Your cookout was such a success with everyone coming and enjoying not only the food but also the fellowship and kindship that comes when you take time to break bread together. I was nice seeing poeple making personal connections with their co-workers other than "Don't you drive bus 512?". We had co-workers from Irvine that also came had share in the excitement as we wait for the board ruling and then an election date.
In the coming few short weeks we will maintain your unity of purpose with other activities such as this. As we told you in the beginning, Durham's main goal now is to scare you from your determination. They will spend huge amount of money and kill a lot of trees giving you their "factual" information to scare you from forming your union. They want to keep total control as they have in the past and they will tell you anything to keep you in that position. The days of slavery is past any being paid fairly for a fair days work in a legal and moral right.
You have all realized that you have the power and that no matter what management or the other supervisors say the days of just laying there and taking it are over. We've showed you what maangement and there attorneys think of you when they lied and made degrading comments you - their work force! This didn't surpize most though because this was the treatment you'd gotten for years - and that treatment is unacceptable! For the hard work you do daily you should expect a little praise, some fair treatment, respect and fair pay! Durham brought it over 16 millions dollars from their contracts with Santa Ana Unified, Irvine Unified, Laguna Beach and Garden Grove Unified last year but didn't think you deserved a raise or at least a cost of living increase. They gave you 2% in January because they thought this would buy you off - they thought wrong! It would have been better to ask for a can of soda and a hamburger at the end of the week - it would have cost more.
When the company starts asking about any promises they think we made to you and our credibility questions Durham's honesty. Management said in their testimony at the National Labor Board hearing that they have regular monthly activities for you all every month at each yard. They stated they no buses from Santa Ana are at the Irvine yard other than either a broken bus or a trip bus. Management stated that "rarely" does anyone from the Santa Ana yard ever help in the Laguna Beach yard of Irvine yard. But of course they also said that they respected you and treated you fairly. So in your eyes - who has been honest and up front with you since day 1? Is it Durham or the Teamsters who are helping you find your voice and equity in your workplace. Just think about it! Durham wants to keep total control of your workplace and the Teamsters whats you to share control and make it a better place for you and your co-workers to work at.
I closing all I can say is stay together and keep strong. Durham is like an old mean dog. All you need to do to scare them is stand your ground and stare back at them. This is what you will do at your election by winning big! Keep the Faith! Support Each Other!
