I have tried to post this on the NEMSA forum but time will tell if it can get "Approved". I actually like posting there better because we need to have some interaction with the NEMSA folks and on this site we only have support, which is great, but doesnt really facilitate future communications.
I hope this makes it through the system. I’m getting tired of an “open forum” that is anything but.
I keep hearing comments about the lack of voter turnout in this recent election because just over half the members voted. If half the voting population of America voted in a presidential election it would be the biggest news event of the year. America votes in the neighborhood of 20-25%. 30% voter turnout would be huge and almost unheard of. The fact that only 660 out of roughly 2400 supported 250 with a vote looks like a small number, but only 604 out of the same 2400 gave NEMSA a vote. I had been hearing that NEMSA was looking at a landslide victory. I caught the end of a chatroom talk between Stacy and Torren the night before the vote when Stacy told Torren he expected NEMSA “to kill them” at the polls. And in his county they may have, but that is obviously not the choice for the majority of voting members. And those that do not vote get to have their decisions made for them by the rest of us.
If I am not mistaken I believe Torren still works for AMR in a county represented by 250. So he is still a dues paying member of our union. I would dare say then that it is almost his obligation to facilitate some unity in this union and help bring people back together. The night before the election many of us expressed our desire to work together in the new union to better the cause of the field personnel. Many of the NEMSA supporters pledged unity after the election. Now that things didn’t go they way they planned they seem to be going back on that pledge. I would like to hear Stacys thoughts on union unity now that the vote is over. I was more than willing to work with him if NEMSA won. I would like to know if that support is mutual. I hope that nobody is going to sabotage our fight just to “prove” that 250 was the wrong choice. There were pro’s and con’s to both unions. The majority of voting members have made their choice. So let get busy using the pro’s and fixing the con’s. We all still work together, side by side, everyday in an often thankless job. We will not make it unless we support one another. A real leader does not fight the people they are trying to lead. If the people want something a leader will show them the way. We can achieve our goals with IAEP/250, all its takes is effort and a willingness to put away our pride and anger at not winning.
I look forward to working with everyone in making this union the best it can be. Many of us have not been involved in union issues until now and we have seen where that gets us. So lets step up the involvement and negotiate the best contract in the nation again next year. If we come together in strength and unity then the vote no longer matters, and we all are on the winning side.
Brad
-- Edited by snake911 at 13:31, 2004-09-11
__________________
"It's time to awake, get up and fight, fight for mankind, live for a cause" The Pilfers
Hear, Hear!! He who has ears, let him hear. I'm afraid we've got our answer to your questions though. Censorship, blocking dialogue, and making thinly veiled threats are on the nemsa forum.
-- Edited by Play with My Money at 13:48, 2004-09-11
I am elated to hear that there people actively involved in their workplace that weren't active before. This is EXACTLY the kind of thing that needs to happen in our field. Even before the decertification attempt, we were a fractured group.
With any luck, maybe the good that comes out of this is that this will turn out to be the event that, as luck would have it, unifies us.
I will wait a few days to see the kind of response I get, if any at all, from the NEMSA folks about "Bridges". We need their attendance if this is to get off the ground. I assume it will take some time for wounds to heal enough for some to even think about this. But again I believe time is of the essence here. We have very limited time before contract negotiations start. Unity amongst everyone is critical.
Give "Bridges" some thought folks. My only intent is to bring us together. I promise there will be no NEMSA bashing or attacks made at those who backed NEMSA previously. It, hopefully, will be a time to bury the hatchet and move on. There is so much work to do. Computer forums are good, but we are a social creature, and face time is very important. I know I am pushing this kinda hard....that's my nature. If I believe in something, I have a hard time letting it go. It has its good and bad points<s>.
