QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

My first question was pretty simple, I wanted a copy of the March 1998 Houston Wage and Rule Panel Document signed by NCCC Chairman R. A. Allen and President Little which I was previously promised in January 1998 at the GCA meeting but had not yet received? I was told it would be sent as soon as I get back!

My second question was prefaced with a request for information as to what happens if we don't get 50% + 1 of the vote if the NMB allows the petition and Charlie got that right, both BLE and UTU lose their unions! The question was assuming we win, what happens if UP serves Section 6's demanding one General Chairman (spokesperson), One Agreement, and a common seniority roster like the FEC? I was quickly informed that I knew that couldn't happen, by both Sac-P and "little bb" and when I pursued the issue as to how the Carrier was allowed to pick agreements and General Chairman (other general chairman losing their "jurisdiction" and dues paying members) during the Hub agreements, I was confronted with O'brien, Yost, the DC Court decision ("we fought the good fight") and I also knew that!  At that point in time, a member from the audience pointed out that "yea, you know that", apparently as if I was guilty of asking something I already knew the answer to?  I was relegated to stating "yes, but I wanted the members to know"! Few if any will probably ever be aware of my real feelings on the above subject unless they happen to read "u"? Certainly, I hope none of this is inaccurate; I did take the liberty of video taping the entire Q & A session from the front row in case questions about authenticity arose (always watch out for a good newsman!).

All in all, there were a lot of good questions and a lot of good answers, many even plausible to a knowledgeable dissident like myself. I sat next to a gentleman who had a whole list of questions from his members who couldn't be there. In fact, he went to the microphone first. Sac-C later took his list and promised to answer all the questions.  I shall see if I can get that list and the answers, if any! That was immediately after the Q & A session ended and I couldn't help but ask, "Where's the Bus"? Charlie admitted he didn't know and "SR" Reynolds immediately jumped in and said "Lance, you know the bus was on it's way to Albuquerque and Tucson . . ." and I said "no, no, Gene, I'm not talking about last November, where is it now?  I was in the WWW class given by Harry Bryant and he pulled up the Membership I schedule that showed it would be in St. Louis on June 19 (3 days after the end of the St. Louis Region Meeting?) on it's way to El Paso? Did it break down again?" Well, to make a long story shorter, while there may be only $150 G difference in the money earned by the President and an "SR", neither one has a "rucking" clue where the bus is! Oh, by the way, I didn't tape the conversation; Jerry (Batton) and I have the most powerful memories in the UTU, albeit the last time I mailed something to "To Whom it May Concern", it never got to the President? Imagine that (who was that singing group)?

Well, I hope you had some fun.  If "u're" a member and they ever ask if "u" have any questions, raise you hand immediately, don't wait for somebody else to "break the ice"! Hell, If they call on you immediately and you can't even think of a question, use my ole fallback line, "Is It true we're getting a dues decrease"? Hang in there and have a nice day!