...and was deeply saddened to find that the group's messages are being censored. My message, in it's entirety, was not posted as an original post by me...but rather was cut and pasted (censored) into a response format by one of the group's moderators.
I thought the group was a place that all HEA members could voice their opinions...freely and without censorship. I am saddened to learn that I was wrong. By not posting my comments in total...and as a message in and of itself (instead choosing to cut and paste only the parts the moderator wanted others to read) the moderator demonstrated for me the very same type of manipulation that is put upon us all by the administration...the very type of control and management that we have been trying to stand up against. I am deeply hurt by these actions.
I have always had a great deal of respect for all members of our bargaining team and have demonstrated my support by working together for the cause. Anyone may certainly disagree with my assessment of the MEA involvement...and clearly people have their own opinions...but by censoring my message...others who participate in the group have been deprived of their right to form their own opinion.
I believed this group, this forum...was a place for open dialogue. How could I have been so wrong?
Below is my original message...
Every time I talk with my husband Jay about the situation with the contract at HPS...he inevitably asks me the following...where is the MEA? What is the MEA doing to help? Each time, I am not sure how to answer. So, I am asking all of you who have been here longer and had more experience with contract negotiations in hopes that you might have an answer for me...and my husband. Where is the MEA? What are they doing to help us? Why are they not attending Board meetings and speaking on our behalf? Isn't this what we pay MEA dues for? If not, why do we pay the dues? Wouldn't it be nice to have a larger voice...one that might possibly be heard...to urge the board to do the right thing for us?
A few years back...the nurses at Sparrow Hospital were tired of fighting for better wages, better working conditions, betters benefits. Their union, the Michigan Nurses Association was not successful in representing the nurses in their plight. Guess what happened? The nurses union and UAW formed an allegiance...now called the MNA-UAW HealthCare Workplace Alliance. http://www.uaw.org/solidarity/05/0405/uf05.cfm
Yes...you read that right...the UAW!!! One of the strongest unions in the country...formed an alliance with the nurses association and has been pivotal in negotiating nursing contracts since then.
Look where the nurses are now. http://www.sparrow.org/SN-Jan07.pdf
I am not saying that we need to take these drastic measures...but isn't it worth thinking about, talking about...if we can't get the MEA to step up for us? When was the last time you saw an MEA member at a board meeting? Where are they as we picket? I ask again...what is the MEA doing for us?????
Respectfully posted...
Carole
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2 comments:
Carole,
I was really sorry to find out about this. Trust me, I didn't set up moderation to squelch viewpoints and we're (all designated moderators) talking this through now.
I hope you'll consider it a temporary glitch and continue being active in the forum.
Jeff Hastings
I've been a little slow to read through the "Putting Kids..." noise. There is so much going on at once. I must tell you I am not at all surprised to see Union leadership censoring to present their angle. It is completely consistent with my experience thus far.
http://www.chetlyzarko.com/b2evolution/
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