Annihilation of Allegiance

As a union member of W-364 local, the contract dispute between Potlatch and the Union seemingly started out to be within reason, that there would be a mutual agreement between both parties. After having several discussions with the District Representative Ron Tiegen, I began to see how the breakdown in communications occurred. I believe there should be accountability for the dishonorable and shameful way our district rep( Ron Tiegen) and negotiating committee’s desecration of the union member’s allegiance.

 Myself and several other union members went to the Union hall get information about the strike vote and explain to Ron Tiegen are frustrations of how we have had to put our lives on hold while the Union was indecisive on when and what action to take.  This is when Mr. Tiegen informed us for the first time, one reason the strike was not moving fwd. was because he didn’t have the picket signs made yet, We were all taken back by this response not only because  it was a poor excuse to procrastinate, also because we were able to see the incompetence which was representing us.  Mr. Tiegen went on to explain what he wanted the strike signs to say. (Mr. Tiegen wanted several signs to have the middle finger raised with a negative explicative directed towards Mr. Covey.) Myself and the other union members present at the time were opposed to something so juvenile and disrespectful. This is when my view towards Mr. Tiegen went from not only unqualified but also incompetent.  Let me make one thing clear I have worked for Potlatch Corp for several years and I have been treated fair by the Potlatch Corporation, I trust most employee’s opinions are probably similar towards Potlatch.  At the same rate I do believe the importance of the union. 

Mr. Tiegen took it upon himself to forewarn me about speaking out against the union.  I am not speaking out against the union; I am speaking out against elected officials who cowardly hide behind the customary code of not speaking negative about the union. This way they can continue uninterrupted with their unscrupulous behavior with-out having to be accountable.  These are elected officials that had over one year to prepare for the different contingency that could occur with a strike vote. I have belonged to other unions in the past and never felt the need to speak out.  This is not the first time that I have disagreed with the way the elected officials have handled issues, but this definitely takes the cake.   There have been several members drop out of the union because of the way the Strike issue has been handled, by the committee members and Ron Tiegen.  I would hope, not to see anymore union members drop out because of being disrespected by the committee members and Ron Tiegen.

One way to return the respect to the union is by Mr. Teigen stepping down along with the other Union official from the west coast who was not acting in our Union best interest. This may provide the Union members to re-open negotiations with Potlatch.