I have about three hundred e-mails that have come into my box over night, and I look through the list and my eyes focus on an e-mail from Eliot Seide.
Eliot Seide is a very important person--- a V.I.P. if ever there was one.
Eliot describes himself this way on his own website (well, the web site is supposed to belong to the union but everything on it has to be approved by him)---
http://www.afscme.org/about/11092.cfm
Eliot Seide – St. Paul, Minnesota
| Executive Director of AFSCME Council 5, which built power for its 43,000 members with the merger of three Minnesota councils. Seide has spent 28 years working for AFSCME members in Minnesota, New York and throughout nation as a Business Agent, Legislative Director and International Area Director. He serves on HealthPartners’ Board of Directors, the Minnesota AFL-CIO Executive Board, and was elected International Vice President in 2006. It isn't everyday I get an e-mail from such a V.I.P. so I immediately click on his e-mail and open it. I read the very short, brief, terse note with great disappointment and despair. The lead voice of labor for trend sending concessions who couches his betrayal of workers to satisfy HealthPartners' (a not-for profit insurance company) profit orgy in militant sounding rhetoric supporting Wisconsin workers doesn't appreciate my views. Eliot Seide, a most important person who slobbers and grovels before every Democratic politician looking for a handout and votes; who obediently begs for meatless bones from state, county and city governments in exchange for concessions, tells me in his e-mail sent from his most expensive and impressive BlackBerry that is the envy of many CEO's: Again take me off your list. I am not interested in your opinions. Do it now. Thank you. -------------------------- Sent using BlackBerry What has irked Eliot Seide to send me such a short response barking a command to me as if I was a grateful member of his staff? This note I sent to Minnesota's very liberal Democratic Governor has really ticked Eliot Seide off--- Governor Mark Dayton; You pledged not to attack public employees. You and I, and I am sure many public employees, must have a sightly different definition from you as to just what the word "attack" means. You being very wealthy and never having had to rely on a job for survival like most working people have to do in order to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads, the hundreds of working people you intend to lay-off could very well consider this an "attack" on them; don't you think? You are depriving hundreds of working people of their livelihoods; what greater "attack" on working people could there possibly be than depriving them of their jobs--- their livelihoods? Next time you are out campaigning I shall have to carry a Webster's Dictionary with me; I'll give you my dictionary--- but I doubt you get my vote. Alan L. Maki Director of Organizing, Midwest Casino Workers Organizing Council 58891 County Road 13 Warroad, Minnesota 56763 Phone: 218-386-2432 Cell: 651-587-5541 E-mail: amaki000@centurytel.net E-mail: alan.maki1951mn@gmail.com Blog: http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/ Perhaps Eliot Seide is just a bit jealous I insisted on getting something in return for my endorsement and support after Mark Dayton came begging to me; unlike Eliot Seide who got his members hundreds of layoff's after begging on his knees from Mark Dayton for the opportunity to support him. It would appear that Eliot Seide's anger stems from this e-mail I received yesterday from one of his dues-paying members who sent her brief thoughts to both Eliot and to me: Eliot, Shouldn't Alan Maki's name be on your pay-check? HealthPartners and the MNDFL should be paying your salary. You work for them not us. Alice Here is Eliot Seide's e-mail address if you would like to let him know what you think about him agreeing with our liberal Governor Mark Dayton attacking our state's public employees who are our front-line defenders of social programs we fought hard for: "Eliot Seide" <Eliot.Seide@afscmemn.org> Actually, Eliot Seide's bark at me might better be turned into real growls from highly motivated union members--- all 43,000--- directed at our liberal Democratic Governor, a bunch of thoroughly reactionary Republicans, and a gaggle of "Republican Lite" Democrats whose toothless growls he helped to elect with money from AFSCME members--- the AFSCME's new chant would go like this echoing inside the Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul: "Do it now! What do you want to do? Fight-back! No wage concessions, lay-offs or social program cut-backs! End these dirty wars to pay our wages, save our jobs and fund the social programs we deliver. Tax the Hell out of the rich. The people, united, will never be defeated. Power to the people--- Right On!" |