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Post by concretejoe on Dec 1, 2008 0:33:31 GMT -5
You are looking, well not really looking (you know what I mean), at the new shop steward! I was elected today. It's also the first time I have ever seen these guys act like a union. We actually had people show up to vote. I hope they can keep their solidarity as we negotiate this new contract. Things aren't stellar here, but they aren't down the tubes either. We are going to finish out the year averaging about 4,000 yards per driver. That's not too shabby isn't it? I'm actually excited about this contract. We may actually have a bit of leverage going into it this time.
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Post by LEAD DOG on Dec 1, 2008 0:37:40 GMT -5
KUDO'S TO YOU JOE!!!
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Post by concretejoe on Dec 1, 2008 18:16:27 GMT -5
Thanks Lead dog. I've been trying to make this happen for a long time. Maybe the guys will actually stand united this time around. I've always been a firm believer that the Steward is not the union nor are the Teamsters the union. The real union is the workers. Once people have that idea fixed in their brain then you have a powerful force.
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on Dec 1, 2008 19:07:03 GMT -5
^^^ we are working on a job that has more than 500,000 yards and we got the screw on our contract..
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Post by concretejoe on Dec 1, 2008 21:23:30 GMT -5
Sorry to hear that gant. Was that job big enough that the company would do anything not to loose it? How did you all get screwed?
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on Dec 2, 2008 8:20:28 GMT -5
yeah the job is that big.. but there were threats that if we went on strike my plant would close for a year.. I bet you're wondering how they can close the plant and still get the concrete there.. apparently there are a few small outfits down there that my company had some agreements with to purchase if we went out on strike..so they had us nailed to the cross.. we worked 65 hours a week, every week.. 2 and 3 am starts 3 days a week.. every saturday.. and when we wanted a little something back for all our hard work, they said "all those hours you worked killed the company" "all that over time you guys got really hurt us, you already got paid for what you worked.."
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Post by concretejoe on Dec 2, 2008 18:23:35 GMT -5
Bummer! Our plant can't shut down. It would kill them. Typical company lines. Blah, blah, blah. The truth is that they made a killing. You can not convince me, no matter how hard you argue, that the ready mix business is not a cash cow. They make money, even in the lean times.
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Post by LEAD DOG on Dec 11, 2008 2:00:31 GMT -5
HOWZ THE NEW POST GOING JOE?
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gant
Junior Member
Posts: 12
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Post by gant on Dec 11, 2008 7:43:17 GMT -5
The truth is that they made a killing. You can not convince me, no matter how hard you argue, that the ready mix business is not a cash cow. They make money, even in the lean times. especially since they less people than they need an early start time, and then call you in early just to be on the safe side so they dont have to pay you for 2 hours..
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Post by concretejoe on Dec 20, 2008 18:27:31 GMT -5
Things are hectic Lead Dog. Man, they didn't even give me a chance to get organized. As soon as the election was over I had a grievance in my hand. They demoted a loader operator to yard man for bogus reasons. Then last weekend dispatch totally screwed up and brought less senior drivers in. Not once, but twice. Also, while trying to investigate these grievances, my supervisor inhibits my investigation by telling HR not to give me the records I requested and basically telling me to shut up and "follow directives". Dude, I went off. I guess it's been so long since this place has had a real steward that they have forgotten how things are supposed to happen. So basically, 3 weeks on the job, 3 grievances, 3 wins and one great big shouting match with the V.P. I'd say I'm doing pretty good.
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Post by LEAD DOG on Dec 20, 2008 22:16:28 GMT -5
MALOX WORKS WONDERS FOR THE STOMACH AFTER THEM SHOUTING MATCHES JOE.
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Post by concretejoe on Dec 21, 2008 15:18:06 GMT -5
Boys, put all your money into Tum's, 'cause we're going to start negotiating soon.
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