Once again Witold, I am impressed by your insight and humanity.
-jc
On Nov 11, 2003, at 7:08 PM, Witold Karwowski wrote:
> Current member - I am not
> I have been the member of the Solidarnosc (Solidarity) Trade Union,
> the organization supported by Ronald Reagan and AFL CIO. At first it
> was a lot of fun to organize the trade union not endorsed by
> totalitarian regime. I remember first strike I was part of when send
> to the remote location to do documentation needed for moving a barn to
> the open air museum I refused to go (it was very nice solution to go
> away and wait what will happen from the distance - you will not bear
> consequences if the things will go wrong and you can always claim the
> support for the case in the if it's won). Next thing I remember was
> the night watch behind the glass door to be defended in case of police
> attack. As a young, tall (6-4), strong (former national rowing team
> member), three month earlier nominated lieutenant of the Polish
> Peoples Army man I was considered as a first line of defense. For what
> I can tell you - it was a very long night. No one knew what is going
> on - fresh after the service I had no doubt what will happen if anyone
> bother to pay attention to the strike organized by 400 crew of the
> historic preservation company (PKZ). Our good luck was several
> thousand shipyard workers on strike 2 kilometers away. 1980 - it was
> frantic year of almost around the corner freedom. I remember first
> union meeting (I still have hand made union mandate produced by my
> fellow architects just night before). Proposed by someone to take the
> position (my brave night performance!) of the board member i was
> investigated on the management - worker relations issues. The question
> was: if the worker come to you with the problem he has with some
> engineer in who's favor will you judge. As you can guess it was no
> brainier to answer to whoever is right, regardless tribal solidarity.
> The only thing what striked me it was fact that I was questioned by
> the head of the bookkeeping department. When 13 December 1981 martial
> law was announced it was really shocking experience. From now on I was
> underground union member. Trying to push forward my career as an
> architect in this time was not easy. Total denial of the leading
> political force imposed on Poland by the Soviets could not help me
> with that. Next thing what happened (this time I did not refuse to
> go) - I was delegated by my company to Riga, Latvia, Soviet Union at
> this time to work on Old City restoration project. I spent there 8
> years of my life. The country was beautiful, we did some good work
> over there, the system, well we all know how it come to the end. As
> they say in Poland "the darkest spot is under the lamp post". My union
> membership just dissolved over the years - it was real something when
> the best what you could get out of it was police baton on your back,
> it is something different when you can build your political (read
> material) position on it. As of now - from time to time doing the work
> in prominent location in NYC I was approached by some individuals
> asking me if I am union. In my contract I always put the clause about
> open shop prices and increase of the price if anyone request union
> job, what is usually enough to have the Client handle the case. I have
> no problem hiring union subs as long as the bid field is leveled but
> again it is never really level. As with every try of regulating live
> force of the free market it is a lot of space for corruption of the
> system. If anyone bother to ask for my opinion - trade organization
> which provide education of its members like AIA, PTN, TFG, APT,
> Painters Association and alike makes a lot of sense to me. The
> organization which provides free tickets to the Bronx Zoo or turkeys
> for Thanksgiving for its members - I do not think so.
>
>
> Proletariusze wszystkich krajow laczcie sie
>
> Witold
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: [log in to unmask]
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent:Monday, November 10, 2003 3:50 PM
> Subject:Poll, Union vs. Open Shop
>
> Drew recently posted a discussion concerning Trade Unions among other
> things in the Famous Amiss thread. Now, I'm curious how many people
> in the Pinheads are Trade Union Members, or were Trade Union Members.
> Please complete the following questionnaire and post it back to the
> list.
>
> ***************
>
> I am a current member of a Trade Union. (Yes No)
>
> I have been a member of a Trade Union (Yes No)
>
>
> ***************
>
> Steve Stokowski
> Stone Products Consultants
> Building Products Microscopy
> 10 Clark St., Ste. A
> Ashland, Mass. 01721-2145
> 508-881-6364 (ph. & fax)
> http://members.aol.com/crushstone/petro.htm
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