5 Sets of Questions for Boss Hamm
With the fall training coming up, and still no contract, it is the perfect time for Union employees to ask Boss Hamm a few questions. We have been gifted with very complete and concise explanations from Mary Neidig about the negotiations. Her generous information to employees about the contract negotiations has totaled eleven complete sentences. How does she find the time for such complete reports to us lowly employees?
Well, so far I have not heard much, but we have plenty of questions. Employees should not let Boss Hamm or his assigned replacement leave the room without giving the answers to these questions during the fall meetings. I think most of us will see the "stand-in" for Boss Hamm, since once he gets the questions he'll get busy and not show up, is ol' Joe's guess. So here are the questions...
Question(s) 1 - Boss Hamm's Pay
Mr. Hamm, would you be willing to post for employee information your annual salary as of July 15, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004?
Mr. Hamm, since your employment contract is a public record would you be willing to post a copy on the bulletin board for employees to review.
Question(s) 2 - Our Retirement
Mr. Hamm, how come administrative employees have such a better retirement plan than Union employees?
Mr. Hamm, do you think it is fair to have such different types of plans that result in such bigger and richer benefits for long term office workers?
(If yes) How can you believe that a plan that pays such a greater amount to one group over another group of employees at retirement is fair?
(If no) Then what are you going to do about it - and why has the management criticized our small retirement improvements in the last contract as being so expensive? And why are you taking so long to fix it?
You are a pension trustee of our Pension. What training experience or background do you have to make decisions regarding our pensions, investing the money, or any thing else about pension management?
Question(s) 3 - Their BRT and Service
Mr. Hamm, why don't you slow down the development of the BRT until there is greater assurance that BRT is getting federal funding?
For three years in a row, the District has made reductions in regular service. It is not a priority, according to the LTD Strategic Plan. Ridership has been falling since you became GM. What are you doing to stop this slide and restore our primary service?
Question(s) 4 - Budget
Why did the District make service cuts this year, and still plan to transfer 1.4 million dollars to the Capital Fund?
Three years ago the District transferred nearly 5 million bucks from operations to capital. Why can't we transfer some of this money back in operations?
Question 5 - Negotiations
Why did the District hire a union busting lawyer to negotiate our union contract? How much is the District paying Jackie Damm to bust our union?
I think that many of you may have your own questions for Boss Hamm. If you drop an email to joehill_1915@hotmail.com or eprush1@aol.com , Joe Hill will get them and put together a little report of the questions that all of you may have. Then look for a little guide to be printed for you to take with you, where you can write down the answers that Boss Hamm gives you.
Brother and Sisters, these questions must be asked. We cannot sit silently in these required training meetings and listen to their crap and not have our questions answered. Leonardo Da Vinci said "Nothing strengthens authority as much as silence." Silence gives them strength. Questioning authority gives us power. Lastly, as has been done when face to face with power, some resort to the silent protest of standing and turning their backs to power. Maybe we should send a similar message to Boss Hamm.
In Solidarity,
Joe Hill
JH 39
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3 comments:
Asking Ken Hamm questions like these directly, kind of make me nervous. They're all great questions, but can the company do anything to me if I ask them right out in the middle of a training class? I really don't need to get a reputation as a trouble maker. I need this job.
At any rate, keep up the great work, Joe.
Anonymous do not be too afraid. If these questions are asked in front of many witnesses then it will be harder for them to retaliate. Someone should take notes for you or you should keep track of it yourself. Write down the question that you asked, the answer you get and then take notes of the meeting. Record the names of other employees. Ask a few of them to initial your notes. Then just tuck them away for a rainy day if it ever comes. For the rest of us in the room, we need to indicate our support to the questioner. Show solidarity and be strong.
Joe Hill
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