One of my finest moments was when I threw the local rep off the front steps o the Hotel I was playing when he threatened to stop bread and other supplies from being delivered by union drivers.

Never saw the guy again. I had gone to the union headquarters every year after sending in my check for renewal months before.
I told the Union president, along with the treasurer that I had better get my card in the mail after this last trip or they could kiss my membership goodby.

Year after year, I got a gig that required membership, and i had to chase down the dudes who ran the silly thing for the update on the card. They usually got the old card, crossed out the date and wrote in a new one.

No hard feelings, though. I had dinner with ED, the former union rep a week or so ago. Pretty good trombone player, actually.

R.