SOB Attacks Credit Cards while Teamsters make $ Millions

[OT+]

[jerseymike78]

Does anyone know the rate the teamsters card charges?

[Bob Randall]

"Duplicity" is only one of a number of reasons why workers have been "leaving" unions (dwindling total membership numbers). Yet certainly a reason. (My first-hand experience comes with 30 years with the Teamsters and ten years as a staff organizer with SEIU.) Workers correctly have witnessed an inexcusable level of effectiveness by their unions. One example being weak contracts, week policing of contracts, absent agents, business unionism, little or no availability for members to be involved, etc. This leads to a terrible image as these workers do not spread "good words" about their union experience. Another example of dwindling numbers...and perhaps the greatest reason being that the unions don't provide the necessary resources that is required for effective organizing. Needed resources are great. Money obviously is a resource. Carery recognized this and put a dues increase proposal to the membership that would have been earmarked for organizing. That proposed increase was heavily lobbied against by Old Guard officers that wanted nothing more than for Carey to be seen as being ineffective. As a result, the proposal was shot down. Shortly afterward General President Carey dissolved the Conferences and the large wasteful paychecks that provided for them. (Thank you, Brother Carey.) That savings allowed for resources to be provided for effective organizing. Our numbers finally began moving in the right direction after hiring the right people with organizing experience. Another necessary resource would be a plan. Plans are easily made. Although, those plans are not always good plans. In fact, often the plans put into place are pretty doomed from the start because they are not well thought out. Planning, along with the carrying out of those plans requires having the right people in the right places. Over my twenty-two years of organizing with the Teamster I have seen way too many "organizers" (in some capacity) being the wrong type of people. Many would talk a talk. But a "real" organizer can see right through a talk pretty quickly. Some actually believed that they were sharing good plans and ideas. They may have even been well intended. Yet, the experience was just not there. Talk. However, most times the so called "organizer" was simply not the right kind of person for the position. Abnormal amounts of energy are necessary. A willingness to always go outside of a comfort zone is equally necessary. Organizers with both of these traits do not grow on trees. The International has the ability to hire and delegate. The problem? Those at the International do not always have the ability to recognize qualifications. If hiring from outside of the Teamsters Union gets you the best people for the job, there is no reason for hiring a Teamster simply because he or she is a Teamster. Bob Muehlenkamp was the best example of this, for sure, after the Conferences were dissolved. But some of us know how that ended. My point to all of this? Whether a union's numbers grow or dwindle is certainly a decision that can be made. It is a choice. Talk, narrowmindedness, and rewarding others for their loyalty is not a part of a solution. If the proper resources are provided the numbers will climb. Any other excuse for total membership remaining stagnant is a lie or ignorance. Neither is an excuse. It's your call Sean O'Brien. You can fluff up the numbers in the magazine. Or choose to do the right thing. Waddaya gonna do? It's your choice.

[Jazzman]

Does anyone know the rate the teamsters card charges?

15.15 to 27.49% according to the article. Those cards have been around for along time.

[Doctorpepper782]

Yes! I had one back in 2004.

[WTF891]

Other than the logo on the card it's a horrible deal and has been for decades.