The Barron Blog

Tuesday, 16 September 2003

Hotel California's Scenic Spots
Without a doubt, Arizona's Hotel California has many scenic and mysterious sites to visit but make sure you don't look into the eyes of the local religious weirdos.

A Tour Of The Castle

Posted by qualteam at 5:29 PM EDT

Updated: Tuesday, 16 September 2003 5:32 PM EDT

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Monday, 15 September 2003

Movie Review 45: Elvira, Mistress Of The Dark
This film has more going for it than Elvira's cleavage and tight dress. Along with the campy stuff on horror movies, sex and puritanism, there actually is a pretty good story line here. I've seen this movie four times and I still get good laughs out of it. Three stars.
More Reviews On Elvira
Elvira's Webpage

Posted by qualteam at 11:08 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 15 September 2003 11:13 PM EDT

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Sunday, 14 September 2003

The Sept/13/ CUPW Vote In Toronto
Mood:

down
I personally feel that the presentations went on too long and stifled debate from the membership on The Tentative Agreement.

Most members were aware of many of the points raised. A brief passionate overview probably would have been the best approach.

After the presentations, many members rushed to the ballot boxes to vote. At meetings like this, members should be encouraged to express themselves and ask questions.

What other issues should have been brought up and who else should have been there?

* The pros and cons of going on strike with so much already agreed upon by the NEB and CPC
* Personal comments on the floor and questions from the membership before the vote
* Putting together a ratification meeting for part-timers who have to work the weekends. They worked until six o'clock on Saturday and couldn't get out to vote.
* Others were locked out because they arrived late. This is an important vote. No one should be disenfranchised.

You should also know that in the WLPP there was nothing posted from the NEB (Same at the stations and SLPP?). It was a total Toronto Local Show. In a democracy, different views on the same issues should be equally promoted. That means on bulletin boards and tables which are seen daily by postal workers.

Both brother Killy and sister Kolompar have avoided a serious debate on effective tactics that can be used on CPC (e.g. the right time and right approach for a future strike threat).

Like I said in an earlier letter, there is "a strike smart way" to hit CPC and "a strike stupid way" to do it. It's either more gain than pain or more pain than gain. There are lessons to be learned from the strikes in 1997, 1991, and 1987. Everyone in CUPW should be involved in this controversial debate. Senior guys like myself have paid our dues and done our strike time.

Lets debate it. Why we should or shouldn't go on strike now!!!

Lots of good stuff on this webpage.

Posted by qualteam at 11:01 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 14 September 2003 11:06 PM EDT

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Friday, 12 September 2003

CUPW Battles CUPW: Real Conflict Real People Real Stupidity
Mood:

don't ask
My last fax to CUPW's National Executive Board is reproduced below. My local(i.e. Toronto)votes tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

THE ROAD TO A TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

I don't believe that many members are aware of the different phases that negotiations go through to reach a settlement. At some points, there are few concessions from the employer and at other points, there are quite a few concessions. It is necessary to make this process come alive so the members can see it for themselves.

WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN'T?

There is also the militant myth that the only way a union can get a decent contract is by going on strike for a long time and forcing the company into concessions by uncompromising confrontations. Without a doubt, brother Killy and sister Susan Kolompar came from this school. (It's motto is: "No Retreat And No Surrender.")

As you know, when CPC faces militant CUPW positions, it will ask the Government to step in and solve the dispute through binding arbitration.

1. With the strike, negotiations turn into a confrontation and few or no further gains are obtained by the members. The results are there in black and white from the enforced settlements of 87, 91, and 97.
2. Binding arbitration as in the 97 strike can mean losses for the membership
3. Each new negotiating session can have more ROLLBACKS that the negotiators have to handle. This is "The CPC Negotiating Style" and can cause the union a great deal of trouble.
4. CPC complains to the press and the Government that CUPW is trying to bankrupt them. This can create "bad press and enemies for the union

KILLY, THE NAME SUITS HIM

From a discussion with Steve Killy(Toronto Local President)on the Sudbury Message Board on this matter, he is willing to accumulate losses in the above scenario for "principle." To him, it's ok for the membership to have lots of pain and no gain. Are we all supposed to get martyred together? This is crazy and I'm sure that most CUPW members agree.

Why doesn't Killy be honest with everyone and admit that he doesn't go for "the package deal method of negotiating?" He wants uncompromising confrontations where he can rant and rave at CPC. It doesn't matter if the union losses. It's the fight that counts. Mr. Killy should have been a boxer or terrorist instead of a union president.

OTHER "NO LOCALS"

Does the "no side" have a consensus as to what is an acceptable "package" for a tentative agreement? Did they get together and work something out? I don't think so. Local presidents are like most members. They look rather than act.
They react rather than plan. They wonder how negotiations work and think they can do better without really knowing how.

The weakness of the union lies with the passive non-participating locals who are still in mystery as to how collective bargaining works with Canada Post.

Reminding them to what produces gains for the membership and what doesn't is important.

CUPW's National Website

The Toronto Local's Website

Posted by qualteam at 9:35 PM EDT

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Thursday, 11 September 2003

9/11 Remembered
It was my day off from work that Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. My wife telephoned me about the airplane crashes and I watched the Twin Towers disintegrate. I spent the next six hours glued to my television screen.

I'll remember that six hours until the day I die.
We will all remember.

Lets Roll.

Posted by qualteam at 10:17 PM EDT

Updated: Thursday, 11 September 2003 10:27 PM EDT

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Wednesday, 10 September 2003

Movie Review 44: Triumph Of The Will
I saw this documentary many years ago, but it stuck in my mind. It's a brilliant propaganda film. Great editing with dazzling camera work. Three and a half stars.
Reviews On "Triumph Of The Will"
The Leni Riefenstahl Obituary

Posted by qualteam at 5:27 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 10 September 2003 5:37 PM EDT

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Tuesday, 9 September 2003

Slogan For The "Yes Side" In The CUPW Contract Vote
Mood:

a-ok
Here it is:

THE MORE I KNOW

THE MORE I VOTE YO

You can read what the "no side" thinks of the issues on this message board.

Posted by qualteam at 8:31 PM EDT

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Monday, 8 September 2003

The Native-American Burial Grounds
We all know that the white man took over the Native-American lands and moved them onto reservations. For a second, let's image that "The Happy Hunting Grounds" was annexed by some strange power that inhabits Area 53. If this is the case, wouldn't you want to do something about it? First you have to make the journey there and talk to the spirits like Clarissa and her grandfather.
It's just a click away.

Posted by qualteam at 10:24 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 8 September 2003 10:29 PM EDT

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Sunday, 7 September 2003

Vote On Tentative Agreement Sept/13/03
I am recommending a "yes vote" on the Tentative Agreement. Here is the background and some of the best reasons for this decision:

Back in July, the chief shop steward for the WLPP, Jamie Ortiz, told us at the Toronto Exchange Office that the union would be going on strike in the middle of August because the mail volumes would be increasing then. He said there would be rotating strikes but when the Toronto Local went out they would stay out. This sounded like a good strategy towards getting a decent contract at the 11th hour.

* There would be no negotiating session extensions after Aug/18/03
* The MPs were on summer vacations and maximum pressure would be on Canada Post for concessions
* CUPW locals and the NEB were united on a strategy to get big gains for the membership
* On my staff, there seemed to be a high acceptance of this approach from the rank and file

As you may know, the solidarity on this plan disappeared when a tentative agreement seemed close later in July.

Most locals assumed a spectator role as the NEB acted unilaterally on the initial draft agreement.
What happened to the 11th hour timetable for August?

Like a hot potato, some locals fell out of solidarity with the NEB without mentioning the August deadline. Why? If solidarity of strategy and tactics were broken somewhere, then the members should know the details. Who's to blame?

Now the only game in town is the union fighting and weakening itself. CUPW suffers because of these splits because no one seems willing to find out the "real whys" and correct them. We've moved from "The strike smart position" to "the strike stupid position."

With the high union dues that we pay each month, we should demand smart successful tactics and strategies from local and national executives instead of enforced legislative settlements like in 1987, 1991 and 1997.
CUPW's National Website

Posted by qualteam at 10:45 PM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 7 September 2003 10:54 PM EDT

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Saturday, 6 September 2003

Move Review 43: Moulin Rouge
Mood:

down
Great costumes, one great song and dance: "Lady Marmalade." The rest of it was practically unwatchable. This includes bad singing/dancing and over the top acting. There are great modern musicals out there like "Grease", "Tommy" and "Godspell", but this one is way out of that league. Perhaps, you have a different opinion. One and a half stars.
More Reviews On Moulin Rouge

Posted by qualteam at 11:18 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 6 September 2003 11:22 PM EDT

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