#7 - Barbecue Boycott

Greetings fellow workers! July 1, 2004, a Barbecue Day that will live in infamy. Well, my fellow workers Joe Hill got his first email recommending from a fellow traveler that the Barbecue on July 1 at the Barn be boycotted. This person suggested that we tell them to save the cost of the barbecue and add it to our bottom line. While this concept is very tempting there is a far better way to roast this Hamm. You should also as a rule never turn down a semi free meal. I never turn down a free meal even a semi free one.
Well, Joe why are you saying semi free? Because this barbecue is like how they want our health benefits. We have to bring something to the table. I recommend that you bring ice, every party needs more ice – plus it will be hot and we need to give them something cold other than our shoulders. Its cheep and you can make it your self. So bring something to the (potluck) and we (your ever so appreciative bosses and Leadership Council) will slip you the weenie. Just another way to get screwed by the bosses at LTD.
But as ol’ Joe says "don’t mourn, organize." The boycott idea while admirable is not the way to send the message. Attached to this organizing note to our loyal brothers and sisters is a meal ticket for the barbecue. Stand up and be counted as you fill your plate and laugh with the bosses. There will be lots of admin employees to swap retirement planning stories with at this event. You get to ask Pangborn and Hamm they plan on making it on their 6% slush fund. You can also tell them my favorite labor leader quote:
If hard work were such a wonderful thing, surely the rich (and my I respectfully add the bosses) would have kept it all to themselves.
Former AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland
If you don’t feel like chatting it up try just giving the management chefs a meal ticket, because the message should be clear. In fact everyone should deliver a meal ticket to the barbecue whether you eat or not. The message could never be more clear. If you are afraid to personally hand it over just give it to a union leader and say could you give this to THEM. We will all know who THEM is. The message needs to be clear to LTD that when Jon Hunt, ATU Vice President says we are not going back, we mean it. Times are going to be harder before they are easier. The bosses have cast their die. A 4% limit in pay and benefits and SERVICE CUTS! That’s sounds like job cuts to me.
Solidarity Forever
Joe Hill
Joe Hill #7 You can reach Joe at joehill_1915@hotmail.com – suggestions and feedback welcome