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Workers, Unite for Justice - circulate the petition to defend the Freightliner Five
by labor militant
Monday, Feb. 18, 2008 at 11:45 PM
Print, circulate, and sign the petition to defend rank and file UAW members at Freightliner against the attacks of the local UAW president and his goons.
Workers, Unite for Justice
On Saturday, February 16, 2008 Allen Bradley a loyal trade unionist was
victimized yet again by the President of his UAW local, George Drexel.
Allen was arrested for merely attending a membership meeting, something he has
faithfully done, since the UAW organized the Freightliner; Cleveland NC Truck
Manufacturing Plant. Allen and four (4) other Union leaders were terminated in April
2007 for leading strike action against their employer, Freightliner LLC (visit
http://www.justice4five.com for more background information).
Allen and his comrades were terminated by their employer, but have been
victimized by the ruthless leadership of George Drexel and his pack of thugs who want to
strip them of their elected positions and their Union membership. They failed to suspend
them from office when the membership stood against an illegal motion to suspend them.
They also failed to get rid of them when allegations of conduct unbecoming a union
member surfaced and a UAW sanctioned internal trial was held in November 2007. The
five (5) accused were found not guilty by a trial committee made up of Union members.
The trial lasted for a week!
All their illegal attempts to remove these hard working officers of Local 3520
have failed. The (so called) President removed their names from the membership list (in a
show of Union Solidarity). Allen Bradley stated “When we arrived at the membership
meeting to sign in we were told we would have to speak to the Financial Secretary”.
While waiting for the Financial Secretary to arrive Iredell County Sheriffs Deputy’s
stepped up to the job to save the day. The action went down as if rehearsed.
Allen Bradley, Robert Whiteside, Franklin Torrence, Glenna Swinford and David
Crisco were instructed by the Deputies that if the President of the Local did not want
them in attendance at the meeting they would have to leave. Numerous rank and file
members (including an off duty police officer that is employed at Freightliner and a
member of local 3520) explained to the deputies that Allen and the others had every right
to be in attendance. However, the axe fell once the officer (Lieutenant Myers) called
President Drexel to the sign in station for confirmation that he did in fact want these
members in good standing barred from entering the meeting. The illustrious President
went to great detail to justify his violation of these members fundamental rights afforded
to them as Union members.
Once told that they did in fact have to leave, the Cleveland 5 proceeded to leave
the building in an orderly fashion. The Lieutenant and several other Deputies escorted
them out of the building and were following closely to make sure none of these hardened
criminals made a break for it. Bradley states “At this time, Lieutenant Myers got into a
verbal altercation with a Brother that was upset because we were being escorted out of
the meeting. I turned to photograph the exchange and was arrested.”
Allen Bradley stated “We paid dues that we didn’t even owe just to prevent any
action such as this from happening. Apparently George Drexel thinks he can use this
technicality to his advantage against us.”
It is time for all Trade Unionists to stand and be heard. “AN INJURY TO ONE,
IS AN INJURY TO ALL”. Join us in denouncing this illegal action taken against loyal
trade unionists by a renegade local union official. A petition calling for the immediate
reinstatement of these members to their status of members in good standing is attached.
Please forward it to all your contacts and get as many signatures as possible. Mail signed
petitions to:
Cleveland 5
P.O. Box 356
Woodleaf,NC 27054
Email to:allen@justice4five.com
Fax to: (704) 647-0491
Unite for Justice
We the undersigned appeal to the officials of UAW local 3520 to immediately
reinstate Robert Whiteside, Allen Bradley, Franklin Torrence, Glenna Swinford,
and David Crisco to their union membership in good standing. We need unity in
our struggle for economic justice and workers’ rights in the south. A victory for
one worker is a victory for all workers. Demonstrate Union Solidarity by
reinstating these dedicated union members. UAW Local 3520 can not be
instrumental in the fight to organize the south if prejudice and injustice are a
prominent part of its existence. In unity we can overcome any obstacle. An
injury to one is an injury to all!
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Labor Donated
www.justice4five.com/
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