Why Are We Here
After years of corruption we watched our union decline. We voted to join forces with another union for the combined clout we deserve and desperately need.
We voted for a new start for our union.
We voted for a better future.
That future got hijacked.
Instead of a brand new day, we got another era of the same old greed and corruption that brought us down before.
The time has come to stand up and say NO MORE.
This is what this site is about.
We want NO MORE LIES. NO MORE SPIN. NO MORE CORRUPTION.
We want real democracy. One where we count. We want a REAL UNION.
We want a REAL UTU.
What is the truth? We need real answers to our questions, not more of the same old spin. What we care about is what affects us, the men and women who are working hard every day.
As rank and file members, what do you care about and what questions do you want answered?
posted by The Real UTU at
12:41 PM
25 Comments:
It appears most of the rumors and conflicts being expoused by Michael, et al and supporters are just that merely rumors. The sad truth is Mike Futhey and his elite have been the initiators of this action. Futhey and others at the top have made promises to to previously designated counsel that would reinstate some of those firms. Sounds like Boyd and Little have been reincarnated. I doubt that such appointments would be considered under the SMART union. Did those legal firms provide financial support to Futhey and now to Michael, et al.?
Here is a question concerning alleged changes tthat would occur under SMART:
1) We have been told the General Committee advance funds and State Legislative Board funds will be taken and put into the SMART General Fund and the General Chairmen and State Directors will have to beg for money to pay bills, is this true?
2) We have been lead to believe by Michael, et al. and their supporters that General Committees and Locals will lose their autonomy and the ability to make local or system agreements. Is this true under SMART?
3) There are rumors that FELA firms who lost designations as a result of the BA Boyd and CL Little cases will be receiveing redesignations under SMART. Is this true?
Please provide honest answers to the above issues.
Message for President Futhey from a former supporter of Futhey
The persons that filed these charges against the UTU 7 will certainly listen to you. These charges against the UTU Board of Directors that disagree with your position are embarrassing. Should we file charges against you and the former Board of Directors for approving the merger unanimously? I support the merger and certainly support the members of the UTU Board of Directors. I voted for you as President of the Transportation Department because you promised that we would be an inclusive union. After 2 months of attacks on the Board of Directors and double talk about the merger, I know I made a big mistake when I voted for you.
Rail Teamsters—Teamsters on the Right Track
"Through the TDU Rail Chapter, rail Teamsters are helping to get our union back on the right track. We're fighting the carriers for strong agreements and we're promoting the unity of all railroad crafts. Get on board and help us out."
Ed Michael, Union Pacific
BLET Div. 724, Salem, Ill.
UTU Merger: What Would It Mean for Teamster Engineers?
July 12, 2007: by Jim Eubanks and Ed Michael: The United Transportation Union (UTU), the main union for conductors on the railways, is proposing a merger with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMWIA).
Why is the UTU so eager to merge with the SMWIA when they have a natural merger partner sitting across the engine cab from their members—the Teamster engineers in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen? A merger with the BLET makes much more sense.
We’re members of both unions because we think it’s time to come together. We’re getting beat up by the divide and conquer strategies of the carriers. A merger between the BLET and the UTU would end the destructive war between the two unions.
Has President Futhey met with Mike Sullivan to discuss the merger?
I was a delegate at the UTU convention and Mike Futhey supported the merger. Why did he change his mind? When did he change his mind? Did he make his concerns or objections known at the UTU Board of Directors meeting in October 2007?
Recent UTU news states that there was a meeting in New Orleans. I'd like to know why Mike Sullivan was not there.
is craft autonomy going to be eliminated under SMART
Are SMWIA Rail Department General Chairman autonomous?
How much money is in the SMWIA strike fund?
How much money is in the UTU strike fund?
The plaintiffs are now threatening to drag every utu member who opposes them into a trial. who do these guys think they are? the gestapo? what power do they supposedly have that elected vice presidents and general chairmen not have?
don't talk to me about democracy when you go on a witch hunt looking to cut the throat of every single utuer who has their own opinion.
With all the back and forth on websites and the like it would be informative for the members to hear what President Futhey, Past President Thompson and SMWIA President Sullivan have to say about what will and won't happen as a result of a merger and what did and didn't take place during merger negotiations and during deliberations bt the UTU Bd of Directors
Why is it taking so long for the Judge to make a decision?
Question for Mike Futhey.
Do you support a merger? Why do you support the merger?
Question for Mike Sullivan.
After all of the heartache, why do you continue to support this merger?
We are proud of Mike Futhey for his support of the membership who voted against the merger. We have no common interest with SMWIA. Those Board of Directors who stand in the way need to go once and for all. If they can't support our president they need to go. The merger was no good from the start and Futhey, Martin and Thompson realize it and stopped it. If we merge it has to be with our BLET brothers evern if it means that we go under Hoffa. Futhey and Arnold had no choice but support the merger in Kansas City. Live for antoher day to tear this merger down. There is more thatn one way to skin a cat and this merger got skinned. Its bigger than you know, we got Futhey elected and we will make sure this merger does not come off.
I have just entered on to this site for the first time and cannot figure out how it works. I see that a number of brothers have asked some very good questions. Could someone tell me if the answers are posted and where I can read them?
One sticking point to the merger that I do not have any problem with but apparently our UTU President and others of interest do would be the General Presidents (that would be Mike Sullivan) ability to "appoint" someone to high ranking positions within the SMART organization without asking the officers of the UTU. The SMWIA presently does not vote in some of their "higher ups" and the thought of someone who was defeated in Florida at the UTU convention possibly coming back as their boss just simply scared the hell out of them..ergo, a lawsuit and this veiled Teamster attempt to thwart the inevitable. But remember, Freedom of Speech is a sacred and protected right. I just wish someone would have the guts to stand up and tell the truth about their motives instead of hiding behind the protections provided by our constitution.
Why was Mr. Futhey for this merger and then he was not, let me tell you. He was told by Mr. Sullivan that he was going to take a wage cut, second he was going to have to move to Washington where the international is and another reason some of these hard working brothers that helped him get elected were not going to get these easy jobs in the international so they would not be able to feed at the union trough. I want this merger to go through with the sheet metal workers and never with the BLET who by the way fired their president the other day on some trumped up charge. MR. Sullivan sounds like the person we need leading us to a promising future.
Message to Brother Futhey and Brother Sullivan from a UTU member,Philadephia Local 838.
The reasons for the merger are being ignored. Its time to put the membership first.
We do not care who is right or who is wrong.
All we want is that both of you come together and put an end to the division.
Is it true that President Mike Futhey has been charged and the Chairman of the UTU Executive Board tabled the charges?
Is it true that Vice President Mike Futhey 2007, provided information to anti UTU attorney Fox in November of 2007 to support the anti-merger movement?
Is it true that Vice President Futhey was acting without the authority of the UTU President in 2007 when he provided documentation to anti UTU Fox?
I just heard some bad news about the UTU's DIP program from a UTU insurance representative who is blaming former president Thompson for DIP's problems. Could this website fill us in on the truth about DIP?
Just got off the phone with a former Futhey supporter. He said that Futhey was campaigning behind closed doors against the merger before, during and after the convention. The real secret plan laid out by Futhey's people is going to come out and it will not be good for Futhey.
Here is a fact worth everyone's review. UTU International has been paying Health and Welfare premiums for one of Mike Futhey's big supporters and anti merger website master of deception UTU General Chairman David Murphy. UTU members have paid an excess of $80,000 for Mr. Murphy. He is not entitled to this benefit. He never was a full time International officer. He has been on disability pension for a couple of years. A deal was cut between him and Byron Boyd. The corruption must stop. Are there more of them out there?
Found another one. Thomas Issac former bus chairman - California, expelled for stealing the members' money. Back on the payroll thanks to his friend Mike Futhey. The corruption continues.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home