I think this title is appropriate after last Tuesdays "dog and pony" show. Yes, the little Jack Russell terrier on the back of the Shetland pony was really cute. The way it kept doing backflips was pretty cool. Anyways, let's get serious for a moment...

Many of you probably think I'm anti-Healthways. The fact of the matter is that I'm not. Many of your co-workers at HHT are trying to fight against the culture that has thrived there for many years. If you think for a minute that anything has really changed, then wake up. The CEO can't save us everyday from the stupidity of management. The VP that has been so accomadating to our needs can't change anything. The fact remains many of the same people are still calling the shots. This brings me to my next point.

I was approached today by a co-worker that is adopting the "wait and see" approach. Previously, she was vocal against the promotion of a certain lead worker. This evening she told me, "Before I was confident about [our supervisor], but now I don't think he's that competent". Really? This guy is a clown with big clown shoes and a red nose that honks. On a daily basis we are getting e-mails about the same garbage. The feeble-minded jagoff can't get people's schedules correct or even names for that matter. Quit wasting my time with your stupid e-mails and the "I'm your buddy" mentality. We all know this company is bent on enrollment. Blocking out time is just going to lead to pushing back advising. We'll get into the same problem with missed advising sessions and clients out 3-4 months. Whose hair-brained scheme was this? Ask the guy that wants to "show you the worm".

To quote our CEO a.k.a. Beetlejuice, "complain to someone who can do something about it". We have. In the past, it fell on deaf ears. Now, at least we're getting the drinking fountain fixed. Seriously, many of us are complaining to the United Food and Commerical Workers Local 911. Let's think about this: 911---our cry for help. We can all do something about this now. Unionize. This is our chance to change things for the better. I will always be open to hearing from my co-workers, whether it's good, bad, or indifferent. Your concerns are being heard by the union. Unlike the management at HHT, the union will be here to assist you and protect your rights. HHT has NEVER protected your interests and will continue to step all over you, if you let them. I will say it once again: The reason why these things go on in the workplace is because we allow it to. Stand up and say: Union, yes!

My last order of business is with unions in general. Marcy Kaptur is supporting unions in Toledo with the Employee Free Choice Act. This city was built on the blood of working families from unions. The Teamsters, United Auto Workers and the United Food and Commerical Workers are just a few of the unions representing workers across the county. Your firefighters and police officers across Lucas County are union. Many teachers in Toledo are union members. Many of the health professionals in the hospitals or clinics that you and your family go to are union. Many of our clients are union:

Kroger Company
Xerox Corporation
Hewlett-Packard
King County
PepsiCo
Union-Pacific Railroad
Ford Motor Company
General Motors
WEA Trust
Fairbanks Schools
Sound Partnership

By HHT taking an anti-union stance, they are ultimately telling our clients that we don't agree with your choice to be unionized, but we'll take your money. Thanks buddy for the cash, but unions suck. I'm a greedy son-of-a-bitch and we'll pitch our services to the UAW, but I don't believe in unions. Listen to the message that HHT is sending to our participants. Every union member should slap big John right in his beady-eyed face so hard that the mummy he's married to feels it. By the way, I'm still waiting for our apology for the wrong doing that Sasquatch did over the years. It'll never happen in Corporate America, but it's a nice thought.

Fight the power...let UCFW Local 911 represent you.