It's a little dishonest, but not uncommon, to lure people to a meeting with the promise of something important or fun (like pizza), only to have the meeting really be about something routine, or dull (like "droning on").
Sam Ogren and Ron Smith however, prefer to do it the other way around! While distributing a flyer for a "pension meeting", members say that Sam and Ron have been quietly admitting to a few members that it's actually a meeting to elect new stewards!
Perpetually confused and frustrated, Sam just doesn't seem to understand unions - a reader reports that last week he approached a former steward and said, "I've never seen a hospital like Marian! How can ten stewards hold a 400 member facility hostage!" Well Sam, it's not helping that you work with new rep Ron Smith, the charmer who was threatening UHW members with an old school ass whipping even before Dave Regan was!
Never a popular guy (never a steward or bargaining team member either!), Perez hears that Ron (sometimes known as "ol' green teeth") did an extra great job late last week...
A reader reports....
"Today Lloyd Taylor was working at Marian West when he was approached by Ron Smith. Lloyd was told in a very obnoxious, loud voice that he needed to leave the facility. Lloyd told Ron that he was working, and attempted to ignore Ron. Ron asked him to step aside and talk to him. Lloyd agreed, thinking it was in regards to a previous phone message left by Ron.
Our "Rep" (and I use the word lightly), proceeded to place himself nose to nose with Lloyd, screaming at him while flipping him off and repeatedly saying "Fuck you Lloyd", not once, but several times. It was loud enough that a man who was having his labs drawn with his three children in tow, heard it. The obscenities sent the lab tech into the hallway to see what the commotion was about and a maintenance employee proceeded to call Security.
Ron proceeded to tell Lloyd to meet him at his house and he would take care of things there. He kept repeating: C'mon Lloyd...You know where I live! Lloyd told Ron there was no way he would meet with him and Ron said "That's because you're a fucking coward."
We don't need or want this bullshit at our hospital! Let it be known SEIU AND Ron Smith, that we will no longer tolerate this behavior! The next time this happens a Police report will be filed! Hal Ruddick... Flannery Hauck... and Paul Matakiewicz, we spoke with you at length when you were here about Ron's temper and lies, and you did nothing! Shame on you!!! You wonder why MMC doesn't want you at OUR hospital? SEIU, your judgment is poor to say the least! We can't trust you to give us a decent Rep. What makes you think we would trust you to ever represent us?
Our Hospital employees are extremely close. Sam and Ron, you never enter our doors without the word spreading throughout that you are here! Employees are called on each floor, and the stewards you fired are called, even at home, the second you enter MMC. We don't like you and we do not want you to represent us EVER!!! We have contract violations that are not being taken care of because no one will deal with Ron. What a shame! Those violations that are taken care of are done by the Stewards that you fired. How many employees have you actually helped, Ron...none! The one you tried to help, got fired! Way to go!
Be warned, that we will file charges the next time Ron harasses anyone again! SEIU....Ron is dangerous to you and to the employees you want to "represent"!
By the way SEIU....Why bother coming to our facility again on the premise of discussing the "Pension" negotiations? It's a waste of our dues! NOT ONE member of our facility spoke to you before (except the one we sent in!) What makes you think it will be any different the second time around? Don't waste our dues money for Sam the Sham and the Ronnette to sit on their asses for twelve hours!
Mr. Cova, pay close attention to what is going on in your Hospital. We have alot of respect for you, and we love our jobs. We have the right to feel safe at work, and right now we do not have that secure feeling. We, the employees of Marian Medical Center are requesting that you intervene!
Hey Ron Smith....Can you spell R-E-S-T-R-A-I-N-I-N-G Order?"
What a great team! Perez is sure everyone at Marian was eager to hear them talk about "pensions" today!
