Posted by Keith Murdoch on 12/9/2004, 6:27 pm I have been hearing a lot of talk about a petition that is circulating across the province. I was hoping that some of you could help me and tell me what they have heard about it. I have heard that the person who is organizing this petition for decertification has a bit of history and his desire to decertify the United Food and Commercial Workers is in retaliation for the merger of the 15 locals to our one larger local 12R24 that happened last year. I also heard that the leader of this decertification had his stewardship taken away for making threats against the union. I personally think the merger was a great idea because it makes no sense to be small. People who think all the problems of the past can be solved overnight are being unrealistic but there have been many improvements. I have been a member for over five years and it is only after the merger that we had communications and, more importantly, full-time representatives who come to the store. That is a hell of a lot better than the old system where we never heard anything and never saw anyone. I think it would be crazy to decertify the union before it has had a chance to negotiate a new contract. This will be the first time we have had one local negotiate with the company. We should give it a chance. The alternative is to have no union. Then where would we be? If you think the company is bad now, imagine what they would be like if there were no contract and they could do whatever they wanted to us. I understand that some people who used to be on the executive boards of the small local unions are upset because they no longer have their own bank accounts with members’ money that they can use anyway they please. I am glad we put a stop to that. We should not let these rogue members bring down the only thing that stands between us and the company really %*#@ us even worse. I went to the last union meeting for the Toronto Retail and I found it to be quite troubling how few people showed up. Probably because that is because people are still used to the old 15-local system where it didn’t matter what the members thought. We had a 4-hour meeting and everybody got a chance to speak. This is our union and we are finally in control of it. Getting rid of the union would be a huge mistake and I urge everyone not to sign this petition for decertification. We are part of one of the best unions in North America and it’s up to us to make sure it works. I’m going to do my part to stop this insane idea of getting rid of the union and I hope others feel the same way. If there are things you don’t like about the union, speak up. But don’t get rid of the only protection we have. Any comments?
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