Good Riddance Marty

[Nights]

Is it too late for a Rail Negotiations do-over? After Marty's sell out of Rail Teamsters maybe this time our Pres could assign the negotiations to someone who gives a damn, Julie Su. Although one might ask the question why did we turn over Teamster negotiations to the government in the first place?

[Faust]

Hey that's not nice. That is Sean O'Brien's twin brother from another mother. He also supported the GROW Act because like O'Brien he also had a failing pension fund.

[Dudeman44]

Is it too late for a Rail Negotiations do-over?

Yes.

Maybe this time our Pres could assign the negotiations to someone who gives a damn

He assigned exactly who he wanted the first time. The Biden administration has suffered embarrassingly high inflation in part due to supply chain disruptions. The Dems were never going to allow a rail strike if they felt it would make that worse.

Why did we turn over Teamster negotiations to the government in the first place?

The unions had already been in negotiations with the rail companies for several months and little progress was being made. I'm pretty sure they were working without a contract. Under the Railroad Labor Act, when this happens the president can appoint an emergency board to try to "impartially" arbitrate a deal both sides can live with. But really it's a kind of last best and final offer, because unions no longer have the social base or the political power to make Congress fear blocking a rail strike.

O'Brien still could have verbally defended the right to strike though. And he could have done a one-day strike just to show a bit of muscle, try to put some pressure on the company to negotiate some sick days. But he didn't even try.

Instead, he threw up his arms, deferred to his buddy Marty Walsh, and blamed it on not electing enough "progressive" politicians. Give me a break!

[Nights]

Bottom line: this was an opportunity to back up militant rhetoric with militant action. Imagine the message this would have sent to Amazon workers and every other young worker looking at unions right now, had we taken them on, even for a short strike. These Rail Teamsters waited two years under the RLA to take action, instead their negotiations were handed off to Marty Walsh. I remember another Teamster President that was challenged by a Secretary of Labor. In that instance the Teamster President held his ground which resulted in the biggest victory for organized Labor in twenty-five years, '97 UPS strike.

[Faust]

O'Brien is a Washington puppet and that is who he is.

[1speed]

O'Brien had only been in office a short time when the rail road negotiations came to a head. He had to rely on the people that were already involved.

[Faust]

Oh another blind Seanie. You can defend him all you want. This was 100% O'Brien.

[Dudeman44]

O'Brien had only been in office a short time when the rail road negotiations came to a head. He had to rely on the people that were already involved.

He didn't need to be in office for years in order to simply take a principled position towards defending the right to strike. I know doing it in action would have been futile, because of the way the law is set up. But I mean, come on, man. He didn't even say anything! I dunno if it was weak leadership, that he simply didn't think it was a big deal, or what. But it was the exact wrong way to handle it. He should have stayed neutral on the PEB recommendations.

[Guest]

Damn, I thought Marty Frates was leaving.

So did I !! Damn !

[Faust]

Damn, I thought Marty Frates was leaving.

He did. He is now the head of the NHL Players Association. Hopefully he doesn't fu**k them like he fu**ed the railroaders.

Maybe he'll give free tickets to the Stanley Cup Finals.

[Nights]

So sorry for all the confusion. Wrong Marty. My original post was in regard to Marty Walsh the now former Secretary of Labor that screwed Teamster Rail workers on his way out the door to become NHL Players association head parlaying his brief stint into $ millions.

I really should have been more specific so no one would confuse this Marty with the big talking, do-nothing, loud mouth, play all sides, tough guy Sec-Treasurer of Local 70 Marty Frates.

[Guest]

So sorry for all the confusion. Wrong Marty. My original post was in regard to Marty Walsh the now former Secretary of Labor that screwed Teamster Rail workers on his way out the door to become NHL Players association head parlaying his brief stint into $ millions.

I really should have been more specific so no one would confuse this Marty with the big talking, do-nothing, loud mouth, play all sides, tough guy Sec-Treasurer of Local 70 Marty Frates.

Excellent description, I think my post was taken down, I was a bit too colorful in describing that rat, do nothing, big-mouthed, no values, no soul, useless, government loving, wank.

[admin415]

You're right Driver8 that post was deleted, hoping you'd find a better way to make an accurate description. I guess you did..... thanks.