Individual and Institutional Agency

While it remains to be seen how our two political parties will react to the ChatGPT revolution, the American worker movement is getting exercised, and that means labor unrest. Twenty-first Century unions seem to realize that no strike means no news, and as Oscar Wilde says, “the only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.”

Since late last year, we’ve seen orchestrated work stoppages from University of California's academic workers (48,000 - UAW), from Illinois cannabis retailers (100 - Teamsters), and lately we find the Hollywood film and TV writers (11,500 - Writers Guild) marching with their cynical signs.

The next labor bout pits two heavyweights slugging it out.?UPS, the 34th largest company on the Fortune 500 list, generates $100 billion of annual revenue and employs a half-million workers.

Most of them are signatories to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, which makes the UPS contract negotiation the union's biggest deal, as well as the largest private collective bargaining agreement in North America.?About one-quarter of American Teamsters work for UPS.

As of last week, the two side have begun national contract negotiations, up against a July 31 deadline when their current labor contract expires. The union says it has reached deals on nearly all the local issues.

This is the IBT's first significant negotiation within the administration of its newly elected leader, Sean O’Brien, who is taking the rare approach of leading the national negotiations himself.

Unfortunately, he seems unprepared for the task at hand. So far, leadership hasn't provided the organization with a compelling vision for the future. Compiling grievances isn't quite enough. His members need to be shown what success looks like, so they know what to emulate.

In contrast, here is his worthy rival’s vision.

UPS Statement on Teamsters Negotiation

We have bargained in good faith since the start and will continue to review and consider all proposals that are brought to the table.

We are committed to reaching an agreement that provides wins for our employees, the Teamsters, UPS, and our customers. Taking care of our people and delivering for our customers is our top priority.

UPS has clearly articulated a vision for the short and long term that their employees can identify with and embrace. Here is more good stuff from UPS.

"The art of persuasion – knowing how to touch the human soul – is the same in all times and in all places."

-??????Marcus Tullius Cicero – Roman statesman and philosopher, circa 100 BCE ?

The Credo

My friend, Mark Wetterau, was born into a historic St. Louis industrialist family, and he lived up to his self-imposed responsibility to pass along the gift of service and civic duty to everyone he met, especially those fortunate enough to do business in his midst.

Mark had the presence of a man in complete control. He was tall, handsome, and folksy, like only someone born in the Midwest can pull off. The company he led for 25 years, Golden State Foods, is the 101st largest private company in the US, with $5.1 billion in annual revenue and 6,000 employees.

If you work at GSF your business card looks like everyone else’s but you use yours differently. A GSF card has your creed and your values stamped on the back, and it says:

Our Creed & Values are behind everything we do at Golden State Foods. These aren’t just words, they aren’t just a mission statement, they are a way of living, a way of doing business, and a reflection of the positive change that we would like to see in the world.

Mark S. Wetterau Sr., the 65-year-old chairman and chief executive officer at Irvine-based GSF, died at his home last Monday due to ongoing health issues.

“Despite the significant loss of my dear brother, best friend, and long-time GSF leader, Mark, we will continue to build on the incredible momentum of this thriving organization to best serve our valued customers at the highest levels throughout the world,” Conrad Wetterau said.

As a teenager, Mark joined St. Louis-based Wetterau Inc., the family-run business, established in 1869. During his tenure at the company, he served in various leadership roles, including COO, CEO, and Chairman of the grocery chain, Shop 'n Save. Working closely with his father, Ted, and his brother Conrad, Mark helped the enterprise grow from $1 billion to more than $8 billion in annual revenue.

Mark established a private equity firm to purchase and operate their businesses, including the MA-based Budweiser wholesale distributor, Quality Beverages. In 1998, Wetterau Associates purchased Golden State Foods with investor Ron Burkle of The Yucaipa Companies, LLC.

GSF is a diversified supplier to the quick service restaurant industry that services approximately 25,000 restaurants, including McDonald's, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A Restaurants, Denny's, Taco Bell, and Chipotle Mexican Grill. Its core businesses include processing and distribution of liquid products, meat, produce, bakery, and other services.

Mark’s philanthropy was monumental, especially at Orange County’s Second Harvest Food Bank, where its former executive director, fondly remembered him. “Mark lived by his and his company’s creed that we should treat people as we would like to be treated. He lived that daily. As Board Chairman, he visited almost all of the Food Bank’s partners and pantries at the time. I often wondered where he found the time. He will be sincerely missed.”

I am grateful for having had the opportunity to meet Mark and to call him a friend. His words reveal the ultimate importance of credibility and integrity. He wants you to know his beliefs and what he stands for, so it can help you succeed.?