Since my post to TColcord's on the NEMSA forum must wait approval, I will post my reply here.
Torren, Torren
You were the catalyst for change and growth for the EMS division by bringing a de-cert to the members. But, in no way were you the only one who identified problems and weaknesses in our union. You had the benefit of hearing from members at large about many issues and capitalized on it.
You contrast 250 and NEMSA's character as if you took the high road. The de-cert was presented as a coup, and not all the actual facts were presented initially. Then you allowed intimidating tactics from your camp to run amuck, and you did your fair share of partial truth spinning and playing a numbers game to win this campaign.
So IAEP/250 supporters were paid, and you imply that means they care less than you. If they didn't care, no money would have been spent. Many joined you due to potential money/salaries to be had, perceived extra power to gain, and most because they wanted change though they didn't know exactly what changes needed to take place at first. I doubt you would have "risked all" if there wasn't a silver lining that included a salary and a business. You certainly did not initiate members to volunteer for charity organizations while working for 250, or during your uncompensated time.
I can't put my finger on a track record of your efforts or effectiveness to make change within 250. The de-cert you and Tim initiated is the first cohesive effort I have seen to bring our issues to 250. So how do I know 250 was aware of the current sentiment? The question is, could it have been done a different way? We'll never know.
SEIU has not been completely ineffective. We have the best contract (despite its faults)wages, subcontracting language, AFL-CIO affiliation (which is important in our occupation) and they did organize this large NorCal workforce. NEMSA is organizing EMS workers? You set your sights on this prize to have big $$ handed to you on a silver platter and a large force to substantiate NEMSA out of the chute. There is no national NEMSA, the current membership is small. And who's to blame for this alleged EMS organizing stand-still? Is a union member driven or not? I was never contacted by any of the ex-reps to organize the unorganized of EMS. They were historically presented as groups and companies to stamp out to protect AMR. Stating SEIU refused to organize due to costs is a partial truth, out of context statement, and you know it. I always had support for any endeavor in Monterey, including organizing if we chose to. I had to secure job protection language in the RFP for our current members first.
Financial support for candidates comes from voluntary contributions to COPE - NOT DUES. 250 only lately endorsed Kerry, and monies go from COPE to organizations they are affiliated with that happen to support Kerry.
And what is your political plan, which is the most important plan in our profession? You've made charity work the foundation instead of the icing on the cake. Political leaders making fiscal decisions in RFP's don't care. Most are hired, not elected. Pirating corporations don't care about good works when it comes to money. Why didn't you get members to do this all important endeavor while you worked for 250? You don't need 250's support, however I doubt they wouldn't since they already support numerous charities.
So Torren, don't insult those who voted for 250/IAEP as being mindless creatures gullible for an effective 250 campaign. Those who voted weighed what was important to them and cast their vote. Your weakness came from no written plans in our hands, and your close circle that you allowed to insult and bully with mindless rhetoric. You're known by the company you keep. Where's the leadership?
That just about sums it up in one post. Noone could have said it better. It's like all the thoughts and conversations and concerns of everyone are addressed in this one post. If only Torren hadn't been blinded by his own ambition. Where was the leadership?? How could he have stood by and let those who had openly declared themselves as the voice and leadership of NEMSA to say and behave so.... disgustingly... It's beyond reason! One IS judged by the company they keep, and it's been made plainly obvious with the results of this vote. IAEP wasn't even in the game until a few weeks prior to the vote and they came in and.. just took it right out of NEMSA's hands. NEMSA was so sure that they had this vote in the bag, and they really did... if IAEP hadn't been thrown into the mix, they would have won with out a challenge. But when they were challenged... it just all fell to pieces.
Watching and reading how the NEMSA staff behaved and reacted to every and any question against or about them, it was appalling. I know that I wouldn't want a person with the type of attitude, smugness, arrogance, language, or demeanor as demonstrated by the NEMSA team to be representing me in a grievence/ contract negotiation setting. It's a complete lack of professionalism, courtesy, dignity, maturity, and reasoning that is required of this profession... and having that type of reputation preceeding our "representatives"... it's embarressing, unconstructive, and wasteful. How are these people going to react when they have to sit down with AMR, a nationwide organization, and don't get their way? Resort to bullying, name calling, belittlement, "scare tactics"? The representatives of AMR aren't going to waste their time with sitting down at a table if that's what we put in front of them to fight and negotiate. They will laugh or leave in disgust.. and what exactly will that get us in the end?
I'm not saying by any means that these opinions are fact. They are meerly observations. But these are the feelings I have as a result of these observations. I was a die hard, through and through supporter of NEMSA when they decided to tackle SEIU.. but when IAEP came into the mix and they started in with the same unfounded accusations and defense mode that they were accussing SEIU of doing.. I had to take another look. I knew a little about IAEP having been a member at one point, and I knew that what NEMSA was saying about them was completely off base.... but they wouldn't hear of an idea that they might be incorrect or misinformed. They had the bit between their teeth and were ready to run off a cliff.. and unfortunately that's exactly what they did. I thought I might be assuming too much with that belief so when IAEP offered for me to come up and observe for myself... I jumped on it. I had to see it with my own eyes ( after all you know what they say when you "assume" something...)... and it was so much worse then I had assumed. I just couldn't believe it. I wish that others in my division could have seen it as well, especially before they blindly decide to follow this horse called NEMSA down a canyon in the middle of the night, based on what one person says... as I almost did.(sorry for all the horse analogies) But wishes don't build cities as they say.....
I just hope that down here, people are at least given the chance to really hear both sides for themselves, and not second hand from someone's opinion ( be it mine or anyone elses). To get the information without the "scare tactics", intimidation, etc. And may I say here that I find it greatly humorous that all the "examples" of "IAEP scare tactice" that NEMSA is handing out as "reasons to demand" a new vote to take place .... They're just facts!... how can facts be catagorized as "intimidation"? You get the facts (from both sides) and base your decision on those facts.. true.. but that doesn't mean that they aren't valid facts just because they cause you to lose face or votes.
In anycase, Thank you Play_with_my_money for airing out all the vents and frustrations of many, many worn out coworkers. And also thank you for actually putting it down and pointing it out all the curious loopholes, empty spaces, and still unanswered questions and concerns in the NEMSA champagin..
and please excuse my spelling... it's been a long shift ( and have I ever said how much I enjoy all these emoticons?? They are GREAT!! )
-- Edited by Clear_my_side at 11:45, 2004-09-10
__________________
"I have given my word to Amy, Aultum that if they get over 75 signatures that I will with drawl my petition. " Carlos 10/6 "I will not pull the petition. " Carlos 10/10
It is time for Torren to show he actually can be a leader and facilitate the movement towards IAEP. The majority have spoken and they have been heard...they want IAEP. There is an alarming amount of rhetoric coming out of the NEMSA camp about an unfair vote, people not being allowed to vote, scare tactics ( something I was personally accused of but still do not know why). Torren could, if he wanted to, help to defuse this nonsense if he really wanted what was best for the field. What is best is for us to unify and move on. In a little less than a year, we will already have started discussing our next contract. We will need all of that time to come together.
To Torren: I told you personally on numerous occasions and on these forums as well that I would still be a shop steward if NEMSA were to win because someone would need to be in place in my county to help usher NEMSA in if it were to win. I felt this was what was best for the members. Will you do the same Torren? Because moving forward, with IAEP, is not only what is best, but it what was voted on.
As a great poet once said......MOOOOOOOVIIIIIING OOOOOOOOON (or something to that effect).
That just about sums it up in one post. Noone could have said it better. It's like all the thoughts and conversations and concerns of everyone are addressed in this one post. If only Torren hadn't been blinded by his own ambition. Where was the leadership?? How could he have stood by and let those who had openly declared themselves as the voice and leadership of NEMSA to say and behave so.... disgustingly... It's beyond reason! One IS judged by the company they keep, and it's been made plainly obvious with the results of this vote. IAEP wasn't even in the game until a few weeks prior to the vote and they came in and.. just took it right out of NEMSA's hands. NEMSA was so sure that they had this vote in the bag, and they really did... if IAEP hadn't been thrown into the mix, they would have won with out a challenge. But when they were challenged... it just all fell to pieces. 
.... 
They're just facts!... how can facts be catagorized as "intimidation"? You get the facts (from both sides) and base your decision on those facts.. true.. but that doesn't mean that they aren't valid facts just because they cause you to lose face or votes.
( and have I ever said how much I enjoy all these emoticons?? They are GREAT!! 
)
