August 1999

Stewards Corner:

Greetings Union Brothers and Sisters:

The weather is getting a bit cooler in the mornings lately. This makes me think of all the work around the house I planned on accomplishing during the summer months. The cool air adds a sense of urgency to the tasks at hand. It seems that no matter how much or how little work around the house I plan on doing, it is inevitable that I usually get very little accomplished. I generally end up spending more time with the kids, just playing, swimming or exploring. Sometimes the family gets together just to go on leisurely drives or to take the boat out for a spin. I even end up spending more time at work than I planned. Which brings me to the purpose of this edition of the ‘Stewards Corner’. In order to accomplish the little things around the house and in order to spend time with the family, I have to work. We should occasionally remind ourselves that the end should justify the means. Basically we work so that we may play. Lets be real, would any of us show up at the Post Office if all our necessities of life were being met? I doubt it! While I enjoy my job and I truly like what I do for a living, I doubt if I would do it for nothing. We work so that we can earn money. We make money so we can have a better life when we get out of work and to provide our families with a lifestyle that we can enjoy. I believe these are common goals that most of us share. I also believe that having the common goals as I have described necessitates the need for our Union. We band together so that we all may prosper. We unionize to achieve the ability to realize our goals. When we stand up for our rights individually we are in effect supporting the rights of all craft employees. We are fighting the good fight so that others may benefit. When management violates the contract that they agreed to uphold we stand up and protest. If we don’t we might as well just throw the contract out. Which one of us would benefit then? So support those who fight for their rights, they are fighting for your rights as well. Stay organized and do battle with your head on straight. Remain focused on the issues you’re dealing with. Don’t get frustrated and keep your mind open to new ideas and positions. Someone once said that intelligence is being able to change ones’ mind when presented with new information. Be smart and honest and don’t try to deceive. Enforce the contract that we collectively agreed to support. Try not to let the process of enforcing your rights eat at your soul. As Jerry Jeff Walker said "Fight for your rights, but don't’ just fight for right". When you take a stand, do it with pride, do it for the membership and you will feel righteous. Take a stand for your family, support the Union and we the members. Together we shall succeed.

Later, Tim Doughty