Star Tribune on Labor Day introducing your CD "Unionized" and your passion for preserving the American Worker\'s standard of living in our country. What has been the response to the exposure for your CD?
I couldn\'t tell you exactly, but the Unionized web page had plenty of hits on it. More than normal. What I noticed was people were buying the CD from across the states like California, Kentucky and North Carolina.
When will we see you on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine?
When I grow hair. You really have to make a big splash. I can only hope.
When did you start working at Northwest Airlines and where?
In 1969 at JFK airport in New York as an Equipment Serviceman.
You have always been a union man. You were PDGC for District 143 and you have been involved with the International Association of Machinists since your beginning days in New York. Was there one defining event or thought that inspired you to put your passion for the union philosophy into music?
No, I had the ideas for these songs for a while. It was just that I had the time to put them together.
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Bobby DePace relaxes with his guitar. Photo courtesy of the 1833 Report |
You were raised in a family with a lot of musical talent and ability. That must have been a fun way to grow up.
Playing music was always a hobby, but I played sports too. Sports was in the forefront. If I would have taken music serious as a boy, maybe I could have become somebody. When my family would get together, there was always singing, dancing, and just having a good time.Even today, my family gets together every New Year\'s Eve in Brooklyn and carries on just like we did when we were kids. It comes from my grandfather who was a world-renowned mandolinist. My grandfather made what UCLA told me could have been the first, if not one of the first music videos ever made in 1927. He also made one in 1929. I have copies of both of them.
When did you start writing songs?
I was laid off in New York and bumped to Miami. While I was there, I had my knee crushed between two LD3 carts and was laid up for 14 months. I had played the drums in a band, but after the accident the knee hurt too much to play them. My wife, Barbara, bought me a guitar and I taught myself how to play. I still have the guitar today. That\'s how I got started.
How many instruments do you play?
Drums, guitar and very little piano.
Are there any musical artists who have inspired you?
I always enjoyed the Beach Boys and James Brown.
Where have you performed with your new CD "Unionized"?
Last year and this year I played at the State Fair for Air America. I also played at the Fair for Local 1833 this year. Now that I have time, maybe some union halls would be nice.
Your song "Wellstone" is an admirable heartfelt tribute to a great man. It appears he had a tremendous influence on you. How did he help IAM members and workers in Minnesota?
Paul Wellstone was a great person full of honesty, integrity, sincerity and intelligence. When September 11th happened, he called all the leaders of the unions on NWA property for a meeting. He was concerned about the Northwest front line employees checking bags for bombs and other items. We gave him our ideas of what we felt was needed at the time. A week later, he got back to me with one of his aides to ask me about how to help make shipping cargo safer. I was just floored a U.S. Senator would ask me what I thought. He said he heard it all from the company but wanted to hear labor\'s ideas.
I met Senator Wellstone through John Massetti, who knew everyone involved in Minnesota Politics. When we were at a rally with him, he would always spend time with us. One of my last times with the Senator was walking in a St. Patrick Day parade. When John and I yelled hello to him from the sidelines, the Senator came to us and told us he wanted us to walk right behind him. He made you feel special.
The lyrics "He called me my Minnesota friend from Brooklyn" is a true story. I can still see his face the first time I introduced myself from Apple Valley, Minnesota with my Brooklyn accent. He laughed and that is what he called me every time I saw him.
The lyrics in your song "You and Your Union" talk about laws in our country that allows them to “take my American dream away but working people will turn it around one day.” Do you think workers and the middle class can do it? Do you feel hopeful for the 2008 elections?
The fabric of America is eroding. The American dream and American workers are slipping away. This country was built by corporate greed on the backs of American workers. Now corporate America has figured out how to make money without employing workers by farming out whatever they can here in the States and especially overseas. Corporate America wants a virtual workforce. Our country has decided to cut out the American worker. Where they can’t farm out, corporate America will hire the first generation immigrants at half the wages to replace unionized and non-unionized workers.
George Bush has done his best to strip workers, union and non-union, of their rights. President Bush has done his best to make us think that we (workers) are the problem. It is because of us that he allowed job after job to go overseas. He has stood by to watch corporate America farm out good paying American jobs and brutalize the American worker every which way corporate America can think of.
We have to get involved, create a social movement. Our neutralizer, our power, is our vote and our ability to strike. We have to get people in office who really believe in and support workers and middle class issues.
The 2008 elections I believe will be the last chance for workers across this country to get out and vote for all candidates that support workers issues and unions. If we don’t, the fabric that holds this country together will unravel. The American worker and the American dream will disappear. If we get Hillary Clinton into office we will get two for the price of one. Bill and Hillary will be a great team.
How do you look back at your tenure as PDGC for District 143? You were there when Northwest entered bankruptcy. "Negotiation Time Again" and "Where\'s My Money" refer to what we went through and the contract we are living with now. It must have been an extremely challenging position to be in.
Ever since 9/11, it has been a struggle. All airlines took full advantage of the situation. We also faced SARS, SIDS, and the Iraq war. That is when Northwest pulled “force majere” which I called French manure.
"Negotiating Time Again" was written back during the 1993 negotiations and "Where\'s My Money" is a spoof of me telling Northwest to "fuhgeddaboudit" during normal collective bargaining before bankruptcy. "Picket Line" was written during negotiations before bankruptcy too. I thought we would have to go on strike. We held Northwest off for 3 ½ years when they were asking for concessions, when they filed for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is like boxing someone with one hand tied behind your back. It is not a fair process for workers. "Waiting for the Day" was written right after I went back to work. All I heard was everyone talking about waiting for the day they could get out of here.
I remember going to union meetings while you were the PDGC. You had a talent for firing up the members there. Do you think that was from being so passionate about the union and maybe some of the entertainer in you?
When you tell the truth and believe in what you are saying, the words come naturally. One thing I have learned is the company will always try to get you disgusted so you walk away. That is the time to dig deep and fight back with every ounce of passion and dignity. That\'s the only way I know how to fight. I guess that is what happened at the meetings.
You have worked for Northwest for a long time. "Sitting on my Loader" resonates with any of us with some seniority. I bet you have some great memories and some stories to tell.
That song was written 20 years ago, but it is timeless. The story it tells is still true today. Before coming back to the ramp, I thought about taking another job offer. I could have done that, but I always enjoyed working the ramp and enjoy it to this day. We have fun and laugh a lot. There are some incredible people working on the ramp. They work hard despite the dire situation we’re in, and manage to have some fun. Working on the ramp would make a great situation comedy.
What would you say to the new members starting out in the airline industry and at Northwest, especially those who haven’t had any exposure to the union philosophy or working under a union contract?
I don\'t understand why some new workers and all non-union workers don\'t embrace the fundamentals of unionism. Yes, unions have taken it on the chin. Imagine though, if there were no unions. Where would we all be? Some believe they would be better off. Baloney, whatever the reason! They came to work at Northwest for those reasons. They need to know those benefits were negotiated by their union, not just given to them by the company. They don\'t understand seniority and why they can’t get the better jobs and shifts. I tell them we all started where you are and seniority is all you have.
Everything comes in time. Unions are our only chance as workers. New workers need to get involved to see how unions work and learn how to change things for the better.
Where are you hoping to go with "Unionized"? Are you planning on publishing more music?
My hope all along with the Unionized CD was if I could catch lightning in a bottle, that CD would make enough money so I could have the Minnesota Orchestra play the Wellstone song with a video playing behind it. That is my hope. This CD is what I call the pre-bankruptcy CD. I have some ideas about a during and post bankruptcy CD and maybe a CD outside the union genre.
This interview is reprinted from the November-December 2007 issue of the 1833 Report.
For more information
Hear some of DePace\'s songs and order the "Unionized" CD from the website, www.unionizedonline.com
Share
Star Tribune on Labor Day introducing your CD "Unionized" and your passion for preserving the American Worker\’s standard of living in our country. What has been the response to the exposure for your CD?
I couldn\’t tell you exactly, but the Unionized web page had plenty of hits on it. More than normal. What I noticed was people were buying the CD from across the states like California, Kentucky and North Carolina.
When will we see you on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine?
When I grow hair. You really have to make a big splash. I can only hope.
When did you start working at Northwest Airlines and where?
In 1969 at JFK airport in New York as an Equipment Serviceman.
You have always been a union man. You were PDGC for District 143 and you have been involved with the International Association of Machinists since your beginning days in New York. Was there one defining event or thought that inspired you to put your passion for the union philosophy into music?
No, I had the ideas for these songs for a while. It was just that I had the time to put them together.
|
|
Bobby DePace relaxes with his guitar. Photo courtesy of the 1833 Report |
You were raised in a family with a lot of musical talent and ability. That must have been a fun way to grow up.
Playing music was always a hobby, but I played sports too. Sports was in the forefront. If I would have taken music serious as a boy, maybe I could have become somebody. When my family would get together, there was always singing, dancing, and just having a good time.
Even today, my family gets together every New Year\’s Eve in Brooklyn and carries on just like we did when we were kids. It comes from my grandfather who was a world-renowned mandolinist. My grandfather made what UCLA told me could have been the first, if not one of the first music videos ever made in 1927. He also made one in 1929. I have copies of both of them.
When did you start writing songs?
I was laid off in New York and bumped to Miami. While I was there, I had my knee crushed between two LD3 carts and was laid up for 14 months. I had played the drums in a band, but after the accident the knee hurt too much to play them. My wife, Barbara, bought me a guitar and I taught myself how to play. I still have the guitar today. That\’s how I got started.
How many instruments do you play?
Drums, guitar and very little piano.
Are there any musical artists who have inspired you?
I always enjoyed the Beach Boys and James Brown.
Where have you performed with your new CD "Unionized"?
Last year and this year I played at the State Fair for Air America. I also played at the Fair for Local 1833 this year. Now that I have time, maybe some union halls would be nice.
Your song "Wellstone" is an admirable heartfelt tribute to a great man. It appears he had a tremendous influence on you. How did he help IAM members and workers in Minnesota?
Paul Wellstone was a great person full of honesty, integrity, sincerity and intelligence. When September 11th happened, he called all the leaders of the unions on NWA property for a meeting. He was concerned about the Northwest front line employees checking bags for bombs and other items. We gave him our ideas of what we felt was needed at the time. A week later, he got back to me with one of his aides to ask me about how to help make shipping cargo safer. I was just floored a U.S. Senator would ask me what I thought. He said he heard it all from the company but wanted to hear labor\’s ideas.
I met Senator Wellstone through John Massetti, who knew everyone involved in Minnesota Politics. When we were at a rally with him, he would always spend time with us. One of my last times with the Senator was walking in a St. Patrick Day parade. When John and I yelled hello to him from the sidelines, the Senator came to us and told us he wanted us to walk right behind him. He made you feel special.
The lyrics "He called me my Minnesota friend from Brooklyn" is a true story. I can still see his face the first time I introduced myself from Apple Valley, Minnesota with my Brooklyn accent. He laughed and that is what he called me every time I saw him.
The lyrics in your song "You and Your Union" talk about laws in our country that allows them to “take my American dream away but working people will turn it around one day.” Do you think workers and the middle class can do it? Do you feel hopeful for the 2008 elections?
The fabric of America is eroding. The American dream and American workers are slipping away. This country was built by corporate greed on the backs of American workers. Now corporate America has figured out how to make money without employing workers by farming out whatever they can here in the States and especially overseas. Corporate America wants a virtual workforce. Our country has decided to cut out the American worker. Where they can’t farm out, corporate America will hire the first generation immigrants at half the wages to replace unionized and non-unionized workers.
George Bush has done his best to strip workers, union and non-union, of their rights. President Bush has done his best to make us think that we (workers) are the problem. It is because of us that he allowed job after job to go overseas. He has stood by to watch corporate America farm out good paying American jobs and brutalize the American worker every which way corporate America can think of.
We have to get involved, create a social movement. Our neutralizer, our power, is our vote and our ability to strike. We have to get people in office who really believe in and support workers and middle class issues.
The 2008 elections I believe will be the last chance for workers across this country to get out and vote for all candidates that support workers issues and unions. If we don’t, the fabric that holds this country together will unravel. The American worker and the American dream will disappear. If we get Hillary Clinton into office we will get two for the price of one. Bill and Hillary will be a great team.
How do you look back at your tenure as PDGC for District 143? You were there when Northwest entered bankruptcy. "Negotiation Time Again" and "Where\’s My Money" refer to what we went through and the contract we are living with now. It must have been an extremely challenging position to be in.
Ever since 9/11, it has been a struggle. All airlines took full advantage of the situation. We also faced SARS, SIDS, and the Iraq war. That is when Northwest pulled “force majere” which I called French manure.
"Negotiating Time Again" was written back during the 1993 negotiations and "Where\’s My Money" is a spoof of me telling Northwest to "fuhgeddaboudit" during normal collective bargaining before bankruptcy. "Picket Line" was written during negotiations before bankruptcy too. I thought we would have to go on strike. We held Northwest off for 3 ½ years when they were asking for concessions, when they filed for bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is like boxing someone with one hand tied behind your back. It is not a fair process for workers. "Waiting for the Day" was written right after I went back to work. All I heard was everyone talking about waiting for the day they could get out of here.
I remember going to union meetings while you were the PDGC. You had a talent for firing up the members there. Do you think that was from being so passionate about the union and maybe some of the entertainer in you?
When you tell the truth and believe in what you are saying, the words come naturally. One thing I have learned is the company will always try to get you disgusted so you walk away. That is the time to dig deep and fight back with every ounce of passion and dignity. That\’s the only way I know how to fight. I guess that is what happened at the meetings.
You have worked for Northwest for a long time. "Sitting on my Loader" resonates with any of us with some seniority. I bet you have some great memories and some stories to tell.
That song was written 20 years ago, but it is timeless. The story it tells is still true today. Before coming back to the ramp, I thought about taking another job offer. I could have done that, but I always enjoyed working the ramp and enjoy it to this day. We have fun and laugh a lot. There are some incredible people working on the ramp. They work hard despite the dire situation we’re in, and manage to have some fun. Working on the ramp would make a great situation comedy.
What would you say to the new members starting out in the airline industry and at Northwest, especially those who haven’t had any exposure to the union philosophy or working under a union contract?
I don\’t understand why some new workers and all non-union workers don\’t embrace the fundamentals of unionism. Yes, unions have taken it on the chin. Imagine though, if there were no unions. Where would we all be? Some believe they would be better off. Baloney, whatever the reason! They came to work at Northwest for those reasons. They need to know those benefits were negotiated by their union, not just given to them by the company. They don\’t understand seniority and why they can’t get the better jobs and shifts. I tell them we all started where you are and seniority is all you have.
Everything comes in time. Unions are our only chance as workers. New workers need to get involved to see how unions work and learn how to change things for the better.
Where are you hoping to go with "Unionized"? Are you planning on publishing more music?
My hope all along with the Unionized CD was if I could catch lightning in a bottle, that CD would make enough money so I could have the Minnesota Orchestra play the Wellstone song with a video playing behind it. That is my hope. This CD is what I call the pre-bankruptcy CD. I have some ideas about a during and post bankruptcy CD and maybe a CD outside the union genre.
This interview is reprinted from the November-December 2007 issue of the 1833 Report.
For more information
Hear some of DePace\’s songs and order the "Unionized" CD from the website, www.unionizedonline.com