Dear DU Thanks for the MEMORIES!!! (corrected post #30,000)

[Omaha Steve]

Post # 30,000. :party:

Not bad for a guy that almost quit once over something very stupid a few months ago.

It seems like only a few weeks ago I found the DU. I was having a flame war about politics with a conservative and was winning about "W". He accused me of getting my far out ideas from something called the Democratic Underground. That got me to look for this place.

My fortress of solitude. This has been my hobby home ever since.

Photos of me with Cindy Sheehan:


Asking for advice on how to handle meeting my oldest daughter for the first time: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2471976&mesg_id=2471976

The first time I suggested a union group for the DU. It wasn't long before we got upgraded to a Labor Forum. Buy American and rights for animals. My good friend the seal lady (Marie) took her own life a few years ago. Me walking a picket line in Bellevue to ensure the right to an abortion would continue after the shooting of Dr. George Tiller: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31029377/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/suspect-held-slaying-kan-abortion-doctor/ My support for gays (GLBT) through Pride at Work etc.

Making the DU the first stop for labor supporters when the Wisconsin protests started.

Talking about recent low points in American History like Katrina. The high points like electing President Obama.

To this and many more posts, I raise a glass to toast in cheer to the good times and bad.

I love you ALL.

Warmest regards,

Omaha Steve & Marta (she lets me have all this time here)

[spanone]

1. k&r...

[Duval]

46. Many thanks for your good work here. n/t

[msanthrope]

2. Don't you ever leave. Seriously. I love you, too. nt

[pinboy3niner]

3. Congratulations on another milestone!

And many more! :toast:

[FarLeftFist]

4. Why go?

[gkhouston]

7. He's not going. He just hit 29K on his post count. n/t

[FarLeftFist]

10. Oh great! The whole thanks for the memories thing threw me off.

I hate seeing anyone go, especially if it's because another poster drove them away.

[gkhouston]

15. Yeah, I was concerned at first, too. n/t

[thereismore]

5. Yeah, that Democratic Underground, they are a bunch of libruls! Haha! nt

[w8liftinglady]

6. I love you like family- you always inspire me!

paisan!

It's been a good time.I've learned everything I know about labor from Steve!

[ZombieHorde]

8. "He accused me of getting my far out ideas..."

"He accused me of getting my far out ideas from something called the Democratic Underground. That got me to look for this place."

Me too! I was debating with a Republican on a message board, and I was accused of being a DUer. I had no idea what DU was, or even what the letters stood for. Now I am an extremely frequent DUer, to many people's woe I imagine.

[gkhouston]

12. In your sig line, could you have the zombie walking towards the

"my new hero" link? I always get a kick out of your zombie. :evilgrin:

[ZombieHorde]

17. Done, and I am happy to be enjoyed. nt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. Congrats, my dear Omaha Steve!

I love ya too, you big lug!

Your story is very inspiring...

Here's to many, many more great posts!


:party: :toast: :toast: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :toast: :toast: :party:

[a la izquierda]

11. Felicidades, Steve!

I'll probably never hit 29000, and I've not read all 29000 of yours...but I've loved all that I've read.

Kudos!

[Raine]

13. CONGRATULATIONS on your milestone!!!

GLAD you're here I enjoy your posts! :bounce:

[rurallib]

14. you are one of the big reasons DU is what it is!

[SusanaMontana41]

16. This fellow Nebraskan raises a glass to you.

:toast:

Glad to meet you, Omaha Steve. Congratulations on 30k!

[wellstone dem]

18. I'm so glad you are here OS

When I see your name on a post, I read it. I've never been sorry. Thank you for all you do.

[femmocrat]

19. Thank YOU, Steve!

Your posts and the Labor Forum are one of the finest features of DU. Congrats on your 30K! :toast:

Your labor history posts always make me feel so proud. I don't know how "people" can forget how many workers sacrified their lives to achieve the workers' rights that we cherish today. It infuriates me when anyone denigrates UNIONS and takes these hard-fought achievements for granted. Or worse, tries to strip workers of our rights.

We Are One. :hug:

[patrice]

20. OMG!! You're almost just exactly as I imagined you!!

:hug:

[KT2000]

21. You're a great contributor

and you keep us up to date on labor news. Thank you!!

[Kermitt Gribble]

22. Congrats, Omaha Steve!

You are a very important part of DU, and I'm looking forward to your next 30,000 posts!

[DirkGently]

23. Always enjoy your posts, sir. Keep them coming, please. Good luck at the polls.

[Booster]

24. You always lift us up, Steve, so keep it going. Love ya.

[girl gone mad]

25. k & r

[Enthusiast]

26. Happy 30,000th, Steve!

:fistbump:

[rosesaylavee]

27. I love that you stayed with us Omaha Steve

almost as much as I love the idea of you running for office.

Thank you for your 30,000 posts here. I can't say I read them all but those I have read, I have appreciated esp for the passion, the personal insight as well as the information you have passed along for us to share elsewhere.

Blessings on you this year as you take it to the next step!

[madmom]

28. Glad you stayed and here's to many many more posts......

:toast:

[Omaha Steve]

29. Another post of mine in the past

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=9261132

Her name was Maria, 17 and expecting when she died (they refused to take her to the hospital)

[TBF]

30. Solidarity to you & Marta on this fine labor day! nt

[lunatica]

31. Hello fellow DUer!

[WillyT]

32. We Love You Too Steve !!! - K & R !!!

:toast::bounce::toast:

:hi:

:kick: & Rec!!!

[hay rick]

33. Our own sage of Omaha.

Thanks for keeping us up to date on labor issues. Looking forward to the next 30,000 posts.

Here's a toast to solidarity- raising my coffee mug as it's still morning in New Jersey.

[Dem_in_Nebr.]

34. Hey Steve,

Good to have another person from Nebraska on DU! I don't feel quite so lonely , , , ;-)

Congratulations on the milestone!

I'm not a regular poster but this is one of the sites I visit multiple times daily.

Don from Omaha

[Omaha Steve]

35. My dad was an 11 year old scab in 1931 by Omaha Steve on the Denver Post blog

Another old post of mine from 2008: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=367x11906#11906

http://blogs.denverpost.com/lewis/2008/06/15/unions-mak...

Mr. Lewis,

This is in response to your article today “Grinding axes over unions”.
I’m witting from Nebraska. We are a right to work state. I’m the son of
a scab. My father was 11 years old in 1931 and quit school to support
his family during the depression. He was one of fourteen children. My
grandfather was in jail for bootlegging. (He was also a bigamist). My
dad crossed the picket line. He was working a quarry in Southern
Indiana. The company used young children to place explosive charges deep
in small holes from a drill. On his way home one night, several out of
work men taught a young boy why he should have stayed in school and
shouldn’t cross the line.

Although after W.W.II my father worked in a union shop in Omaha for 32
years, he never joined. He had good pay and benefits for a third grade
education. He didn’t like it when in 1980 I started organizing for the
GAU in a non-union print shop. I was fired once the company felt I had
the votes to get the union in. While my case wound through the system
for over three and a half years, my wife’s union wages at US West keep
us from starving. The best work a union trouble maker could find during
that time was a paid picket for ten weeks in the Omaha area Hinky Dinky
stores strike.

My case file:
http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Board%20Decisions/261/...

My story doesn’t end here. On February 20th last year I was fired in
blatant retaliation for filing an ADA complaint against my employer.
Because a contract was in force, my case moved much faster this time.
Five days before a scheduled arbitration hearing, I was offered
reinstatement with back pay and wages on June twentieth. Four months. My
union paid all the legal fees (approximately $5,000) and asked nothing
in return.

I can’t understand people not wanting to pay union dues. When your
outside looking in, things are much different. I don’t feel what my
father did all those years was right. He did earn a retirement, decent
wage, and more. His experience from 1931 had nothing to do with his
career in Omaha. The right to work law weakens unions. Just as it was
designed to do in 1947. Nebraska was one of the first states to use
right to work in 1947.

Regards,

Steven L Dawes
Shop Steward AFSCME local 251

See these also,

Where are the victims of unions?: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

Grinding axes over unions: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[Muskypundit]

49. Your a saint and a hero to this once upon a time lurker.

[Vattel]

36. Cheers!

[The Wielding Truth]

37. Omaha Steve,Thanks for the .....30,000 posts!

[myrna minx]

38. All of my best to you.

:patriot:

[TwilightGardener]

39. K/R.

[Divine Discontent]

40. k&r for OS!

[underpants]

41. You are much less hairy than I expected

You are one of the best my brother (if I may). You are the labor keel that keeps the ship right for me. I love your posts and since you are running for office (right?) I will do what I can to help you.

DU is a truly great place, wise and otherwise - but it is fun too.

:yourock:

[Omaha Steve]

45. The Primary is next May

The early in the year caucus is for the office of President only.

Marta is running in the Board of Education race. I'm running for City Council.

[yardwork]

42. You're a good guy, Steve. Thank you for all that you do.

[wickerwoman]

43. Looking forward to the next 30,000!

[nadinbrzezinski]

44. Now I have a face to put with the name

Thanks Steve

[OmahaBlueDog]

47. Always a pleasure to know not everyone in Nebraska is a Republican

..and even though I'm frequently accused of being the next best thing to the GOP, I enjoy your posts!

[Bluesbreaker]

48. I'm glad you stuck around

Always enjoy reading your posts.

[Omaha Steve]

50. I stood at the cash register and cried (30 year old memories came rushing back)

Another of my old posts.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x9029986

Edited on Fri Aug-27-10 07:43 PM by Omaha Steve

Most of you know I was fired illegally for union organizing in June 1980: http://www.nlrb.gov/shared_files/Board%20Decisions/261/...

The next 4 years were the worst years of my life. More on that in a bit.

This afternoon I did something I haven't done in years. I walked into a Starbucks to order something. I told the Barista at the counter I wanted a large iced tea. I then told him I want to make sure my Barista is a union member. You could see I had upset him. He threw his bar towel against the counter and went into the back room. A young black worker came out with the largest smile she could make. She took my order. A few moments later I was at the cash register. As I paid for my tea she politely said in a low voice "thank you for your support". I said "same to you".

I lost it. I remembered in detail being fired at the age of 23 because I wanted a union at my workplace. I had 3 kids to feed. I was black listed. It was 82 when I got my first work after being fired. I worked for 10 weeks as a paid picket in the Hinky Dindy (UFCW) strike. I would not find any work again until late June of 1983. Payroll had some problems. I got my first check for 6 weeks just before Marta went on strike against Ma Bell for 3 weeks. The last unified national strike against AT&T before break up the following first of the year.

I remembered loosing my unemployment appeal. Winning the first round with the NLRB. Loosing the next round with an administrative law judge. My appeal to the board was upheld. Industrial Label appealed to the appellate court in St. Louis. I won there. After close to 4 years I got a settlement check on the condition I turn down in writing my right to reinstatement at the company. Otherwise the company was ready to stall by appealing to the US Supreme Court.

It was a while before I learned it was the first black to sit on the NLRB board that made the difference in my case. Howard Jenkins Jr. was nominated by President Kennedy. He stayed through 5 different Presidents and earned the nickname Mr. NLRB.

My barista of choice asked if something was wrong? I could only say tears of joy as I walked away. I'm sure several people in the store wondered where the nut bag came from.

OS


Squeezed Baristas Shut Down 15th and Douglas Starbucks in Omaha to Protest Cutbacks: http://www.starbucksunion.org/node/3822

Submitted by SWU on Thu, 08/05/2010 - 8:36am.

For Immediate Release:
Starbucks Workers Union/Industrial Workers of the World (IWW)

Contact: Tyler Swain, 402-320-2002

August 5, 2010

Squeezed Baristas Shut Down 15th and Douglas Starbucks to Protest Cutbacks

Workers Demand Reversal of Recession Labor Cuts as Starbucks Returns to Profitability

Press Conference: 4:30 August 5, 15th and Douglas, W. Entrance to Omaha Public Library

Omaha, NE- Baristas and community supporters shut down the 15th and Douglas Starbucks (SBUX) this morning demanding that management reverse all cuts to healthcare, staffing, and benefits that have been imposed during the recession. The baristas claim that executives have no justification to squeeze working families with Starbucks raking in profits of $977.2 million in the past four fiscal quarters.

“We are being squeezed, and we can't take it any more. Since the recession began, Starbucks executives have ruthlessly gutted our standard of living. They doubled the cost of our health insurance, reduced staffing levels, cut our hours, all while demanding more work from us. Starbucks is now more than profitable again. It's time for management to give back what they took from us,” said Sasha McCoy, a shift supervisor at the store.

Since the onset of the recession, Starbucks imposed a series of deep cuts on its workforce. Starting in 2008 as the economic downturn began, the coffee giant shuttered over 800 stores and slashed over 18000 jobs. The remaining skeleton crew workforce was stretched out, forced to push VIA and other promotional products while keeping the stores running with insufficient staffing levels. CEO Howard Schultz then doubled the cost of the company health insurance plan in September 2009, leaving many workers unable to afford medical treatment because of sky-high deductibles and premiums. While the cuts continue, Starbucks made a record profit of $207.9 million in the last quarter according to company figures.

The protesting baristas are members of the Starbucks Workers Union, which is an international campaign of the Industrial Workers of the World labor union. The store action makes the 15th and Douglas location the first Starbucks in Nebraska to have a public union presence. The workers decided to move to unionize after watching their standard of living be whittled away while top executives chose to reward investors with dividends.

Samantha Cole, a Barista at the store said, “I work hard for every dollar I make in order to put food on the table for my family; Starbucks rewards workers with a poverty wage while they give their Wall Street pals dividends. I'm not doing this for myself so much as for the next generation that will grow up in this country. These are the only jobs that are left here- we need to make sure they are good jobs for working families.”

While portraying itself as a ‘socially-responsible’ employer, Starbucks pays Nebraska baristas a poverty wage of $7.35/hr. In addition, all retail hourly workers at Starbucks in the United States are part-time employees with no guaranteed number of work hours per week. According to Starbucks figures released to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 40.9% of its employees (including managers) are covered by the company health care package, a lower percentage than the oft-criticized Wal-Mart, which insures 47% of its workforce.

Since the launch of the IWW campaign at Starbucks on May 17, 2004, the company has been cited multiple times for illegal union-busting by the National Labor Relations Board. The company settled numerous complaints against it and was recently found guilty by a judge in New York on more than 30 additional rights’ violations. Starbucks’ large anti-union operation is operated in conjunction with the Akin Gump law firm and the Edelman public relations firm.

The IWW Starbucks Workers Union is a grassroots organization of over 300 current and former employees at the world's largest coffee chain united for secure work hours and a living wage. The union has members throughout the United States and Canada fighting for systemic change at the company and remedying individual grievances with management.

Union baristas, bussers, and shift supervisors have fought successfully toward improved scheduling and staffing levels, increased wages, and workplace safety. Workers who join the union have immediate access to co-workers and members of the community who will struggle with them for a better life on the job.

[gateley]

51. Your contributions are invaluable, Steve - no exaggeration. Thank YOU for everything! nt

[bread_and_roses]

52. Always glad to see your posts, Omaha

I don't comment on them much, but that's cause I usually agree with them :)
Solidarity!

[11 Bravo]

53. Happy Labor Day to DU's patron saint of the working class!

You are a treasure, sir.