Wide, Wide River

Wide, Wide River

In the latest attempt to douse the flames of the AMO Lawsuit with gasoline, an article has appeared on the “Hot” section of the MEBA Website.


From Wikipedia : “The phrase "crossing the Rubicon" has survived to refer to any person committing himself irrevocably to a risky course of action, another way of saying passing the point of no return.”

Have Davis and Doyle crossed the Rubicon?

How will demonizing Danny Smith help the MEBA?

A read of the linked-to article reveals the depth of the issue. The Port Authority President got a pay raise of 6 percent when some feel a 4-5 percent raise would have been more appropriate. Let’s see, that’s about a $1640 difference. The suggestion is made that this is what has influenced the Port Authority to pay $129,000 per year in rent to AMO for a building called “One Maritime Plaza”. Gee, now why would a Port Authority want a space in a building like that?

A small amount of research shows the Port revenues (in 2005) were above budget, while expenditures were below budget. For a business with an annual turnover of over $20 million per year, $129,000 is really not that significant. In addition, the Port is working on the remodel of a new location. Why should they make an interim move?

This issue appearing on the MEBA website is a feeble attempt to distract from the real issue:

So here it is again:

There’s a lawsuit against the MEBA by AMO for a lot of money.

Davis can make this lawsuit disappear. How? Davis can give the Interlake contract back to AMO. Why should he do that?

Because sooner or later all three US Officers’ Unions will merge. Therefore, current MEBA Members will have access to the Interlake jobs at some point in the not too far distant future. Davis’ plan seems to be to first give AMO a great big wad of your Union’s wealth ahead of that day of merging. Increasing AMO’s wealth by some $300 million at the expense of the MEBA’s wealth will allow AMO to set terms and control the details of a merger. While it is a good thing for the working Members of all three Unions that the MMP, MEBA and AMO merge, it is even better for the Members if the subsequent organization does not operate on the AMO model.

So while Davis may think he’s Washington crossing the Delaware, his approach will likely leave you, the Member, up the proverbial creek without means of propulsion.

OK, no more clichés and mixed metaphors.

The costs of this lawsuit are not going to be paid for by magic. The costs will come out of your pockets, one way or another.

For more information: http://amo-union.net/2-15-06-tt.php

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