Treated Like An Evil Doer

 It was a fall night in central Alabama as my friend, co-worker, brother in Christ, and fellow union negotiator Keilan and I stood outside a Shell Service Station near Indian Springs, Alabama.  Hours earlier Keilan, union president, presided over our meeting ratifying our 1994 contract with the Cement Plant in Calera, Alabama.  It ended after a lengthy strike which started in August of 1994.

Keilan initially wanted to go to the plant manager’s home, but I warned that it might appear as a threat to go to his home and convinced him that we meet at a neutral sight.  I was familiar with the area as my daughter played club volley at the Brierwood High School there.

We waited what seemed an eternity.  We stood outside the station and talked about the contract, the strike, God, church, family, coworkers, and life in general.  I kept seeing familiar faces going in and out of the station not really playing any attention if they were customers.  Keilan and I would nod, smile, and greet them with “Good Old Southern” how you doing.  I remember telling Keilan that the folks looked familiar.

The plant manager finally showed, and we told him that the union members ratified the contract.  He seemed as nervous as “a cat on a hot tin roof.” He was surrounded with security thuds. We shook hands and Keilan, and I returned home.  He and I knew that we would never work at the plant again even though we encouraged the union to ratify the contract. 

It had been a rather peaceful strike.  Corporate had hired a security firm that locked us out of the plant and shipped in replacement workers (SCABS) to take our place.  Corporate unsuccessfully tried to replace 2027 years, that's right 2027 years, of experience to operate an antique plant.  Union employees camped outside the plant under a large tent.  There no love lost between the security and union.  By their own admission they tried to intimidate us every way possible.  Keilan and I, along with other Christian brothers, tried to peacefully lead the strike.

A friend that was part of the management told us what went on behind the scenes at the Shell station that night.  Remember, Keilan and I were just two old country boys never meaning any harm and we were innocent, naïve, or just plain ignorant.

This security team thought we meant harm to the plant manager.  Those “customers” at the Shell station were part of the security.  They were listening to us with sophisticated listening devices, getting close to us to see if we were armed.  I admit as good old country boys, Keilan and I probably had pocketknives.  That’s just who we are but harming the plant manager never entered into our minds.  We were tickled that 150 plus men and women with families voted to return to work.

Security had trained sharpshooters ready to disable or kill us.  Our management friend described to us something like out of a movie.  It seemed so surreal.  This security team knew more about us, striking employees, than our friends and family knew about us.  Talk about “Big Brother” watching, listening, and intimidating.  We did not know it, but we had a “mole” that was in all the security briefings.  He stayed silent but he did relay what he could through our management friend.

This security team was notorious for breaking unions.  One of them approached me on the picket line.  They had painted a line on the plant entrance road and told us not to cross it.  His first name was Joe.  He called me name and said, “My name is Joe, and I am a policeman from New York City.  I take four weeks’ vacation each year to help this security team bust unions.  My grandfather, originally from Sicily, helped organize unions in New Jersey.  I'm not against unions, but the money they pay is fantastic.  I just want to shake your hand.  Keilan and you have kept this group of men and women peaceful for the most part.  We have tried everything possible to intimidate, but you two men are good men and highly respected.  This is my last day here.  I am headed back to work.”  I shook his hand, wished him luck and God’s grace.  I often think of Joe every time I read or hear about the events of 911.  I feel that Joe was a hero.

Most of the striking employees returned to work.  Keilan and I were blackballed.  We continued to negotiate and settle the strike and other issues with management.  When that ended, Keilan found employment with the Chilton County School maintenance, and I went into the ministry full time.  My dear friend and brother in Christ died in January 2023.

The cement plant never recuperated from the strike.  It ceased to profit and eventually sold.  It was difficult to replace 2027 years of experience.  When most of the experience returned, the replacement employees had destroyed so much equipment that it was impossible to operate.   Ironically, the security team did bust the union, but replacement employees realized that they were used by the company and organized another union with the help of veteran employees.

Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. 2 Timothy 2:9

What are We Gonna Do, Hopper?

Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisors they succeed. Proverbs 15:22

“What are we gonna do, Hopper?”  My friend Keilan and I were in the middle of a contract negotiation battle that eroded to impasse and resulted in a lockout.

Driving two hours from negotiations in Atlanta back to fellow employees in Calera Alabama was more than enough time to weigh options and prepare our presentation.  The company had its top advisors detailing their position and our local union had its top advisors conveying our desires.

I said, “This contract is bigger than both of us.  We will present our results to our co-employees and make a decision based on what they tell us and what we know.”

Decisions are difficult, but we make them from the moment we open our eyes in the morning until we close them that night.  Our faithfulness in serving the Lord increases or diminishes determining on our decisions.

You may be facing a monumental decision about a change of career, a calling in the ministry, or a life changing commitment.  Seek the Lord in prayer and ask for wisdom from Christian brothers and sisters.  Most decisions are too large to handle without Christian wisdom.

August 15, 2018 Devotion from The Richly Indwelling Word: A 365 Day Devotional Vol. 3

Preception Is Reality

As Labor Day Weekend approaches I am reminded of the years I spent negotiating contracts and the importance of our economy and industrial relationships of employee and employer.  Relationships are important.   We forget that the Bible is a book of relationships.  It instructs us on our relationship to God and to our neighbor.  If we do not have a good relationship with our neighbor we cannot have a good one with God.

In 1994, I had a personal friend, and co-worker, who police arrested for assault. 

The arrest came while he walked the picket line as Local 50537 United Paper Workers International Union negotiated a contract with Blue Circle Cement.  My friend had no idea what was taking place.  One of the replacement workers identified my friend for Norred Security Systems and the Shelby County police as the man who assaulted him at a Calera filling station.  My friend had no idea what they were talking about and for a moment resisted arrest.  He protested that on the night of the alleged incident that he was at home watching Monday Night Football with his son-in-law. 

With the aid of modern technology and sophisticated surveillance equipment, Norred Security and the replacement worker made a positive identification.  My friend was handcuffed, finger printed, and put into a cell for the first time in his life.  He was embarrassed, humiliated, and devastated.

He called me.  I knew him, worked with him, prayed with him, and witnessed along with him.  He said that he was at home with his son-in-law watching the game.  His concern was as a Christian his testimony was destroyed.  The men of the plant rallied around him with full support.  The objective of Norred was to destroy the credibility of the striking employees. 

It did not take long to find the truth.  Another striking employee had had words with the replacement worker and they exchanged blows.  The common dress for most of us on the picket line was blue jeans, tee shirts, and baseball caps.  My friend and the employee who actually hit the replacement worker had beards, were the same build, and the same height.  In negotiations we tried to get Blue Circle, Norred, and the Shelby County police to admit their error.  They were relentless.  During the hearings, my friend’s key witness, his son in law, was accidentally killed in a car accident. 

Finally, someone revealed to the company who the real culprit was.  The company never apologized; neither did the local police nor Norred.  The company maintained that Norred was at fault.  My friend won the case and a settlement from Norred.  The thing he wanted most he never regained.  His name and reputation were destroyed by the false arrest. 

Several years later I had the opportunity to preach at his deacon ordination.  He mentioned that he still felt the humiliated.

The Book of James has some strong words for gossip.  Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.  There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? (James 4:11-12 KJV)  

Most of us do not have criminal intentions when we gossip, but it can be very malicious.  Gossip can cause more harm in five minutes than can be repaired in years, not to mention one’s emotional stability. 

Many find delight in spicy gossip.  It is our duty to obey the law of God, not to judge it.  Scripture calls it the worst of sins, because it is a breach of the Royal Law and it is an infringement of the rights of God. The sin of character assassination should not be condoned.  We must learn to improve human relationships and to get along better with people.  This Labor Day, remember we are co-labors together.