Folks, it’s time for new, strong leadership! Let’s face it: The last two years under Melissa Gilbert have done nothing to "Restore Respect" but have done a lot to Initiate Indifference! The ATA/NATR will not talk to us! Why? Because they sense fear! What’s the old show biz axiom? Never let them see you sweat. Well, right now the perspiration is knee deep at 5757 Wilshire! Rather than protecting the membership, they’re protracting a policy of passiveness. A passive policy which could cost us our legal right to once again franchise these agents! And if that happens, we will not be governed by our own dictates but rather by the dictates of the states. Can you say TWENTY PERCENT commissions on everything you earn in perpetuity?
Meanwhile, our employers are not interested in early negotiations. And why should they be? After all, the current leadership based their campaign platform on the non-confrontational premise that a strike is never necessary to achieve stated goals. Well, you can say a lot of things about Ira Shepard their chief negotiator, but one thing you can’t say about him is that he’s stupid. He knows that as long as Melissa Gilbert is behind the wheel, he's in the drivers seat! By eliminating the possibility of withholding services, the Restore Respect slate has also eliminated the main weapon in our arsenal to achieve a fair and equitable collective bargaining contract. Hey, Ira and his associates know that those very people that advocated a "no strike" policy will be in NO position to go back to the membership, no matter how lousy the contract, and advocate a strike.
Considering USAN/Restore Respect’s track record, a more likely scenario given the recent unsubstantiated slanderous remarks made about the Membership First Presidential Candidate, Kent McCord, is that they will come back with a lousy contract--and try to blame it on him. This is their M.O. When the ATA/NATR giveaway went down--they blamed low wage earners and members without agents! Now that USAN/Restore Respect once again needs those members’ votes they're trying to blame their failure on Mr. McCord. (This even though fifty five percent of the voting membership proclaimed it to be a bad deal). Just as after their recent expensive failure to get a constitutional majority for their International Alliance, they tried to blame Save SAG and Mr. McCord!
Well, it’s time to stop blaming and start building--and we must start with a foundation of strength—not weakness. A foundation that is inclusive, not exclusive. A foundation based on resolution, not resignation. A foundation Kent McCord and his slate will build! A foundation of strength and unity. A foundation that will put the Membership First!
Ballots must be received by 6:30 AM (PDT) Tuesday, September 23, 2003.
If you have not voted, please do so. If you know fellow SAG members that have yet to cast their ballots, remind them of the importance of this election! It is yours, mine and their prerogative to determine if we will remain a strong independent guild with a proud history, or simply be an asterisk in the foundation of “One Union, Worldwide---Or No Union At All!”
EMC editor
A.L. Miller
For more facts before you vote check out: membership First!
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