The Agitators Guide
Labor Agitation and the Climate of Fear
What is Agitation
Agitation defined is :
1.Excitement of public feeling by discussion, appeals, etc.; as, the antislavery agitation; labor agitation.
2.Examination or consideration of a subject in controversy, or of a plan proposed for adoption; earnest discussion; debate
Agitation defined by Local 370 :
Exposing Union Officers such as William Weir and Kevin Hicks for selling out Local 370. Posting their salaries, gifts of Golf and dinners, board meetings in exotic locations at the expense of the Union, ridiculous raises and pension contributions, irregularities in the operation of our health, vacation and pension funds, exercising your rights as a Union Brother under the LMRDA,UBC Constitution and Local Bylaws and questioning any aspect of their activities and policies as Union Officers. This is what your union officers and their supporters consider agitation. This is nothing more than the truth. These actions are also our duties as Union Brothers. It is our duty as Union members to provide our Union Brothers with ALL information regarding our Union. If it is suspected that there are Union Officers who are violating their fiduciary responsibilities to act in the best interest of the membership it is our duty as Union members to expose these acts and provide this information to fellow members so they may act as well. Those Union Brothers who ignore the truth due to their close association to the present administration or because it might jeopardize the position they hold or aspire to are failing their Union Brotherhood. If the telling truth is agitation then we as Union members must ALL aspire to be agitators.
The Climate of Fear
A great man once said " You have nothing to fear but Fear itself"
I find it very amusing and disturbing that our Union members would actually believe or insinuate to other Brothers that these nickel and dime Union Officers can and will have you put on unemployment if you endeavor to do your duty as Union members. Some of the statements are almost laughable, The sad part is that these members really believe this BS and play into this self imposed "Climate of Fear" Some of the statements I have heard are "You better be careful or you will never work again" or "They will blackball you" or "They will have you Fired" "They will throw you out of the Union" I am sorry to say that members actually give these clowns this kind of imagined power. I cannot believe that they hold these tin can Union Reps in such awe as to believe that they are more than what they are. Wake up Brothers these clowns are not the Pope, the President or your Wives . These are just Union Officers. They are not untouchable. They are accountable under the same laws and regulations as we are. They bleed just like us.
I am not saying that these people would not make the attempt. In their delusional state of mind they actually believe they have the "Booga.Booga" powers that members think they do. Back in 2005 when we were handing out flyers exposing their salaries and perks they tried to have me sent to unemployment. Mr. Weir and Mr. Hicks approached my present employer and asked him to lay me off. They approached my foreman and asked him to shut down my jobsite discussion of Union issues. They were both told to .... off. My employer refused to comply as did my foreman. Although my foreman attempted to restrict my jobsite discussions I assure you it had nothing to do with Hicks or Weir and was not successful. There have also been actions taken such as discrimination on the referral list. Attempting to coerce other members to violating our free speech rights and shut us down at meetings and on the job site. For the record. I look forward to the day the "Other Members" give this a try. Slandering the names and actions of disagreeing Brothers to other members, outside agencies such as the DOL and anyone else who will listen. Their attempts are futile and almost comical and by the way illegal and PUNISHABLE BY LAW.
Duty to Agitate
Labor agitation has long been an integral part of labor. As defined above "Excitement of public feeling by discussion, appeals, etc" it is not only our right but our duty as Union Brothers to correct what we see as abuses against fellow Brothers by unscrupulous Officers and practices within our Union. A Union members who fails to act when he discovers these unscrupulous practices fails not only himself but the Brotherhood as a whole. A Union Brother who ignores these truths to further his present position or future prospects enables these practices to continue and becomes part of the unscrupulous system. We must always work together as Union Brothers for the betterment of the Brotherhood. We must always act to remove those Officers and Practice that are a detriment to our fellow Union Brothers and Brotherhood. We must always work to remove Officers and change Practices that impede the democratic rights of members, abuse Union funds, unjustly advance their financial position at the expense of the members, unfairly impose regulations on the membership that result in a financial burden on the members, knowingly provides misinformation and false statements to members and willfully attempts to violate the rights of members as guaranteed under federal law, the UBC constitution and local bylaws. These actions will always be considered AGITATION by those who endeavor to protect the unscrupulous system which they have put in place and support. The truth will always be feared by these officers and organizations because it is the TRUTH that agitates.
How to Agitate
Coming soon :How to discover and Present the truth
Research Procedures
Presentation in a public medium i.e. Internet Web Building, Newspapers, New Agencies and other sources.
Locating Documentation
Rights and Protections under the Law
Steps To Take if You Suspect
Retaliation
There are a number of actions to take to protect your rights of free speech and action. The only way any of these nickel and dime Officers will get away with abuse is if you let them. These people ARE restricted by Federal ,State and Civil Law. You as Union members are protected and must exercise you options under the law. If you suspect that any of these Officers have engaged in retaliatory practices that result in a financial burden on you or your family you must take action. it is in your best interest to utilize the law and every other means possible to send a message that you will not allow these people to violate or abuse your rights or the rights of your fellow Union Brothers. Your actions when successful will send a message that you WILL NOT allow an individual or a group to intimidate, harass, abuse or engage in retaliatory actions that violates the rights and guarantees of you or your fellow Union brothers. You actions when successful will protect your Union brothers from future attempts at retaliatory actions that violates their rights as Union Members. If indeed these Officers have conspired to cause undo financial burden to you and your family than you MUST do everything in your power to do the same to them. You must take what ever personal, legal and civil action to see to it that they do not do this to you or any other Union Brother. Make your message clear. It is time to take action.
1. Document All relevant information
2. Send Certified Letters to your Local, Council and International Union Officials
3.Files Complaints with the NLRB.DOL or EBSA
4.Pursue Criminal Action if applicable.
5.Exhaust All Internal Remedies
6.Pursue Civil Action