My Soul Belongs to Me

 

There was a time when Ron DeJuliis and I were friends. Surprised? So are a lot of our Brothers. I’m ashamed to admit it now, but back in the 70’s and 80’s, I worked on a number of projects with and for him:  Bolton Hill subway as a miner/operator/mechanic under compressed air, an outfall pipe for Patapsco, and the Fort McHenry Tunnel to name just a few. He was w/o a doubt the best master mechanic I ever worked for.  He cared about us and would do anything to benefit us. We worked long, hard hours and had fun doing it. He moved up to the hall as a BA in 1979. We were happy for him and we just knew that things were going to change for the better, not just for us, but he was going to make needed changes.

It didn’t take long for him to start the metamorphosis into the worst Manager that held that “hand-picked” position. There should be some criteria for that job, other than being a hitter or making sure you take care of the retired BM. How about some management courses, or some sort of minimum intelligence requirement, which seems to be lacking here, as is obvious because of the state of our Pensions and H&W.  He doesn’t know how to manage, and to cover up his mismanagement practices.  He uses his power to stifle the members, like what happened to me when I was attacked by goon Wooten at the 12/12/05 meeting.

Like his controller wife, suing Tommy O’Donnell for some stupid lie somebody related to her about him saying TO said she bought her SUV with target money. He didn’t, of course, say that.

What he said was, “Dejuliis paid top dollar for what appears to be bare bones equipped trucks for the organizer, and the one for his house, and wondered if she, the CONTROLLER, got a good deal with all those purchases the King made from the same dealer”. Yes indeed, that’s slander.  He really meant to ruin HER reputation. Why doesn’t she sue Joe Steffen who claims she’s a home wrecker?  He felt so strongly about her being a home wrecker that he put posters on every lampost  in Dundalk.  He probably put them on all of the donkeys’ asses in Beckley, WV too. And then there are the Iron workers who love to tell all those Sugar Bear stories.  Shanahan and VanDommelin -- these guys are very vociferous about their feelings concerning her and how she Bull Dogs the office.  However, only when she’s out of earshot, because if she hears it, move over Jeff Hughes. Must feel good to know people think you are so treacherous that they are afraid of you. Isn’t Power a wonderful tool?

Mark Harkins is a WV native and great guy, 100% union. He has questions and presents them at the meetings, just like DeJuliis says he welcomes. Just wants to know what’s going on. He works for Grubb, OOPS, now past tense, because although Mark is on disability leave and will return in 2mos., he was informed by Bob Burgee of Grubb that he was no longer needed because of lack of work. Burgee must be a psychic to see that in 2mos. there won’t be enough work to justify Marks employment, or was it because the KING made a trip to Grubb and took Burgee and Price out to lunch and decided it for him?  Wonder what the hammer is there?? Doug Brown said it was BS, that Mark is needed not only because of his expertise but because they are expecting an increase in work, new shop, etc. for the expected increase. Hey Doug, don’t you do the hiring and firing according to the work load? There are a lot of people watching you and they want to know if you’re going to stand up for your guys. I know the paycheck is important but, DO YOU OWN YOUR SOUL???

Quinton Anderson, remember him?  He quit because DeJuliis fired Jeff Hughes because the Controller, as usual, over stepped her boundaries and changed components of a report with Jeffs’ signature on it.  He protested which led to an argument, and he called her what everybody else agrees fits her personality. Don’t sue me woman I didn’t say it, but I must say from what I hear and observe!!!!!!! According to several of our BAs’ she does what she wants when she wants with her husband’s (Ron De) blessings and don’t you dare deny her the power of DeJuliis!!!!  Of course, Jeff cussed her out, and he was fired for this and some other garbage they dug up that was long past. Quinton, McQuay, Shanahan, and a couple of others had a pact that if one quit or was fired for one of the Kings’ Power moves, like you can’t talk to the Queen like that, regardless of her culpability, they were all going to walk to show their support. Quinton walked out the door, he looked back, and he was ALONE. Balls are something that people use for sports, at least up there. DO THEY OWN THEIR OWN SOULS?? Did Q actually believe they would leave their lucrative positions for what’s right or think their word was honorable? Of course DeJuliis lied to the assembly saying Q left to pursue an interest in computers. He had Q by the short hairs because he agreed to lay him off instead of making it a quit so he could collect his unemployment. Plus Q wanted his annuity and the King let him take it out in violation of the ERISSA rules. Quinton had to pay back $3000. I guess the King realized he made a mistake and rescinded the layoff letter and made it a quit, or did he object to Quinton talking to the group that wants to reform 37 and give it back to the members so we can straighten out the mess up there?

Another good man battered by the King and his men. Battered not beat. He’s on a list of a large and growing number of members that are starting to realize what DeJuliis has done to the rank and file. It’s disgusting to see how our retirees are suffering because of his indifference, arrogance, and empty promises. Ask Dejuliis how much his pensions are worth and what kind of H&W he has. You won’t get the truth because the truth eludes his lips.  He’s a weak minded man that has used this local to make sure when he leaves this local he will never have any financial worries unlike the poor rank and file he leaves groveling in his wake.

Don’t ask about his SOUL, I doubt he would tell the truth.

I hope the King and Queen enjoy their new home in Western Md.

Think they’ll invite the peons, the ones that sacrificed to get him where he is today. Disgusting just doesn’t even come close.

I was told by a exec. board member years ago, “Arch you’ll never get anywhere in 37 if you don’t play the game because it is a game a very serious game and it can be rewarding” He was a friend at that time. I discovered over the years that what he meant is Arch “SELL YOUR SOUL” and you will reap the benefits. I didn’t and wouldn’t sell it even for positions that were empty promises.  They never happened and could never happen because I ask questions and want answers. My head isn’t on top of a doll with a blank, dumb stare and springs that causes the head to bob up and down or side to side according to the direction the King wants it to bob.

I OWN MY SOUL, how many of you OWN yours More than likely if you don’t like my comments, for the most part, you don’t OWN YOUR SOUL and you probably are one of his BOBBLE HEADS.

Jim Archey