Fellow Officers and Petition Signers/Members: I warned against apathy, a symptom that becomes an infection, that becomes contagious, will destroy an organization. The apathy created over the years within the current collective bargaining agent is in the contagious cycle, it is beginning to destroy an organization, ultimately destroying professions. Here was my warning two months ago: I want to be respectful, but stern. Please allow me to express my concerns regarding Officer apathy throughout the profession. I humbly approach all of the officers, from recruit to soon to be retirees. The apathy within our ranks WILL destroy us if we continue to sit by and allow the state too destroy our profession, each time we giveback to the state leadership they grow stronger and stronger, bolder and bolder, politically unshakable and undeterred by our union leadership. Several facts to assist all of us in shaking off the apathy created by PBA 105, hopefully instilling energy into this new organization called SOBA. We need to be bold in the upcoming years. The current level of apathy fostered by the leadership of the STATE PBA along with the leadership of PBA #105 is allowing the leadership of the State to destroy our profession.. FACTS: The State Correction Officers were the first ones to unionize in the late 50s standing tall against threats not only from the State, but, from the supervisors they served under, absolute truth... The officers stood tall against unspeakable threats, from job loss to piss poor assignments, as well as threats by the State to fire them. The officers did not cave, they unionized, against these odds, establishing themselves as a union gave them a collective voice. FACT 2: The Sergeants and other supervisors sat back and watched as the TORCH of unionization was carried by the officers for almost 20 years, yes, it wasnt until the mid to late 70s when the sergeants moved to unionize. They did it on the back of the officers union. FACT 3: The Lieutenants sat back as well, threatening the sergeants if they unionized, just as they did with the officers some 20 years early, threatening them with piss poor assignments and job loss, but, standing in the gap for the sergeants was the officers, not only giving moral support but financial support to assist them in unionizing, ultimately the sergeants prevailed and unionized, ironically motivating the Lieutenants to unionize within the same decade. FACT 4: The Captains being considered management sat back, until the State started its attack on their wages, benefits, and careers, allowing almost another decade to pass before they moved for unionization, of course they unionized to cheers and fan fare from the officers, sergeants, and lieutenants union leaders and members. FACT 5: The Chiefs, finally pressured and witnessing the States aggressiveness against them during contract negotiations moved too unionization, but, this was almost 15-20 years after the Captains, roughly 2008-2009. My point to this history lesson: It was done on the back and strength of the officers, men and women undeterred, wanting a better wage, benefits, and a 25 year career. They faced tremendous adversity and prevailed, because their vision was bigger then themselves it was a vision of SELF INTEREST not SELFISHNESS. Definition: Selfishness, doing something for personal gain, producing nothing for anyone else, an act that dies with ones self.. Self Interest, doing something for personal gain, however, producing a positive gain for everyone else, an act that lives beyond ones life... Once again the survival of the UNIONS today rests on the back of the Officers. This is the fact. This is the truth. The leadership of today (past 10 years) PBA has destroyed what was built 50 + years ago and it is time to take it back, its going to take each of us to re-build this profession/ this collective bargaining team. If the officers union fails to re-build itself in the next 1-4 years, all of the supervisory unions will begin to fall like dominoes... The state WILL MOVE to de-unionize the State worker, and apathy within the ranks is the seed needed to achieve such an agenda.. Everything we have lost over the past 15+ years was not given to us, it was worked for over a period of 40 years, lets stop giving it away, lets demand it back.... destroy apathy!! Stand with your SOBA leadership, burn out, do not fade away!! V.P Jim Mandel Jr. Today, November 6th 2013 apathy has become contagious within the officers rank... Destroy apathy today and live, demand representation at all levels. Media campaign, radio campaign, television, editorials, and press releases are a required antidote against union destruction.. SOBA moves on as the President stated in his letter!!
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 12:09:31 +0000
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