The Man in Black on Taking Back Our Unions

Members of Local 501 of the Operating Engineers have been having a long struggle with the leadership of their union. The Man in Black has been a key figure in organizing the resistance movement and mobilizing the membership to reclaim their union. Here is his latest email to the members of Local 501. I think it has relevance to all of us working to reclaim our local unions and ensure that the will of the membership prevails.

Hello Brothers and Sisters,

Now, for the bad news! I'm moving in to your house! But its okay. I heard if I move into your house I can spend your money without your knowledge. I heard if I move into your house, I can do what ever i want, and you won't say anything. I heard that most of the time you're too busy to do anything at your house, so I'll have complete run of the place. I heard that basically I can do whatever I want, and YOU DON'T CARE! Awesome! So send me your keys!

Sounds pretty stupid huh? Well, unfortunately, its true. You just don't care! What am I talking about? Well, somewhere along the line you forgot that your Union IS your house! We pay the rent, we pay the salaries, we pay the gas, the electric, the cable, the phone, and yet most of you are too busy to take an active interest in whats going on!

Now, let me ask you this: If this was literally the house you lived in, would you allow that? I know most of you will say, "Hey Johnny, thats DIFFERENT!" But really, its not.

If you're receiving this e-mail, you are a Union Member. And being a Union Member means more than paying your dues and expecting something for it. You have a DUTY. You wouldn't let your home get run by someone who wouldn't follow your rules would you? When your teenage kid started barking orders at you, you sure as hell wouldn't take it, would you? You wouldn't be "too busy" to show up and put a stop to it, would you?

Well why did we allow this to happen in our Union Halls? When did the organization we built become staffed with elite people who we became afraid of, afraid of being blackballed, afraid of being threatened, afraid of speaking our mind? In my own Union Hall, the infamous Local 501, we have four District Meetings every month. This coming Tuesday is the District 1 meeting (in case any of the 501 folks "forgot"). Fewer and fewer members take the time out of their schedule to attend these meetings, and the consequences are dire. We've lost our houses.

So here is the FIRST thing you can do to start the long process of taking back your house: SHOW UP!

Oh, there's plenty of news to share, but I thought after rebuilding all these lists I'd start with a simple e-mail...just to get the ball rolling!

I'll be back in a day or two with more, but for now, welcome to the Resistance.

I'll see you soon,

The Man in Black (Johnny)