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Post by lawton on Feb 6, 2011 8:18:06 GMT -5
They could care less what union it is as far as state workers go now. Unfortunate but in all likehood true. But I think we should give them a chance to try....... It can't be worse than now can it? I am not sure what I am going to do if most of these cuts go through. I am PBA now but if the Teamsters are put in I might just not join I am not sure. I like having a legal benefit (which I did have to use one time over an issue) but if most of Scott's proposed cuts were made by the legislature I would seriously think about leaving PBA also if they are still representing us. Its a bad situation as we are even more exposed without them but with how they are about to gut us it just ticks you off.
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gambler3365
Full Member
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer
Posts: 289
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Post by gambler3365 on Feb 6, 2011 22:05:00 GMT -5
There is one thing that is for sure, PBA we sell us to the state cheap and cost us in the end just to say there is nothing we can do, just be quiet and it will all go away.
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gel
Full Member
Never have so many been watched by so few
Posts: 250
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Post by gel on Feb 9, 2011 9:54:40 GMT -5
Not a whole lot to say. Everyone says what has PBA done in 6 years??? Why not look at the total picture. What have they done even further back?? For those who have been around a while just think Every time they get up on the soap box and say look what we just got for you examine a little deeper and see what they gave up to get it. For the most part what they gave up benefitted front line staff more than what they got. So just think about it to youselves you know it is true. I for one right wrong or indifferent am ready for new blood.
g
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Post by patman44 on Feb 9, 2011 12:14:01 GMT -5
Teachers union in Tally,right now! they are going door to door speaking to lawmakers now,today!They are working right now today! Where is PBA I have emailed lawmakers and if you call,you wont get them just someone working the phones.That is why the Teachers union showed up today in tally to make eye contact with lawmakers.
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Post by brucifer on Feb 9, 2011 13:19:02 GMT -5
Did they give them the "stink eye"?
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Post by patman44 on Feb 9, 2011 13:21:25 GMT -5
;D ;D
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Post by sfcwoodret on Feb 10, 2011 0:07:36 GMT -5
There are already several rallies planned by various groups of State Employees on Tallahassee. These cuts and the pension reform effects many people besides DOC. Sometimes Strength comes in numbers!
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billharr
Junior Member
"Never argue with a fool...people might not know the difference!"
Posts: 119
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Post by billharr on Feb 20, 2011 23:03:36 GMT -5
I’ve sat here and read through both threads pertaining to the Teamsters, and I can’t believe some of what I just read. Let me say this…PBA is done!! They haven’t done anything in the past few years for us, and they certainly aren’t going to do anything for us in the future. Paying dues to them is as useful as being a non-member, or not having a bargaining agent at all. Political clout?...they ain’t got it. If they had, we wouldn’t be on the brink of losing the benefits that are being proposed right now. Noone would have the balls to make these propositions if the PBA did have “clout”. Now, let’s look at some numbers…FLPBA has a membership of approximately 33K – 34K. FDC has about 22K – 23K employees, and only about 8K are PBA members. I might not be exactly accurate on these numbers but I’m in the ballpark with them, I think. Now, according to some posts in the two threads, the Teamsters have a membership of about 1.4 million. I don’t know if that is accurate but let’s assume for the time being that it is. Keep this in the backround, and let’s address another issue. Some people believe that if you don’t have the ability to strike, we are powerless. This idea could not be a truer fallacy. Even in States like NY, NJ and other States that are “union” States, public employees (especially law enforcement) are not permitted to strike…just like us. The main difference between these States and Florida is that you must join the union up there where you don’t have to down here. They automatically have large memberships. Well, what does that mean if you remove “strike” from the equation? It means that the politicians, who approve or disapprove agency budgets and union contracts, are afraid of groups that large…afraid that if they anger that group that they’ll be out of a job the next election. People, THERE’S YOUR POWER!!...it’s not in the ability in “striking”, it’s in the power to remove a politician from office at the ballot box!
I once said that for every PBA member, on an average, that member can influence four other voters at the polls. Well, the PBA didn’t have the juice in this last election to keep Scott from the governorship. Not enough membership. Now I agree with sfcwoodret. It’ll be years before we see gains…it’s not a matter of what we can gain but a matter of what we stand to and probably will lose at this point. In order to slow or stop these losses, we need the legislature to fear us the next time out at the polls. If we keep the PBA, they will feel secure. If we bring on the Teamsters, I can guanrantee you that they’ll be shaking in their boots and might very well think twice about messing with our pension and health benefits by screwing with an organization that big. The thing is to make the legislators aware that they might have to contend with the Teamsters in the future, even before we ever have a “blue card” vote.
It’s common sense, people. I’m 60 years old, and I’m running out of time. I don’t want my benefits messed with, just as I’m sure you don’t either. Also, I was a member and a Shop Steward with the Transport Workers Union in New York about 35 years ago, and I know what kind of leverage can be applied in this manner. Don’t be so quick to discount the Teamsters, or say that they’ll be no more successful than the PBA was. The Teamsters have “juice” that the PBA doesn’t!!
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Post by 2ndtimearound on Feb 21, 2011 7:03:31 GMT -5
The clout you refer to for the teamsters is not based in Florida. That is not going to scare the Florida politicians one little bit. And with the voters of Florida wanting the State Government to save monies there will be no raises for a much longer time. any politician that recommends a pay raise for state employees is going to be sitting at the house in the next election cycle. Did any one on this board pay attention to November's election? The sheeple are waking up and realizing that government overall is too big and by nature wasteful.
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Post by highlander on Feb 21, 2011 7:44:01 GMT -5
The politicians up north don't seem too.scared of the striking teachers union.
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lwbfl
Full Member
Posts: 267
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Post by lwbfl on Feb 21, 2011 11:33:00 GMT -5
I received a call on Thursday morning that the Teamsters reps were in the parking lot to speak with staff. The entire 2nd shift came in and no-one spoke to them. 1st shift left and avoided the two visible men standing in the parking lot because they looked like thugs waiting to pick up an inmate. I'm not sure if these were the reps or not because they didn't speak to anyone but each other. I never saw anyone, although the Warden's secretary did say a couple stayed in the Admin Building.
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billharr
Junior Member
"Never argue with a fool...people might not know the difference!"
Posts: 119
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Post by billharr on Feb 21, 2011 19:52:03 GMT -5
The clout you refer to for the teamsters is not based in Florida. That is not going to scare the Florida politicians one little bit. And with the voters of Florida wanting the State Government to save monies there will be no raises for a much longer time. any politician that recommends a pay raise for state employees is going to be sitting at the house in the next election cycle. Did any one on this board pay attention to November's election? The sheeple are waking up and realizing that government overall is too big and by nature wasteful. I think you're wrong. True, most of the 1.4 million members are not based here in Florida, but there are at least 50,000 Teamsters here in Florida, and I'm not certain that this number includes the UPS members in the Orlando area that went to Teamsters. I can't find hard numbers but in trying to research this, I do see agency after agency, business after business being organized by the Teamsters practically on a daily basis. Compared to the 33,000 PBA members, the Teamsters are already HUGE, and they're growing day to day here in Florida. Don't go and bet that the local politicians aren't worried about this group, especially if FDC goes over to them. I'm sure you'd lose that bet!!
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Post by sfcwoodret on Feb 21, 2011 22:08:03 GMT -5
I really don't think the Teamsters will move PBA out since neither one can really accomplish anything with this economy and Florida's right to work status. Many of the Correctional staff will just go without both of them at this point in time until things maybe get better in about 5-10 years from now. It's going to be a while!
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Post by brucifer on Feb 22, 2011 10:14:34 GMT -5
I really don't think the Teamsters will move PBA out since neither one can really accomplish anything with this economy and Florida's right to work status. Many of the Correctional staff will just go without both of them at this point in time until things maybe get better in about 5-10 years from now. It's going to be a while! If the staff keep PBA, it will just be the same old crap. At least with going with Teamsters there is a chance for some change. Of course with all the apathy it is for not. But you can rest assured I will never give PBA a dime. It is never going to get better for FDC. The good ole boys inflated the system, piss poor management and us poor line staff are going to pay for it as long as we are employed in corrections.
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Post by truthtracker on Feb 22, 2011 13:09:35 GMT -5
Your absolutely correct Brucifer PBA or Teamsters at this point aren't going to get crap done they should have thought about that long before Scott ever got elected. My question is why pay more for the same inadequate representation? Management has over bloated the department, especially when McNeil became secretary. Yes line staff is going to pay the price. Unfortunately it's going to be a stiff one too if Scott and the legislature gets everything their asking for. We will see a mass exodus of seasoned staff leave the department. Who wants to keep doing a job where your disrespected and unappreciated daily? When after the cuts you'll be able to go to the private sector and not have to put up with crap from the scum of the earth that doesn't have to worry about their daily needs because we pay it for them, or be held to higher standards by the public. Everyone knows we don't make a killing doing this, haven't had a raise in five years, not going to get one for several more years. I'm personally tired of hearing it and the threats of privatization just do it. I'll make my own decision do I want to do it or not.
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