December 15, 2006

It has been a great pleasure for me to help provide about $400 to hundreds of you during this Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Years and other sundry celebrations (for the rest of us - Festivus!). I am especially heartened by those of you who have thanked me for this financial windfall that enables you to afford that special gift for your loved ones, to help pay your taxes, mortgage or other pressing bills. My only regret is that I could help only those 700 or so who have paid careful attention to my advice. There are about 5,300 of you who have missed out on the opportunity to receive back money from the union (UPTE). I emphatically ask that all of you who have received this windfall make this known to everyone you work with who pays money to UPTE.

As the old saying goes "God helps those that help themselves". I do not claim to be divine but my record speaks for itself. UPTE has paid close to $500,000 (that's a half million dollars if you're counting) and God only knows what more they've paid in legal and accounting fees to surrender this money to those who have listened carefully to me. I can assure you all that they will pay more.

Will all the people who have sent objection/challenge letters for the next challenge period (2006/2007) be paid back the full amount that they've paid UPTE? I really don't know but all challengers for the past three years have. I cannot predict the future, I can only lead you to the trough of justice, you'll have to test the waters. My lawyers and accountants have to sweat the details and fortunately, they do it for free.

I will contact all of you in early 2007, detailing on how you can get back some, if not all of the money you pay to UPTE. Easy for you, hard for me but I enjoy a struggle, that is what defines my life.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good knight.

Werner (aka Santa)