|
A Message from Chairperson Tobin Hope |
|
Greetings Brothers and Sisters I want to thank everyone who came to Big Rapids last week for our fall meeting. Nine locals were in attendance. Local 1609 was a great host! I thought it was pretty amazing that Ferris's Human Resources Director, Steve Stratton and President, David L. Eisler, both took the time to say a few words to the group and praise Brother Weaver's leadership. It was a real testament to having a good working relationship with management. We all know that's not always possible, but when it is, it benefits both sides. The presentation by Ferris's Dining Services folks was also very good. They have worked diligently to come up with innovative ways to take pride and ownership in their jobs and keep those jobs in a time of rampant privatization in that sector. Both museums were interesting. The Jim Crow Museum opened our eyes to the ugly fact that racism is alive and well in our society today. Nick Ciaramataro, Council 25 Legislative Aid, as always, got us up to speed on legislative issues especially pertinent to us. Brent Gillette, Michigan State AFL-CIO Field Director, did an excellent job presenting us with ways to express to our members how electing Barak Obama will help working men and women in this country. Everyone did a great job with their local reports and, in fact, I don't know as we've ever seen so many well prepared, thorough local reports as we did at this meeting. The Committee voted to hold the February meeting somewhere around the bridge on February 20 and 21 with Local 1568 hosting. The feeling here was that holding the meeting somewhere in the middle of the state would make it fair to everyone who travels to these since we usually go to Escanaba in the spring and somewhere downstate in the fall. Below is a note I received this morning from Sister Kathleen Cham from Local 2042, Oakland Community College. Our friend Sister Cham has her hands full with a very long and difficult negotiations having had two failed ratification votes. There will be two upcoming informational pickets and I strongly encourage anyone who can make it down to that neck of the woods to do so and help support Local 2042! I wanted to thank everybody involved in making the CUCC meeting such a success. It was informative, entertaining, great food and great fun. Ferris University has a beautiful campus and it is beautifully maintained. I enjoyed the walk to and from the museums. The museums were really something to see. My local is doing an informational picket this Friday, October 3 at the Southfield Campus; 22322 Rutland Avenue, Southfield, MI 48075; 248.233.2700. We will be there 5 PM until 7 PM. On Monday, October 20 plan to do another informational picket at the George A. Bee Administration Center (District Office) 2480 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304; 248.341.2000. We will be there 5:30 PM until 7 PM. This particular informational picket is for the Board of Trustees who begin their meeting at 7 PM. If anybody is in Oakland County on either of these dates, please come and join us. Thanks again and look forward to our next meeting in February.
In solidarity, I look forward to seeing everyone in February and wish you all the best.
In Solidarity, "The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people." - Cesar Chavez |