It was in September of 1979, wherein I would
witness firsthand that “Racism is an ally of Fascism”. OK, we all know what
that “racism” means, and here is the “Kids Definition” of Fascism: a system
headed by a dictator which controls labor and opposition is not permitted. Pretty
Simple Simon! Especially that labor control, supported by a posse of henchmen
cowitts used against any opposition, especially if “organized labor” is
involved. Yes, between 1979 and 1982, under the dictatorship of George M.
Nelson, Alyeska existed as a “Fascist” organization when it came to “opposing”
any representation under that UNION flag. Back to my beginning the “Uncle Al
WAR years”, as I became a victim to Nelson’s lynching. Upon wherein this “Fascism”
and its ally in “Racism” was allowed, approved by the executives of the 5Th
Floor of Bragaw.
It was soon after hire with the Alyeska Pipeline Service
Company, wherein I would sense what I was getting into was questionable - but
don’t judge a book by its cover not just yet! Yes, a coveted job with the
Trans-Alaska-Pipeline, as one of thum there “Pipeline People”. It meant a good
paying job with unmatched benefits, wow that “golden handshake” in retirement
some 40-years away was looking good time to raise a family. Upon that hire, I
had my marching orders and was standing 3rd in line at the Pump
Station#5 “Pipeline Training Academy,” when Will the instructor was quick
witted to diffuse what appeared to be some racial tensions between “Daddy’s
Little Girl” and Frank Yasuda the Athabaskan. For real, as Will was assigning rooms
and partners for the next two weeks of training, “Daddy’s Little Girl” made it
clear and convincing out loud that he would not partner up with an Alaskan
Native - especially when doubling up meant a room-mate! So I became “Daddy’s
Little Girl’s” partner. Sad, that the bigot was not fired on the spot, but we
would soon learn the reasons that the training staff referred to this bigot as “Daddy’s
Little Girl”. I don’t need to go any further the details, the bigot knows who I’m
talking about, southern drool and coddled through his career as…well “Daddy’s
Little Girl”. And was the way in which instructor Will diffused that situation so
soon and witnessed by a bunch of new hirers, just water under the bridge? It was a
cover-up, as I would become friends with Frank as we were both assigned to the
pipeline in Valdez. He would never forget that day and went to his grave
remembering that dishonor, as the bigot continued to advance in the company - and not
due dedication but who you know maybe who you blow. But soon dispatched down to
Valdez following that “Training”, the workers were confronted with another
problem - skunk drunk tanker crewmembers that lived by the motto: “I abuse
alcohol”. So we fought that locally and beyond within the company and since the
Alyeska management sought to disregard our concerns, well it appeared to be
akin to that same cover-up the bigotry “Daddy’s Little Girl” but a much bigger
problem. See, those drunks worked for the “Owner Company”, that which exists in
a trickle-down like “fascism” control over Alyeska. So Uncle Al bent over and
instead of fixing the problem, it instead tried to silence our efforts - to be
heard we did not like drunk captains getting aboard a fully laden tanker with
millions of barrels of crude oil and driving such monsters through Prince
William Sound. We know what that would mean, like in March of 1989 with the
EXXON Valdez wreck. So last resort, way before that historical “Wreck” because
the Alyeska management did nothing with this tanker crew mischief as they
thought a little drinking on the job was kids play, well we thought we needed
protection outside of that Alyeska management and started an “organized labor”
movement. And that is when the Alyeska “Fascism” to oppose our labor movement
surfaced in full force. Alyeska, instead of just addressing the “Driving Under
the Influence” by “Owner Company” tanker crews calling on the Valdez Marine
Terminal, it resorted to “Kill the Messenger”. Between 1979 and 1982 an all-out
effort to silence and kill our “organized labor” attempts, because here is what
the “Fascists” were afraid of our efforts gaining traction. And remember, all
the resources spent on attacking the workers concerned over the fact that with
the “I abuse alcohol” it was not a matter of “IF” but “WHEN”, that resigned
resources away from the real problem! A UNION win in Valdez with a handful of
workers could trend like a cancer and grow. A handful of Valdez workers, those
that were confronted with this “I abuse alcohol” syndrome from visiting tanker
crews and sick and tired over having too close to fist-fight confrontations with
this “I had too much to drink last night” gang while we were just trying to do
our jobs, we won an election to go “UNION”. It was then that Alyeska set its sites
not on the problem, but on that “UNION”, to oppose and that strategy fits right
in with the true definition of Fascism. See, that concerted effort to be
represented by outside influence in a “UNION”, that would have placed a
screeching halt on that “I abuse alcohol” and the EXXON Valdez wreck would have
still been merely something of a possibility but not a reality. When we won
that “UNION”, one strike-walk-out by the ”Instrumentation & Electrical”
crew, hey we kept the lights on - get the point? But instead, it was a plan to “Kill
the Messenger” and an all-out WAR began, to overturn that election. See, with the “Union” getting its foot
in the door, the Teamsters were ready to support the entire 800-mile pipeline going
UNION, and things like “Daddy’s Little Girl” would soon be in the unemployment
line instead of getting preferential promotional treatment all through a career, as Daddy would have been canned. And once the pipeline went “UNION”, it
would be but a matter of time wherein the entire Alaskan oil scene would be
under the “umbrella” of the “Teamsters”. And when the USA was receiving 20% of
its crude oil requirements from this Alaskan trade to fuel the economy, it was
a very powerful sign for the “UNION” growth in America. So the “Fascism”
started in earnest its retaliation to break our concerted efforts. And with
Alyeska it meant a campaign to illegally "SPY" on the Valdez workers, to find out who was
supporting this “organized labor movement” and deny any promotions and…well
that picture is worth a thousand words what it meant for the dedicated workers,
who did their jobs and went above and beyond to try and STOP this “Daddy’s
Little Girl” syndrome. There was no way in hell, as “Fascism” was alive and
well. And when I look back at my first introduction with the “Daddy’s Little
Girl” syndrome, and then was made aware by our own “Spy” that Alyeska had targeted
me as a “vocal UNION supporter” which meant “black listed” and never going
anywhere, I quit! As "This Machine Kills Fascists” and I am with Woody all the
way! We tried, had the Alyeska “management” under George Mucus Nelson listened
to our concerns, the pain and suffering that has endured the EXXON Valdez “wreck”
in reputation - well Frank went to his grave with the reminder that “Daddy’s
Little Girl” bigotry lives on!
