Remembering My Father Who Fought For The Union Benefits That Former Postmaster General Donahoe...
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Remembering My Father Who Fought For The Union Benefits That Former Postmaster General Donahoe Wants To Take
Editors Note: This is a special editorial from John Dick, a Letter Carrier in Detroit (NALC Local 1).
Bob Moses Dick
Yesterday was a milestone for me. Not a day of sadness as much as a day of reflection. January 12th, 2015, was the fifth anniversary of my fathers death. His demise came suddenly. A massive heart attack, then poof; he disappeared from our lives. I remember vividly getting the phone call from Big John. I was setting up my route and my phone kept ringing over and over. I was too busy to answer the damn thing but something didnt feel right. I answered the fourth time John called. You have to get to the hospital right away. Somethings wrong with Bob. I dropped my mail and rushed to the emergency room. My heart sank and then shattered into a million shards when the doctor told me, There was nothing we could do. I felt like an orphan.
Bob Moses Dick was a proud union man. He had worked at the Ford Utica Trim Shop for thirty years. From 1963 to 1993 he sewed seats for the automobile giant. He was not a fan or a great example of what you might call the work ethic. He told me many times as I was growing up that his bosses and even the Ford family only cared about what he could do for them, and he was sure enough gonna return the favor. He said I got a contract with those folks. I do my thirty years sewin those goddam car seats, and in return I have a decent paying job and a secure retirement. I dont have to like them, and they dont have to like me. Dont ever fool yourself, son. Youre just a number to them. A cog in the wheel. I dont give them any more than I have to.
He would regale stories to me and my brother about working at the plant. He was outrageously honest, and claimed to have the worst discipline record at the Trim Shop. His temper was legendary, and if he thought a supervisor was acting prickly it was not unusual for him to threaten the health of his bosses. According to Pops, at one discipline meeting his exasperated steward exclaimed, We have no defense for his actions. We plead insanity! He loved the UAW, but I am not sure the feeling was completely mutual.
He was proud when I became a letter carrier on October 7th, 2000. The first question he asked me was if I had joined the union. He loved reading my Dicktations and we had him added to our mailing list so that he would receive his own personal copy. He said something to me about my writing that I will never forget. He said I was profound. It was not his style to talk in that way, and all I could say was Thanks. His death was premature at the age of 70, but he at least was able to retire at the age of 54 and enjoy 16 years of a Ford pension.
FULL story at link.
Lugnut
(9,791 posts)He worked for the CIO organizing local silk mills in the late 1930s and early '40s. He was sent to jail a few times but he never backed off. He was one tough cookie.
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)Panich52
(5,829 posts)The GOP's most recebt push to privatize USPS was spearheaded by Darrel Issa. His replacements are still at it. This month 82 processing centers were closed and overnight delivery was ceased. Despite positive returns, the cuts continue.
Congress could save thousands of union jobs, and veterans' jobs simply by repealing the 75-yr pension requirement. The 'biz party' shows their disrespect for anything remotely connected to the gov't in passing that bill - one which no business would accept as reasonable. It also reveals GOP's disdain f/ Constitution they claim to treasure.
Article I, Sec 8 mandates the post office. It was included because our founders knew how important the flow of information is to a functioning democracy. Repubs have proven, esp in past 15 yrs, that they don't have much respect f/ democracy either (voter suppression).
The PG gets blamed, but GOP Congress is responsible f/ USPS job losses. There are attempts to correct the disasterous pension req and to expand the USPS. Anyone who supports jobs, unions and democracy should support these attempts to strengthen our postal service. There are a number of petitions around.
BTW, USPS does not get taxpayer money.