u/Fine-Tradition-2518

Unions and labor in Michigan have been like many other states experiencing similar problems, support and solidarity. In Michigan many workers face privatization to corporate out of state companies. Low membership involvement. Wage compression or low wages. Anti union tactics from forming a union in work places. And much more.

Im local 1166 President For Afscme, we’re a little over 100 members and non members who we represent. We’re in the middle of negotiations facing mediation to reach an agreement.

I’m writing to SEIU and other Unions for a Michigan grassroots movement or a dream bigger country wide labor alliance with all unions. I’m looking for others who are willing to get involved and help.

Our unions need to come together and help one another. I’m Afscme, and your …? And I don’t care. What I care about is your a brother, a sister, a person who works an hourly job for you and your family.

If you or you know someone who is interested in uniting Michigan or anywhere please reach out. My first thought is how do we elevate member involvement? Become more transparent for our members with union information.

During a survey a year ago I received a message from an Afscme member. In the survey I asked, “ how can Afscme become better?”

Their answer was ,” it’s your union figure it out…”

That stuck with me.

I became president because we needed one. I was a member for one month before this position. So I started to go to other local meetings to see how they worked and all the training sessions I could attend. I seen very low attendance, low involvement and people who cared but faced similar problems.

We have a chance to unite “not under Afscme of SEIU or any other group but as many groups. Under the word “Union”

Unions today are not left or right. Blue or Red, but a diverse group of individuals and workers with many different views, beliefs and values.
I have felt many Democrats have abandoned us, many republicans haven’t really cared.
I believe we need to find political leaders who are Labor Supporting and not just for a vote, but real labor supporters.

Example is I’ve written every democratic leader in Michigan and the responses were disappointing.
“Thank you for contacting…, please contact your district’s representative.”

I hope this message is received well, and I find a few union members who are looking to make a change.

Thank You

So we have a number of x union employees who jumped to chartwells and now are “managers” but now they are complaining about chartwells upper management🙄. 10pm calls, terminations, seeking other employment. Yea they pay more but what did they expect? Never know what they will walk into everyday, cranky managers are being served faster than food. It’s a small town and the word is out!
Chartwells sucks, plain and simple. Problem is once these x union leave or are fired from Chartwells they don’t come back to the union job. They can’t work underneath the same company they once managed for😂.

Had an employee commit thrift of time, and property by using company vehicle to do Walmart deliveries on the clock, shown up late for work, take van for dude jobs.

No termination, no letter of discipline, no communication to union of what will be done or if,

There is nepotism involved as well.

Union typically doesn’t support termination s and or disciplines. But seriously, did employer just ok this treatment for future violations?

We are in the middle of negotiations, I heard more complaints and threats of leaving the union during this period. If you’re a union member and do nothing but complain, demand better pay, stronger union, but give excuses every time there is a call to action. Your the weak link in the union.

At last nights parade two members out of 170 showed up not on the union negotiating team. TWO! One member in the crowd even turned away as we passed him. He should have turned away, he’s been turning his back on the union for years. We have 9, one hour meetings a year. Thats 9! Hours out of the year 9! And people can’t give that up to go to a meeting.

You want to complain, you want to point fingers, you want to threat leaving, and you want others to do everything for you. And for the younger members or non you want your phones.

I ran into a person who’s running for office as a democrat, and I said to her, “why should I vote for you or anyone else. Both parties abandoned the unions and labor.”

It wasn’t till I arrived at home did I realize I blamed the wrong person. Here was an individual who was entering the political realm and I didn’t give her a chance. I was frustrated at the membership and took it out on her. It was us AFSCME who didn’t do anything. And that goes for every union member out there. Maybe “you” don’t deserve a raise or weekends, holiday pay, time off, or the time given up by people who care. Maybe then you people will see what a union does for you.

I’ve tried so hard to make a difference in this union.
Where I work. On some fronts I did. But overall one, two or three people can’t do it alone.

YOU ARE THE UNION!

We together are the union.

Divided we look weak.

Putting this out there, chartwells, compass group is a terrible company. Our educational systems are selling out our small town communities, just more pay issues, managers who were once union members now sucking on the teet of koolaid.
If you were union and now went to one of these companies like chartwells, please don’t ever come back to AFSCME