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The "Power of One" in your own words
"The 'Power of One' means that for the first time in transportation history, we must be focused on our common goals, set aside the differences the individual crafts feel they may have, and unify against the common situations so that we may forcefully bring successful conclusions to our cause."
"It means we all come under one umbrella, and we all fight for one common goal."
"It means instead of fighting with each other, we're fighting the carriers. Instead of spending all our time and effort and energy against each other, we can use it where it should be used, against the carriers."
"To me, it means there should be one union, and that union should be the UTU, because the UTU has more things to offer to its members than the other unions do, and it's more straight-up about what it has to offer to the people it represents."
"Basically, I believe we should have been 'one' since I hired out in 1969. You'd have a lot bigger voice with these companies."
"It's the salvation of collective bargaining. The only way we're going to make it in this railroad industry is to be one complete union so we're not fighting ourselves, we're fighting the company, which we've got to fight, because they're not our friends."
"After 38 years of service with former Santa Fe, and now BNSF, I'm tired of watching the different crafts fight amongst themselves. They're doing themselves more damage than good. We're going to have to be one to have some power. It's just common sense that 'one' is a lot stronger than 'two.'"
"I feel like it's time the carriers quit pitting the union's against each other, and it's time to come together as one."
"It means the unification of labor, instead of us all rowing in different directions, when we're all in the same boat. We've got to do it as a team."
"It means strength in numbers. It really does. The more people are together, the bigger the song they get to sing. You get to carry a bigger hammer." |
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"It means strength in numbers. It really does. The more people are together, the bigger the song they get to sing. You get to carry a bigger hammer."
"I believe it has to do with pride, not only in our union, but also in the brotherhood of our fellow employees, and the effort and performance that we all do to protect our rights and duties with our fellow workers and our jobs with the union."
"It reminds me of the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel. The people began building their tower when they were of one mind. If we get together as one body, with one focus and one goal, nothing can stop us. It even applies within our membership at the LACMTA, where we're negotiating our contract. Whether part-time or full-time, if we share the same vision, there's nothing we can't accomplish."
"It takes all of us as 'one' together to make things happen in this country. We need to stand together and unite."
"It means protection for the younger guys. That's what this movement's all about."
"It means, 'United we stand, divided we fall.'"
"It means you don't have to look around to see who's with you and who's against you. 'The Power of One' virtually eliminates the word 'enemy'. It means you're pulling together, instead of against each other."
"It means we all ought to be together in one operating union, and it should be the UTU."
"It means the ability to get a better contract, greater earnings, greater benefits for the working man."
"Unity. There's definitely more power in one union. I honestly believe it would really be a good thing for everybody, engineers and trainmen. Bottom line, it's a good shot."
"As a new hire, uniting the contracts would be a great thing."
"I think it's way past time we were together as unions. The carriers pit us against each other. I think it's an archaic setup and needs to be changed."
"The 'Power of One' means the unity and strength that a unified workforce can leverage on management."
"I realize we need to have done it 30 years ago; we'd all be a lot better off today. Now we're fighting each other, and what's going to happen, I can't tell. We should have done it a long time ago."
"I think all people working for the railroad should belong to one union so that everyone has a united fight and we're not fighting with each other."
"The 'Power of One' is everything. I've been here 32 years and the UTU and the BRT are the only unions I have belonged to and will belong to. It's our livelihood, that's the bottom line, and without it we'd be in deep trouble."
"It means consolidation, better benefits, better working agreements, and I think as a whole the UTU and BLE should get together as one."
"The 'Power of One' means one union together, everybody working for the same common goal and going in one direction to make a better life for each man and his family out here on the railroad."
"The 'Power of One' is unification. The 'Power of One' is all helping together to solve our common problems. The old saying, 'You either hang together or hang separately,' is true. I want to hang together."
"It means one union, everybody working together to reach a common goal. We all want the same things; we're all fighting for the same things. Why not have one union doing it all?"
"The 'Power of One' means to me that we all need to be unified, we all need to be together, and we all need one operating craft out here. We need representation by one union so all we have is seniority and all we have to do is protect each other's seniority. If we have one operating craft and one union representing us, we can make agreements that can protect everyone's seniority, no matter which craft they are in."
"It's already taken effect on our property. We took over the BLE engineers on our property several years ago, and this is what we need. It's paying off. When we go to the superintendent, there's one union, not two that he can use against you."
"The 'Power of One' means unity for all railroad workers. It's got to help. With four or five unions, the company always plays one against the other. If there's only one, it's one on one."
"The 'Power of One' means one union for all operating employees. It will help in bargaining, with one union speaking for everybody. It would one union for all of us."
"The 'Power of One' means unity, one union for all railroad workers. It will give us one voice. Instead of many confused voices, there will be one united voice."
"The 'Power of One' is the united front that we need to have in order to have a chance in negotiations with the carriers in the near future, especially when this issue of remote operations rears its ugly head."
"With unity, we are one. Divided, we fall."
"I feel that if we can get these two unions together, we will have a stronger base for negotiations and anything else that rail labor's involved in."
"The Power of One means the UTU needs to be the sole union representing transportation workers in America. Just like President Little stated here at the Regional Meeting, that if we're represented by one union then there's less conflict with the carriers."
"It means strength in numbers. One union would be a big help, especially for the younger members."
"The 'Power of One' means we can get more things done. Unity means everything. Without unity, you're going nowhere. You're not fighting against each other. It makes a lot of sense. The only time we ever made real progress was when everybody worked for the same goal, instead of working against each other."
"It means a stronger union for everyone and a better quality railroad and service to everyone in the country."
"I'm on the Florida East Coast Railroad, so to us the BLE is not an issue. Indirectly, on a national level, what the UTU accomplishes for me means a lot. I see a dilution of power and two unions struggling to go in two different directions with protection of jobs and crafts. Whether we want to face it or not, every railroad in this nation will have to confront the problem of remote control locomotives. That's going to be a big issue in the next decade. We need a union that is protecting jobs, not trying to protect their own self interest. On the FEC, it eases the dealings with the carrier."
"The 'Power of One' means the power of all of us united for one single cause, putting all our efforts into it, and at the same time it means the difference that one person can make."
"It means we have more power in the legislature. The larger the number of people we represent, the more power we have to elect people who understand the people we represent. It's a great concept, and I'm in 100% support of it."
"I think that there's strength in numbers, and rather than spending so much time fighting each other, we'd be better off working together and negotiating as one."
"It means getting everyone in one organization, having more power to negotiate with the big companies."
"The 'Power of One' signifies the unity that is in accordance with our UTU motto: 'Progress Through Unity.' This would be a great way to unify rail labor and avoid the race to the bottom."
"The 'Power of One' means we will be the strongest union in the nation. We need one union if we're going to win and be ahead of the railroads, it's that simple. When we fight against each other, we can't win. We've got to get together and be one, and one will conquer all."
"The 'Power of One' means we need to get the unity of one union. I think it's time for everybody out there to come to the Power of One."
"It means combining everybody to join together to have a union which is more consolidated. We can resolve problems instead of being separated."
"It means the power of everybody pulling as one team to make a change in the railroad industry for the benefit of all crafts."
"If we're all together in one unit, we will be stronger in company negotiations and we can all get more benefits for our families."
"It means we're larger in number, we have better say-so when it comes to negotiating, and it means more money in our pocketbooks."
"The 'Power of One' means everybody sticking together and trying to improve things."
"The 'Power of One' means a lot of numbers equating back to one, which means power, which means influence, and the effective ability to get something done."
"Well, what the 'Power of One' means to me, as a local chairman, it will finally give us an opportunity for all of rail labor to sit down and speak with one voice. And there will be no more infighting between the unions. That only happens at the national level. The people out here are ready to work together. They want the 'Power of One.'"
"Well, it would be nice to have just one union to fight the railroads instead of a bunch of unions. Even with one, I think it is going to be difficult, but it's certainly difficult with multiple unions."
"I agree with the 'Power of One.' I hope it goes smoothly and I hope it comes about. I didn't believe in it at first, until our vice presidents convinced me. I could see the need for the 'Power of One' with things like the black box and other issues. We need to be one union."
"I believe it's the future of our union. I believe the energy needs to be put towards that. It's a big step."
"We need to stop the waste of time in competition with our railroad brothers and sisters. The used-car-salesman attitude and bounty in raiding back and forth between the BLE and UTU helps no one but the carriers. We need the 'Power of One' union in our rail industry. And we need it now. I believe the UTU is that union."
"Actually, defining what a union is, it's a group of people that have the same interests and need to get together for mutual aid and solving problems. We all need to be together, that's my opinion."
"The 'Power of One' is the power of us all working together collectively, and we are not getting that with the BLE and UTU as they are right now. The sooner that changes, the better off we'll all be."
"My dad worked as an operating engineer, so I grew up around a union all my life. I've tried for a lot of years to get on this railroad just for that reason, because it was union-represented. As far as 'Power of One,' well, there's strength in numbers. I heard that from my dad all the time, and I believe it to be true. And for the short time I've been around here, it seems that the company uses these two unions against each other half of the time. Especially for young guys, post-'85 guys, our future is everybody working together. I can't see any good coming out of these two unions staying separate. There's strength in numbers, everybody being together, being on the same page. We'll have a lot better results against the carriers. Staying separate, I just don't see it happening."
"'Power of One' to me means trying to unite not just these unions, starting with these unions, but eventually all unions for the railroads, and the transportation industry. I really think if we do that, our strength through unity would help us negotiate a much better contract for the future."
"I think the 'Power of One' is a good idea, because I think what the carriers have always done is try to separate us, union by union, to keep us apart. We are going to be a hell of lot stronger union if we become one union instead of fragmented the way we've been."
"It means one union. And I think it could, or should, be extended to include all bus drivers from different companies, merging all transportation into one union for strength and power, which would really yield us a lot of good benefits and working conditions. I think it's a great idea. I'd like to see the 'Power of One' get into the bus industry, so we could all be under one union."
"In this day that we live in, with all the acquisitions and mergers in railroads, we have only one way to go, and that's the 'Power of One.' Strength and unity. And if you don't believe there's strength in unity, ask some of these Southern ladies that sweeps with her broom if it's got more than one straw in it." |
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