Seattle Slew?

   Who?  That racehorse? Did he win the Triple Crown?  Yes! Can you name the other two horses who most recently won the "Triple" besides Slew?   A Free El Paso Express shirt to the first person that answers correctly with his name, address, and shirt size! (Ah ..., we can't sell them, we might as well give them away?)!

    So who is the most famous Seattle resident: Slew?  Frazier Crane?  Ken Griffey or A Rod?   No, No, No - none are from the Seattle area or ever lived there!  The most famous resident from the Seattle Area is the amazing Byron Boyd - renowned President of the United Transportation Union.  Unlike sports or TV personalities, Bryon spends "quality time" in the Seattle area despite his hi-profile persona!

    He is truly a "home grown boy"! He shows it every year in his "annual report" despite whatever job he may have, i.e., VP, AP, or even P (President) of UTU!  Please view the 2000 annual report for Asst. President Boyd before you continue with this article?  Ah . . ., yes it is sideways to save space!  I suggest you print it before you turn your head and hurt your neck trying to read it as is?  Hell, let's face it - not enough UTU members read this site to make any difference anyway! Those that take the time can surely print Mr. Boyd's 2000 self-written report of his activities?

B. A. Boyd, Jr. Annual Report 2000!

   The Assistant President of the UTU is assigned to Cleveland, Ohio headquarters, as is the President and the GS&T! So how much time do "they" (Our Union Leaders) actually spend there?  Perhaps the "annual report" might help?  Did "U" read AP Boyd's time above? How much time did he spend at "HQ" running the show while "Sac-C" was absent? Inquiring Minds Want to Know?  The record (his own record) shows he was in Cleveland for "at least" 26 days in 2000 - most of which was described as "attending various duties and issues and the Xmas party"!  Wow, I bet those Cleveland union employees were impressed with Byron's presence in view of the fact that Sac-C wasn't present?

    I don't mean to put a damper on the "achievements" of President Little and Asst. President Boyd, but what did they accomplish in 2000?  In Fact, how do "us" union members "read between the lines" of the annual reports?  For example, Sac-B is in San Diego, CA for an Amtrak meeting on January 13, 2000 and his next entry is "Attended a BC/BS Meeting in Seattle, WA on January 18?  So I guess the big question is where was he between January 14 and January 17th?

A Quiz?

   A:  Travelling by Bus with John Madden or in Membership One with a "slow driver"?

       B:  Stayed in the San Diego Area to play a "little golf" and flew out on the 17th?

        C:   Flew to Seattle on the 14th and enjoyed 3 days with my family before I did any UTU business? (Ah . . ., got full pay and per diem?)

        D:   Immediately flew to Cleveland on the 14th, stayed and "worked in Cleveland" until the 17th, when I caught the red-eye to Seattle to attend the BC/BS Meeting! 

    Ah . . ., where were you after that?  Say, between the 18th and the 24th when you admit being in Seattle to "work on the UP initiative"? Seems you were in the Seattle area until February 23 when you went to Austin, Tx for the National Wage and Rule Negotiations? Don't really care what you did between 1/18 and 1/24 cause I guess you were kicking back at home again using the American Express Card and collecting per diem?  But how the hell did you spend several weeks "working" on the UP initialtive only to get your ass kicked by the "panel"?  Perhaps you were distracted by the home environment and would have been better off working in the office in Cleveland?

    I won't belabor the point, you were not needed in Cleveland as you were just the "second in command" and the Chief had it all under control in Cleveland! Hell, the Chief was there 29 days in 2000 so no need for "duplication of effort", right? Hey, I like "worked in office" - particularyly when most of it was in Austin, TX? Sac-C's annual report will be up here next!

    Ya know, no one would care about your (Sac-B-C) pitiful performance if you had got the dues paying members something? A good National Agreement, a good H&W contract,  a victory against the BLE, a UP "initiative" vote,  or some pride that UTU knows what they are doing?   You and Sac-C seemed to have run our union into a corner, wasted millions of dollars in pursuit of a hostile takeover, and now wish to risk our very representation in an "all or nothing" vote on the KCS?  Tell me something; how will your time in the Washington state area or your pay be effected if KCS goes no union or BLE? Don't really make no difference to you, does it?  You and Sac-C can run this union from Washington state, Washington, D.C., and/or Austin, TX with not problem!  I mean - the proof is in the pudding, right!

    Say, did you miss that retirement party for Bob Earley in Cleveland on January 29th, 2000 that Sac-C attended?  I bet that was a "big" celebration with the UTU roster employees?  Were they invited OR ordered to attend and smile? Hang in there, have a nice day, and spend all your time in Washington state - who cares!

        Mr. "Little's" expenses are next!  Then various VP's who don't account for enough time to earn a yardmen's vaction!