00 in gifts from companies;but I do not think it specifies how many times a year they can accept these gifts or from how many companies. The point being is: if you go to dinner and accept gifts from companies sooner or later you are going to be placed in a situation that may be delicate in nature and you will have to either fire the company you are doing business with or keep them and some people will sway towards keeping them versus firing them due to their personal relationships and what they have received from these companies in perks. As far as I am concerned there should be no gift receiving in any form and national should be only doing the business our members hire them to do / union business ---- end of discussion. Watchdog annie.

How people can change

I would like to warn everyone who gets involved in cupe at the executive level to check in with themselves and ask outsiders and members if they have changed since they have been in these positions from the time they started at the lower levels. Many people change and not for the better, they commence wanting to help those who can not help themselves and after a period of a few years they are more interested in helping themselves to the top of the totem pole. When executive members stop returning your calls or meet with you numerous times but do nothing; then you know they are starting to turn. Hold onto your chair because this is just the beginning of the road of no return for proper representation and excuses of why it is not possible to do anything for you and why you receive garbage contracts. Most commence with the right idea or a good cause to help people ; but like everything else, they can get persuaded to join the big guys if the big guys pay enough attention to them. There should be a monitoring system that each local has that details the number of inquiries by members and the results. I realize this is on file with each local but how often is it properly attended to, Possibly, it could be incorporated in annual meetings so members could see the number of phone calls, meetings, complaints,.etc. that have been handled by the executive members in a specified period of time. Maybe this would put more accountability into the system and reduce the rumours in locals about what has or has not been done. Just a thought. Watchdog annie.

How did you land up in CUPE

Why do you think the workers choose cupe over other unions when they look to be unionized? In some provinces, they do not have a choice because legislation dictates what grouping certain professions or work details are to be with and when they are unionized they are placed in the union the provincial government / labour board delegates they will be placed with. In most cases though, if you look outside government, you will see cupe puts on many extensive campaigns and spends a never ending amount of money for recruitment to show the glitter and the perceived glory that will come with them if you join them. People get attracted to the whoopla that exists with political groups and they want to belong to something that is powerful and full of promises. People love to dream and cupe will let you dream as long as you are dreaming their dream and remain consistant in the hopes that some day before you retire you will receive the hourly wage you are rightfully entitled to. Unfortunately, dreams do not pay the bills and it is high time cupe put their money where their mouth is. The contracts cupe are signing do not cut it. They always blame it on the members ratifying the contracts but do not kid yourself cupe is behind the propaganda that states this is the best deal we have seen in years and if you turn this down you will never see another like this offer in your lifetime. It only takes 50 plus 1 to make it over the line. Watchdog annie.

CUPE and Strike pay

What do you think about our strike pay program with national? It does not kick into gear until the tenth day; so this becomes a tool to persuade members who can not afford to be on strike without any form of pay for two weeks to vote against a strike, even though they are going to get shafted by the employer. The only benefit to this program is to national and the employer ; but not to the members. It becomes a cost saving measure for cupe because they do not have to dole out any money to the helpless strikers nor do they have to do any extra work that is involved when a group goes on strike : if the workers vote against a strike. This is also a great advantage the employer uses to lessen the offer to the workers because they know what will break a deal or cruise it over the line; and the fact the workers will be out of income for two weeks, reduces the offer in the pot. The strike pay for strikers needs to go back to day one to restore any possibility of any additional increase today’s workers are going to be offered from the employer in the final days of negotiations. Watchdog annie.