ABSTRACT
You have to give a member the benefit of the doubt when they are terminated. If I've been twenty-four years paying union dues and no problems and you don't want to spend $2,000 on arbitration, as far as I'm concerned, it isn't right. Other members look at the case—“they do nothing but griev-ances”—and that's where a lot of faith in the union is lost. What often hap-pens—the local doesn't want to admit it—union members pay a fee for a service. People should be treated accordingly. Everyone should have their day in court. You should listen to what I say without feeling it's just wasting time. The local is a business. You have a budget you have to follow. It's a business. To treat members like they are charity cases—“I'm begging you to do a service for me.” Because people pay a lot of money in union dues.
