(October 1, 2019)
LOCAL UNION 141 REPARATION DEMANDS
Five years ago today, Mark Crawford negotiated the second worst contract ever.
Everyone who can read, write and chew gum agrees that it was a terrible, terrible deal for Jack Security Officers.
But he outdid himself in ineptitude with the current 5-year renewal.
He did not improve his original debacle by one iota.
And he single-handedly kept our rate increase to the minimum by throwing every single one of us under the bus.
As SPFPA UNION President David Hickey said to me, “If your officers think they should be payed $17 an hour like the janitor down the street, tell them to go apply for that janitor job”.
Security Officer Rodney Morrow was the very first hire in our Security Department. He came on board before we opened on March 19th, 2012.
He has served and protected for 7 and 1/2 years. He deserves better. Even the guy who was hired yesterday deserves better.
WE ALL DO.
For the five years that Rodney has served as an SPFPA union member, he has payed 150 hours in union dues.
That is 18.75 days of pay that Rodney was forced to give to Mark Crawford, David Hickey and the others at SPFPA.
And what did he get in return? I would venture to guess nothing. Oh, except for that frozen bird that I told you about earlier.
IF THERE WAS EVER A CASE FOR UNION REPARATIONS THIS IS IT.
WE DID NOT GET WHAT WE PAYED FOR.
AND NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE THAT RIGHT.
On election day Mark and David told us that the Local has about $20,000 in its account.
I know that I did not spend even one penny of local money during the time I was president of Local Union 141. I can’t vouch for my predecessors.
But the fact is, by Mark’s and David’s own admission, Local 141 has twenty thousand dollars.
That money should be returned to those officers who paid for services that they did not receive. Fair is fair.
Otherwise why would Hickey-Crawford Team tell the security officers when they came in to vote on the contract that they had $20,000.00? They weren’t trying to influence the vote were they? “Maybe yes, maybe no?”.
SO, by my rough calculations there are currently:
10 officers who have payed dues for five full years,
3 officers who have payed dues for four full years,
1 officer who has payed dues for three full years,
4 officers who have payed dues for two full years,
21 officers who have payed dues for one full year
about 6 officers who are off probation and less than one full year.
We leave $5,000 in the account for a rainy day.
Then we divide $15,000 by 97 ‘units’ which equals 154.64 per unit
a full five year guy or gal gets 5 x 154.64 or 773.20 10 x 773.20 = 7,732 .00
a full four year guy or gal gets 4 x 154.64 or 618.56 3 x 618.56 = 1,945.68
a full three year guy or gal gets 3x 154.64 or 463.92 1 x 463.92 = 463.92
a full two year guy or gal gets 2 x 154.64 or 309.28 4 x 309.28 = 1,237,12
a full one year guy or gal gets 1 x 154.64 or 154.64 21 x 154.64 = 3,247.44
an off probation newbie gets 1/2 x 154.64 or 77.32 6 x 77.32 = 463.92
TOTAL = $15, 090.08
LET ME BE CLEAR: THAT $20,000 BELONGS TO OUR LOCAL UNION. David and Mark already divvied up the lion’s share and did with it what they do with it.
This is OUR money, YOUR money. You didn’t get what you payed for, this is a partial refund so to speak. They aren’t GIVING us anything.
NOW, that addresses the past. But we must also address the future.
No more neglect.
No more taxation without representation.
No more treating us with disrespect. Oh, and don’t disrespect the janitor down the street either. He’s somebody’s father. Either treat us like the equal partner that we are or withdraw right now.
FUTURE DEMANDS:
WE WANT the Union Vice President to meet with all of our members on an annual, all-day event at the Casino or other location, so all members can participate.
WE WANT your hand-picked emissary to meet with us on a quarterly basis to address any and all issues.
WE WANT a newsletter and/or a main website that actually serves a useful purpose. The existing website for Iinternational SPFPA is an embarrassment.
WE WANT a direct ‘hot-line’ that can be accessed 24-7.
WE WANT honesty and accountability. No more “maybe yes, maybe no” answers to our inquiries. If you don’t know the answer, then find out.
WE WANT SPFPA to act like a real union.
REMEMBER, it’s the union members who pay your salaries.
Sincerely,
Officer Stephen Davies
REMEMBER ME
LOCAL UNION 141 