[QUOTE=RespectMyAuthority;149699]Of course you would, you hate everything AMO. You would like to see every AMO member that way. I am sure it won’t be long before you start on Doell & Murdock.[/QUOTE]
let me just say that my experience with the AMO dates back to when it was D2-MEBA and when Ray McKay was president. For three decades I have seen the union (as I use that term very loosely) as a corrupt personal fiefdom to the likes of the McKays, Kelly, Joseph, Powers, Bethell, Leonard, Gremelsbacher, et all to use the acquiescence of the rank and file to consolidate power and steal. Only a membership who would take a stand and rest control away from the ruling cabal could ever hope to cleanse the union of filthy corruption. When Federal prosecution of the leadership happened, I was heartened to believe finally the membership would awaken but they stayed asleep and for 7 years the corruption continued. When Jack Hearn made his valiant attempt to take control the union, I believed the membership would see that a new captain was needed at the helm but they failed yet again to give the junta in power the boot they have deserved for decades and again my hopes for the AMO were dashed on the rocks. Then the pension fund tanked but not until after many millions went out in lump sum cash buyouts to the chosen few who were even allowed to stay working! How could any knowledgable and involved membership have allowed this other that they were either lazy, stoopid or scared to voice their feelings? Either way, the membership ended up with the leaders and pensions they deserved. That finally seems to have reached the end three days ago.
Now a dark horse candidate who I didn’t believe had a chance to win miraculously did only because of voter apathy but regardless of how Doell and Murdock won, win they did and I am suddenly heartened to believe there is hope for the AMO afterall however change and reform in the union will not really occur until every member of the executive board who supported Bethel and before him Michael McKay, is ousted from leadership roles. My prayer is that they all resign in quick succession or Doell will be hamstrung by a bunch in Dania who are more concerned with maintaining their spheres of power against the course the new president wants to take. Or maybe Doell will prove to be just more of the same old self serving policies of lowballing or outright theft of contracts, exacting tribute from the rank and file and granting lucrative favors to his friends. Doell is now the captain of the AMO ship and I am waiting with much anxiety to know where he intends to take the ship and if he is going to allow his disloyal officers to thwart him in that direction? It is up to the membership now to hold Doell accountable and if he doesn’t bring about that course change then they should throw him out as well. Time for the rank and file to command the direction of their union by never allowing the likes of any McKay or Bethel to ever come to power again!
Until we see Doell’s and Murdock’s colors, I will support them with trust and faith. I want them to succeed for their own sake but more importantly for the membership of the AMO (and am not even in the AMO anymore to technically don’t even have a dog in the fight but still want the AMO to become a respected union worthy of all mariners to want to be members of)
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[QUOTE=Tugs;149706]I agree, even though I understand the feelings, this picture really pushed the limits of good taste![/QUOTE]
It is a photo from a movie for Christ’s sake and besides when have I even been beholden to the dictates of posting in “good taste”? I think Gremelsbacher is corrupt and needs to be fired. Seeing his head on a pike is an expression that I believe he needs to be sent packing and if you can’t understand that, then you are too obtuse for your own good!
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