A FEW WORDS FROM ED

 

1-27-12

 

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

 

A New Year and new outlook is upon us. Many people make resolutions at this time to improve their lives be it financial, emotional, relationships and/or health concerns. I hope we all achieve what we set out to do. It will be a busy year with most of our Units in negotiations and National Elections at the end of the year. Regardless, this is the first day of the rest of our lives, and we will make the most of it.

 

No occurrence is sole and solitary, but merely a repetition of a thing which has happened before, and perhaps often.

Mark Twain

 

What a difference a year or two makes. A year or two ago the world was still reeling for the economic collapse of 2008, unsure of what would come but anxiously hopeful. The political climate was an aftermath of anger and elections that were directed at a dysfunctional government. The big three car dealers were out of business. Mack Trucks was reeling from many issues that prevented production and abusive treatment of employees. The economy as measured by the indexes is back with huge gains. Unemployment is improving but still has a way to go. The Teaparty 56 freshmen have created even more dysfunction in the government and new anger has emerge in We Are One Rallys for working people and lately Occupy Rallys for the general population. The big three are not only back from extinction they are opening new plant in America, hiring thousands. At Mack Trucks we have new management that is transitioning to a more people oriented way of business while dealing with the issues that inhibited production and quality we have always sought. Now the challenge is to stabilize and not backslide into the destructive habits that increased the float, reduced inspections for quality and in panic abused the workforce. Your shop Chair Steve Marzen, and Alternate Dennis Turick, the whole committee, International Reps Gary Speth, Karl Klauss and myself your President, have worked diligently for the last couple of years to literally save us.

As a Union and a Company we must not forget the last couple of years and continue on a stronger path to greater success, better quality, and increase market share. I see the real changes even as we make the cosmetic changes in the plant that visibly shows a new concern and pride in the plant. Not all management understands or cares about this new/old way of doing business, just as some of our members do not remember when we had better relations and a team approach. How many remember the 1998 poster of the little Bulldog becoming the big Bulldog? How about the mural on the factory wall that showed hands cupped together and stated, “Quality is in your hands”. After the war years we worked together as a Union and Company to capture market share and provide profits for shareholders and workers alike. Then in the early 2000’s the dysfunction set in; hurting workers, management and product. The hands were painted over.

Its simple - together we can, separate we can’t. We’ll see how 2012 unfolds and as always your Local Union will endeavor to ensure good jobs with good work conditions and hopefully Mack will eat our competitors’ lunch (market share) and we’ll watch the little Bulldog become a big Bulldog.

 

If history repeats itself and the unexpected always happens, how incapable must man be of learning from experience.

George Bernard Shaw

 

In solidarity,

 

 

Ed Balukas

President