AFSCME threatens to hold Humboldt hostage; “Me too” screws the rest of us
THC fans, we’ve got something that you’ll get a really good laugh out of. We’ve been laughing for a few days about it, if only to keep ourselves from crying.
But it’s actually really bad news, at least for people that don’t like getting robbed. Your friendly local AFSCME (the union that represents public employees here in Humboldt) sent a letter to your very own Humboldt County Supervisors this past Wednesday. And it’s not just any letter.
No, it’s a shameful letter that illustrates just how self-centered, greedy, and nasty this organization really is. We’ve reproduced it in full for your reading pleasure/horror:
—–Original Message—–From: AFSCME LOCAL HUMBOLDT COUNTY [afscmelocal1684@yahoo.com]Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2015 08:38 PM Pacific Standard TimeTo: Bohn, Rex; Fennell, Estelle; Lovelace, Mark; Bass, Virginia; Sundberg, RyanSubject: We are coming for your jobs-
Mr. Lovelace excluded as he is pro working class and pro economy and pro America.
So AFSCME had another contract meeting last night. Great turnout. We have voted overwhelmingly to move forward to cast a strike vote if we don’t receive an acceptable contract. Have fun doing our jobs. But more interestingly, we will be starting exploratory committees to run active members and retired members for capture the offices you hold, as the trust fund baby crew holding office now does not understand the working class or America.
In addition, we will start negative campaigning against your reelections bids. So hopefully you have hidden all of your dirt. It will be exposed to the public in mass media campaigns, doorstep pamphlets, radio airings, press releases and TV commercials, to Betty Chinn center and Catholic Charities, to Redwood Empire Little League, to the neighborhood watch etc. We just got word we have the funding and backing of the broader AFSCME brotherhood as well as our local fund raising. Hope you like to fight.
It was also brought to our attention that Rex Bohn has the endorsements of our state assemblyperson and state senator, Mr Wood and Mr McGuire, who are Democrats, and we assumed are the allies of the working class of America. They have also been contacted with a similar message to opposition to there support of Rex Bohn’s reelection. Also included are statements made by Rex Bohn about not needing AFSCME votes, reported and documented facts about personal history, the fact he is a trust fund baby and does not understand the working class. We will also be sending members to Sacramento to let lobby and advise them that if they endorse Bohn, a stated independent, who but who really is an all out Tea Party Conservative, then they will also be campaigned against negatively by the local and by broader AFSCME when it is there time.
It’s time to play hard ball.
Bass and Sundberg will be the next focus.
Solidarity and Unity, AFSCME LOCAL 1684
Basically, we’ve got a bunch of whiny little f***s that think they should be paid even more than they are now – which, as we will get into, is far beyond what the regular Joe/Jane in Humboldt is earning. And the best part is that they do not give a shit that it is you and I, their neighbors and fellow Humboldt residents, whom they are demanding empty their pockets so that AFSCME members can profit.
We’ve delved into the cushy jobs that AFSCME members hold before, but let’s refresh you. Check out how much each County employee earned on average in 2013:
Pretty sweet deal, huh? Must be reaallly rough.
$43,177 in average wages, plus an additional $14,180 in retirement contributions and benefits. Not too shabby – especially when you consider that the average income for an entire household in Humboldt is $41,426according to the most recent census info.
So, the AFSCME wants its members to earn even more than most families of four do. Don’t fail to notice that the cost, per Humboldt resident, to support their current compensation packages is nearly $1000. (Also note that cost is per county resident ; the burden of cost is much higher for tax-payers.) How excited will you be to pony up more of your hard-earned money to support these entitled ingrates getting paid nearly twice what you bring home?
It seems like the AFSCME is less Robin Hood, and more “robbing every ‘hood in Humboldt.” THC particularly loves how the slogans they paste all over town say “Me too,” as if these motherf***ers are the ones being left behind in Humboldt’s wage inequalities. Is that a sick joke? No, actually, they are dead serious.
The AFSCME has their heads too far up their asses to realize the irony of that slogan. You see, THC isn’t so much a fan of the “Me too” thinking as we are of the “What about the rest of us?” line of thought. As in, why can’t these idiots understand that demanding these higher wages threatens the very fabric of our already cash-strapped County? “Me too”means that when one person in employ of the public gets a raise, then everyone else does too. Can you think of a few people working for our government who sure as hell don’t deserve raises? THC can.
Do you know what percentage of workers the AFSCME represents compared to our population? About 1%. Which begs the question, who really is the 99% in Humboldt County? According to the AFSCME website, only about 11% of wage and salary workers are part of a union. So, again, who is desperate for fair compensation? Not the members of the AFSCME.
In case that compensation comparisons alone don’t show you the difference between how good they’ve got it compared to your average Joe, check out the non-financial benefits that AFSCME members get, according to their website:
Are you f***ing kidding? It sounds like a damn summer camp, not a job! The AFSCME is hoping that you and I are stupid enough to believe that “Me too” benefits you directly, instead of actually costing you and the County more for their sole benefit.
Quite frankly, with that kind of neighborly attitude, THC is of the opinion that that AFSCME members who whine that they don’t get paid as much as other union members in other areas can just pack up and GTFO of Humboldt. Newsflash, assholes: Nobody here gets paid as much as they would in other areas. Deal with it, or take yourselves elsewhere.
Now that we’ve got our financial and ethical objectives to the AFSCME’s bullshit out of the way, let’s take a look at the form that the offensive letter itself takes.
Let’s start off by saying, for crying out loud, that THC sincerely hopes that whoever wrote this letter was drunk as hell. Here at THC, we are by no-means grammar-nazis (proof-reading is sooo boring!). But we do think that a letter as poorly written as this is probably not the best representation an organization should put forward for their official communications. So, um, if they do get raises, maybe they should use the money to put themselves back through elementary school. Just sayin’.
In keeping with their decidedly childish level of literacy and coherence, the AFSCME resorts to school-yard bullying to threaten our Supervisors into acquiescence. It’s just plain nasty, and for all you AFSCME members out there – maybe you should demand that the organization leeching off your union dues should comport themselves with a little bit more respect.
On top of that, do these idiots really think that dragging Betty Chinn and the Catholic churches into the mix makes them seem like victims? These are charitable organizations that serve the truly under-privileged and destitute communities in Humboldt. How many AFSMCE members have to go to the soup-kitchen, we wonder?
Also of note, THC cannot think of a single time that Betty Chinn has endorsed any political candidate aside from Rex Bohn. That’s right, the recipient of the Presidential Citizens medal – the second-highest civilian award in the United States – from Barack Obama himself, feels that strongly about the good that Rex has done for our communities. Is she supposed to feel bad for people that enjoy ridiculously better lives than the people she helps? Not to mention that any wage increase given to County employees would take away funds that could potentially be used to help those same people. Give us a break.
And don’t get us started on the AFSCME’s mention of Redwood Empire Little League. Targeting little league kids? Keep your filthy, self-centered hands and politics away from our children, AFSCME. Seriously.
And perhaps our favorite part is that the AFSCME leaves Mark Lovelace out of their hate-filled message. Um, of course Lovelace supports raping the County’s coffers to meet your demands. Lovelace is done with this County – he doesn’t give two shits how much farther the policies he supports will drive us into the poor-house. Hopefully there’s enough room for the entire County at the Betty Chinn center, because that’s where this AFSCME bullshit could send us.
All in all, THC fans, we hope you are as outraged by this as we are. Don’t let the AFSCME hold the future of our County’s success hostage. In their case, “Me too” leaves out the rest of us. Next time you see them waving their signs in front of the court house, don’t honk your horn at them – roll down the window and show them your middle finger. That’s exactly what they’re doing to you.
This is a comment on THC from a county employee. Thank you whoever you are:
I am a 15 year county employee. By and large I enjoy my job and I believe that I do pretty good work for the people of Humboldt County. I also think that I have a very fair compensation and benefit package. I do earn more than the average county wage and I am grateful for it. To all those reading the letter from the AFCME Union representatives, Please be aware that neither the sentiment, the tone, and certainly not the grammar represents my own feelings or that of most county employees. Overwhelmingly we all work hard and appreciate what we have, we have simply been hijacked by vocal extremists. Please except my personal apology and that of many likeminded county workers.
This has to be a joke. Who sends out a threatening letter like that?
ReplyDeleteNot a joke.
Deletehmmm, 5 yrs into working for the county and support myself and daughter on a whopping two thousand dollars a month, my rent is one thousand a month--one bedroom--I don't deserve a cost of living wage?
ReplyDeleteDepends on where you are working and if your salary is typical. Can't tell from an anonymous comment. And what you quote could be take home pay.
DeleteCounty pays towards health insurance, PERS, you excluded that part. Private employees do not have those benefits.
None of the County salaries are minimum wage. Not all one bedrooms are a thousand dollars.
Do you get any support for your child?
Many factors in the question you ask.
You deserve a living wage, so do the rest of working people in Humboldt. Not everyone is guaranteed a raise like government employees every contract negotiation. Maybe your union reps and their salary and dues should go towards your wage.
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ReplyDeleteTraci, the article and the facts are from a post that Humboldt Consequential wrote. So perhaps you need to read before you write a knee jerk response calling me names.
DeleteYou have a problem with their facts, they attributed the source. Go to their site and take it up with them.
Nothing changes the facts that this threatening email is despicable. I am not debating your individual situation online which I have no way to verify.
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DeleteTraci, I am well aware of you are and you used your position and knowledge of a fact about me that is personal that you know through work and has nothing to do with this post.
DeleteAre you not the legal assistant employed at the jail? Didn't the Sheriff's union protest at Rex Bohn's campaign and run to LOCO? You were not upset with that coverage. I pointed out who wrote the article, I did not claim those facts were true. I am under no obligation to check facts I did not claim were true. I pointed that out once. I will not again.
If you cannot have a civil conversation and will continue to make knee jerk responses, I will neither engage you further or print any more comments.
You continue to skirt the real issue which is an email threatening elected officials.
Your swipes at me are bordering on intimidation for doing my job which is to provide public information.
I too have lost respect for you and your unfair reaction today. I spoke highly of you to your boss previously.
John,
Delete1) AFSCME employees (which includes correction/jail staff) and the Deputy Sheriffs are two different Unions.
2) AFSCME reps (Stewards and Board members) are not paid; all volunteer
3) The email was not sent or sanctioned by AFSCME Local 1684; we do not have a Yahoo account; we are very transparent in all of our communications.
Also, the salary averages above are an aggregate, which include management and other non-AFSCME positions, which raise the "average"...a LOT
DeleteJo Wattle
(Sorry, my Google profile has an old blog handle)
Jo, thanks for the information. I posted the Union's email response in another post.
DeleteI made a terrible mistake in my first post by speaking about "anger being your new religion". This post is about the union and its methods of illiciting a response from the the board of supervisors. In my frustration I forgot Mr. Chiv is not just a blogger but a religious man and this indeed was not my intended goal to bring his profession into the conversation. Please forgive me for posting such disrespect. Mr, Chiv is a highly respected man of the cloth. That being said, I am always up for a political joust I just need to think before I type...
ReplyDeleteTraci, I thank you for all your comments. And for having the courage to use your real name.
Delete. I understand your frustration. I am well aware not every county employee gets the same wages.
I reprinted the post by th other blog mainly to expose the email and the tactics used by union leaders and/or some members locally.
I appreciate your comments about my faith. Ironically, as important as my faith is to me and will always be, I have resigned from all ministries and leadership at my church. That was something I enjoyed very much. And as you know, I made a difference.
It allows me to speak more freely without worrying about the two roles.
This is not to directed at you Traci but others have tried to use my faith to prevent me from speaking out on this blog. They cannot now.
This blog is my service now.
You are a good one to politically joust with so keep commenting. Dialogue is good.
I know that not all county employees are paid the same and there are folks who struggle.
I appreciate your comments and again I made a grievous mistake in typing faster than I was thinking. I enjoy your blog and frequent it often. I am glad we get to see you over at the county there are a lot of people that benefit for your words. The union is aggressive I will give you that. But I feel that sometimes it's neccasary. I am glad you have found an outlet for your words!
ReplyDeleteI hold the same position as Kevin Hamblin, Community Developmemt Director but in the private section. I hold the credential as a professional planner (AICP). Mr. Hamblin claims the same crendential but according to the American Planners Association webpage directory, he is not listed. Here's his compensation according to Transparent California:
ReplyDeleteKevin R Hamblin DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & DEVELOP
Humboldt County, 2013 $115,553.34 $0.00 $0.00 $30,775.08 $146,328.42
It is aggregious that Mr. Hamblin is being compensated based in a credential he doesn't hold.
If working people had any questions about the benefits of being in a union, this post should settle them. Rather than attacking the union for doing a good job for its members, how about encouraging other workers to form or join unions and get decent working conditions for themselves? Your post of both their letter and their member benefits are great pro-union promotions. Next you'll be posting Pete Seeger songs. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteSo Ed, as a lawyer, you condone threats and blackmail?
DeleteI don't see threats and blackmail in the letter; just politics. But, now it is being said that the letter is a hoax. So, I go back to my original point: union members get more pay and better working conditions because they are in a union. It seems obvious that the answer for non-union workers is to get into a union. "The union makes us strong" - Song sung by Pete Seeger.
DeleteEd, you see politics, I see threats. The letter has not been proven to be a hoax, it is being claimed. Did you read the response the Union sent to the Supervisors.
DeleteI am also linking the comment section to thc's post http://thclive.net/2015/09/21/it-wasnt-us-afscme-doth-protest-too-much/#comments.
The two comments by Seriously about the time and date of the email are noteworthy.
Ed, you see politics, I see threats. The letter has not been proven to be a hoax, it is being claimed. Did you read the response the Union sent to the Supervisors.
DeleteI am also linking the comment section to thc's post http://thclive.net/2015/09/21/it-wasnt-us-afscme-doth-protest-too-much/#comments.
The two comments by Seriously about the time and date of the email are noteworthy.
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DeleteJo, you are the VP of the Union. Of course, you are going to disagree. The author of that email could end all of this by simply owning up. And you just printed the same exact comment as Genuine AFSCME member. Is this an agreed upon strategy instead of the Union admitting someone made a huge mistake.
DeleteThe strike was discussed. Protests have occurred. Displeasure about Supervisors has been expressed by individuals to me and others. There are good Union members like you and I think you deserve whoever typed this to stand up and take responsibility.
John,
ReplyDeleteI want whoever sent that letter to come out and admit it too. It puts all of us in AFSCME in an undeserved bad light.
As for the comments, G.A.M. was the pseudonym on the other site. At this point, I am leaving that site entirely, having seen that they appear to have one intent, and it doesn't seem to be getting at the truth.
Jo, thank you again for your comment.
DeleteThank you John. Also, for the record, when I am responding to a blog, I am doing so as a member of the Union but NOT on behalf of the Union. My opinions expressed in blogs are strictly my own, and not those of any group or union unless expressly stated.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your reaching out and willingness to give information and engage in dialogue.
Delete