local1600

Kinzie Street Shennanigans

That’s right. It’s time to get the brooms. And we’re not even talking about the contract (which we haven’t gotten yet).

Setting aside, for the moment, interesting philosophical questions about the nature of ‘shenannigans,‘ it seems that strange things are afoot at the Union office.

First we heard that Perry would be stepping down and there would be an election (no fault, Jesú–that’s a reasonable interpretation of whatever was actually said since that’s how these things usually work), then word comes that he wasn’t going to step down but there would be an election in case he had to, and then there was notice about the candidates and their letters of introduction and that they’d attend our local union meeting, and then last night I received this email, forwarded from a union rep, which I found stunning, both for the content and the names of the signatories:

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Union Rally Reminder–This Saturday

From Mike Ruggeri (sent with a request to post on the Lounge) and “stuck” to the top until Saturday:

Very Important Notice!
To all Local 1600 members & Retirees!
Please forward this to everyone you know!

As you may have been informed, the AFL-CIO and the CFL have called for a mass rally at the Daley Center, Chicago, for Saturday April 9th at 1:00 p.m. The official / final notification was delayed due to permit consent.

Local 1600 will join in this important effort in full force.

This is a invitation to meet at the Union Office, 208 West Kinzie, Chicago, Illinois, 60654 starting at 11:30 a.m. We will then march as a Union to the rally which is four blocks from the Union office.

Coffee and rolls will be provided. Rally t-shirts will be distributed to the first 200 Local 1600 members. We will march under our Local 1600 banner. This is the time for us to show our strength and unity.

Make no mistake about it, there are legislators in Springfield who would love to “Go Wisconsin” on all of us. Threats abound which jeopardize our pensions, collective bargaining, tenure, academic freedom, as well as the simple freedom for Unions to exist at all. These threats, sadly, are being voiced by Democrats as well as Republicans.

Wisconsin happened, in part, because good Union people believed these things could never happen. The events there are a wake-up call for us all. Let’s be part of this historic day and prove by our presence and voices that we will not tolerate any attack of the profession we love and have dedicated our lives to serving.

If you have any questions, call Perry Buckley, Randy Barnette, or Bill Naegele at the Union office: 312-755-9400.

Forward this email to as many people as you can!
EVERYONE is welcome!!!!=