Interest in Bargaining growing. Another member running for the Pro-Tech team.

This is not a competition. The idea is to elect the most qualified people to represent you during the next contract. Sharon did a great job on the last two contracts for Pro-Tech. As team leader for the last two contracts she has done a wonderful job of reaching out to the members. We worked to make sure the members were updated, and Sharon always had the time to send out the email updates to Pro-Tech.

Sharon is dedicated to doing the best for the most employees.
I am asking for your vote on July 19, because I believe I know what you want and I will listen to you. I have been effective. I have won. Whether you vote for me or for Sharon, I guarantee you won't go wrong, you will be electing someone that will work for you.
Please listen, Sharon can do the job!
Tom Maher

My name is Sharon Carroll and I am also running for the Pro Tech Bargaining Team. I have served on Bargaining Committees since 1986. I have been a team member on both Administrative Services and Pro Tech since 1990. I have served as Pro Tech Team Leader for the last 2 contact sessions. I bring experience, knowledge of the contract and institutional memory to the table. I am currently the President of the Penobscot Chapter and a Chief Steward. I work as an ASPIRE Case Manager at the Bangor DHHS Office. I have served on most of the committees thru MSEA and have held elected positions on the Board of Directors, Finance Committee and Bargaining Team. I would appreciate any support that people would like to offer.

Also, please sign up for the Bargaining Committees, whichever unit you work under, or sign up to be work site contacts so we can keep people updated on the negotiations. Thanks


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Is it hate or are they heroes?

Union, Democrat, Gay, Atheist, or Muslim it doesn’t matter because the start of the hate is always the same. My ideas are the right ones and the only way this world will ever work out is if everyone learns to believe the same as me. If everyone thought and acted and worshipped and looked like me, all of my problems would be solved.

The truth and the hope is that people are too different, too diverse to fit into one way of doing or being.

The bad is that's where the trouble starts.

That's when those who destroy the Middle Class in order to make the top one percent even richer blame you for the real pain citizens are suffering. You set a bad example with wages and benefits and they want to make you disappear.

The few who have kept the life that all Americans felt entitled to just a few years ago are now the ones who don’t fit.

Whether Republicans or just a disgusted electorate seeing their jobs leaving, losing hope for the future, and the rich getting richer, they are frustrated by the lack of progress and in what they see as your greed and stupidity for not seeing the wonderfulness of the big ideas like destroying Unions, blaming Muslims for high oil prices or being a Democrat.

Remember they don’t see themselves as wrong or desperate and they see the only logical approach to be cutting off the offending organ. They can’t openly uses guns, knives or the rack so they resort to political pressure and public lies to destroy the ones they see as the cause of their pain.

The press and the talk shows tell their audience that Union employees get benefits, get better wages but like any propaganda or bigotry what they are really trying to say is that we are different.

Once a group has been labeled different you can be labeled greedy, stupid, and thugs, it becomes us against them. Them is a fair target, even an honorable target. Immigrants, Unions, and religions have all been made into non-people, parasites draining the life blood of the public and it's always open season on them.'

The Government and big corporations didn’t outsource your jobs, it was them. We didn’t demand concessions and wage cuts while paying CEOs millions, it was them. We didn’t take all of the benefit from tax cuts, it was them.

The truly frightening part is that most of the people that want to fire you or ruin your life don’t think of themselves as cruel. Your kids going hungry when you lose your job, or your years of service at a thankless job don’t count. They don’t see the need to keep the promises made when you were hired. In their own minds the trolls of the right wing press, the fee payers that collect Union pay and benefits while trying to destroy Unions see themselves as the Lone Ranger riding on a white horse saving the poor townspeople and making the world a better place, while Tonto gets minimum wage and no benefits.

Even as they attack the very institutions that built America into a great country, as the Fox news hounds demand that they be fired you are no longer a neighbor or a Mainer. You have lost your identity and become THEM, a Union employee. At the same time they are take the food out of your child’s mouth and destroy the dream of an American middle class in their daydreams they are legends in their own minds.

It is ironic that no matter whether the screaming is against Unions, Gay rights, some religion, or demanding that we bind the witch to the stake, or condemning those who do not believe in an endless war, all the words sound the same

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First negotiations team members to be elected on July 19.

I am running to represent Pro-Tech as one of the four negotiations team members. I have worked on two previous contracts and I want to do it again. My Union brothers and sisters many of whom are long retired and gone to their reward (maybe in Florida) have made it possible for me to have a good job and to be able to raise my family. When I was ill I had sick time, I had income protection because of our Union. I want to do whatever I can do to pay you back and to make it possible for future employees to have a secure job.

Below is the 100 word Statement I sent in to the Union on my application to become a team member. Under that is the description of what that member promises to do. If you know me then you should sign up for the bargaining committee before July 16, either to elect me or to elect someone you feel is more qualified. To be involved you must attend the next meeting where the first team member for each unit will be elected. Don't come for one meeting to elect me or to elect another member. Come because you plan to keep coming and be a part of the process that will shape our next contract. Other Pro-Tech members and former team members will also be running for that first slot and they all have the best interests of Pro-Tech and all Executive Branch employees as their motive for running. You owe it to yourself to hear them all and to make a choice. Please don't just let someone else make it for you.

If you don't become involved you give up your right to complain.

I want to represent pro-tech because I have fought for Union members during my whole career and I want to keep fighting!

I have experience. I have fought the State and won.

I have worked on this coming contract since before we signed the last contract. I drive friends crazy talking Union, Contract, Proposals and Strategy.

Times are tough. We need skill and experience to get the best possible contract. I want to work for you.

There is never enough money so we must compromise with other units, but my first interest will be to do the best for Pro-Tech.

Negotiating Team Job Description and Duties
Negotiating Team members must be willing to make a personal commitment to the process. Negotiations will include working long hours, nights, weekends and will entail personal sacrifice in order to obtain the best contract for the members they represent.
Negotiating Team members must also be able to make tough choices, sometimes including sacrificing issues that are personally important to them. Dropping proposals is not easy but is sometimes necessary to achieve an agreement. Team members must also commit to be unified in support of whatever agreement or decision is presented to membership by the team.
The Negotiating Team:
• Surveys the membership for proposals
• Performs research on the proposals
• Formulates initial proposals based on input from members and staff
• Maintains the flow of information to/from Contract Action Team
• Makes decisions on positions, proposals, and related negotiation strategies
• Defines and redefines negotiating priorities
• Assess and reassess negotiating strategies for the negotiating table and workplace actions
• Takes part in the actual bargaining with management -- sits at the table
• Is present at all negotiations sessions and caucuses
• Speaks at table on issues when necessary
• Provides direction to/from the Contract Action Team through the worksite communication network
• Focuses power of membership on maintaining the negotiating objectives for maximum pressure on the employer
• Presents the tentative agreement to membership with recommendation of ratification or defeat
Uses their knowledge and notes from negotiations to ensure that the contract is respected and enforced.

Any member is invited to send me questions. I will do my best to answer them in an open post. Let me know if you want your name printed or not. I will respect your wishes. NarsBars@UnionMaine.Org or click on the comments link at the bottom of this post.

Any member from any bargaining unit running to be a member of the negotiations team is invited to post comments or their own statement on why they are running. Send me an email and I will post it here.

NarsBars@UnionMaine.Org



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