One thing about us Teamsters, we have an opinion and we like to voice it. I agree with you in a couple of areas, but your choice of candidate is where I will agree to disagree.
First off, Hall claims to have done a rally at the hub in southern California the other day to tell the company where the Teamsters stand on these issues of production harrassment and standards. Where Hall stood was out in the parking lot for 15 minutes while Business Agents selected Teamsters that were prepped for the rally. Hall did not face the hundreds of Teamsters as they exited their work day. That would have been unscripted and unprepared for for the Hoffa-Hall team.
Teamsters are not dumb and Hoffa-Hall must have those production harassment stickers over their eyes because UPS Teamsters have their eyes wide open to this politics 101 stunt that the Hoffa-Hall are doing via the IBT resources and dues dollars of the membership. If they felt the need to put the "screws" to UPS Management today, how come they didn't put the "screws" to the company years ago about these issues. These issues just did not manifest themselves last week, or maybe they did if Hoffa and Hall just woke up out of a deep sleep after a round of golf and dinner with UPS management.
This why Gegare stepped away from the Hoffa Administration sometime back. Hoffa and Hall have distance themselves from the day to day activities of this great organization by allowing outsiders control the direction of this Union. Hoffa does everthing by the use of polls and knowledge, or in many cases, lack of knowledge by others reporting back to him the happening's at Teamster work sites. If Hoffa was concerned about what was happening to your Brothers and Sisters at UPS, it isn't a far drive outside the Beltway to a good size UPS hub to interact with the membership.
Maybe you didn't watch the debate where Sandy states that UPS hasn't hired a full time regular in 5 years. She did not just mis-speak, she just down right doesn't have her facts straight. She even did not offer a correction to her statement. Then Hall claims that one of Gegares candidates took 8 hour jobs and turned them into 6 hour jobs, and Hall was lying thru his teeth. The facts are at the website of Gegare over that issue and Hall had approved that plan of 6 hour employee to benefit the 3 hour part-timers to offer them more security and future.
Here is one thing you can bet on, Hoffa and Hall with their super team of election experts have done a poll where the feedback is 250,000 Teamsters at UPS are looking for leadership that doesn't agree with the company, but agree's with the membership on how the contract enforcement shall be priority one, with equally protecting membership benefits. This is where Gegare and his Slate have a role in benefiting the membership at UPS and UPS Freight. It is a team made up of candidates that have traveled across this country and continue to travel to meet the members and hear the opinions and voices. Gegare and his Team are not hiding behind glossy handbills and glossy IBT magazine crap, they are out front at the gate waiting to talk to the membership and it is that personal interaction that will continue as shown by the drive of this team. Pope doesn't have a team and states she is fine to work with whoever is elected. Big role of the dice for the membership wouldn't you say?
