Original Message

Your local is whatever the members make it. The OPEIU, Teamsters, whoever are just the shell you work in, providing guidance in the process- but the members are the force, the exceutives and negotiating team steer the boat.

Usually, the whiners wouldn't even show up for meetings. The company knows that, works hard and pays consultants well to keep you in the weeds and make a team effort impossible.

Been there, did that, with two of the biggest operators in the world. You get lots of complaints, finally a vote for representation, and the members say shyte like "I pay dues for somebody else to do the work for me." Nope! The local is the nail and the members are the hammer. Doesn't matter how sharp, how strong and how long the nail is if you can't drive it, make it take connect the parts. The union will not, can not, motivate members. Lacking motivated members willing to take the load, the company will emasculate and manipulate the local for it's own interest. Both companies retaliated against the leaders, although eventually their court cases were successful- without member support you pays your dues and nothing happens...