I'm sure I don't need to say this but I will just for shits and giggles. I will have a multitude of post about the unions (just because I feel like opra and they are a few of my favorite things) so I will title them Unions 1, Unions 2, etc...
I bring this up because of No' Bamas Justice Department has indicted the former CEO of Massey Energy. Blankenship was at the helm when 29 miners died in the explosion at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. He is facing 31 years. I have no problem with this guy getting hem'd up if he was responsible for trading safety for profits. I understand he is not the only one that has, is or will face charges over this tragedy. In fact, 52 people have died during his time as CEO and in 2009 there were 515 citations.
My question is, where are the Unions? I thought the Unions were supposed to get their workers better pay and benefits. You know better and safer working environments. You know worker safety and welfare, to vanquish oppression and to hold corporations accountable for their actions. Yea, I'm sure I've read that somewhere. I mean these miners are paying for "protection". These miners are paying to stay out of the "company store". These miners are paying their "Dues".
So when we have a mining company that has 515 citations the year before an explosion that kills 29, where are the Union reps??? Where are the Union reps saying hey we need to get this fixed now!!! Where are the Stewarts, the Secretaries, the Vice Presidents, the Presidents of the Unions? I can tell you that one of the VP's for the UMWA is a VW state legislator. Can this guy not get anything done? Hell, VW Senator (D) Jay Rockefeller said the miners were treated with "callousness and open disregard". If all these people knew of the conditions in that mine, why are they just going after the companies management? Why is the Justice Department not going after the Union leadership? Everybody new this mine was unsafe and they are getting paid to "protect" these miners. I mean (by my count) you got 8 VP's getting paid 145k + per year. WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOING WITH THAT MONEY??? I'd rather be alive then get a raise. The Union President, Cecil Roberts, make $195,420.00 per year.
What's that money get ya? A better casket? Nope, but if you're in western KY and you got an extra 25 bucks in your pocket you can watch Cecil Roberts give a speech. Those are just a couple of the salaries that I listed. You have to understand there are many more. These people have secretaries. They have goffers and ass gabbers. Hell, because they are Union, there ass gabbers have ass gabbers. I don't know what it is yet but they are paying 45k per month to the Triangle Land Co in rent. $45,538.00 in rent. Last year for the MLK Conference they spent $31,492.00 at the Sheraton in Philly. Check these stats and many more at kcerds.dol-esa.gov
Click online public discloser room and then officer employee search.
BOTTOM LINE, UNIONS SUCK!!! The UMWA was founded in 1890. If they haven't found a way to protect your happy ass from 515 violations (in one yr), they're not gonna. All you're doing when you pay Union dues, is make someone fat. Later we'll discuss more.
