Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Long And Winding Road




To say that this journey has been a long and strange one would be a serious understatement. However, like all journeys, this one must come to an end.

When starting out this blog, my original intent was to bring forth an article once or maybe twice a week, recounting all the issues that SEIU was creating with their misbegotten trusteeship. Little did I realize that SEIU would be such a self-destructive font of information. There were several months during the run of this blog where I was able to put up one post a day, and sometimes more than that on average.

I had also originally intended to continue to write this blog until such time as I was given the opportunity to cast my vote on what was going on inside KP vis-à-vis the trusteeship. In retrospect, that may have been a bit of an ambitious goal; then again, I had trusted (naively, I must admit) that the Kaiser management team would recognize the clearly stated will of its employees, and ask the NLRB to conduct an election based on the stated will of a majority of its employees.

Alas, as we all know, that was not to be, and instead we NUHW partisans have had to fight a Maquis-like insurgency against the lies and terror being perpetrated by SEIU, while being actively colluded against by both SEIU and KaiPerm management.

We all saw what the result of that collusion turned out to be for SEIU down south via the SoCal Tsunami, as well as the overwhelming verdicts at Santa Rosa and the other smaller nursing facilities.

Having seen those results, and having witnessed personally the scornful attitude that SEIU organizers have for the KaiPerm rank-and-file, it’s pretty clear to me that Zombie UHW’s days are numbered within KaiPerm.

When I started this blog, I had no idea of the level of passion and commitment that the NUHW supporters shared throughout the UHW-organized facilities. I have met and become online “friends” with a cross-section of healthcare workers and union activists that will (I hope) last years into a bright and gentle future when the true, democratic way of NUHW will become the norm throughout hospitals in California, rather than just a hopeful exception.

I stand in awe of what the NUHW supporters have done so far, and I am honored by the level of commitment that these people have given to what initially had to have been seen as a quest that would make Don Quixote stand up and take careful note.

To my readers and commenters – you have my sincerest gratitude and respect, for you are people who have been attached to an idea that might does not always make right, and that the quality of the members of an organization stand for much more than the sheer number of members in that organization. I am proud to have been an occasional chronicler of this battle, and I hope that I have done right and well by the long and winding road on which we all collectively find ourselves.

It is for that reason, and because the demands on my personal and professional time have grown far and above what was available to me one year ago, and far and above the free time required to keep ¡AA! both fresh and relevant, that the time has come for me to put ¡AA! to bed. As selfish as it may seem, I would prefer to end the blog well, rather than to continue on a path that must inevitably lead to an inferior presentation. I will instead be concentrating my pro-NUHW agitation at my local KaiPerm facility as well as other locales nearby.

For posterity’s sake, commentary on prior posts will remain open for about two weeks or so, at which time all further commentary will be closed, but I will leave the blog up for public review until the trusteeship is consigned to its well-deserved dustbin of history.

In the meantime, I leave the commentary on all things NUHW and SEIU in excellent hands, and I would encourage all interested readers to go over to Tasty’s place, or go over to Red Revolt and see what Keyser has been up to out in Wine Country USA. And who knows – maybe someday even Perez Stern will make a triumphant return to blogdom.

Until then, keep the faith, and remember that no matter where Andy Stern may find himself, I have no doubt that he will always see RED people.

Farewell, and take care.

13 comments:

  1. Sierra,
    You've done a fine job these past months, and have been a daily must read. For all those on the inside, those laboring daily to bring respect, honor and dignity to those you work with - the rest of us are watching with admiration. You are the bulwark against a terrible tide, that would destroy democratic unionism from within. Stand strong, and know that there are many behind you.

    I'd sign my name, but I'm a staffer with another union, and I worry about how the wrong lessons are those our leadership learns.

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  2. Thank you, Sierra!

    And much respect for your hard work and powerful advocacy.

    Looking forward to working right there with you on the pro-NUHW agitation!

    (And, of course, I'm not alone in saying that we your readers will gladly accept any future posts you ever want to make at this blog!)

    :)

    Paul

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  3. Great job this past year.
    Going to miss you.
    CR

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  4. waiting4relections2March 5, 2010 at 1:11 AM

    All the best to you, Sierraspartan, you've given so much to us during this siege!

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  5. Sierra, I'm very sad to hear your blogging days are over, but I understand and respect your decision.

    Despite our minor differences over the Craig Becker nomination, I have really enjoyed reading your blog, and I share your hope that one day soon the trusteeship and SEIU will enter the dustbin of history.

    No go out there and organize! Viva NUHW!

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  6. You've done a great job at blogging. I'll miss you and your writing.

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  7. Noooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

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  8. Well done and farewell. Godspeed Sierra!

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  9. Sierra, you'll definitely to be missed. Thanks for being such a great source of information this past year. Best of luck organizing for the Kaiser election!

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  10. You have been (and will continue to be) a comrade in arms - a daily must read. You have helped to keep us warm against the coldness that is seiu. We will prevail - our sails are full with the winds of change you helped to stoke - take care - see you around the bend.
    BLESSINGS!

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  11. Well, It's about time you little shit.

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  12. Don't do this! You are an excellent writer and have been one of the rare voices of sanity during this dark chapter in our history. I'm going to miss you! And thanks for all the great posts!

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  13. I have so admired and enjoyed your work. Will miss you, but understand your need to step back. Hope you drop in from time to time.
    Wishing you and all the others fighting the Stalinist leaders at SEIU the best of luck.SEIU has had a "cult" mentality for a long time. The time has come to rid the movement of these short sighted self serving jerks. Please know we are watching and learning from you all.

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