community-based, non-corporate, participatory media
Alltel CWA workers' strike in Lexington, KY
by matt toups
Thursday, Aug. 07, 2003 at 9:56 AM
mtoups@indymedia.org (email address validated)
for Pittsburgh Indymedia: in Lexingon KY Alltel workers have been on strike for two months, protesting subcontracting and cutbacks in health care coverage.
LEXINGTON KY -- On August 4 2003 Alltel workers from CWA Locals 3371 and 3372 had been on strke almost two months. On a hot august day several women workers held the picket line in downtown Lexington with a sign denouncing the scab contractors alltel has used to replace them. Striking workers have also been struck six times by scab-driven cars and trucks, resulting in one arrest for hit-and-run.
ALLTEL took over plant and business (telephone) service from Verizon in Kentucky in 2002. Despite agreeing to abide by the Verizon labor contract, Alltel has attemped to break the union by contracting to outside workers while forcing higher health care costs and cuts to 401(k) plan contributions to their union workers.
While Verizon workers and community members in the northeast prepare to battle their phone giant, in Kentucky workers are standing up to Alltel with strong community support.
More info...
Alltel Strike in Kentucky
by S. Pierce
Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 at 6:50 PM
Your article said that there have been several strikers
that were hit by cars while on the pick line. What your article did not say was that most if not all of these strikers were hit because THEY jumped back in front of the vehicles that were crossing the picked line. The strikers have also placed nails in the driveways causing damage to many cars. There is also evidence that suggests that the strikers have done vandalism to Alltel property.
The Truth About The CWA
by A. SCAB
Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 at 7:15 PM
I worked in Lexington, KY for Alltel for two months. I found that the work done in the Central Offices by the CWA employees was very poor quality. To try and make the contractors job harder the CWA removed all non-completed orders from the CO's when they walked out, resulting in trouble tickets due to their vandalism of the orders. In addition, they removed all sheets from the walls which aided in the locating line equipment locations and cable pair locations on the frames. They claim to be customer oriented but in fact they made every attempt to slow down turn around time on customer orders making the customers suffer delays. Fortunately for Alltel, the contractors were more than qualified to overcome these obstacles. In the time I worked for Alltel, they had 1/3 of the staff and turned out three times the work as they would have with their lazy CWA employees. In regards to the women working the picket lines, I found them to be as foul mouthed and disgraceful examples as employees, parents, or human being as the men on the strike line. They use language that is not appropriate in public but they would stand out there with there children present and say anything they felt like and when they ran out of words they would just flip the bird. The strikers are upset about the high cost of
medical insurance which is a problem nationwide.
If they took the money that they pay in CWA union dues and put it towards health insurance they could have
good medical coverage.
what is a scab?
by M.D.S.
Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 at 7:50 PM
Reply to Scabs
Scabs,
I have been asked by you to address what is wrong with crossing picket lines to work. I�d be happy to answer that question.
This company is trying to take benefits away from us and diminish working conditions, and you are helping them to do so. It�s no different than if someone is trying to harm your family, and you see others joining in their efforts to do so. What would you do?
You are helping Alltel take money away from our families, and lower their standard of living. Don�t be surprised that this does not set well with us. You need to go home, or elsewhere, and work where people�s families are not being attacked. You could reap what you sow.
The reason you are making the money you are is because we fought to get decent wages and benefits for our craft. What would you make if we made $6.00 per hour?
Here is quote for you from Phillip S. Foner, Jack London, American Rebel (New York: Citadel Press, 1947), pp. 57-58, telling what you are.
What Is a Scab?
After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, He had some awful substance left with which He made a scab. A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water-logged brain, and a combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts he carries a tumor of rotten principles.
When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs, and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out. No man has a right to scab as long as there is a pool of water deep enough to drown his body in, or a rope long enough to hang his carcass with. Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his Master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab hasn�t!
Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Iscariot sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British Army. The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children, and his fellow men for an unfulfilled promise from his employer, trust, or corporation.
A strikebreaker is a traitor to his God, his country, his family, and his class!
why are we on strike?
by MDScott
Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 at 8:14 PM
WHY ARE WE ON STRIKE?
We're not on strike because we're stubborn and just won't compromise.
We're not on strike because we're greedy.
We're on strike because:
Alltel wants us to work for approximately $2.50 an hour less next year than we are making now.
Alltel wants retirees to pay more than $750.00 per month for their health insurance.
Alltel wants us to pay $232.00 and more per month for our health insurance.
Alltel wants the freedom to contract out 100% of the construction side of the house and an additional 10% and more when they deem it necessary of the maintenance side on an ongoing basis.
Alltel wants to do away with 5 job classifications that currently have 58 people working in them and contract those jobs mostly to out of state workers.
Alltel wants to change our pension plan so as to eliminate our lump sum.
Alltel wants us to sell their products and services while making repairs or be disciplined up to and including termination.
Alltel wants to eliminate all company contributions to our 401K plan.
The union offered an extension and Alltel refused.
Alltel lied to us at the table over major items and would have gotten away with it if Terry Beeler hadn't written his June 2 letter about health insurance. This letter stated higher insurance cost than was proposed on the neg. table.
Alltel wouldn't even discuss our proposals. They said they weren't interested in what we wanted. They only wanted to discuss their proposals.
Their bargaining chair, Bill Moul, said that his vision of our future was that Alltel would never have to backfill a job and could, if they wanted, eventually have nothing but contractors in our area.
He also said that it was his belief that we would all be working till we were 70. Well that's believable since their retiree health plan is structured to keep us working till we're 65.
Our goal is to get a fair and equitable contract. One that recognizes our contribution to the success of the company. We will bargain in good faith whenever the company's bargaining chair contacts ours.
Alltel claims their company is community minded, but refused to make a donation to the local youth activities, not even a $35.00 ad in the little league program.
We are willing to bargain and we have the resolve to see this through.
In Solidarity,
Local 3371 & 3372
Ashland, Morehead, Hazard, Lexington
Why are we still on strike?
Let me tell you just a few reasons:
(1) The company had 50 proposals for the new contract: the union, 28. The company rejected all of ours and all they would discuss were theirs. Their proposals included:
a. Big increase in active employee medical cost.
b. Big increase in retired employee medical cost.
c. Changes in the retirement plan that would adversely affect all employees and future retirees.
d. Forcing employees to sell when repairing customer service.
e. Loss of many programs, which would aid employees who are being laid off in the future.
f. Loss of seniority right for bids on jobs.
g. Allowing the company to expand use of out-of�state contractors, causing a big erosion of job security for local workers, as well as opportunity for extra work and depletion of future jobs for local people.
h. Elimination of 5 classifications in which local people are working now, causing a loss of around 50 jobs to out-of�state contractors.
i. Erosion of overtime opportunities.
j. Taking away most agreements that provide employee benefits and job security.
k. Institute a new dress code for employees.
(2) The company has brought in out-of�state contractors and security guards whose salaries are ultimately paid by the customers.
(3) Alltel has little regard for customers and no regard for employees.
(4) This company, even though earning $8 billion last year, has refused to accept the current contract with no pay increases. In the attempt to force us to take cuts in benefits and working conditions, Alltel has spent hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of dollars, which could have been better spent on it�s customers. We feel this is a slap in the face of the customer, and that Alltel should end it�s mean-spirited behavior and do the right thing for all involved.
Keep on striking!
by Worker bee
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003 at 7:26 PM
I say keep on striking! What are workers supposed to do? Just sit and take all the cutbacks, layoffs, increased healthcare, loss of benefts, etc? NO! Don't be a slave and work for nothing! Strikes need to happen to give the workers respect and the benefits people deserve for themselves and their familes.
I see an ever disappearing middle class. I see the rich get rich and the poor get poor!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And people are encouraged to look down on unions. I think most unions are great. They are the ones that brought you the weekend!
Reply to Alltel strike in Kentucky
by Cathy Floyd
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 2:23 AM
mommacat21@yahoo.com
Two scabs were indicted in Greenup County for hitting a lady as she asked them not to use her property to turn around on which was across the street from the CO. She was standing still and wittness' say the one driver actually laughed as he drove off. Both men had Colorado tags.Numerous ones have been arrested for different reasons. In Greenup they replaced the regular 12 CWA workers with around 40 scabs that first week of the strike. I don't kow any CWA worker who has vandalized any equipment. I have however saw a scab working on a strand I think it's called that had been cut so he claimed around 3 in the afternoon.The only one I can think of who would be a.) dumb enough to do something like that in the daylight and b.) desperate enough would be the scab himself. The strikers have far too much public support, and unlike the scabs more morals than to go out and damage property that could possibly put there neighbors,friends, and families at risk in case of an emergency. I have saw scabs sleeping in there trucks instead of working, not using cones, or signs, not using safety procedures such as hardhats,safety straps. I saw one smoking over an open manhole and one who has an aluminum ladder on his truck. One from the show me state actually yelled as I drove by (I guess he recognized my vehicle from when my husband used it to scab chase),with my 7 year old in the vehicle that he was "Making all your daddy's money and gonna take his house too". These men are on strike trying to protect their kids' future.
Reply to Alltel strike in Kentucky
by Cathy
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 2:24 AM
mommacat21@yahoo.com
Two scabs were indicted in Greenup County for hitting a lady as she asked them not to use her property to turn around on which was across the street from the CO. She was standing still and wittness' say the one driver actually laughed as he drove off. Both men had Colorado tags.Numerous ones have been arrested for different reasons. In Greenup they replaced the regular 12 CWA workers with around 40 scabs that first week of the strike. I don't kow any CWA worker who has vandalized any equipment. I have however saw a scab working on a strand I think it's called that had been cut so he claimed around 3 in the afternoon.The only one I can think of who would be a.) dumb enough to do something like that in the daylight and b.) desperate enough would be the scab himself. The strikers have far too much public support, and unlike the scabs more morals than to go out and damage property that could possibly put there neighbors,friends, and families at risk in case of an emergency. I have saw scabs sleeping in there trucks instead of working, not using cones, or signs, not using safety procedures such as hardhats,safety straps. I saw one smoking over an open manhole and one who has an aluminum ladder on his truck. One from the show me state actually yelled as I drove by (I guess he recognized my vehicle from when my husband used it to scab chase),with my 7 year old in the vehicle that he was "Making all your daddy's money and gonna take his house too". These men are on strike trying to protect their kids' future.
Alltel Strike
by S. Pierce
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 7:25 AM
Cathy,
If the CWA members are so perfect and have such high morals then why did they go on strike and expect the public to do without valuable 911 service?
Are the CWA members so perfect that they follow evey safety rule ever written? The scabs are working 10 and
12 hour shifts 6 and 7 days a week. I am sure that you must know at least one CWA worker that has taken a nap in their truck after a long shift.
You admit that your husband is a scab chaser. How many innocent lives did he put in danger while he was scab chasing? How many times did he stick his
head out the window and yell at people? What message is your husband sending to your son?
How many peoples lives are put in danger every time a
CWA worker blocks the driveways of Alltel properties?
There are good scabs and bad scabs. There are good
CWA workers and bad CWA workers. All Alltel wants to do is dump the bad CWA workers. Did you notice that the CWA president did not talk about any of the damage that has been caused by the CWA members?
I wonder how much salary he gets from the union members.
As far as the Mayor of Lexington and her concerns about the traffic signals. This mayor needs to do her
homework before she writes any letters. The CWA
union members had from March 27 until June 8 to work on the traffic signals. Why didn't they get the work done? Was this one of those work orders that the CWA "lost" before the strike?
What is a scab? The Answer
by Trish Shepherd
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 4:42 PM
Let me tell you about the CWA workers for Alltel first. They are people who work in the area, know the area, and contribute tax money to the area. They work sometimes 36 hours straight during ice storms, I know my husband worked it. These men have been trained by Alltel to be safe, to do the job right, and they have to do so many jobs a day. Scabs have no boundaries. They do as many jobs as they want. A 10 or 12 hour day, ha, what about 36!!! The scabs cut cable lines, because they don't know the difference. It happened right in Grayson KY!!!! They drive around with beer in their trucks, is that legal? Look at the picture right on the internet site. And when they were told that they had to do some many jobs a day. A bunch of them went home? Afraid of work!! Many of them have been fired because they stay at hotels instead of working. People have been without services for months. My husband wants to go back to work, but there are a few men that have worked this job for 30 years and their jobs are in trouble. I would hope that if my husband works there for 30 years that someone would support to help save his job. Don't comment unless you know the facts. And what about the scab that drove all the way on the wrong side of the road and killed a woman in Olive Hill. That woman's husband had just retired, they were planning their retirement. A 60 year old woman!! Dead because a scab wanted to look at a map!! Is it worth it? I don't think so........
To S.Pierce
by MDScott
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 5:14 PM
S.Pierce,,,,you are obviousy braindead..You need to do your homework on Alltel.. If you had already, you would know what kind of greedy bastards they are.. If you have any skills on the internet, go to http://www.telephonyonline.com/ and read to your little hearts content... This is the major publication of our craft...Just type in Alltel in the search section and you'll have enough negative articles about Alltel to keep you occupied for a few days..If you read them all,,we probably won't hear from you for a week or so.. There is no such thing as a good scab..You are a sick individual and you may consider getting some help..
piece of s&#@ scab
by bob
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 6:58 PM
Yeah you probaly worked two of the months while we were out on strike you traveling trash piece of s&#@, thats the definition of a scab, the graphs were probaly there but I would say you most likely weren't smart enough to read them.
Response to S.Pierce
by Cathy
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 7:03 PM
First let me address the 911 issue, in my area I have heard nothing about 911 being down. The CWA workers have stated they will give emergency service if Alltel will allow it. My husband worked 10 -12 hour shifts, my husband worked almost 3 days straight with NO sleep during the ice storm to restore service. I have never been on a scab chase where anyone was put in danger. They do not "speed" through town as the term implies. They drive around and look for them. If they are are found working then you get out of the car and maintain your required distance and hold your signs. If they are in a residentual area we have asked the property owner if they minded us standing with signs while their phone was being repaired always telling them we understood that they needed their phones fixed. He is teaching his son to stand up for what is right. He is teaching his son that his future is worth daddy fighting for it. Yes, there may me a few CWA workers who slack off, I'm not saying they all are perfect. I have never seen a CWA worker with a security guard who by the way stated " He is the laziest guy on earth, his ladder has never been off the truck and they make me drive around with him all day, he does nothing". What I am saying is that I feel Alltel is the one who has put the public at risk. I also don't feel that there has been very accurate news coverage. My husband is not on strike for a pay raise, more vacation. He is on strike to keep from taking what would amount to a pay cut. He is on strike to protect the people who have already retired from having to pay huge insurance premiums. He is on strike to try to keep the things he started out with, the things his father and others before him fought hard to win. He does not say the things that were said to us Saturday before the security showed up with the video cameras. We had not even gotten completely out of the cars, as a matter of fact I was standing at the trunk to get my sign when the scab hollered across the road for me to do something to his private appendage. I have had people calling my house they are so frustrated over the poor service and rude attitudes of the "contractors". And I will even admit that there are a few, very few "contractors" who are not bothered much. They are the two we have found in the many that have come and gone that seem to know there job, wear their equipment, come to work clean, and are not foul mouthed. I have never saw a CWA worker through a ladder across a line and not make sure it was secure. I saw that last week, the guy starts to climb it and the ladder went to tilting over to the side. He put himself, the security guy with him, and his buddy standing on the ground at risk. Real professional don't ya think?
One more thing
by Cathy
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 7:17 PM
A work order has to be sent before it can be worked.It also must be sent before it can be lost. Work orders are sent via hand held computers to workers. They have almost no control over which ones they pick up and have no way of knowing what has been called in to be repaired unless they run into to a customer that tells them they have called in an order. They still must wait for the order to come in unless ordered to go by a supervisor. I can not count the times I have heard the men and women complaining because they were not allowed to fix a problem only patch it so it would go away for a while. Not the choice they would have made but the one the company demanded.The company also sets or rather the people dispatching the trouble ticket sets the priority on when it goes out. They make the call on how important the trouble problem is.
Alltel Strike
by S. Pierce
Monday, Aug. 18, 2003 at 10:04 PM
Bob really shows what type of people CWA members are. No wonder the scabs are yelling and cussing back. All MD Scot wants to do is quote lies from the
CWA web site. It is not 1947 anymore. What is the union president getting out of this? How much money is he making? The web shows that all you do is put money into BBQ's and not much else. Why did the Union tell you to go on strike when Lucent has laid off over 10,000 employees? There are a lot of good quality people (people that will work through ice storms and bad weather) that need jobs and are willing to pay for their own health insurance. What about the CWA members that were only days or weeks from their retirement? The union boss is telling them to go on strike and throw away all their years of hard work. For what purpose? The Great and
Glorious CWA Union. Speaking of brain dead only brain dead morons would allow the worhtless union to talk people into giving up their retirement in the name of union solidarity. Why not save the money you're wasting on union dues to pay for your health insurance??
Alltel strike
by D. Harman
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003 at 3:51 AM
The strikers offered to work with their old contract extended. Alltel said no. They voted - do you need the definition of vote?- to go on strike rather than to work without a contract. When someone comes to the area to scab they know exactly what they are doing, they know they are going to be picketed. Most of these guys are life time scabs. What retirement? How much of a retirement would these men and women have when in 3 years if the company has there way they will be paying over $700 a month for healthcare? Why does it seem to upset you so much that these KY workers are standing there ground and fighting to keep what they have already won? They aren't asking for big pay raises, I've heard numerous from times from many different ones, they would take the contract they just had under the same terms with no pay increases. Even McDonalds gives pay raises atleast once a year usually every six months if your a good worker. My husband was one of the men out during the ice storm for 3 days, he was working in a manhole that had caused over 300 cases of trouble. You must be sertified to wokr in a manhole. Since Alltel hasn't put much into the company there are very few of them left who are certified. Pretty much the team that was there had to be there if the trouble was going to get fixed. Do you want to hear about the fit Alltel threw because these men were out there trying to get things working again? They didn't care about the customer that had no service. Of course there wouldn't have been such a big problem with it if Alltel had listened and let them repair it 3 months before instead of telling them to patch it and go on. Why do you insist on defending a company that doesn't care about it's customers or it's workers?
Hang in There
by Exile in Denver
Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2003 at 5:55 PM
I wish you all the best in Kentucky. But having worked for a company that was acquired by ALLTEL, I don' t think this is headed for a good result. I was not a union employee, but had a very high-profile job with mountains of repsonsibility. I was lied to by ALLTEL about where the position should be slotted for compensation purposes, even when compared directly to similar ALLTEL positions in other states. Once I caught the HR people lying, they changed their story and contended that my job was actually not comparable to those in other states. My superiors agreed that HR had lied through their teeth, but refused to do anything about it. Then, half of my department budget was taken in order to create a "pretend", do-nothing executive position for the wife of a high-ranking public official, because she had so badly screwed up in her existing position. (In fairness to her, it's hard to do a job well when you only show uo 5-6 days per month!) Shortly after this fiasco, I was ordered to fire my best employee - a faithful, oustnding performer for over 22 years. I refused, and they actually did let her stay. But, I knew my career there was over, and I left shortly thereafter. So again I admire your resolve, but this will not be pretty. Also please remember that there are some good people working for this company, that were not as fortunate as me in getting the hell out. Try not to lump them in with the lying SOBs in upper management. Thank you!
please read this
by MDS
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003 at 5:27 PM
Dear Editor:
I�m writing to you this E-mail, because I am more than upset, I feel hurt, basically, because my life, and the life of the man I love and lives of other families are at risk. I am from Argentina - and was planning to visit in the fall. Bob was planning to visit here last spring - but could not - because he knew he had to save money for Alltel lockout tactics.
In 2001 Verizon, one of the biggest phone companies, in the world, sold part of its business in Kentucky to Alltel,
Alltel, received from them, not only equipment, and excellent EMPLOYEES, buildings and CUSTOMERS, they also received from Verizon, the $380,000,000.00.- dollars for retirement funds, healthcare and pensions. Funds that BELONG to the employees, because they worked for it, because it is what they agreed to and because they chose to work for this company. For how they cared about the employees, for the challenges, and because they loved their work, feeling that this company will care for all of its customers, the ones who use the services and the ones who work inside.
All of you know, that Alltel is on strike now, and WHY?
Because they decided to steal the benefits. How?
1 Trying to change contracts, for a garbage one
2 Trying to change the retirement
3 Trying to change health insurance
4 Trying to force the technical teams sell or risk losing their jobs
5 Trying to force employees quit the union
6 Trying to replace quality workers for contractors.
7 Trying to lie to the authorities about services including the Public Service commission and the governor
8 Trying to give low quality service to the customers.
8 Trying to leave employees with no job security
9 NOT ALLOWING THE WORKERS TO CONTIUE WORKING DURING NEGOCIATIONS
Right now, Alltel thinks it is God. Because of this lockout from work, families don�t have health insurance. Because they cannot repair the traffic lights - that means putting in risk life, yes HUMAN Lives. The kids going to the schools, you trying to arrive to your job, or you who is inside an ambulance. You are put under this risk because Alltel is hiring contractors with low qualifications to replace one of the best teams in the country to repair phone services and critical circuits, in universities, companies, state and city services, hospitals, and even cellular services from Cingular, Nextel, Verizon and other wireless companies. If you wonder why the cellular phones are having problems it is because the Alltel contracted workers cannot meet the response times required by the psc this is not only illegal but the psc needs to start fining Alltel to make them get quality back into the service, this was a promise from Alltel to the psc before they were allowed to buy this service from Verizon. If you wonder why traffic is bad and it takes 10 minutes longer to get to work -- Blame Alltel.
But how does that affect employees? They are under a stress level that can cost them their lives, because they are loosing their life style, because they are loosing the right of have a �normal� life. Because Alltel thinks that they can steal their future, their dreams, their hopes and all they have. Because Alltel thinks, that is ok to steal all they have worked for.
Sure is a good business, If you received 380 million and put in the money market, and get better rates, and benefits, is great, but what if this money does not belong to you, and you need to pay to the REAL owners of the money? Well can you be like Alltel and just steal it? This is what they intend to do, by the hand of Alltel manager Skip Harwood. I would like to ask Mr. Skip Harwood the following:
Mr. Skip, Would you accept to work under this kind of contract?
Mr. Skip, Would you accept that your company pay you U$ 40 per month for insurance and not the U$ 700 it would cost, taking from your pocket the difference?
Mr. Skip Would you accept that you cannot retire until you are 65 when you can draw Medicare and not what you were guaranteed, when you started.
Mr. Skip Would you accept your retirement pension after 30 years of service to the community, when you been saving and betting on your company under a just and prior contract?
Mr. Skip would you accept requirements to sell for a company, when you know that you are a technician, not a salesman and that sooner or later this company will say, Sorry you couldn�t sell, SO you are fired!!! Because this will happen. TRUE????????
Mr. Skip would you accept to train, contractors so they can take your job later? Because that is what you are asking of them. Will you say we don�t have enough jobs to support you and we have contractors, Bye !!!! your retirement money is mineeeeeee!!!!!!!! HA !
Mr. Skip, Would you like to work for a company who risks human life?
Mr. Skip would you like to work for a company that stole your life style?
Mr. Skip would you like to work for a company that wants to break your union, the ones who protect you from the thieves, and abuses that this company is now showing to be.
Mr. Skip, Do you think that the KENTUCKIANS ARE IDIOTS? You don't need to answer that one - you must or you would have offered a fair contract.
You can drive your company as wish, but you are not God, so you will not decide. Stop and think with your head and not with your pocket, because if not - your pocket will be really thin if you continue to run in this direction. Because YOU, YOUR CEO and STOCKHOLDERS will loose, there are other companies that people are going to.
Do you think MR SKIP, that the Mayor will accept that you continue putting citizens lives in risk? Do you think that the state commission will accept more complaints about your company? Do you think that your employees will not fight for their rights? Do you think that your employees don�t deserve a life? Do you wish them to die before they retire, so you can keep their money? That is what you want. True?
Sorry MR. Skip, it will not be this way. They know what is right and fair and they have sprit, They are fighters, They love their jobs, love their community they believe in their future, they believe in Laws, they believe in RIGHT.
I would like to think, that your nights are just like you deserve, well if you have half cell of conscience inside your head you are not sleeping well at night.
Miriam Louro
Buenos Aires, Argentina
please read this
by MDS
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003 at 5:28 PM
Dear Editor:
I�m writing to you this E-mail, because I am more than upset, I feel hurt, basically, because my life, and the life of the man I love and lives of other families are at risk. I am from Argentina - and was planning to visit in the fall. Bob was planning to visit here last spring - but could not - because he knew he had to save money for Alltel lockout tactics.
In 2001 Verizon, one of the biggest phone companies, in the world, sold part of its business in Kentucky to Alltel,
Alltel, received from them, not only equipment, and excellent EMPLOYEES, buildings and CUSTOMERS, they also received from Verizon, the $380,000,000.00.- dollars for retirement funds, healthcare and pensions. Funds that BELONG to the employees, because they worked for it, because it is what they agreed to and because they chose to work for this company. For how they cared about the employees, for the challenges, and because they loved their work, feeling that this company will care for all of its customers, the ones who use the services and the ones who work inside.
All of you know, that Alltel is on strike now, and WHY?
Because they decided to steal the benefits. How?
1 Trying to change contracts, for a garbage one
2 Trying to change the retirement
3 Trying to change health insurance
4 Trying to force the technical teams sell or risk losing their jobs
5 Trying to force employees quit the union
6 Trying to replace quality workers for contractors.
7 Trying to lie to the authorities about services including the Public Service commission and the governor
8 Trying to give low quality service to the customers.
8 Trying to leave employees with no job security
9 NOT ALLOWING THE WORKERS TO CONTIUE WORKING DURING NEGOCIATIONS
Right now, Alltel thinks it is God. Because of this lockout from work, families don�t have health insurance. Because they cannot repair the traffic lights - that means putting in risk life, yes HUMAN Lives. The kids going to the schools, you trying to arrive to your job, or you who is inside an ambulance. You are put under this risk because Alltel is hiring contractors with low qualifications to replace one of the best teams in the country to repair phone services and critical circuits, in universities, companies, state and city services, hospitals, and even cellular services from Cingular, Nextel, Verizon and other wireless companies. If you wonder why the cellular phones are having problems it is because the Alltel contracted workers cannot meet the response times required by the psc this is not only illegal but the psc needs to start fining Alltel to make them get quality back into the service, this was a promise from Alltel to the psc before they were allowed to buy this service from Verizon. If you wonder why traffic is bad and it takes 10 minutes longer to get to work -- Blame Alltel.
But how does that affect employees? They are under a stress level that can cost them their lives, because they are loosing their life style, because they are loosing the right of have a �normal� life. Because Alltel thinks that they can steal their future, their dreams, their hopes and all they have. Because Alltel thinks, that is ok to steal all they have worked for.
Sure is a good business, If you received 380 million and put in the money market, and get better rates, and benefits, is great, but what if this money does not belong to you, and you need to pay to the REAL owners of the money? Well can you be like Alltel and just steal it? This is what they intend to do, by the hand of Alltel manager Skip Harwood. I would like to ask Mr. Skip Harwood the following:
Mr. Skip, Would you accept to work under this kind of contract?
Mr. Skip, Would you accept that your company pay you U$ 40 per month for insurance and not the U$ 700 it would cost, taking from your pocket the difference?
Mr. Skip Would you accept that you cannot retire until you are 65 when you can draw Medicare and not what you were guaranteed, when you started.
Mr. Skip Would you accept your retirement pension after 30 years of service to the community, when you been saving and betting on your company under a just and prior contract?
Mr. Skip would you accept requirements to sell for a company, when you know that you are a technician, not a salesman and that sooner or later this company will say, Sorry you couldn�t sell, SO you are fired!!! Because this will happen. TRUE????????
Mr. Skip would you accept to train, contractors so they can take your job later? Because that is what you are asking of them. Will you say we don�t have enough jobs to support you and we have contractors, Bye !!!! your retirement money is mineeeeeee!!!!!!!! HA !
Mr. Skip, Would you like to work for a company who risks human life?
Mr. Skip would you like to work for a company that stole your life style?
Mr. Skip would you like to work for a company that wants to break your union, the ones who protect you from the thieves, and abuses that this company is now showing to be.
Mr. Skip, Do you think that the KENTUCKIANS ARE IDIOTS? You don't need to answer that one - you must or you would have offered a fair contract.
You can drive your company as wish, but you are not God, so you will not decide. Stop and think with your head and not with your pocket, because if not - your pocket will be really thin if you continue to run in this direction. Because YOU, YOUR CEO and STOCKHOLDERS will loose, there are other companies that people are going to.
Do you think MR SKIP, that the Mayor will accept that you continue putting citizens lives in risk? Do you think that the state commission will accept more complaints about your company? Do you think that your employees will not fight for their rights? Do you think that your employees don�t deserve a life? Do you wish them to die before they retire, so you can keep their money? That is what you want. True?
Sorry MR. Skip, it will not be this way. They know what is right and fair and they have sprit, They are fighters, They love their jobs, love their community they believe in their future, they believe in Laws, they believe in RIGHT.
I would like to think, that your nights are just like you deserve, well if you have half cell of conscience inside your head you are not sleeping well at night.
Miriam Louro
Buenos Aires, Argentina
"You got that right" Chip
by disenchanted and embarrased to work for Allte
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2003 at 6:44 PM
I hope the upper management of Alltel reads the previous email from Miriam Louro..I think she said it all and we appreciate her support...Alltel has proven to be the underbelly of the telephone industry .. We are hoping they will put us up for sale and we will get a real company in Kentucky that will have some respect for their employees...Shame on you Alltel,,,please get out of Kentucky,,,we don't want you here...You are evil!!
Just the facts, mam
by John
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 at 3:07 AM
Could you provide independent verification, such as a news article, police report, ambulance driver statement (news source), or any source other than your words.
dear john??????????
by just hating alltel
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 at 4:25 PM
John,,,,what the hell are you asking? Facts about what? That Alltel sucks? Where have you been? Under a rock or what? It's common knowledge these days!!! Are you a scab too? Maybe just a little whacked out ?......or are you detective Friday reincarnated....DUH?
To John
by Abner
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 at 5:56 PM
Thank you John for asking for the truth. So far all I
have read are CWA lies. Where is the great contract
that says Alltel is to support old Verizon employees?
fact
by cathy
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 at 6:02 PM
I talked to the lady who was hit in Flatwoods myself. Their names were listed in the Greenup News paper under indictments, they were indicted for wanton endangerment. For the most part they are not saying in the newspapers that these guys work for Alltel or the news.... I wonder if it has anything to do with Alltel paying for advertisement...or the signs painted on the news vehicles that say "wireless communications supplied by Alltel". I've written and asked, so far no response.
Abner? little abner? you're a funny dude
by alltel sucks
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 at 7:15 PM
hey little Abner,,,haven't seen anything from you for years,,,always enjoyed your comics....Are you a scab too? Somebody must have turned on the lights,,never seen so many cockroaches surface at one time..
abner and john
by alltel sucks
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 at 7:23 PM
In case nobody else has figured it out,,john and abner are roommates and are gay...how else could there be 2 totally ignorant dudes living apart from each other? Come on guys,,,what are ya trying to pullover on us here?
listen up scabs
by scab hater
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 at 7:32 PM
guess what scabs and any alltel lovers out there?
the ky public service commission has just ruled against alltel in regards to their persistant use of scab contractors.,,,all we can say is,,have a good trip home you scum suckin jerks,,,,,you're outta here !!! HAHAHA
scab
by Jackie
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 at 7:39 PM
You must be the contractor that worked at alltel that screwed up everything we had to go back and fix and as far as taking orders and papers off the wall they were still there when I left. Find something else to make an excuse for. We are out here fighting for our rights and if nobody ever did that, where would we be today? I know I would never be a scab and I would never trust you to ever step foot in my CO.... CWA striker in Lexington Ky.
another fact
by darsa
Friday, Aug. 22, 2003 at 3:45 PM
Slowly the facts are being released, check the Ashland Daily Independent the city comissioner talks about the scab arrested at the prison.
To the strikers
by third party mediator
Saturday, Aug. 23, 2003 at 8:49 PM
This address is posed directly towards the picketers of 3371 and 3372. I caution you against any old world antics or tactics that you have been or do intend on using to enforce your point. I do not question the fact that you are wanting to take a stand for better working conditions and I do not question the fact that your frustration and personal investments have been breached. But I do question the language that many are choosing to emphasize, such as "endangerment" or "life threatening." Such language may heighten the sensations or sentiments of the immediate, but they are not clear in addressing the true issues at hand.
What one could consisder life threatening would be this: those who refuse to play this "game" according to real world standards. You accuse the company of lying and mismanaging funds that were alloted to you via the Verizon contracts. If that is true, why do you spend your time picketing when surer methods of negotiation are available. Because you know that your case is valid, then why give your energies toward time on the streets or chasing contractors when you could and should be directing your resourses towards more effective means.
Why hasn't the 3371 and 3372 armed themselves with savvy lawyers and powerful arguements.
Excess two months of picketing is somewhat reflective of playing chess with a person who only thinks two steps ahead of the competition.
I hate to say this, but business principles are at times quite impersonal and calculating. If the need is there, the business must fill it. If the workers refuse to provide, then there must be means of meeting the demand. If the demand cannot be met, then there is either negotiation or total restructuring.
It is a frustrating and sometimes a demeaning feeling to know that one's position can be so quickly filled. But that is the truth of the matter. For every one worker who lives with the vision that he or she is irreplaceable, there are hundreds of workers who are trained or are trainable to fill the spot. It is not only in the communications business, but in every business.
Violent words and violent actions only highlight that acting member for societal and corporate removal.
If I were to give any points of recommendation, it would be this. Give up the school-ground mentality, and address the problems with professionalism, wit, and cunning, not methods that persistently grind negotiations to a stalemate.
negotiate?
by darsa
Monday, Aug. 25, 2003 at 4:39 AM
The company is not negotiating...can you call it negotiating when they say take it or leave it and they sit in the bargaining room with their arms crossed and refuse to speak? Are we to lay down and accept what ever some person making more money than most of us will ever see decides to dish out to us? Let our jobs be put on line for not making sell quotas when 90% of the time we don't see a customer when we are repairing their phone? The company is the one who dressed their scabaides up in military type clothes trying to intimidate us. If we back down now we lose everything we have gained over the years and odds are a lot of us are going to be without our jobs because they will be given to contractors. United we stand is not just a saying on the KY flag it's a way of life.
Negotiate
by John
Monday, Aug. 25, 2003 at 6:12 AM
Darsa think about it. Would you want or trust employees that have acted the way that the CWA members have acted? Alltel is the employer and
they write the pay checks. If the employees tell
them they suck or if the employees use the middle
finger or cuss then why should Alltel want them as
employees? As far as Alltel being greedy welcome
to Corporate America. There is not a company in
the US that is not paying the CEO's big bucks while
paying low wages. Even school districts pay big bucks
to the superintendent while cutting programs for their
students. Your small group is not going to change the
big corporations. Your kidding yourself if you think
it will.
John?
by another striker
Monday, Aug. 25, 2003 at 8:10 PM
John,,you obviously are not employee of Alltel. We here in Kentucky, were perfectly satisfied with our jobs until Alltel came to town. We had no idea what was ahead of us when Verizon sold us out to Alltel. We had no choice in the matter. We were only doing our jobs, hoping that when our company sold us out, it would be to a company that would respect us as the dedicated employees we have always been. We never suspected that we would be stuck with working for a company that has absolutely no regards for it's employees and especially a company that could care less for it's customers. The Kentucky PSC is now questioning Alltel's tactics, and hopefully the truth about this greedy company and it's pathetic executives, is finally becoming known to all concerned...
John
by Alltel
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003 at 6:10 AM
I guess you don't get it. Not matter was PCS finds the union members are in a lose - lose situation. If the strike is settled you will go back to work for a company that you hate. You will have a pay check but your life will be miserable. Some CWA members will continue to bad mouth Alltel and that will make working conditions bad for everyone. If this strike is not settled you have no job and are miserable.
yes,,we will always hate alltel
by alltel hater
Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003 at 6:02 PM
Yes,,you are right,,we will always hate alltel. What do they expect? They have shown us what we mean to them, nothing. You think it's gonna be a kiss and make up situation? Be real dude.. We'll get our paychecks regardless,,,maybe they should have thought about that before they attempted to break our union..Now they must suffer the consequences.. Shame on them !! We can only hope they sell us to a company that appreciates their employees, as did Verizon and GTE..Remember, they will always be the underbelly of the telephone industry...Scott Ford is a spoiled brat that was given this telephone company on a silver platter from his ruthless daddy Joe.. Do your research, just for kicks,,type in alltel mafia in your search engine and enjoy.....Alltel was $%&*%$$ deep in the whitewater scandal...do your homework before you respond next time....Alltel hater
Someone needs to think
by Trish
Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003 at 5:09 PM
I have read negotiator and John's letter and want to say this. My husband belongs to 3371. He is a Pastor and refuses to yell anything at anyone. But though he did nothing one of the scab workers would grab his self and sticking his finger up until it was caught on tape. I don't like that mentality either, but if you think it is strikers only, then you are fooled. Sad isn't it. That my husband a pastor, has to look at that. Not only that but my husband's brother has crossed the picket line and when he did not say anything to the scabs while picketing these men went back and told his brother he cussed them and talked about him. Which didn't happen. It gets really sickening of watching stuff like that. And finally should Alltel put up with this or that? Well I guess they got really tired of my husband who would work up to 36hours at a time after the ice storm this year. What a bad worker? Some of us are sick of all of this and just want to go back to work. My question is where is the union and Alltel in this matter? And where is the mediation to help us families. This is getting very old quick. But please don't tell me about play yard behavior when you have scabs cussing, flipping off, grabbing themselves, and one got out with of his truck with gloves on and threatening strikers, and strikers getting hit by cars in Lexington. How sad
negotiate
by Darsa
Friday, Aug. 29, 2003 at 8:46 PM
So what would you have us do John? Lay down and roll over? Sell out the men and women who worked before us who put in their years only to see most of their retirement check go to pay their medical benefits? Benefits they earned? Yes we are a small group and the odds are against us. But sometimes you must take a stand. If we lose we lose. But either way we will know we tried. You get nothing if you don't try. Atleast we will be able to hold our heads up.
all right
by worker bee
Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003 at 6:53 PM
Hey Darsa (and others),
I would do the same thing if I were you! Fight to the end, and hold your head up high!
to john
by Miriam
Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003 at 3:02 PM
Do I need to provide you this information, or you cannt read the news papers? or listen your neighbors, or just see arround?
Dear John, if you call in that way, if you have a last name like i do. The facts are there, and Alltel is just the tip of the iceberg, things are changing and not for good, if you are blind, if you have a band on your eyes, well is time to remove it, is time to SEE, is time to learn.
That is happend there , now, happened in other places in other countries, and believe me never for good. Now is this wonderfull team there, the next could be you, will you just wait? .
Do you need reports, just catch your phone, if it works, and call to the different facilities, and just ask.
Miriam
the party is ending
by upset with all of that
Monday, Sep. 01, 2003 at 5:19 PM
MR .Chip:
Perhaps you were asking why a person who lives in South America is trying to anger you. Well the answer is easy, I don�t like the kind of things that are happening not here or there, and less because that affects the people I love. Sounds selfish? sure, you are selfish too, but for different reasons, mine are personal related to feelings, future, and health , and yours are just money and glory.
History shows, how companies develop their business effects how they perform. That if they pick a mareket and bet on it, that if they give best benefit to the customers, and good quality and new and better options, and if they have a good chain of benefits for employees - they will work harder, will work better, will keep the company name proud, and in the end it will be CHEAPER for the company, because they will be professionals in their own jobs. You have the best quality people possible in the Ky, and you lock them out of work? to me this is idiocy, and you do this to steal from them?
Did you ever read about business administration? Do you remember Taylor? Did you read about the fights of the employees during the last two centuries?, do you remember what OIT is, and why it was created? You should, all of that allows you to sit there right now, because this fight, allows your family to grow, allows your children to go to school, and allowed you to arrive in your position. But that history, allows too, the communities to be where they are right now, and lets an economy grow, and allows the growth of nations.
You can run your business as you wish, you can try to kill it too, and make it fall, and try to destroy the reasons it was created (it is not only for being wealthy, there is nothing wrong with that). At least Wealth is the product of man�s capacity to think, but Alltel will not be wealthy if you think that the people who are working, thinking, creating for your company are fools.
Money permits you to obtain for your goods and your labor that which they are worth to the men who buy them. Money demands of you the recognition that men must work for their own benefit, so you must offer them values for their goods, and the degree of a man�s productiveness is the degree of his value. Agree? If you do, say thanks to Aynn Rand she said that and other interesting things you might wish to investigate.
So if you agree, you should recognize, that these men and women, work and offer their values to the company, you are ruining now. They deserve the rewards they had before. That you should offer them VALUES , and that means respect for them and their life, health, and efforts, that they are productive , because they do they job by far better than others, and this productivity is the best value for the company if you compared this with the results you have had lately. I guess you will recognize that, so they deserve the reward of their benefits it BELONGS to them. Their goods? Do I need to explain it? Maybe, their goods are the knowledge, experience, and the love for what they are doing. Should I continue, or do you get the point?
So now, what happens with a company run by cheap people, what happens with a company run for people who think short term, with their wallet and not in the future? What happens with a company that doesn�t think that good employees build wealth? What happens with a company looted? What happens when a company sends blacksmails, lies, steals, or doesn�t give quality products, customer care or customer service? What happens with a company that thinks people are just a dispensable thing, and treats them worse if they are employees? Do you know? Do you get the point?
AllTel employees, are on strike because they are fighting to get what they had before, because they don�t like having their lives stolen, they would like to love your company, because they believe in what they do. Because they loved this job, because they knew that if they work hard, and are creative and productive, they would be rewarded, because they love the life they are building, because they love this community. They have dreams too.
Mr. Skip, do you for one moment think that they like what is happening now? Do you think that they are happy seeing that the company is going down and is a mess? Do you think that they will believe in you, from now to the future? Do you think that they are not sad and disappointed ?
Mr. Skip, do you think it will be easy for Alltel, start in new markets? Do you think that this news will not spread? Do you think that this kind of internal politics doesn�t affect the normal jobs of the employees who are not on strike? Do you think that the employees inside your buildings right now are not thinking -- when will this happen to us too? Do you think that the state of Kentucky will not make you pay for all you did? And Do you think that your stockholders will not made you pay for your mistakes too?. Think about it, put in the balance your loss, your future, and the future of the company, and then ask your heart if you can find it. Read history, read news around the world, and search how the best companies grow.
After that, I can only say, I don�t know what the pressure is you have on you, probably a lot. But you have a key, and you have the power to stop this. I would like to think that there are still honorable people, who care and HONOR the basic laws of life; respect for people, life and property.
And finally, don�t forget that you can be the next to cross this road as you have forced CWA to, and an old motto said �DO UNTO OTHERS�. Labor day is here, will you honor this day and the reasons for its celebration?
To Alltel Employees, don�t give up. I am only one woman at the other side of the Andes, but none here, or there, or in other country of the world need to be humiliated, or stolen from for any reason.
Miriam Louro
Licentiate in Human and Public Relations
Buenos Aires
Argentina
get real
by ha ha
Monday, Sep. 01, 2003 at 8:10 PM
Let's face the facts here. You all bad mouth the contractors, but atleast they have the back bone to do what it takes to provide for there familys, instead of whinning "it's not fare" while running around acting like babies.The CWA members need to wake up and smell the coffee.YOU WILL NOT WIN!!!! Then you can go back to work with your tail between your legs, while the contractors sit back and have a few laughs.Oh yea and guess what. The contractors are not going away, because they are wanted, they also pay taxes and contribute to the ecomony in Lexington.You talk about the bull crap. You guys are clueless.You better learn to accept the contractors because some of you will be working with them and some of you will be replaced by them.
Remedial Reading Course?
by He He
Tuesday, Sep. 02, 2003 at 12:13 PM
I find it unlikely that someone who consistently mispells 5 letter words can support a family.
Someone needs to think Part II
by Trish
Tuesday, Sep. 02, 2003 at 2:07 PM
The is to the get real person. Let's GET REAL. Here is the real deal: I am personally not against, nor is my husband against contractors. We have family that are contractors. So this isn't personal, but you need to think. Who will get the last laugh? Firstly, that is aweful that you want people to be brought down. I do not have a problem with you having a job, I have a problem with you trying to keep my husband from having a job, when he has no problem working with a contractor when he is working. So why do you want people brought down? Next you asked the question who will get the last laugh? Well your health care provider will. You ask why my health care provider? Because most contractors do not have any type of retirement or insurance. I know a lot of contractors and none have retirement for when they get old, because they do not have a steady employer that is investing in their old age. So is anyone investing in you at this time. Who will laugh sir when you become old and can not retire because no one you worked for cared. I think it is wrong that anyone ask you to provide services and work for them but they are not willing to invest in YOU. So who will laugh last ....not you when you are 65. You really need to rethink a few of your opinions.
Strange
by Bob Bryan
Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2003 at 8:35 AM
robertbryan4@aol.com
Strange Beneficiaries,
It is amazing to me - that contractors would wish us to lose - they will also lose. Did any contractor not benefit from a good union that cares about justice? If they realize that cutting our pay by over $2.00 per hour - next time the contractor is needed - he will be paid less. I accept that contractors are a part of my life - and some do fine work, BUT - the company wishes us to train you to do our jobs and that will not happen. If the contractors are so good - why do the streetlights of Lexington not work as they did before. WHY can they not fix one -JUST ONE? If the contractors are so good - why does it take more of you to do the work that needs to be performed. WHY can you not fix a simple clec phone line? I know of one - that Alltel gave up on - and provided the customer with a cell phone just to calm him - they gave him a cell phone - and forwarded his calls to that. If this is the only answer they could achieve - seems someone needs to have the training we will not provide for you. Contractors -- apply to work with this company - as a full time employee - then see if you would accept what they offer.
I am not crying about you being here, I do not feel that you are capable of replacing me - I know you wish you could - but before that will happen you will need to show you have the ability - and I have not seen that from any. I think the reason you are contractors and strike busters is because no company will hire you as a regular employee. If that is true - you should hope we get better contract so next time you go somewhere - you will be paid more not less.
Bob
Strike on "boys"
by CWA fan
Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2003 at 1:32 PM
Maybe the CWA would do better in their negotiations with Alltel if they ditched the current union reps and replaced them with Miriam Louro.
I am not sure how she fits into this fight though.I have not decided if she is just a south of the border busy body trying to keep her unemployed self entertained, or if she is involved in this due to her internet romance boyfriend ( which is just an avenue for her to get legal access into this country,by using her easily impressed and lonely,cause driven,lemming like boyfriend to "import" ,( BUY AMERICAN), her and then marry her only so she can later dump his layed-off butt ). Or maybe she is the labor unions secret weapon they obtained in the NAFTA agreement. However I will say in her defense,she fills her spare time in a manner her Jr.High teachers would be proud of , by writing letters.
Regardless of how misinformed,fact void, and emotion endearing they may be, because teachers are union members too.
reply to cwa fan
by bob
Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2003 at 5:35 PM
robertbyran4@aol.com
CWA fan,
You know it is amazing - that you would attack only a woman - one that is thousands of miles from you - and she can only show support by writing to true cwa members. I am the "internet boyfriend" the one that may or may not be "legal access" that is not your uneducated concern, but believe me USA is not her final destination, her paradise is not in our country- but I am the one someday you will face. She has been here many times - and unlike you shows intelligence and honesty. Unlike you she speaks Spanish English, French and Portuguese. Unlike you she has the ability to speak our language correctly. Unlike you she is caring, and strong enough to use her name in public. Are you ashamed of yourself - so much so that you will not use your name?
I do not have that problem. I will even give you my web address - PLEASE E-MAIL ME - I would enjoy the adventure. Obviously you feel anything south of Arkansas is Mexico just begging to get into USA -- well sorry you lost out on your education. It would be wise to study before you open your letters to the world. If you knew half of what you say -- I would call you an idiot - but since it is obvious that you do not -- I will instead just know you are illiterate Arkansas big mouth - that needs to learn - education is better than large mouth. It is amazing to me that she has been here several times and loves KY, and its people. It is also amazing that - she writes in our language and does it better than either of us. Guess if you really want to insult her -- write back to her in Spanish. LORD, NO HABLA - YO NO ENTIENDO - POR FAVOR NO MAS. Please do us all a favor and go back to where you came from we all ready have a village idiot sitting in a big green building. ROBERTBRYAN4@AOL.COM.-- Write me I love to talk with 1/2 wits - I can sometimes even teach them.
Grow Up
by Sue
Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2003 at 6:31 PM
Okay boys now just grow up and go on to more
important issues. Does anyone know how the
talks between the CWA and Alltel went? The
union is not updating the web site.
Talks
by Bla
Wednesday, Sep. 03, 2003 at 6:37 PM
I am also wondering how the talks went.
SCABS ARE PEOPLE
by MIKE HINTON
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 6:21 AM
GUYS LETS WAKE UP OK, YOU ARE THE ONES WHO WALKED OFF YOUR JOBS. SOMEONE HAD TO REPLACE YOU. WE OWN A MOTEL AND WEVE MET SOME VERY FINE CONTRACTORS, HARD WORKERS TOO. YOU NEED TO QUIT BEING SISSIES AND GO BACK TO WORK, ALWAYS REMEMBER THERE IS ALWAYS SOMEONE WAITING TO REPLACE US. SO DONT BE MAD AT THE CONTRACTORS ITS YOUR OWN FAULT
but scabs aren't good people
by Brad
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 9:46 AM
Yes scabs are people but so are thieves ,crooks, and other assorted criminals. My problem with scabs are the fact they receive 38.50 an hour to do my job. Imagine if the company you worked for was bought for 2 billion dollars. Then 9 months later the company told you they were going to cut about 100 jobs and then pay a scab double the pay you get to do your job. I doubt scabs would be very high on your list of decent people would they?
response to scabs are not good people
by CWA fan
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 10:50 AM
In answer to your question.I guess if I were you I might feel as though I had no choice but to become a scab too. At that point though you could call yourself an "independent Contractor".
FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
by EMPLOYED
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 11:46 AM
THIS IS TO ANYONE OUT THERE, ALLTEL EMPLOYEES OR STRIKERS, I HAVE LISTENED TO THE NEWSLINE OF CWA UNION PRESIDENT EVERYDAY AND ANYONE WITH ANY COMMON SENCE WOULD SEE WHAT KIND OF PERSON HE IS, HE HAS MADE SUGGESTION TIME AFTER TIME TO VANDALIZE PROPERTY, TO RAISE THE COST OF BILLING PROCESSES BY TURNING IN BILLS CERTAIN WAYS, ALSO ATTACKING PEOPLE FOR THE WAY THEY LOOK OR DRESS, I HAVE WORKED FOR GTE,VERIZON,AND ALLTEL . ALTHOUGH THEIR MEDICAL BENEFITS ARE NOT AS GOOD AS VERIZON`S IT IS STILL A GOOD COMPANY TO WORK FOR, THE CWA HAS ACTED LIKE A BUNCH OF UNTHANKFULL SCHOOL CHILDREN WHINING AROUND . I`M SURE FOR ANYONE PERSON STRIKING THERE ARE 50 PEOPLE WAITING FOR YOUR JOB. HOW DO YOU LIKE MAKING HALF OF YOUR WAGES WHILE YOUR SO-CALLED UNION PRESDENT IS SITTING IN AIR CONDITIONING TALKING HIS GARBAGE...SURE HE WANTS YOU ON STRIKE HES MAKING HIS FULL WAGES WHILE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE SUFFERING. ONE MORE THING, IF I WAS IN CHARGE OF ALLTEL, I WOULD FIRE ABOUT HALF OF YOU GUYS JUST FOR ACTING THE WAY YOU HAVE AND DOING THE THINGS YOU HAVE DONE. GROW UP! .. OUR COMPANY HAS NOT SUFFERED BECAUSE OF YOU.. OUR WORKLOAD IS STILL MANAGEABLE ... EVERYONE ELSE HAS PULLED TOGETHER TO PICK UP YOUR SLACK... IF YOU DONT LIKE THE COMPANY YOU WORK FOR THAN QUIT.. SINCERILY.. SCAB WORKER..EMPLOYED..GETTING A PAY CHECK
"Right On " Employed
by CWA fan
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 12:17 PM
I agree with what you say about that Garkavich (refered to in the future as Gark Vader ). He seems to resent that Alltel came into these negotiations with a plan,and a will to carry it out. He must not be used to have to actually compromise. He must think his threats and arrogant remarks will be forgotten post strike. His union brothers will have to endure resentment from Alltel due to his approach to bargaining.
Gark Vader , I don't want to put it all on you, I know you get alot of assistance from your colleague, Phil (refered to in the future as Jaba Da Grump).
STAR WARS
by Bob Bryan
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 1:29 PM
robertbryan4@aol.com
It still is amazing to read "cwa fan". He is just so brilliant - how can anyone not see the humor of this obvious top of the food chain for contractors -- GEE it is a shame though that this mystery person will not itdentify himself. I would love to meet someone so obviously brilliant as to be able to make comparisons to STAR WARS. I bet that took him all day to think about.
"Scabs" May the Force be with You
by CWA fan
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 3:47 PM
I can only imagine what the conversations are like for the CWA bosses after a tough day of negotiations. Maybe something like "Mike and I never liked improving negotiation efforts" or "Efforts like intimidation torment employers" could be overheard.
And as each day passes you may likely hear from the Alltel team, as they prepare to replace workers, "Every likely employee can tell right off CWA's overated man".
Of course,we will never know.
Is it true?
by Brad
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 4:03 PM
Is it true that the CWA President works for Verizon and
not Alltel? How much is he getting paid?
Someone needs to think Part III
by Trish
Thursday, Sep. 04, 2003 at 6:29 PM
This is my last time on this site. I sit and listen to people talk that say "Mike in Lexington talks trash" well so do you. The heads of the union are not the union. Remember that all you union workers. YOU are the union. From everything I hear there will be a contract to vote on after the September 11th meeting. This is your jobs. It is important that it is a fair contract, but it is also important for the workers to go back to work. Remember when you go back you will get to send some people home for a vacation. Lets vote yes. There are some people who need some time off. One thing I want to say in closing is this. My husband a CWA worker has worked for Alltel, working 36+ hours straight, he won awards for selling and for other things he has done. He is a great worker. Working overtime on almost every check. Not only that, he works in an area that doesn't have to work on weekends. The boys in this job chose to work on weekends to keep coverage at all times. They love their job, they love their cities, and they love their bosses and Alltel, and CWA. My husband wants to go back to work. And the sooner the better. Remember voting yes means vacation for someone.
CWA
by Cathy
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 4:00 AM
mommacat21@yahoo.com
It seems to me that most people posting on here are missing the reason that the CWA members have went on strike. It is NOT for pay raises, more benefits,or because they are afraid to sell. It is to keep the benefits they already have, they are not asking for more. They have even stated time and time again they would accept no pay raises to retain the jobs and benefits they already have. Is it fair to request a CZT who might see 15% of the customers who's phones he repairs to meet a sells quota? Is it fair to expect a person who works in the CO and never comes in contact with a customer to meet a sells quota or be reprimanded? My husband is a CZT there are weeks he never sees a customer. These men and women are fighting to keep their jobs so they are not contracted out, to keep the things they have already earned. The company is trying to set them back years in some areas. The people who have worked and retired are going to lose if they have to pay for their medical insurance. Is it fair for Alltel to change the rules to the game after these men and women have already played? The rumor is that the company wants to take an offer directly to the CWA members because they feel that if they go around the union committee the workers will accept what ever they put on the table. These guys are doing a good job considering Alltel refuses to bargain. They are doing what they were asked to do and Alltel is going to be sadly mistaken if they think they are going to sucker these men and women into accepting something that is not fair to them. My husband loves his job, he loves his family too. He is not going to let us get short changed so he can take vacation. My son has had 2 surgeries and is looking at another. Benefits are very important to us. I've heard a lot of people say "go back to work" "be glad you have a job" "your just being greedy". Well understand this he is glad to have a job, he would be happy to go back to work with a fair contract, it doesn't even have to be a new one he would take the old one, he is fighting to keep his job so it doesn't go to a contractor. You must also realize that what Alltel does get away with taking, be it jobs, money, or benefits, puts you next in line what ever your job may be. If one company gets away with it then rest assured, more will follow. I wonder how some of you would feel if it was your job on the line, would you just walk away or would you try to stand up for it? I don't have any figures to back it up just an observation, from seeing contractors and security out at all hours of the night, from seeing twice as many contractors as regular workers on a job,(I've seen up to 4 working one case of trouble ,while the CWA workers worked one man out),it would appear that Alltel has spent an aweful lot of money trying to break the union down when it wouod have been more cost effective to just have renewed the exsisting contract. My husband has stated NO he will not vote for a contract offered by the company that will cost us money, cost jobs, hurt the retirees. I stand behind him and I urge all the members of the CWA to think about what they started fighting for, to remember why they thought it was worth the strike.
Someone needs to think Part IV
by tech on the street
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 5:58 AM
Trish, and others
I don't know how anyone can be saying "vote yes" or "vote no" on a contract you haven't even seen yet. I plan on looking it over carefully before deciding anything. I understand that this is being brouhgt back without any kind of recommendation by the bargaining committee. Alltel has told the committee that we would accept a contract if the committee would just bring one back. I would like to see what they are offering as an overall package, but I'm certainly not ready to stupidly accept anything they throw out there without reading it. It had better be pretty damn close to what we are getting now, or I am turning it down.
dissent among the spouses
by CWA fan
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 7:24 AM
I am just trying to make sure I am keeping up with the comments from the wives on here.
Trish wants her old man back to work (vote yes).Maybe those monthly payments are catching up .How is this going to look to Alltel when the union give in now? Will this not make Alltel take away even more on the next contract.Well Trish,if you want him back to work so bad,just pack his lunch and send him on in.I am sure his old boss would be glad to see him.Don't worry about the Unions threat to fine him,They can not fine someone once they leave the union.
Now , Cathy on the other hand,wants to keep this thing going on (Honey Do List is still not done). I would like to see these two ladies get together. That may result in a cat fight better than the Miller Lite commercials.
And Cathy, to answer your question ,as to why 4 techs need to work a job it only took one to do before.The reason is the previous techs just half-assed the jobs to start with and the new guys have to not only correct what the unions guys screwed up ,he then has to install in the way it should have been done the first time. This is why Alltel is having to spend so much money, They know if it does'nt get done now, It may never get done right.
reply to fan
by Bob
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 7:53 AM
CWA fan - show us how bright you are - there is 128 street lights not working -- fix just one. Before you accuse us of not being able to do the work -fix just one, that is not alot to ask from so skilled a person. As far as the proposed contract, I intend to look closely at it. I will vote for what is fair, not just for me but for my fellow union members.
Street Lights
by CWA fan
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 8:44 AM
Unless these street lights operate on D.C. ,I would have to question why Alltel would be involved anyway.
street lights
by Bob
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 9:04 AM
If you have the patience to learn - I will try to explain so that you can understand - The street lights are more than just pretty colors. Yes, they have red, yellow and green. But when you put them in a series and wish traffice to move - you add an analog circuit to them so they change best for incoming traffic in morning and outgoing at night. I was told all the contractors knew how to repair things - gee guess alltell lied to me again. GO FIGURE
Food for thought
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 9:25 AM
CWA Fan, there is no dissent among anyone. I have respect for anyones opinion, even if it is not in agreement with what I think. I was saying that when a contract is voted yes on, some out of state contractors are going to take a vacation. As far as voting yes, if the contract is fair to everyone then we will vote yes. As far as anyone else reading this remember, we always don't get everything we want, we just need what is fair. My father in law who retired from Verizon, he worked for Contel, GTE, and Verizon said that once the union was out for 7 months and that after the first few months the company, GTE at the time, offered a contract. That contract was turned down and the strike went on. Then he said that after seven months of striking that another contract was offered and excepted. It was a worse contract then the first. Remember a bird in the hand is better than five in the bush. To say I am against a contract my husband hasn't seen is wrong. I try to be optomistic. Being optomistic and enthusiastic helps. Saying that I am against CWA or ALLTEL does not help working conditions for people.
Some people on this site need to realize that people have different opinions and that is ok. This isn't a fight, let's work together and CARE. How can we expect ALLTEL to care if we don't . This contract is important. Important to families, young and old. There are people that need and want this to be over and want peace. I am sure there are families of CWA members want this over, I am sure that ALLTEL bosses wants this over and I think so do some contractors. Some of those contractors work around this area all the time, I am sure they want this over. Let's be optomistic about what is going on, because I am sure that if you want to find a problem in life you won't have much problem finding one, there are so many.
Oh and by the way CWA fan, I am a nurse and the bills are not piling up.... but thanks for your concern.
Street light or Traffic signal
by CWA fan
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 9:40 AM
Big difference in a street light and a traffic signal. When this analog circuits send data. who and where is receiving the data. Are all lights on a street in an individual circuit or do these function in a series to change at the same time or does some else determine the proper delay?
To Trish
by CWA fan
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 9:44 AM
If your father was Ex-Contel , how did he wind up in the Union? Did he take the required pay cut? Was he allowed to work freely in "union Areas"?
obvious error
by Bob
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 10:17 AM
I will admit it was an obvious error to say street light - it is of course traffic lights. I was just trying to use the phrase as our mayor did in her complaint letter to Alltel. I guess you are just to sharp for me. To answer your question about these analog circuits - the traffic controller sets the timing - but that is not the problem. The problem is (they ) cannot figure out how to make them work. I thought since you were obviously the smarter of the contractors - you would love to give them a hand. By the way when I said I would not teach you to do my job - I meant it. Either you understand analog circuits or you do not.
CWA Fan
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 10:46 AM
It was my father in law.... read the whole message there. This area has been Contel. He may have came in only during the GTE era. But he was union, for 28 years... Why so interested? I have the day off from the hospital to write today, what is your job that you get so much time off?
To: Trish
by Bob
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 1:05 PM
Trish - I do not think that he will reply. It is either a contractor - online instead of working as he should - or he/she is management sent to make us talk about the union. Either way, they really do not understand that we are from Ky and will not tolerate theft. I really appreciate men of honor. Your husband appears to be. Thank-you also for your support.
To: Trish
by Bob
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 1:05 PM
Trish - I do not think that he will reply. It is either a contractor - online instead of working as he should - or he/she is management sent to make us talk about the union. Either way, they really do not understand that we are from Ky and will not tolerate theft. I really appreciate men of honor. Your husband appears to be. Thank-you also for your support.
To: Trish
by Bob
Friday, Sep. 05, 2003 at 1:05 PM
Trish - I do not think that he will reply. It is either a contractor - online instead of working as he should - or he/she is management sent to make us talk about the union. Either way, they really do not understand that we are from Ky and will not tolerate theft. I really appreciate men of honor. Your husband appears to be. Thank-you also for your support.
CWA FAN
by Trish
Saturday, Sep. 06, 2003 at 6:58 PM
I have never heard a reply about your type of work and how you have so much time to reply to emails so quickly? Suppose you have a top secret job? If you believe in so much honesty and believe people should speak their minds and have opinions, why so secretive? I have laid it all out on the line, even said things that some disagree with. At least I am being honest with myself and others.
CWA Fan
by Cathy
Saturday, Sep. 06, 2003 at 8:21 PM
You really need to pay attention. I said "My husband has stated NO he will not vote for a contract offered by the company that will cost us money, cost jobs, hurt the retirees. " I didn't say he would vote no just for the fun of it. As for the comment about it taking 4 scabs to fix something right blame Alltel if the scabs don't know how to work the out dated equipment, if the repairs have been made temporary blame Alltel. There is not one CWA worker who will not tell you the biggest complaint they have about their job itself is getting the supplies and the authorization to do a full fledged repair job instead of a quick fix. As for the "honey do list" there isn't one. I keep my car running myself and I handle almost all of the house repairs, and the yard work. I haven't been sitting on my tail for three years waiting and hoping for a strike so he would have time to do things at home. Why is it you don't seem to want to discuss the issues here like cutting benefits, asking retirees who have already earned their retirement to give up most of their checks to keep the insurance they have already earned? Alltel wanting to cut jobs and replace them with outside workers, the loss of the company matching the 401k? Do you have any constructive comments on these issues? I'd like to read them if you do.
Just the facts
by Just the facts
Sunday, Sep. 07, 2003 at 5:29 PM
The truth of the matter is Alltel is the company paying the checks. People cannot just say hey run your business the way we want you to. Alltel calls the shots, if you don't want to work for what they are willing to pay or by their standards, find a job that will suit you and stop whining.
Just the facts
by Cathy
Sunday, Sep. 07, 2003 at 6:40 PM
Would you take over a $2.00 an hour pay cut with no complaints even though your work record was outstanding? Are you telling me because your company said that was the way it was going to be you'd just accept it?
Just the facts
by brad
Sunday, Sep. 07, 2003 at 7:11 PM
Taking a $2.00 cut in pay is a lot better than being unemployed and having no medical benefits for your kids. Alltel is the boss and they can say and do what ever they want. As far as a good work record where is it? So far by the way most CWA member act there isn't
a good work record. Does a good employee cuss their boss out, say that the company sucks and causes
damage to company property? Those are the bad employees that Alltel wants to dump and as the boss
Alltel has the right to do it.
Just the facts
by Just the facts
Sunday, Sep. 07, 2003 at 7:25 PM
You act as if this is the same company you have worked for all the time. I think you are forgetting that it is a new company. Alltel wasn't the ones that offered you this pay; they always said they would not renew the old contracts. If you want to be mad, be mad at the company that hired you offered you these things and then sold the company to someone that did not want to play by their rules.
just the facts
by Darsa
Monday, Sep. 08, 2003 at 5:43 AM
cquisiton of certain assets of Verizon, we conditioned our approval upon ALLTEL's commitment to honor the collective bargaining agreement and all memoranda of understanding betwen Verizon and its employees. Steven B. Rowell, Senior Vice-President of ALLTEL, agreed to this condition by letter dated February 25, 2002.
The Complaints now allege seven violations of various labor agreements between Verizon and its employees. The complaints further allege that these violations occured prior to June 7,2003, the date on which the collective bargaining agreement and all other memoranda of understanding expired. I find these allegations particularly troubling in light of verizon's past assurances that it would honor these agreements "to the letter".
Whenever the commission conditons its approval of a proposed utility transfer on the commiments and assurances of acquirer, a level of trust is created between the utility and the commission. Now that we are faced with allegations that ALLTEL has violated this trust, we have an obligation to fully investigate the matter.
Brad
by Just The Facts
Monday, Sep. 08, 2003 at 6:52 AM
To Darsa,
Re-read what you wrote. "Various labor agreements between Verizon and it's employees." Do you really mean to say Alltel? If so why did the CWA wait until several weeks after the strike to file a complaint with the Commission? It sounds like Alltel honored the "existing" contract. The CWA said that they went on strike because of the new contract. The CWA "facts" are so mixed up and they change every day. No wonder Alltel doesn't want to deal with them.
Brad
by Just The Facts
Monday, Sep. 08, 2003 at 6:52 AM
To Darsa,
Re-read what you wrote. "Various labor agreements between Verizon and it's employees." Do you really mean to say Alltel? If so why did the CWA wait until several weeks after the strike to file a complaint with the Commission? It sounds like Alltel honored the "existing" contract. The CWA said that they went on strike because of the new contract. The CWA "facts" are so mixed up and they change every day. No wonder Alltel doesn't want to deal with them.
brad
by darsa
Tuesday, Sep. 09, 2003 at 7:22 PM
You missed the point as usual. You dont' seem to want to look at the complete picture here or to even try to see any side but the one your set on upholding.
brad
by darsa
Tuesday, Sep. 09, 2003 at 7:23 PM
You missed the point as usual. You dont' seem to want to look at the complete picture here or to even try to see any side but the one your set on upholding.
you people kill me
by mds
Tuesday, Sep. 09, 2003 at 7:31 PM
Brad, CWA fan, and anyone else so mis-informed. All I have to say is anybody that is siding with Alltel at this point in this labor dispute, is either an alltel management personnel, a scab, or someone that is absolutely totally ignorant to the facts..When we hired on with GTE,,little did we know what was ahead of us..We had no idea that we would eventually be employed by a company so intent on destroying the livelihood we had hoped to enjoy in our retirement, that we worked so hard and endured so much for. I challenge all of these mis-informed to do their research on alltel before they post their comments, and show their ignorance and their childish remarks..We want to return to our jobs, however we don't want to lose all we worked so hard to attain.. I hope when all is said and done, that alltel decides to stop it's mean-spirited behavior, and offer a contract that we can all live with, so we can get on with our lives. Alltel's greed will not prevail in Kentucky. We will remain strong and do whatever is necessary to gain a reasonable contract.. We're not asking for anything we didn't already have,,we're asking alltel to honor the contract we had before they decided to attempt to conform us to arkansas standards..Arkansas is #50 or last in wages per hour paid...So before you post your remarks here,,do your research...Otherwise, you're nothing more than an uninformed puppet with alltel pulling your strings. Scott Ford would be proud of ya..
by the way
by mds
Tuesday, Sep. 09, 2003 at 8:04 PM
hey people,,,,,this person "just the facts",,,i forgot to say previously,,aren't they the epitome of the uninformed? Sometimes we have to overlook the total stupidity and lack of intelligence of other's.. If this person ever matures, perhaps they will stop back by, and flatter us with their new found intelligence..i'm certain we will all be retired by then.
Brad
by Trish
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 5:36 AM
First let me explain something to you, when you buy a car they give you an agreement to pay and a warranty on that car. You have to live up to your end of the agreement and the place you bought the car from has to live up to their end of the agreement, right?? Think about that a minute. Then lets look at business in general, my brother is an accountant so I know a little about business. When a company comes in and buys out another company, especially a utilities company which this is, then the new company knows what they are buying and they know what they have to live up to as far as their responsibilities are. ALLTEL knew exactly what they were buying, what their responsibilities were and what the contract stated. The Public Service Commission is investigating that because they believe that ALLTEL did not live up to that agreement. If you stopped paying on your car, the bank would come and take it back. And if your car stopped working and you had a warranty, you would expect the place you bought it from would live up to their word, right? This is a simple business concept of contracts... Do you understand?
Next, our guys want to go back to work. My husband has even said that he would compromise on some issues and except what they offered as long as it was not ridiculous. Listen if Alltel forces their workers to sell phone services or else you will be fired..... then soon contractors will sell or else..... The raise doesn't really matter to us here at our home. If we have to pay some insurance so be it.... if contractors work some who cares they worked before.... even if they take away a few benefits it will not hurt us here in our home... But to say sell phone services or you are fired, even though you have done your job and been faithful..... that is a little much... My husband works in the CO, he does sell even though he works inside, you may say well how will this effect you then? Let me tell you, people under pressure to sell or be fired try to push people to buy....Do you like to go to a store and be pushed to buy something.... No one does....But Alltel is trying to make the phone business into a shopping mall of push people to buy... You do not know Kentucky. People in Ky do not like to be pushed. Alltel is going to hurt themselves buy pushing the Kentucky consumer...
My husband want to go back to work, and to be honest we will probably vote yes to end all of this and have some peace. The boys at CWA do not want their way, they just want what is fair. And if you bought a car you would want that too...
Just the facts
by Brad
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 5:57 AM
To Trish and Darsa
First Darsa I just wanted to know if you had incorrectly written Verizon and not Alltel. What I got was a lot of CWA mixed up garbage.
Second Trish let me tell you all about corporate America. Six months ago Lucent purchased a company. The first thing they did was change everything over to their company policy. Yesterday they announced that all dental benefits for their retirees would be reduced or elimited. The next on their list will be the medical insurance. A lot of the people that worked for the company that was purchased by Lucent took early retirement and now six months later they are being told that they will no longer have insurance. The CEO at Lucent continues to draw a multi-million dollar salary. It is fair NO but that is how corporate America is. Alltel purchased Verizon. It is a new company with new rules. As stated previously Alltel is the boss and they have a right to choose who their employees are.
By the way I thought you were done writing on this web site.
Brad
by Trish
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 7:07 AM
First off Brad you can't just break contracts its illegal. The new contract that Alltel makes between them and CWA is another story. The new contract will reflect what Alltel wants and their NEW way, by the way they are not a NEW company, they have been around awhile just not in Kentucky. But the old contract that they bought when they first came is a different story. They knew what that contract was and that they had to uphold that contract. If they didn't they will get in trouble for it. The new contract will be according to Alltel's way of doing business, true. Now Brad what is your business, considering you have so much time on the internet. You respond so quickly, its almost amazing. I love honesty, so tell us what is your work that you know so MUCH about business? By the way you keep talking about another company and American business, what does another company have to do with JUST THE FACTS about what is going on with ALLTEL and CWA. Next why are you interested? Are you a company worker, a CWA worker, a contractor, or just a family Kentuckian or just a bored person? JUST THE FACTS Please, and be honest what is your interest? By the way I wasn't going to write back until someone addressed me personally, and I hate not to write back and be rude.
Brad
by Trish
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 8:30 AM
By the way Brad here is another fact for you. I am a nurse and I know alot about insurance. The fact is our economy is headed for a big problem because of insurance. Employers don't want to pay insurance because of high premiums, but then people without insurance go to where..... that's right Brad the hospital with no insurance.... then guess what....... then people can't pay, and the hospital can't just lose money so they.....that's right raise the hospital cost.......which causes guess what.....insurance premiums to go up... and we get to pay for greed on the behalf o f business. See Brad the big greed issue on helping with employee insurance isn't going to help a company out in the long run.. it is going to destroy health care, the economy and peoples very lives. Insurance, including dental should really never be something a company cuts out all together, especially with the elderly. The fact is Brad that you and I will be old someday, and we need health care. We probably will never see a social security check because the baby boomers will deplete that fund. We will probably see problems with medicare by our retirement age. Do you want to be retired and unable to work and have no way to go get medication or get what you need for your health. Let me ask you this, would you want your mother or father to be turned away from a hospital because a company cut out their insurance in their retirement age. And then your mother or father could just go home and die.. Now you may say that it is the hospitals job to do all they can, but a hospital isn't going to pay for a kidney transplant without some form of insurance... then your mother or father can sit at home until their kidneys stop working and then they will die....... how inhumane is that? We should respect retired people they have worked and earned a chance to live the best they can until they die........ Business is not as important as lives... Incorporate that Brad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Insurance
by Brad
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 9:44 AM
Wow Trish we can actually agree on something! Corporate greed or as you call it "business" is the main issue. Unfortunately walking out on your new employer, cussing them out and saying they suck (as is shown on the 3372 web) is not going to solve the problem. As has been stated over and over on this web there are enough people out there that will work for Alltel. Go back and read this web. Have you noticed that every time someone has a issue about the CWA, the members side step the issue. No one is willing to say that the CWA president is working for Verizon or that there are CWA members that are stupid enough to jump out in front of a moving vehicle. How the CWA has handled this strike is not going to solve the problems. Alltel is the new boss and they can do whatever they want. As far as the old contract goes why didn't the CWA president complain to the Commission when the problems first appeared. As far as Verizon selling to Alltel why didn't the CWA president do more to insure your rights. Isn't that what you are paying him for? As far as the high cost of health care that issue goes to our government which wants to spend billions of dollars on a country that does not want our help. Wouldn't that money be better spent on the American people?
Brad
by Trish
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 1:50 PM
Wow Brad you still didn't tell me who you work with to get so much time on the internet, guess you are side stepping the issue. My husband works for 3371, he had never cussed his employer, he still talks with his boss. He wants to go back to work which I have said many times. He is caught between a rock and a hard place as the old saying goes. The new contract will be up to Alltel to set its limits and then the men will decide to except those or not. But the first contract was bought with the understanding that they were to live up to that contract, if they did not then the PSC has every right to get them in trouble. As far as the new contract goes, it would be the right thing to do to treat your employees fairly. Sam Walton was very good to his employee at Walmart, it didn't stop him from obtaining great wealth. As a matter of fact I am sure that those employees working so hard made his business what it is. Treating employees well makes them want to work treating them like slaves makes them want to run. Like I have said many times if some of the benefits are taken in our home, that won't matter. The sell or be fired issue matters. Why? Because a lineman is suppose to work on phone lines, not walk into someones home and ask if they want call waiting. That is what people do on the phone when they call to ask if you want certain services. I think Alltel would have a better chance of passing this contract if they got rid of that issue. Because Kentuckians will not like lineman coming and asking door to door to buy services. And they are there to fix our lines not sell.
Answer these questions straight out yes or no; Did Alltel buy this area and the contract that existed? Then should they honor that first contract? (not the new one the old one, should they have honored that?) By the way Business means a commercial or industrial enterprise activity engaged in as a means of livelihood. That means when you are engaged in business you are are working toward the means of livelihood for all involve, the employer as well as the employee. Greed on the other hand means excessive or reprehensible acquisitiveness or gain. To take away from those who don't have much anyway to give to those who have excessively....... To take away insurance from a retired old man to give to a company that made more than 7 billion last year from his sweat... Yes I think that means taking away excessively shows corporate greed, not business. Look it up in the dictionary, I did.... I think I have this figured out with what you said... Look at all the people wanting to work for them... You want to work for them so you hope these guys don't go back to work so you can have their job....... Well my husband is going back to work for Alltel. We do not hate Alltel or CWA we are just a simple family trying to make a livelihood. We would like to see peace... Not tearing people down.. But you know one thing Brad, if you were to go to work for Alltel I wouldn't want them to treat you bad and I would want you to work for what you get. It is just called fair......business................
Now who are you?
Alltel
by Brad
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 2:52 PM
Trish- I give up on you. You are living in such a dream world with rose colored glasses. Walmart was and is just as dishonest as any other business or corporation. As far as your questions go why should I answer when you won't answer mine about the CWA president. Did you listen to his information line today? He is telling people to turn down the contract. He is still getting a pay check from Verizon. He wants the strike to continue and the only one that benefits is him. Talk about being dishonest. I wish you and your husband well.
Brad
by Trish
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 3:14 PM
I have no idea about the president of the union working for Verizon. That isn't a issue I know anything about. You should talk to Walmart employees about the way they are treated before you decide if they are treated bad or not. Most of them I talk to are treated well. You seem to be the one stepping by the issues that I have presented to you. You still don't answer if Alltel is to honor the contract that they bought off of Verizon, not the new one, the old one. You still haven't told me about what your interest is and what you work for. I have laid it all out. As far as corporate greed as compared to business, well that was straight from a dictionary. You can't say that I have rose colored glasses on that is what the dictionary says, or maybe you don't like Merriam Webster. You still haven't conceded to the fact that getting rid of insurance is going to cause business and the economy more trouble than its worth. You say that that is the governments problem, but the fact is Brad that if the government starts to pay for employees insurance than taxes on businesses will go up. Saying that it is their company and that is that, is crazy. Because what will happen is as the morale of the work force goes down and then the revenues go down and then the company goes down. Even the public service commission say that a consistant work force is important to the effectiveness of a utility. Look at their order. Obviously you say I am stepping around issues if I knew about the president of the CWA working for Verizon I would say it is wrong. So show me the proof you have of that. So look it up, and while you are at it, be honest and tell me your interest in this. What is your work? How can I trust you if you refuse to say who you are. You could be a 8 year old.
Brad
by Trish
Wednesday, Sep. 10, 2003 at 3:25 PM
By the way, I don't listen to the stuff that they put on those call in lines. Why are you calling them? How do you know the number? I have had a few emails between me and the Lexington guy Mike. He is not the president of my husbands union hall. But I have emailed him and told him that compromise is the best thing for the union men.. That this effects their lives. Mr. Mike and I have talked. He may not have liked what I had to say. I don't know. Like I have said, we have no problems with Alltel or CWA, as long as CWA is working to help the men. I am not for unions or business. I am for American families, that deserve to be heard and treated fairly. Get that fairly, we want everything or we are mad, no fairly. We may get treated aweful, and that is a sad reflexion on the company, but we will go on. By the way thank you for wishing us the best........................
brad
by darsa
Thursday, Sep. 11, 2003 at 3:55 AM
I'm sorry I didn't realize tht not all of what I had typed showed up. I was trying to put what the PSC had to say about the purchase of the company from Verizon and the talks they had with Alltel. It is on the CWA web site if you would like to look at it. We fully expect to pay something on our insurance it seems to be the way things are going, we would like that capped though, in a perfect world we would like to keep it just like it is in the old contract. As Trish has said the pay raise is not the issue here. Everyone has there own main points I guess, but for us it's number 1 "retirees paying for their insurance", my husband is not retired, it will be a long time before he can retire. His father retired under GTE so his retirement isn't through Alltel. I tell you all of this so you understand that my husband is not "whining" about something that affects him directly. He feels and so do I that a person should not spend half their life working for a company, retire and then have the company change the rules and take away what they have rightly earned. A lot of these people will have to go back to work just to maintain their way of life. Yes, there are things we are fighting for, for us...trying to keep contractors from taking his job at some point, offsetting the cost of insurance if we have to pay it, Selling (it's a bigger issue than the insurance, there are many days he never sees a customer). Let me ask you in all honesty the following is a list of concerns and you tell me if you think he wants too much.
1. Retiree benefits and pay that they earned, the company agreed to, stay the same. After all they earned it, it's theirs.
2. Instead of being reprimanded for spending too much time on a problem, being able to fix it correctly the first time. (This would save the CO. money in the long run don't you think?)
3. Not having to meet a sells quota. He may see 3 customers in a week, a sells quota would mean he has to sell to those three. Besides, we are bombarded with flyers in our phone bills and calls at home to purchase these services also.
4. Since the company is a stable company, not losing money or endanger of being forced to shut down, keep the same amount of money he earns per hour. Now if the company was in financial trouble as one factory is here of going bankrupt consessions would need to be made to help keep it on it's feet to try to turn it around to keep it going. This is not the case with Alltel.
I do not see where any of this unreasonable, I do however think it is unreasonable to expect these workers to give up over $2 an hour just because the company wants to take it. Mmost companies figure there retiree insurance and their empployeed insurance together. This keeps the cost down. Alltel chooses to not lump it together. A simple change in accounting could make a world of difference to someone already retired.
brad
by darsa
Thursday, Sep. 11, 2003 at 3:59 AM
By the way I own my business, I do Electronic Medical Billing for Doctors.
Way to go Brad
by CWA fan
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 11:53 AM
Well Brad, You forgot An important issue with Trish since she mentioned Wal-Mart. I am sure that Mr. Ford would have just as much love for his employees if he could get by with paying his people 7-9 dollers per hour. Don't you think Trish? And Brad, Her husband works in local 3371 where the president ,Phil ( Jabba Da Grump) Is retired .
Trish, Alltel was only required to honor the contract in place when the "bought" this area for the time remaining on the Verizon contract .June 6 was the last day for that contract, and Alltel made no changes up to that point and expected nothing more from employees. When June 7 arrived Alltel could do what ever they wanted. Your Union bargainers know that. Alltel is under no obligation to Honor anything at this point.
By the way ,Did anyone else se HBO documentory movie about the Teamsters Union and Overnight Trucking. It was fun seeing the union have to watch the strikers start going back in to work.When the movie concluded the union was still striking after 25 months.
general
by techy
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 1:36 PM
Why should Alltel expect concessions from the union employees?It is a thriving company.The contract they inherited was the poorest contract in Verizon. Ky employees are some of the lowest compensated telecommunication workers in the country. There is no rational reason for the union tho except a package that will cost it's members 9% of their money and swallow draconian policies which if implemented would gut the contract and emplyee rights.This is 2003 not 1923..GET REAL ALLTEL
CWA Fan
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 1:44 PM
Thank you CWA FAN for admitting that Alltel had to honor the first contract. That contract is the one they are being reviewed for by the PSC. Not this contract the first one. I am so glad you finally see that. Secondly Walmart employees do not have to climb large poles and be around electric lines and power lines which by the way cause cancer. I am sure you didn't know that but since I am a nurse it is important for me to show you the truth. A little health advice. You get paid more according to the work you do, and the education you have. My husband has an electronics degree. What about you? I went through years of college to be a nurse, and it is a dangerous profession just like climbing poles, I deserve the money I make. Secondly, Phil Coldiron will not decide a yes or no vote, the workers will and really Alltel will according to the way they write the contract. You are an Alltel management. Now that we are being honest again why not tell who you are. The last time I talked to you I asked the same question and you ran and hide for two weeks. I asked Brad that question now he is gone. You all spout honesty and the truth. How about some? I asked for proof that Mike from Lexington was a Verizon employee, and that if he was that was wrong, but no one showed proof. Just spouted and spewed crap. Where is your proof, and I will personally be against it. Why not read all of my letters to Brad. Brad conceded in the end, of course I had rose colored glasses because I can read a dictionary, but that has nothing to do with it. My husband wants peace, and loves his job. Never cussed a boss, still speaks with his boss. He has no problem with going back to work. The biggest issue on this contract will be sell or else. Lineman work on telephone poles and lines, who are they selling to up there, the birds? Get real.
Honesty
by Bob
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 2:52 PM
Honesty. Sorry Trish you are asking for honesty from people that only live the lives of thieves. That is like asking a contractor to -- take drug test or pay local taxes. It is not going to happen. I will be honest with you and tell you YES Mike is a Verizon employee. I did not vote for him -- because he was not member of the outside plant. But you know what, if he runs again I will be first in line to support him. He is not intimidated by the contractors or the company. He is working very hard to get us a good contract. He cannot be bought -- as has happened before (anyone with over few years has seen that). Yes, he is getting paid, he is receiving his normal 40 hour wages for his work (not near what the contractors are making and he does not get overtime like they do). He works at least 60 hours per week right now. I know when the contract is settled will not benefit him, it is to benefit the CWA. This is a man with integrity, honesty and devotion. It is not wrong that he represents CWA - it is wrong that others just want to attack him -- because they are to weak minded to find a true argument or reason for us not fold to the whims of greed. I truly wish to go back to work -- but will not under the conditions they have offered so far.
Honesty
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 4:34 PM
Well if he is working for Verizon in Lexington, and he is benefiting from this strike... Hear what I am saying if HE is benefiting from this strike I am not sure how he can effectively run the union without bias. If this strike benefits HIM and his household how could he separate his feelings of his home from this strike. He should withdraw himself if He is BENEFITING from this strike. That would be no more than contractors benefiting from this strike. Now if he is not benefiting from this strike, if it is not influencing his job at all, then it doesn't really matter. But if he is bringing home more money from our boys being on strike then the right thing to do is withdraw from this matter, don't you think? It would make the CWA look better and erase all doubts of his reasons for doing what he does. I have nothing against this guy, but the CWA and the workers do not need this type of shadow. As far as my husband goes he will compromise to go back to work, but I don't think he will agree with the sell or else deal. My husband has not only suffered financially from this strike, but also personally. His brother as well as his cousins have gone across the picket line on him, showing that blood is not thicker than water. He has no family. Sad but true. Money and greed corrupts. His brother Dewey went across the line until last week. We have had so much pain that just to get peace we are willing to compromise.
To Trish
by MDS
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 5:12 PM
Trish,,,,wow,,I'm beginning to wonder about you now. I have been on the picket line for over 3 months now, along with all of our members.. I can't believe you didn't know anything about our union officers.. Yes,,Mike, our president is employed by verizon, and if you think he hasn't worked his ass off for us during these negotiations,, you're dead wrong.. He has not, nor will he ever benefit from this strike.. I have all the confidence possible in Mike and the rest of our bargaining team...Mike is the best president we have had in this local for several terms now..Our previous presidents kissed management's butt, and seemed to give 'em anything they wanted.. Especially one Dale Holman,,,who couldn't wait to get into management as soon as he was voted out of office.. I trust Mike and so should you !!!
Trish
by MDS
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 5:21 PM
And Dewey is a worthless scab,, regardless of your relationship to him !! Shame on him,,,he's no better than any of these other scum suckin' slime bags !!
DRIBBLE
by tECHY
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 6:53 PM
THERE IS A LOT OF BS HERE.THE BOTTOM LINE IS BOTH SIDES IS GOING TO LOSE. GRAPEVINE IN FRANKFORT SAYS PSC IS GOING TO LET BELL SO. PURSUE THE ALLTEL TERRITORRIES.(MAYBE THERE IS A GOD. ALLTEL'S RECORD STANDS FOR ITSELF.THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT SERVICE.THEY HAVE TOLD THE CITY TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR 911.DIAL TONE IS THEIR ONLY FOCUS.THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO RURAL AMERICA.SCABS, IF YOU ARE SO GOOD WHY DON'T YOU HAVE JOBS WITH THE PHONE CO. BACK WHERE YOU LIVE. I HAVE LISTENED TO CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD TO PUT UP WITH YOU. THEY SAY YOU SUCK. THE PSC SAYS THE SAME.YES YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO WORK AND SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY.DON'T EXPECT THE PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE SCREWNG TO BY YOU A BEER AND PAT YOU ON THE BACK. ALLTEL WIL NEVER BE SUCCESSFUL IN KY. WITH SKIP SOFTWOODY AND HARRY FEELER IN CHARGE THE STATE IS SCREWED...MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL
DRIBBLE
by tECHY
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 6:53 PM
THERE IS A LOT OF BS HERE.THE BOTTOM LINE IS BOTH SIDES IS GOING TO LOSE. GRAPEVINE IN FRANKFORT SAYS PSC IS GOING TO LET BELL SO. PURSUE THE ALLTEL TERRITORRIES.(MAYBE THERE IS A GOD. ALLTEL'S RECORD STANDS FOR ITSELF.THEY DO NOT CARE ABOUT SERVICE.THEY HAVE TOLD THE CITY TO FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR 911.DIAL TONE IS THEIR ONLY FOCUS.THEY NEED TO GO BACK TO RURAL AMERICA.SCABS, IF YOU ARE SO GOOD WHY DON'T YOU HAVE JOBS WITH THE PHONE CO. BACK WHERE YOU LIVE. I HAVE LISTENED TO CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD TO PUT UP WITH YOU. THEY SAY YOU SUCK. THE PSC SAYS THE SAME.YES YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO WORK AND SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY.DON'T EXPECT THE PEOPLE WHO YOU ARE SCREWNG TO BY YOU A BEER AND PAT YOU ON THE BACK. ALLTEL WIL NEVER BE SUCCESSFUL IN KY. WITH SKIP SOFTWOODY AND HARRY FEELER IN CHARGE THE STATE IS SCREWED...MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL
MDS
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 12, 2003 at 6:59 PM
Hey slow down. All I said was that if he was benefiting from the strike financially then he should step down. If he is not benefiting I see no reason for these people to say he should not be in office. Now, my husband has been on a picket line for 3 months too, with family members against him. This has torn anytype of family that he had, which wasn't much, apart. We have suffered greatly from this strike, financial as well as personal. We don't like what is going on, but are willing to take some losses to end all of this. We are for the men on the picket line.... We support CWA, but more importantly we support the boys that make CWA what it is. You need to stay calm and read all of the message here. I am sure that Mike would not want someone to take what he is doing as wrong. So for someone to say like I said if he was benefiting financially then it would be wrong, otherwise it is ok that he works for Verizon and is in the union. Just as long as there is no financial gain for the strike to continue. That is not something bad to say. That is just common sense. I think that MIke would agree with that. So calm down. Take in the whole message.
Techy
by Trish
Saturday, Sep. 13, 2003 at 5:50 AM
You know what sometimes you and Bob are the only ones I feel have a full understanding of what is going on. There is good and bad points in everything in life. If you put your head in the sand and don't see two sides you are ignorant. I appreciate you both, and your honesty. We are all in this together, and it is no fight. I am not sure if Alltel realizes this but they are in this with us. If the PSC allows bellsouth in this area then both the worker and Alltle would be in trouble. You know one thing about business that these people don't understand is, you are who your workers are. If your workers are a bunch of drunk, lazy folk who really don't care about the people they take care of, then that is what it looks like that the company is. One thing I know about the GTE, Verizon, Alltel employees around here, they have worked hard over the years to treat people good. I have never heard so many complaints in Grayson and Morehead about phone service until now. People are so mad. They hate Alltel, and that is who they blame. I don't know if Alltel realizes the backlash that this is going to cause. And when the CWA workers go back they are the ones who will have to mend things with the public. The question is will they want to mend things for Alltel? You are right the facts are people hate the contractors being here, they don't like their work. The facts speak, no the people speak for themselves and that is what they are saying. I have nursing friends who have decided to go with Nextel and totally get rid of their phones. There is going to be such a backlash to this, and that will effect us all.........Alltel..... the workers........ and CWA. You know I just wanted you and Bob to know that I like intelligent conversation where people can see all sides..........Folks there is going to be a backlash. .... Oh by the way for a good joke.....the other day my husband and I were driving to Morehead and saw a contractor parked by the road... And I would say to our surprise, but it was NO surprise.......He was pulled over to the side shopping at a yard sale......How pitiful is that.....
Close minded one sided people
by CK
Saturday, Sep. 13, 2003 at 9:03 AM
You people are unreal and very judgmental. You say that all of the contractors are drunks and scum that don't know what they are doing and can't get a job where they live. Well let me educate you. My husband has 35 years experience under his belt, and has contributed endless hours to help people in different areas when they have suffered from destruction. He has forgotten more than, so of the company boys will ever know. As for saying contractors do not pay local taxes, here again you are clueless, because contractor do have to pay taxes where they work. As for them being drunken scum, my husband and many of his friends there have never taken a drop and are good god fearing family men. As for not being able to get a job in the area that they live, here again you don't have the facts. They are not working for companies due to the same situation you all find yourselves in and companies don't hire older people when they need to fill a position, not that they are unqualified. As for all the people in Lexington being unsatisfied with the contractors, you are wrong their also, my husband has received many letters from the company from compliments given by customers for his caring and ability to take care of difficult jobs. When you refer to them taking time out from work, you act as if company men have never did any of these things or that none of them drink. Please get real. You also state facts about what they are paid, well guess what, they don't get company trucks or tools provided for them, they provide their own and assume all of the expenses. They also have to pay their FULL health benefits for their family and provide for their retirement, along with their lodging and fuel cost. You all talk about how you have suffered due to all this, but you expect the good people of Lexington to suffer for your fight. Remember you all chose this they did not. Be careful how you treat others because you never know when you may be walking in their footsteps. You all select to attack the contractors, what kind of people does that make you? Let me guess, because you are Union and are use to the way things are you are better than these men. You can't address the issues so you just attack them. You talk about what is fair, well let's get real. Life is not fair, never has, and never will be. You all run around saying, "it's not fair" like a bunch of little kids and calling names. Grow up. Do I think every thing Alltel is doing is fair, hell no we don't, but the point is they pay the checks and call the shots. We all do not and cannot tell people to run there business. You had better get use to working with the contractors, because they are not going anywhere any time soon, whether you all go back to work or not. The fact is by using contractors, company save money and money is what the country is all about. When has anything-in business been about the people? Maybe someday you will realize this.
Oned sided
by Trish
Saturday, Sep. 13, 2003 at 2:38 PM
You are sitting there arguing for the contractors...just the contractors. That is just as one sided. That contractor I saw had no right to stop at a yard sale. My husband got a lunch and that was it. And he was not paid during that lunch.. As far a being good and Godly, well the Bible says thou shalt not steal. If you get more money for taking other peoples jobs, you are stealing from them. I am in the Grayson/Morehead area, and I have seen plenty of them acting pretty bad. And I love that the company is telling them all the good compliments, because the PSC is the one getting all the complaints. Alltel is the number one utility with complaints right now. Your husband may very well be a good worker, but there are many more who are not. The complaints of the people speak for themselves. Do you live in Kentucky?, do you know the people of Grayson/Morehead.......I do I have lived here for 35 years... They are complaining........ To tell the truth, it is not right for your husband, if he is a good worker, to not have insurance.. The fact is when this is over or if they never settle....Your husband will have to work for a lot less.........And still have no insurance..By support companies bully workers, you are helping to keep your husband in the position he is in.
One Sided
by CK
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 3:56 AM
Trish you still don't have a clue. I am not arguing for contractors. I am only address the comments made here. No my husband will not work for less, there again you are clueless. Maybe the fact that Kentucky is the only place you have been for the last 35 years is the problem. As for quoting the bible you forget other parts like love they neighbor, thy shall not bare false witness, do unto others. The guy you saw, how do you know if he was on the clock, is it your place to judge? Where in the bible does it give you the right to talk about people? You say my husband is stealing; you had better look that word up. When a man works for his pay, it is not stealing. How dare you say something like that about a good man that you know nothing about, but a usual that�s all you all know how to do, call name. Do you see me doing that? The fact is, there are good contractors and there are bad one, there are good company men and there are bad one. If you believe anything else, you are only fooling yourself. As for the complaint, we all know where they are coming from, if there is any question about that, check out the web site. There you will find a complaint letter all finished ready to plug in what is missing. In Addition the information where to send it. If everyone there is so behind you all, and truly unhappy, why haven't they all had their services stopped. That would surly get Alltel attention.I have addressed everything you all have to say, but as usual, you all cannot do the same.You pick out a few little points without anything to back it up and ignore the things you know you are dead wrong about. Let me ask you this, if the entire Union guy are such fine had working, knowledgeable gentlemen, why would they want to work for a company they feel so badly about. Why don't they take there skills and go elsewhere. You all don't think it is "fair" for Alltel to make you work for what you don't want to, put the shoe on the other foot, is it "fair" for you to try and force them? They are content to replace you, why you are not as content to replace them. The reason is clear. You need them more than they need you. Those are the facts of life. We are all extendable.
ck
by Trish
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 4:07 AM
I never said my husband may not look for another job, he may. The contractors are on the clock for 12 hours a day. It was 1 PM when I saw that contractor, you do the math. You all only love yourselves, that is why you go into states that you can make extra money out of peoples misfortunes. So to say love someone is aweful cheap to someone who just wants extra money out of someones problems. If Alltel was so content to get rid of men, they wouldn't be talking. You are clueless. You have no idea what bargaining is because you have not seen that system. Alltel knew that they bought a bargaining union when they came into this area. I have said many times that my husband and I would compromise for his work. I have said many times that my husband loves his boss, and his work. Moving to another job wouldn't be out of the question MY HUSBAND has a college degree. That goes with you everywhere. You were sitting there just saying the contractors are great, your husband may be but many are not. The fact is you are not from Kentucky you have not heard what the people here have to say... AND THEY ARE NOT HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!. People call and complain because contractors go into homes that are empty without permission, they cut cable lines in their quest to figure out what is the phone line. No wonder they are complaining........The phone lines are crap in Ky right now... Get real and get a clue.
alltel
by TECHY
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 7:07 AM
wHAT'S THE LATEST?
working for alltel
by techy
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 7:44 AM
After reading all the comments put forth here i don't know if i should laugh, cry, or throw up.For the Alltel sycophants, those of us who went on strike didn't want too. It was obvious after talking to various management types that Alltel had been planning for the strike for quite awhile. They have a long history of anti-union sentiment. after working here for over 27 years i believed i would get my 30 in and retire without seeing a strike. the last one was in 1976. in the 9 contracts i have seen everyone had expired and we kept working under the old agreement until a new one was reached. Not Alltel. they refused this arrangement. Why? Is Alltel in financial trouble and needs the help of it's employees to recover? NO! The whole issue is about control.Service under Alltel has been degraded. Until May of this year service was not used in figuring management incentive pay.They want to eliminate types of service been offered.It's obvious they only want to be a dial tone company from they way they manage. The great majority of the profitable revenue made in KY. is from data services offered.this is the future and Alltel is ignoring it. I am embarassed by the quality of service our customers are getting.As to Alltel's managing style, i have seen more people terminated in 10 months with them than the other 27 yrs under verizon and gte.They do not listen to their employees and they do not appreciate their contribution.They have admitted that they did not realize what they had bought but refuse to lsiten to the people who were here and new what was going on and how to keep it healthy.We should not be expected to make concessions simple because it is what they want.Alltel has not bargained in good faith.they have not bargained at all. They have come to the table and made demands....To address comments about vandalism. at the start of the strike alltel trumpeted to "incidents" in central KY. one in versailles and one in lancaster.. both ended up being caused by work crews from other companies.Alltel never retracted their statements.there hasn't been any union orchestrated vandalism.We understand that the public is in our corner and any act would only harm us. our biggest fear is contractor or scab vandalism to hurt our image.I want to go back to work and i am willing to compromise. I do expect to be better off financially, when the company i work for is growing and being profitable..Alltel needs to get rid of their sweat shop mentality....Heres to a settlement soon..good day
Trish
by CK
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 9:53 AM
Trish, I stated that there are good and bad on both sides. You are unwilling to admit this. Like you said your husband got a lunch hour, how do you know that this guy wasn't on lunch. You are to judgmental of others. Furthermore, you speak of whom we love and whom we don't, is that for you to judge. If some of this guys didn't love their families and wanted to provide for them they damn sure wouldn't be there working where they have to be away from home. Isn�t that what you all say this is about. While it is true not all the contractors are from Kentucky, some are. Do you know where everyone is from? As for Alltel talking, you see where that is going. You act as if this is the first time people have ever complained. Some one is always going to complain no matter what. It still boils down to Alltel pays the checks and will call the shots. Having full time employees cost more money and that�s what business is about. The fact is the contractors will always be around get use to it. Talking to you is like talking to a child; you pick out a few little things and give your opinion, but ignore the fact. It�s that same decimating attitude that this country has gone through with African Americans and Native Americans. If it's different from you and you don't like it put them in a category and slander them not knowing them. You don�t know these people so it�s not your place to judge them. Never judge a man until you walk in his shoes.
Ck
by Trish
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 10:47 AM
Where have you stated any facts about the contract going on. As a matter of a fact this contract has nothing to do with you. You are not from Kentucky and neither is your husband, you can tell by the way you talk. You finally admit there are complaints, but now its because there always has been... The fact is complaints have tripled since Alltel took over. I admitted that there are good and bad contractors. You said your husband is good, and I never said he wasn't. You spew, and I do mean spew, about business and it is all about business, well get this.....Your husband will never have a retirement fund, because a business isn't helping him to get one... and you want to defend that they are going to keep him from retiring? I am a child.....I will talk through any issue you want to. You talk about Godly and then you cuss.... My husband is willing to go back to work and will vote yes on this contract to get peace, with the company, with family, and with life in general. You talk about being judgmental and then you sit and talk aweful about the CWA workers and how they are so aweful and that they don't care about being around their family. I admit that I am telling you my opinion, yet you say it is judgmental, well so are you....... So what does that make you.....A judge calling someone judgmental... that is what is called a hypocrite. Look it up in the dictionary.
Techy
by Trish
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 11:00 AM
Techy I am with you, here is to a settlement. This situation is a no winner. Unfortunately I think Alltel will lose the best employees it has, if it happens it is their own fault. I see both sides to this... Alltel, CWA, and I can see that contractors want to work.. But people need to understand that contractors are getting extra money just to be in a area where a strike is going on. Many contractors have chosen to go else where. There is one person I admire and this is the end for me; and that is a contractor that use to work in Morehead a year ago named Nelson. I hope he sees this. He had a masters degree in electronics, the man was smart. He was asked to come back here for this strike and to work at the Morehead CO. He refused and said that he supported the workers in this area, and that they were good workers and good men. Thank God for Nelson, he could have went after the money. My husband wants to go back to work, and he himself said he would go back today, but that he supported the men he worked with. You know it is not about CWA it is about supporting one another. Techy, we support you, you should be able to retire. You have earned it after 27 years. AND THAT IS MY OPINION!!!!!!!
GOD BLESS AND GOOD LUCK THIS WEEK.
Ck
by Trish
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 11:15 AM
By the way exactly what do you mean by a decimating attitude. The word decimate means to lower in number. So what am I lowering in number.......And what in the world does this have to do with African Americans.......... We are lowering them in number? You make no sense..... African Americans have nothing to do with Alltel and CWA. Talk about 24 ways to Kevin Bacon..........?????? There are GREAT African Americans, and I am sure that this has nothing to do with that.... Why don't you talk about the facts? Did your husband work this area before the strike, or only after when he could make $38 dollars an hour which is $20 more than normal Alltel workers. Regular contractors around here when there is no strike make about $18 an hour.. As far as a contract there will be one voted on next week. So you think people shouldn't have freedom of speech to bargain.....It is all about business you know.. We can't say if we think something is unfair? NOW WE ARE IN A COMMUNIST COUNTRY. Either the boys will except or not and then Alltel will decide or not.... It really has nothing to do with you, except if it goes on your husband makes $38 dollars an hour for a little longer...... We wouldn't want his pay check to decimate.
Alltel
by Trish
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 11:20 AM
Ok Alltel if you are reading this listen..... Your workers want to go back to work.... They want what is fair, not everything. A lineman selling is silly, who are you selling to a bird? These men know this area, know the people, and know the politicians. If you want to see this end, like the employees do, do what is right. They are not asking you for a big raise, they just want for there to be respect on both sides. MY husband loves his job, likes his boss, loves Morehead and wants to continue working. We are ready... The next step is up to you................So
GOD BLESS THE EMPLOYEES AND ALLTEL....
CWA WORKERS
by TRISH
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 11:27 AM
TO ALL THE WORKERS. I REALIZE THAT THIS HAS BEEN A HARD ROAD. AS WE COME INTO NEXT WEEK REMEMBER THE STORY I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY FATHER IN LAW. HE SAID GTE GAVE THEM A CONTRACT THAT THEY REJECTED, THEY CONTINUED TO STRIKE AND 7 MONTHS LATER HAD TO EXCEPT A WORSE CONTRACT. DON'T GO INTO THIS CONTRACT WITH AN ATTITUDE THAT IT WILL BE BAD. UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES THERE HAS TO BE COMPROMISE TO OUR OWN EXPENSE. I HATE YOU AND SO DO YOU. MANY HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR US, AND SUPPORTING US. REMEMBER THOSE POLITICIANS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS. THIS IS A HARD CHOICE, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT....I BELIEVE IN THE WORKERS AROUND HERE.... NOT JUST THE CWA.... BUT THOSE WHO MAKE THE CWA WHAT IT IS....YOU!!!!!! GOD BLESS.......
CWA
by TRISH
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 11:30 AM
TO ALL THE CWA OFFICIALS. THIS IS YOUR TIME TO HEAL WOUNDS BETWEEN WORKERS AND THEIR COMPANY. I DO THINK YOU ALL CARE....BE THERE FOR THEM (THE WORKERS) SUPPORT THEM. BE THE PEACE BRINGERS THAT YOU WILL HAVE TO BE. IT IS THE HARDEST JOB ANYONE HAS, TO IT SERIOUS.......DO WHAT IS RIGHT.....GOD BLESS AND GOOD LUCK........
TO ALL
by TRISH
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 11:36 AM
GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS...... EVERYONE OUT THERE PRAY FOR THESE MEN..... PRAY THAT OUR WOUNDS ARE HEALED AND THAT THIS BITTERNESS THAT HAS SPUNG UP EVEN IN GOOD PEOPLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, WOULD STOP... I ASK YOU TO PRAY FOR THE CWA WORKER, AND THE CWA......I ASK YOU TO PRAY FOR ALLTEL... MY HUSBAND ALWAYS PRAYED FOR HIS COMPANY HE WORKED FOR.....YOU SHOULD....... AND EVEN PRAY FOR THE CONTRACTORS.. YOU AND I MAY NOT ALWAYS AGREE WITH THEM, BUT YOU WILL WORK WITH THEM.......THEY ARE PEOPLE TOO. PRAY FOR PEACE AND AN END TO ALL OF THIS... LISTEN TO WHAT IT IS MAKING US. THE ARGUMENTS... IT IS NOT WORTH IT..... GOOD LUCK NEXT WEEK, BE PRAYING AND GOD BLESS.................
CWA WORKER
by TRISH
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 11:45 AM
ON THE PART ABOUT THE COMPROMISE I PUT I HATE YOU AND SO DO YOU............. I MEANT TO PUT I HATE IT AND SO DO YOU ..............JUST A CLARIFICATION.................................. LOVE YOU GUYS.
CK
by Bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 1:17 PM
CK, You state that we do not answer the questions (except the ones we pick and choose) - well you list your questions or objections - I will answer them for you item by item. As far as taxes -- if you are not local - you nor your pays them --i.e water bill that has local tax, electric--lord even the phone bill has local tax - do you pay property tax? If you do you are from here --if not -- then you do not pay the state and local taxes. I guess this will not be on your list of items - unless you refuse to undertand. To go a little further - people from out of work area or county are exempt from county tax. Guess your husband is pocketing that money and not telling you. ???
Fed Up
by Brad
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 4:37 PM
I have to agree with Techy's first statement, "After reading all the comments put forth here I don't know if I should laugh, cry, or throw up." After listening to Trish's
ramblings and supposed holier than thou garbage comments it makes me want to throw-up. She rambles on and on and has said several times that she is through, but she continues to add her worthless comments. Bottom line is, she has the screwed-up mentality that the glorious union is everything. Wake up and smell the roses Trish the union is wasting your time with a wallet full of money. If your husband wanted to work he would have stayed on the job and worked. It would definitely be better than blindly following the union. And much better than staying home listening to her ramblings.
As far as Techy saying about Alltel getting rid of workers after 10 months who had 27 years with Verizon and GTE, they are just clearing out dead wood (worhless workers) that Verizon and GTE didn't have the backbone to get rid of. From the actions of many of the CWA workers on the picket lines, they need to continue eliminating excess dead wood before they will ever have a worthwhile work force. Alltel wants to get rid of worthless employees like Brenda Ashcroft,
as known as Stop Drop and Roll Annie who doesn't know the front end of a car from the back end.
brad
by bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 5:38 PM
Brad, i am really tired of people that pick on women - you sound and spell just like "cwa fan" if you are such a great employee of alltel - why do you not carry your weight. You say Brenda does not know front from back of car -- well when were you last hit by a person that - sped up to hit you. When were you last in a cast from the damage. It may be a joke to you - but guess what - this is a good person - she did not JUMP into a car as you would print - I know her. You claim you wish honesty -- well you have honesty from us. But you will not give respect deserved to people that stand up and believe in fairness. Trish - I know your honor will not allow you to respond - and I am sorry I cannot do better - but you are a respected person from all of cwa. So Brad - you think it is funny to harm other people? guess you are management for alltel. I will ask you as I have others that dare to challenge the drive of cwa and respect. What is your name - or title with this company -- or are you just another person collecting money to agitate good people?
brad
by bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 5:38 PM
Brad, i am really tired of people that pick on women - you sound and spell just like "cwa fan" if you are such a great employee of alltel - why do you not carry your weight. You say Brenda does not know front from back of car -- well when were you last hit by a person that - sped up to hit you. When were you last in a cast from the damage. It may be a joke to you - but guess what - this is a good person - she did not JUMP into a car as you would print - I know her. You claim you wish honesty -- well you have honesty from us. But you will not give respect deserved to people that stand up and believe in fairness. Trish - I know your honor will not allow you to respond - and I am sorry I cannot do better - but you are a respected person from all of cwa. So Brad - you think it is funny to harm other people? guess you are management for alltel. I will ask you as I have others that dare to challenge the drive of cwa and respect. What is your name - or title with this company -- or are you just another person collecting money to agitate good people?
brad
by bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 5:38 PM
Brad, i am really tired of people that pick on women - you sound and spell just like "cwa fan" if you are such a great employee of alltel - why do you not carry your weight. You say Brenda does not know front from back of car -- well when were you last hit by a person that - sped up to hit you. When were you last in a cast from the damage. It may be a joke to you - but guess what - this is a good person - she did not JUMP into a car as you would print - I know her. You claim you wish honesty -- well you have honesty from us. But you will not give respect deserved to people that stand up and believe in fairness. Trish - I know your honor will not allow you to respond - and I am sorry I cannot do better - but you are a respected person from all of cwa. So Brad - you think it is funny to harm other people? guess you are management for alltel. I will ask you as I have others that dare to challenge the drive of cwa and respect. What is your name - or title with this company -- or are you just another person collecting money to agitate good people?
Last round
by CK
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 6:24 PM
Trish, I never said CWA guys didn't love their families. You need to go back a read again. I commented on your statement. Neither did I say anything bad about CWA people. You all are the ones throwing mud. As for retirement, my husband has a retirement plan. Something this important should not be left to others to provide. Yes, my husband was there before the strike and he was making more than 18 dollars an hour then. You talk about the money they make but are you figuring in all the things they pay for that are supplied by Alltel for company workers?
Bob, yes we pay all the same taxes as you do. The contractors there also pay taxes in the community. While living there you don't think they use water, electric and phones? They also spend quite a bit in local restaurants.
You all are just pissed off because they are there working and getting a paycheck. If you loved your company so much why aren't you there working? You made the choice to walk off the job!!!! You and nobody else. Now you have two choices, except defeat and go back to work or keep calling names and blaming everyone else because you are not working.
brad
by cathy
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 6:27 PM
Brad, first off you haven't answered any of Darsa's questions I am just curious for the answers. Secondly, lets go to what you refer to as "dead weight" or however it was you refered to the workers Alltel is wanting to replace. Does a man who has hit the ground from 25 feet atleast because of a failed strand connector (pickle), who layed in the ER in so much pain they gave him morphine, who kept running down a list of equipment he had out of his truck at the time the cable let go,telling his boss to make sure the other guys got it all. A man who worried about his ladder being broken. A man who drove his Dr. nuts until he released him for work,sound like a man who is "dead weight" and doesn't want to do or love his job? I've also stated before the hours my husband has put in and the frustration he has felt when he hasn't been able to do a repair properly because the company didn't want to allow the time it would take. I won't bore you with it again, you can go back and find it if you wish. The point is he could very well lose his job to contractors because he doesn't have 10 years behind him. No one has mentioned that KY is one of the lowest paid areas in the business. As for CK I sure hope her husband isn't the one who was here driving the lawn care van. He didn't act concerned about his wife or kids when he expressed an interest in taking out my bestfriend.
brad
by cathy
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 6:28 PM
Brad, first off you haven't answered any of Darsa's questions I am just curious for the answers. Secondly, lets go to what you refer to as "dead weight" or however it was you refered to the workers Alltel is wanting to replace. Does a man who has hit the ground from 25 feet atleast because of a failed strand connector (pickle), who layed in the ER in so much pain they gave him morphine, who kept running down a list of equipment he had out of his truck at the time the cable let go,telling his boss to make sure the other guys got it all. A man who worried about his ladder being broken. A man who drove his Dr. nuts until he released him for work,sound like a man who is "dead weight" and doesn't want to do or love his job? I've also stated before the hours my husband has put in and the frustration he has felt when he hasn't been able to do a repair properly because the company didn't want to allow the time it would take. I won't bore you with it again, you can go back and find it if you wish. The point is he could very well lose his job to contractors because he doesn't have 10 years behind him. No one has mentioned that KY is one of the lowest paid areas in the business. As for CK I sure hope her husband isn't the one who was here driving the lawn care van. He didn't act concerned about his wife or kids when he expressed an interest in taking out my bestfriend.
Get Real Bob
by Brad
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 6:38 PM
I am not now or never will be a CWA Fan. I have seen first hand the crap Brenda Ashcroft has pulled on the picket line. Brenda Ashcroft is a loud mouth who would do anything to get attention. Brenda was standing at the back of the car as the women was leaving the Alltel property. How did the women speed
up and hit Brenda when Brenda "stopped, dropped and rolled" behind the car? I was told that the next day
Brenda was back in front of Alltel, yelling just like she has been from day one. Brenda is one of the dead wood people that Alltel should get rid of. If it is funny for people that are hurt check out the threats that have been made by CWA members on the Yahoo Alltel
finance message board. As far as honesty,
where is the "honesty" from CWA members? Your president is receiving full salary while you are receiving peanuts. You are blindly following his every move and can think for yourself. We will see on Tuesday what the contract is and how the members vote. Who will have a job after that?
ck
by Bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 6:51 PM
Gee - CK thought you were going to make a list. Sounds to me like you own property in Ky - not renting motel like most. If that is true - then your husband is true sab - But -- make your list - and i will answer - but realize the strike busters they brought in does not pay the taxes your husband does -- so they do make more than him
Brad -- you are next -- but is late so will reply tomorrow
Ha HA
by CK
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 6:56 PM
Cathy, Thank you for your concern, I assure you that was not my husband. Who even knows if the guy you are referring to has a wife? Can you blame a guy for wanting a date? Maybe he was lonely. I am sure there are bigger crimes or maybe we should just give him the gas chamber because he is a contractor. The last thing I am worried about is my husband looking for other women for he is a devoted husband and loving father. We are happily married and have no need of another woman because I fulfill all his needs.
Look Back
by CK
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 7:02 PM
Hey Bob, Look back to comments. That is my list. I have no need to restate what I have already.As for what others earn. I could care less if the other guy makes more money. You have to decide if the pay is worth your time, not based on what others make. Like I said you act like a bunch of kids "hey mom she got that why can't I"
c'mon folks
by MDS
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 7:05 PM
C'mon people,,,I've never heard so much bullshit in my life !! We're in a major labor dispute here.. You are either on the side of CWA or Alltel.. If you are working during this strike,,you're a scab and willing to work for what alltel originally brought to the table..I guarantee that all of these contractors and scabs wouldn't be here working for what alltel offered us,,plain and simple..You are working against all we stand for as a union.. You are our enemy,,who gives a crap how many years you have under your belt? We all want this damn strike over with,,Geez,, i was eligible to retire next month(October)..if anyone has a stake in this,,it would be me....Alltel should be ashamed of themselves,,they lied to us when they assured us that they would be a good employer, and good for Kentucky. Shame on you Terry Beeler and Chip Harwood,,,you lied to us and we'll never forgive you... In the future,,,if not us,,please remember your employees are your most important assets.. Take care of them, and all else will take care of itself..
CK
by bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 7:16 PM
OOOPS -- forgot alltel is paying for the hotels for them guess they are way above what your husband makes - and they do not pay local tax. Gee is good to be them. Maybe once I retire - like your husband did - I will hurt the families that stood strong - so he could retire. NOT IN MY LIFETIME - I really care about these people and the dreams they have.
CK
by bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 7:17 PM
OOOPS -- forgot alltel is paying for the hotels for them guess they are way above what your husband makes - and they do not pay local tax. Gee is good to be them. Maybe once I retire - like your husband did - I will hurt the families that stood strong - so he could retire. NOT IN MY LIFETIME - I really care about these people and the dreams they have.
CK
by Bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 7:30 PM
CK - sorry I asked to much from you - you do not want to list objections? - I only want that I answer them one at a time - open so everyone can see. Gee thought you were person who had beliefs and was willing to show the world that your and yours was treated unfairly. i am not saying foul - I am just person - that was kicked from work because Alltel decided they would not extend contract - or be fair. So lets hear how much you object -- after all this is about you and yours.
Ha Ha
by CK
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 7:58 PM
Bob, you�re just pissed off that they are working and you are not.
1. Do you really believe that Alltel will give in?
2. You really believe that all the CWA are good upstanding people.
3. You name call and judge others because they do not agree with you?
4. The contractor are all scum, you point out all the bad things about them like napping on the job, stopping at a yard sale, or asking someone out on a date. Somehow, that is worse than threaten people, getting in their faces and calling names, tiring to accuse people of hitting them. Nobody has said you don't have the right to strike but striking and violence is two different things.
5 You comment on what they make an hour, but do you include all they pay. Alltel does not provide anything and they sure do not pay for their lodging.
6. Do you know what taxes these people pay and is it really any of your business.
7. If you are so unhappy with the company, why don't you find another job?
8. If it were your company, would you let the employees set the rules?
9. When has life been fair?
10. Do you know all these men well enough to put them in a category?
11. Do you not realize that business is about money and not the workers and that is a sad part of life?
12. Do you not realize the money the company saves by using contracted labor therefore they will not agree to not using them.
Here is a few for you to work on while you have nothing better to do.
CK - HA HA?
by Bob
Sunday, Sep. 14, 2003 at 9:47 PM
CK
If this is your list of 12 items - maybe we should settle the lockout from work. First before we get ot the items you made a mistake -- you say i am pissed off - and I am not. I am just one person that came to work for a company 19 years ago. So It is very late for me to look for other job. I came with understand that I could retire before I was 65. I am not whinning about that. It is just a fact. Now to your 12 items:
1. Alletel give in - will wait and see. Think that is for PSC and vote from union and areement from Alltel
2. All of CWA upstanding citizens - gee think they pay the taxes - do I think some things are not good to do. Yes - but I have not seen one of them do anything other that cuss or toss finger - somehow it does not compare to putting people in danger . I really wish this question was later -- but you will see why soon.
3. You acuse me of name calling? where do you see me doing that I is not my nature. I will call a dog a dog - or a scab a scab - but that is about the limits. I have written several times to this - but never do I lower myself to that . Look before you type your - HA HA .
4. This was about me? saying that the contractors shop while working? -- When did I say that? You wish to link me with others that are witness? Wish I had been there.
5. This was about lodging for contractors. I live in Lexington - and I am friends with alot of the people at several hotels- sorry Alltel is paying the bills. I think your husband is being underpaid, but like you said is not my concern.
6. Taxes. If they are in hotels -- how does the monthy bills pay the taxes? And how do they pay state and local taxes? Where do they pay the property tax on property they do not have here? Yes they use water - but do they pay sewer tax? Do they pay school tax, do they pay the fee for 911 - that Alltel says it does not want to maintain?
CR -- I am not trying to be mean to you - I really would like to know where you came to the conclusions you have. So lets continue
7. Unhappy with my job? No I actually love what I do. I am good at it and the people i meet know that I am compentent They know I will give them best advice and will do all for them. It is not hard - it is my job.
8. Should we (the employees) set the rules? NO. We are here to serve the public - I know who writes my check. But, and please do not take this the wrong way, I do what is best for my customers. I have always been here for them - and that is what Alltel wishes to do away with. Can I sell? I do not know I am a tech. I refer alot - but that is because of the job I have. What I refer is to marketing if they cannot close the deal is them not me..Should sales be required to keep job? I do not think so - but if it is going to happen - the HOLD THE CONTRACTORS TO THE SAME STANDARD.
9. Life fair>? This was question. LOL. You know what life is - it is what you make of it -- and guess what --IT IS GOOD TO BE BOB. I am happy with my choices. When I go from here - people will know I am a person of honor - a person that is true to his heart -- so yes life is fair.
10 You ask if I know the men. I really do not know what men you mean - but you must meant the contractors. Yes, I do know alot of the ones from here. I know many that are good at the jobs they do. I also Know that most left to other areas because they want security in their lives. They feel it is wrong to cross a line that will also cost them. That is personal choice.
11 You asked about a company and realizing that it is about money. Yes I do know that. Do you realize that trust in a product is first choice -- is not the cost? The people of these communities trust us - we live here - and unlike a person from other state - our word is our bond. They buy the best and they buy and keep because of us.
12 Use of contractors. This one is difficult - I know and have worked with several. Some are really good. I know that contractors are a part of our lives - and do not object to it -- until it costs the workers that has put in the time as true employees.
What do you say to a person with 27 years that is laid off - and cannot retire? What do you say to a person that was replaced by a contractor - that he/she trained. This is a serious matter for us.
CK -- Laugh HA HA - but - know - the more you lower our standards - the more your husband will lose too.
Haha
by CK
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 3:41 AM
Bob, I know a lot of it all. My husband was laid off after 19 years. I pray that you and other CWA members have other means to provide for your family and don't have to become scabs. Oh never mind I forgot you would never belittle your selves your self-respect is the important issue. Well for most Americans it's about their family. You said the questions some of the questions didn't pertain to you, then why comment on something that I was talking to someone else. Many CWA have done all the things I have listed and more. You also have some miss guided information, but that�s your problem. I never said that what Alltel is asking is right. It boils down to this and this is what I have all along, but you all want to argue and act like it is other wise.
Alltel is the company, regardless of what you believe, they are not going to give in. There is only one of your points they may give in to. Things will never be as they where. If you believe for one minute that if you all sign a contract today, that everyone still has a job, you are living in a fantasy.
Next fact, summing up what I have said all alone, and you agreed with in your last comment. There are good CWA people and there are bad. There are good contractors and they are bad.
Your referring to them as scabs shows the mentality, something that intimates you , you try to belittle and use names like scab that is the same as nigger, speck, indian, wetback ext..... That is a sad part of our country, why do some people believe they have to set themselves above others. I could care less about what you say and what you insinuate to. I have seen for my own eyes, the threats, harassment, and vandalism by the CWA workers. You insult the contractor but I don't see them running around here shooting at people. As for the tax issue, you show you ignorance again. EVERYONE who works in Kentucky pay state taxes. Maybe they do not pay education taxes, but do they have kids in school? They contribute the community. If all the citizens here rally so much for you all, why haven't they had all their services disconnect, that would have gotten Alltel�s attention, but it�s as I said, people are not going to hurt themselves for your view. What names do you have for the customers who still use Alltel�s service? You all just want to argue.
The point I make is there are good and bad on both sides. We are open minded enough to see and admit this. There is two sides to every coin. There is nothing personal. We wish you all the best.
strike
by cathy
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 4:06 AM
Ck, he told her he was married also that he had kids. But never mind that was a cheap shot and I apologize. I think the bottom line here is there are some who for whatever reason will never like the unions or what they stand for. There are others who will always back the union no matter what. For me it is mainly a question of how I was raised. My father held good jobs all his life up until he was injured. He was never in a union. Would he have crossed a picket line? NO. We were raised that was something you didn't do. It was considered wrong. He had many oportunities as I was growing up to reinforce this with his actions. Has anyone stopped to think who is bashing the union that it is because of the union that you have time to be on the computer? Before the unions there was no standard work week. You didn't put in your 40 hours and go home, you didn't have a weekend. You may not agree with this strike but if you research your history you'll find that you have reason to be thankful for the earlier unions and the men and women who stood firm. The wonderful thing about this country is we have the right to strike and you have the right to disagree. Thank goodness for that, otherwise the end result would most likely have been that everyone would be making less money, working longer hours,and be subject to being fired on a whim. Also it has been implied that the barganning committee is being stubborn to line their own pockets. These men were elected to do a job. They are doing it. They were told what the workers wanted and that is what they are trying to accomplish. The long and the short of it is if these contractors had not jumped in here like they did this strike would have been over long ago. As for the violence that was mentioned prove it to me. I have been on the picket line, I have been on the roving pickets. I haven't seen any. Nor have I seen anyone doing any vandalism. I have however spoken with a lady who was hit by a contractor while he was backing up,she worked next to one of the co's. He drove off laughing at her. And Brad has yet to answer any of Darsa questions she had for him. Not that it matters I guess,the issues are not going to be settled here no matter how many times we take it back and forth.
HEY BRAD
by TECHY
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 5:14 AM
How long have you worked for Alltel? It obvious you do not have the capability to be objective.You mindlessly attack anything that is not pro Alltel.The people that they got rid of were all not dead wood.Alltel went looking for people to make examples of.When Alltel took over, we had a weak and fractured union here.I didn't know or care about the vast majoity of my fellow members.If Alltel had come in and dangled a carrot instead of swinging a big stick, they could have gotten rid of the union.Toyota has successfully kept unions out of it's work place with better benefits and pay than union scale.It's amazing that American corperations who whine about the unions can't take a lesson from this.Most upper management workers are basicallly parasites of the company.They don't generate revenue like the front line employees, but their salaries are several times greater. The first line supervisors who work for Alltel have it worse than the union workers. they have no protection at all. I feel for them too.When your area vp tells a man who has been working 7 days a week,12-16 hrs a day who asks for a day off for family business, "If you don't like your fucking job go back to the coal fields", you really know where you stand.Alltel has not kept it's word to the state of KY. and it's residents.The PSC complaints that Alltel is whining about are valid and are going to cause them grief.We are hearing from Bell So. employees (management), that they believe Alltel will sell KY. Alltel will never get it's way here.Alltel,it's employees, and their customers are all going to suffer from their attitude....Good Morning
HEY BRAD
by TECHY
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 5:15 AM
How long have you worked for Alltel? It obvious you do not have the capability to be objective.You mindlessly attack anything that is not pro Alltel.The people that they got rid of were all not dead wood.Alltel went looking for people to make examples of.When Alltel took over, we had a weak and fractured union here.I didn't know or care about the vast majoity of my fellow members.If Alltel had come in and dangled a carrot instead of swinging a big stick, they could have gotten rid of the union.Toyota has successfully kept unions out of it's work place with better benefits and pay than union scale.It's amazing that American corperations who whine about the unions can't take a lesson from this.Most upper management workers are basicallly parasites of the company.They don't generate revenue like the front line employees, but their salaries are several times greater. The first line supervisors who work for Alltel have it worse than the union workers. they have no protection at all. I feel for them too.When your area vp tells a man who has been working 7 days a week,12-16 hrs a day who asks for a day off for family business, "If you don't like your fucking job go back to the coal fields", you really know where you stand.Alltel has not kept it's word to the state of KY. and it's residents.The PSC complaints that Alltel is whining about are valid and are going to cause them grief.We are hearing from Bell So. employees (management), that they believe Alltel will sell KY. Alltel will never get it's way here.Alltel,it's employees, and their customers are all going to suffer from their attitude....Good Morning
HEY BRAD
by TECHY
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 5:18 AM
How long have you worked for Alltel? It obvious you do not have the capability to be objective.You mindlessly attack anything that is not pro Alltel.The people that they got rid of were all not dead wood.Alltel went looking for people to make examples of.When Alltel took over, we had a weak and fractured union here.I didn't know or care about the vast majoity of my fellow members.If Alltel had come in and dangled a carrot instead of swinging a big stick, they could have gotten rid of the union.Toyota has successfully kept unions out of it's work place with better benefits and pay than union scale.It's amazing that American corperations who whine about the unions can't take a lesson from this.Most upper management workers are basicallly parasites of the company.They don't generate revenue like the front line employees, but their salaries are several times greater. The first line supervisors who work for Alltel have it worse than the union workers. they have no protection at all. I feel for them too.When your area vp tells a man who has been working 7 days a week,12-16 hrs a day who asks for a day off for family business, "If you don't like your fucking job go back to the coal fields", you really know where you stand.Alltel has not kept it's word to the state of KY. and it's residents.The PSC complaints that Alltel is whining about are valid and are going to cause them grief.We are hearing from Bell So. employees (management), that they believe Alltel will sell KY. Alltel will never get it's way here.Alltel,it's employees, and their customers are all going to suffer from their attitude....Good Morning
YO BRAD
by TECHY
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 8:08 AM
How long have you worked for Alltel?You accuse strikers of being whiners and you are not?Alltel whines about the union, when if they had any sense at all they could have eliminated the union when they got here.Before Alltel we had a weak and fragmented local. I didn't know the majority of people in it and didn't care at all about them.If Alltel had dangled a carrot instead of swinging a big stick, they could have gotten the union decertified.Look at Toyota, they have keep the unions out of their workplace by offering benefits and wages above union scale. American corperations have never grasped this concept. Alltel's heavy handed approach has tightened and strengthened this local to a degree i thought not possible.Less than 3% crossed the picket line to work. the ones that did were not their most qualified workers in their field.A good many are the worst of the bunch. 3-4 of them would not have been here to scab now if not for the union saving their asses earlier on.(ironic isn't it)Alltel has not lived up to it's word to the state of KY,it's residents, and the employees here.The PSC issue has merit and Alltel is going to suffer from them.I have lost respect for Alltel's leadership.(theres not much there reallly).If you think the strikers have it bad, think of the 1st line supervisors.They have no protection..When a man who has been working 7 days a week, 12-16 hrs a day ask for a day of for fmaily business is told by our area vp "if you don't like your fucking job go back to the coal fields" it lets you know where you stand.I do not believe that Alltel values the employees it gained when it bought us.Actually i think they see us as a threat to their plans.they were not ready for a area like ours and we are paying for their incompetence.We have offered to compromise, the company has not.Alltel has acted like a group of petulant children who can't have their way.As for the whining contactors and scabs, you have had it easy.except for east ky, you have not had a hard time of it.if you don't like the name calling. Go Home...Don't expect the contract alltel has given to us to be ratified unless they have made some major revisions in it..Yes we are hurting on the picket line,but i don't see any weakening in peoples resolve..Heres to settlement soon..>>Good Day
YO BRAD
by TECHY
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 8:09 AM
How long have you worked for Alltel?You accuse strikers of being whiners and you are not?Alltel whines about the union, when if they had any sense at all they could have eliminated the union when they got here.Before Alltel we had a weak and fragmented local. I didn't know the majority of people in it and didn't care at all about them.If Alltel had dangled a carrot instead of swinging a big stick, they could have gotten the union decertified.Look at Toyota, they have keep the unions out of their workplace by offering benefits and wages above union scale. American corperations have never grasped this concept. Alltel's heavy handed approach has tightened and strengthened this local to a degree i thought not possible.Less than 3% crossed the picket line to work. the ones that did were not their most qualified workers in their field.A good many are the worst of the bunch. 3-4 of them would not have been here to scab now if not for the union saving their asses earlier on.(ironic isn't it)Alltel has not lived up to it's word to the state of KY,it's residents, and the employees here.The PSC issue has merit and Alltel is going to suffer from them.I have lost respect for Alltel's leadership.(theres not much there reallly).If you think the strikers have it bad, think of the 1st line supervisors.They have no protection..When a man who has been working 7 days a week, 12-16 hrs a day ask for a day of for fmaily business is told by our area vp "if you don't like your fucking job go back to the coal fields" it lets you know where you stand.I do not believe that Alltel values the employees it gained when it bought us.Actually i think they see us as a threat to their plans.they were not ready for a area like ours and we are paying for their incompetence.We have offered to compromise, the company has not.Alltel has acted like a group of petulant children who can't have their way.As for the whining contactors and scabs, you have had it easy.except for east ky, you have not had a hard time of it.if you don't like the name calling. Go Home...Don't expect the contract alltel has given to us to be ratified unless they have made some major revisions in it..Yes we are hurting on the picket line,but i don't see any weakening in peoples resolve..Heres to settlement soon..>>Good Day
ck
by darsa
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 1:33 PM
Scab is a defined term in the dictionary and has been upheld in court. Scab- a person who refuses to strike or join a trade union, or who tries to break a strike by working.While your husband is crossing the picket line he is a scab.He wants to be called a contractor let him go work a non-union job.
CK
by Bob
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 2:07 PM
CK Let me try once again - First - there is a difference between contractor and scab. Good contractors do not cross a picket line. I will never become a scab. I can go elsewhere and not ever have to cross the lines of people that want fair treatment. That is a major difference. As far as family first I think - teaching morals and values are just as important- or do you not teach them in your world. We are in Ky and you live here so you should see that honor and morality are important. Notice - I did not say I would not become a contractor.
And yes Alltel is the company - I never denied or disagreed with that. Actually I said I know who writes my checks. As far as my answering for something I have not been witness to - It was on YOUR list for me to answer. I told you I would aswer what you asked, so why are you surprised and act like it was just someone spouting off? School taxes - gee I pay them and I do not have children in school. That is the price of working here. You also forgot sewage, utilities and even phones- they are all taxed too.
And so you know, If I was intimadated by scabs I would not stand on a picket line. And yes there are good "contractors". They left when Alltel locked us out of work. I would like to ask you a question now. Why are you so bitter?
The End
by CK
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 3:44 PM
Bob, I did not intend to comment further, but I felt it only right to answer your question. I am not bitter. My husband is a wonderful man and I get defensive when he is being insulted and harassed. I thought you all should know some of the facts, but it is obvious that you don't care about the facts. Just because someone does not believe the way, you do, does not make them a bad person, or give you the right to insult them and their family. I have never said that what Alltel is doing is fair; I only said it is the way it is with big business. As for the CWA members there is proof of their behavior and it will all come to light, these people will not have jobs even if this where over tomorrow. Like I said before good luck to you and yours.
proof? lol
by darsa
Monday, Sep. 15, 2003 at 7:21 PM
Are you talking about the video's the scabaides make? Or something else? If the CWA members have done anything illegal why is it none of them that I know of have been in jail or indicted for anything? Sure have been a few scabs arrested since this started though. One was dumb enough to go to the prison to work on their phone trouble, they nailed him there for outstanding warrants.
GET IT RIGHT BOB
by CWA fan
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 8:28 AM
Well Bob, You mentioned my name when refering to Brad's punctuation and grammer. Let me say to you,Mr. Know it Nothing, I stopped counting your mistakes at 21, in your reply to CK'S HA HA. You even refered to her as CR one time.Others on here have made mention of judgment and it's Biblical context. The Bible does not tell us not to pass judgement on others, It only warns us "Judge not , Lest yee be Judged".So Bob with that in mind,Don't sling mudd unless you are prepared to get a mouthfull of it right back.
Now,on to other things.Bob your friends that own the motels may have company people staying with them.If this is the case, then Alltel would be paying their lodgeing through a corporate card.On the other hand Bob, the "scabs" would be paying for their lodging out of their gross pay, If they receive a 1099 from their employer,or, they would pay for lodging from the per diem they receive, if they are employed by the contracting firm.Bob, no one is working this strick on a "time and Expense" basis.
Next I would like to address the issue that has been brought up about the PSC allowing Bellsouth to "look into" the Alltel serving areas.I am sure the strikers would love this. Bellsouth is a company that has pandered to the Unions for years,but even that is changing now.Folks, what might be a little more realistic, if sales where to occur, may be something like this. MicroTec buys the Lexington area, Mountain Rural buys Morehead area, East Kentucky Networks buys Ashland area,and Hazard could be purchased by Kentucky Cellular and Thacker/Grigsby Telephone Co. . Funny thing about this , all of these companies are non union and could care less about keeping any existing employees. This is not a far fetched notion, it could happen.
Oops
by CWA fan
Tuesday, Sep. 16, 2003 at 8:34 AM
Sorry Bob, I misspelled the work strike. I spelled strick. Just thought I would let you know so you would not loose my point.
CWA fan
by Bob
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 4:16 AM
CAW fan. The comparison between you and brad was made not only in your spelling -- but also in sentence structure and phrases you use. And If your letter was meant to sling mud or insult me- I guess I should feel really bad. So consider me insulted. I still think you and brad are same person.
Now, so far as the motels for the contractors normally I would agree, that is the way it is done. But, I know these people and they have no reason to lie about it. Maybe Alltel is paying some of them and not all. Maybe Alltel has a problem keeping anyone that knows 911 - and offered a bonus just to them. I do not know for fact why. I just know the people that told me this and I trust them more than I would someone that will not even give his name.
I said nothing about Bell buying us. I don't necessarily agree that would be a good thing.
Because if bell did buy use they could easily transfer some of the office jobs from here. But, I do know they would offer to move the ones effected. I also know that they treat the employees well. Bell does not have poor relations with their employees, and so far as a contract -- that Mr. Beeler wants equal, it would be nice if he would give contracts by the area people live in and make it equal to others in that state. I would stand in line to agree to the contract Bell has.
points of view
by miriam
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 6:04 AM
Sometimes looking at this link, reading news, and how the things are developing, I just think that all this is a big comedy, by Alltel Co.
It�s obvious, to me, that Alltel, (sometimes I would like to call All666) wasn�t ready for this kind of market, and now it has turned into a real mess, that effects employees, customers, contractors and even Alltel.
But, what should be important here, is peoples lives. This should be upper most to the company interest (and to earn MONEY, all of us want that!!!, just what is the best way to earn it). This business is based on service to the community, and Alltel seems to be failing miserably.
It is said that when ones who manages looses shame, the ones who obey loose the respect, and right now, no one can respect the company. Even less when they are trying to break the unions.
Management is not usually under union benefits, but you know life is like a pancake, so the ones who are on top right now, one day can be down. And what would happen to them if what they are doing now to these employees and customers and state, happens to them?
All sides are selected according to where you see the problem, but it is healthy, to see all the angles. To use the heart and head once in a while it is healthy.
For Bob only... no one else
by Trish
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 7:12 AM
Bob, I have been reading these peoples comments to you, and I am not coming back on here to comment to anyone except you... Don't listen to them talk about spelling. They talk about business and do not know the dictionary meaning to the word.. They talk about greed and do not know the dictionary meaning to the word, and they talk about a decimating attitude which doesn't even make sense. And if you tell them to look it up, it will not help. Listen, it is a waste of time to try to talk to these people. They talk about judgement and yet they are judging other... I know that this is a is a site for people to talk, get information, and to speak their opinion. I realize others do not always share my opinion, and that is fine. One minute they talk about Godliness, the next they cuss. One minute it is about loving others, and the next they hope that we all lose our jobs. Listen I don't want anyone to lose their job. My husband will compromise to get peace, and we try to deal with what is going on. I just figured that there is no sense in wasting time with people that talk in circles and don't know half of what they are even talking about. Good Luck next week with what is going on with this contract. Maybe this will be over with, and best of luck with your job. By the way the word scab in the Merriam Webster dictionary means; A contemptible person, a worker who refuses to join a labor union or refuses to strike or returns to work before a strike has ended. A worker who accepts employment or replaces a union worker during a strike. Do you know what else it means a bacterial or fungus disease of plants or a hardened blood and serum crust. Great company for someone to be in, but the very dictionary places them in the same category. Don't get mad at me, get mad at the dictionary. I like the very last definition; SIMPLY TO ACT AS A SCAB. Buddy don't waste your time.......Thanks for defending me though!! God Bless
Trish
by Bob
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 1:59 PM
Trish, Thanks for the support, but you know I never did claim to be an ace speller. This is just like the normal things I would expect, I made a comment about how brad and CWA fan -- seem to be same person and they take offense to the remark. Believe me my skin is a lot thicker than to take it personally. Believe me it did not hurt my feelings, especially since -- CWA fan must be management and makes as many mistakes as I do. Thanks again for the support. I hope that all works out best for you and yours.
Bob, you started it
by CWA fan
Wednesday, Sep. 17, 2003 at 4:54 PM
Bob, if you will look back , you are the one that first mentioned spelling.......
Issues
by Bob
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 8:13 AM
CWA fan - I am sure again you are wrong. The First, to mention spelling was He He on Sept 02. It was not mentioned to upset you, it was to point out that with phrasing that you and brad seem to be the same person. It really does not bother me--sorry if you think of yourself as above misspelling.
But this is a forum for stating views -and think we all would be happier if we stuck to the issues. I apologize for distracting you from the point of writing here. My view is that Alltel really should consider what they are losing. They are losing employees that have the confidence of the community, have knowledge of the areas they work in and have shown dedication and loyalty to the companies before Alltel that actually cared about employees. The idea of stealing retirement funds or forcing retirees to pay higher medical is just wrong. And I will not vote for a contract that makes this a concession. The idea of forced selling is wrong, I try to refer sales every chance I get. But forced to sell I will spend so much time trying to figure out pricing for t-1s and equipment and tariffs that I will not have time to do my job. If Alltel wants to put a quota on referrals that is one thing, Let marketing do what they should be doing. Training people to replace me is not a bad idea (if that person is not a contractor that will keep working when I am laid off). If Alltel wishes to change what our previous contract was - it would be better and more acceptable for CWA if they did that to the people they hire in the new contract and not the ones that work here now. The new hires would at least know what to expect. We have years of experience under a fair contract and it does upset us that we would lose so much and live without job security.
Wlecome to the real world Bob
by Brad
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 9:40 AM
In the real world, job security is a thing of the past. I have no idea what your work experience is or if you are one of the few CWA that believes in quality work. From what I saw quality and quantity of work are low priority to most CWA workers. Whining like babies and complaining if they were actually asked to work for the paycheck they don't deserve is the only thing most CWA members are productive at. They have a good reason to be thankful for the union because if they worked the way they do for a company without the union they would have been unemployed long ago. Hopefully the new contract will have in writing that if the CWA members do not work for the money they are paid, that Alltel can terminate them and replace them with qualified non-union employees that know what it means to work for the money they are paid. I believe that CWA Fan can agree to this statement.
Wlecome to the real world Bob
by Brad
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 9:46 AM
In the real world, job security is a thing of the past. I have no idea what your work experience is or if you are one of the few CWA that believes in quality work. From what I saw quality and quantity of work are low priority to most CWA workers. Whining like babies and complaining if they were actually asked to work for the paycheck they don't deserve is the only thing most CWA members are productive at. They have a good reason to be thankful for the union because if they worked the way they do for a company without the union they would have been unemployed long ago. Hopefully the new contract will have in writing that if the CWA members do not work for the money they are paid, that Alltel can terminate them and replace them with qualified non-union employees that know what it means to work for the money they are paid. I believe that CWA Fan can agree to this statement.
Brad
by Bob
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 11:28 AM
Brad, Hope you solved Alltel's problem with the traffic lights, but judging by traffic today I really don't think has happened yet. I cannot speak for others on the quality they give, but I do know the crews I have been with for the past 18 years -- all of them are willing to give 100% to see that customer is taken care of and in timely manner. If we take a short cut, and are not allowed to go back when time allows then quality is low, but we repair 4 lines instead of 1 that is for the customers and the company. If the company does not allow us to return to repair it correctly -- then it is really not the fault of the repairman, it is the companies fault, I have seen this a lot. Contractors mostly get paid by the job, does that mean they do 4 jobs to get paid more, or do they do the one right to satisfy that one customer. This is a lot of the difference between contractors and CWA. We put pride in our work -- given time it is 100% correct. Given time the contractor makes more money and does the job like what you are complaining about. But this still is just jibes at each other and not to the forum that this site was set for. If you really feel that contractors are better then you really have learned nothing about the pride we put in our work or the satisfaction we get by serving the communities we live in. I am sorry that you do not understand this. If you think we are so bad, why is it that most of the people we serve are on our side? Again, this is not the issue, or is it?
Brad and those similiarly opinioned
by MDS
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 12:53 PM
Bob,,,as a union brother,,,and after hearing from my picket captain today,,Brad's gonna be disappointed. There's nothing like he hoped in the new proposal. He's obviously a scab, as he states he has seen the work of our CWA brothers and sisters..As we have seen the shabby work of the scabs and other contractors over the years....What I have heard, Alltel has come across with what is a 100% improvement from their original proposals...We won't get everything we once had or wanted, however it may be the best we'll get from this company... We'll just have to wait and see the document..One thing for sure,,there will be no diciplinary action if you don't sell.... It's gonna be such a good feeling once we do settle this, can't wait to see those tail lights on those scabmobiles heading out of town..Hang in there dude,,,,,we're about to send 'em packin soon....AMEN
well???
by MDS
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 1:06 PM
I agree Bob,,,,Brad and CWA Fan are one and the same.. Question is? Which is "mini me" ? Both seem to be lacking in intelligence and both have probably been shortchanged in the masculinity dept and cannot vent their frustration in any other methods or media...Let's try to overlook their ignorance,,,they'll disappear soon...Just like cockroaches do when the light of realism shines on em....They'll move on to scab elsewhere else....
CWA = ignorance
by Brad
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 1:45 PM
Hey Bob & MDS, ignorance is a synonym for union employee. The difference between contractor or scab (as you refer to them) and the CWA members is the contractors I worked with don't have to go back and do a job multiple times because they do the job right the first time. As far as the traffic lights are concerned it was the CWA members that could not complete the job and left the job incomplete. We don't make up lies that Alltel does not care about customer satisfaction, if they didn't care about quality and customer satisfaction, they would have allowed the CWA members to work without a contract or settled sooner. The truth is Alltel needed to call in qualified contract employees to clean-up CWA members garbage to meet the needs of the customer. I find it very interesting that it is taking so long to vote, count the votes, and report the decision. I guess CWA needs more time to get the drugs out of their system for the drug test. One thing for certain anything that Alltel offer you is much more than you earn. I guess the only sign that customer service is not Alltel's top priority is that they would even give the CWA a contract at all. Good luck getting those drugs out of your system!!
ignorance?
by MDS
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 2:06 PM
Hey there brothers and sisters,,,,I can't stop laughing from hearing Brad's most recent response....The traffic lights we're working when the scabs assumed our jobs..As far as getting the drugs out of our systems, damn, wish i had been able to take some during all of this,,would have made it much more tolerable i suppose...As far as taking all this time to vote? Maybe it's because Alltel was in such a hurry to settle this thing before the PCS comes down on mighty Alltel. Who knows,, then again, I do believe Alltel was in agreement with the timetable that was set for us to return..Maybe they are getting their farewell cards addressed to the scabs,,after all, it took several scabs to do the job of one union worker.. Brad,, good luck as you look for future employment,, I'm sure another local will be on strike soon so you and your buddies can continue the life you seem to cherish,,, stealing from honest working people like us... may you reap what you have sowed...Later Dude
Back to the issues
by Bob
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 2:25 PM
Gee Brad, You really do get upset easily -- I was trying to discuss in the forum -- and you wish to trade insults. I guess you really have not much to say. If you knew the facts about the street lights -- why are they not working? They were all working when we left. The only reason we were working on them is because the city was upgrading their system. KNOW YOUR FACTS. As far as voting -- it will not take long once Alltel gives the proposal -- that should be tonight. Then until Monday for attorneys to read and make sure there is not room for error. We will get the proposal on Monday, then 3 days to vote. THAT IS THE FACTS. Now, you claim the contractors do it right the first time. Let me know your job -- or how to contact you -- I will give you long list of contractors I have had to fix problems for. I will even give you the names of employee scabs that could not do their job. It is not hard to know why they crossed the line, they are the ones the company wants to get rid of -- not the workers. You say call in qualified contractors -- the same ones that cannot fix the traffic lights, or the same ones that get arrested when they go to a prison to work on a phone? I am real curious which of these that Alltel cannot do without. Gee guess I owe apology to CWA fan. At least he has the resources to research before he talks. So far as drugs -- don't use them never did, but did they test you before they put you out to serve the public? And I will be willing to take drug test anytime you want to go take one too. Now, If you have something of value to say -- please call CWA fan -- at least he will make sense. Now lets get back to the issues.
Brad
by Bob
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 2:42 PM
Brad, The one issue you brought up. Doing a job mulitple times. You are telling me that when you have 1,500 people out of service you forget the others -- and just do one job compeletely before you move on?
I guess you don't care about the money. And not caring about the money -- just wanting quality -- you should move on to other area. To us each customer is important, and we repair as many in one day as we can, promising that if the company cares, we will return to finish the job. Guess sometimes they don't care.
I do not know of any we got to follow up on after the ice storm. Sorry, sometimes many repaired is better.
Gee, I still do not believe that a contractor would spend 2 hours on one job when it takes 10 minutes to fix and move on to another -- that is loss of pay for them. That, Brad is why contractors are the quality employee that you wish them to be. And they never will be in the eyes of the public.
Scab definition.......only
by Trish
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 4:52 PM
As stated before, scab is not what people just refer contractors as........It is in the DICTIONARY. scab is one who replaces a union worker and walk across a picket line. I hate it when people can not read a dictionary. Calling these people scab is not against the law, how could it be it is in the dictionary. It is what they are. I am with you MDS..........I have heard that this contract is way better than expected. And I can't wait for my husband to vote yes and send those contractors home. It is almost worth giving 15% on your insurance just to send them home... I am only writing for the union members........I am not wasting my time on folks who talk in circles, can email all day because they aren't working, or.......someone who can't tell you their name... Boys Bob, Techy, and MDS... I think this might be over..........
Trish
by Bob
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 5:10 PM
Trish, I hope you are right, I want to go back to work. I think there is alot that needs to be done. I know in Lexington there is. But, I still will not vote for this if it makes the retired pay the lion share of the medical. I hope on this I am wrong. I hope someday to meet your and your husband, I think I will like you both alot. Best to all.
Trish
by Bob
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 5:11 PM
Trish, I hope you are right, I want to go back to work. I think there is alot that needs to be done. I know in Lexington there is. But, I still will not vote for this if it makes the retired pay the lion share of the medical. I hope on this I am wrong. I hope someday to meet your and your husband, I think I will like you both alot. Best to all.
Spelling
by Brad
Thursday, Sep. 18, 2003 at 7:16 PM
Hey Bob, If your so good at spelling why don't you do the 3372 web for MG and have Trish use her great dictionary to teach MG how to spell. With the amount of money MG has gotten from this strike he should be able to pay for a secretary. Maybe you should apply for the job.
To Brad
by CWA fan
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:19 AM
Brad, when you make references to MG you should remember he is "Gark Vader".
Brad
by Bob
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 7:47 AM
Brad, Again you show you do not know the facts -- or just chose to ignore them. Mike is receiving X40 pay. As union president he receives his normal pay from the company. No more -- no less. He is not getting benefit pay like those of us that were locked from work. And I bet if you really cared about the meanings of words - Trish would probably loan you her dictionary and even show you how to use it. So far, I do not see where any of this is explaining your position.
Bob
by Brad
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 9:46 AM
Again you are wrong. You were not locked out, you stupidly voted not to accept the contract provided to you. There is one main reason I could never be a CWA member. I refused to eliminate 80% of my brain cells to lower my self to CWA member mentality. CWA members need people like MG to tell you how to vote and holier than thou Trish with her trusty dictionary to explain the big words like contract, vote, or retirement. MG says you better vote this contract in so that you help pay pappy and grandpappys retirement medical after you vote in this contract.
Whatever
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 11:36 AM
A contract is a legal document between 2 OR MORE PEOPLE OR PARTIES. That means that the big idea of its their company who cares what the employees think goes down the sink. If it is a legal document between two parties by common sense the two parties have to be Alltel and CWA members or worker. So both should have say in the document because by DIFINITION it is a contract, and you can't have a contract with just ONE PARTY. Vote the formal expression of YOUR opinion and your will in response to a proposed decision (which should be a contract made by two parties) Guess who gets to express their opinion, the workers do because they have fought for their right to express their opinion. A very honorable thing to do since our country was founded on that. Retirement to conclude one's work and withdraw from ones position. And that is what all the workers want to do, finish what they started and come to the end of that, to know accomplishment. I like the word retired ; recieved by or due to one in retirement. What do old people deserve? That is a good question huh. I would not respond to these people, they are not going to tell you their position, they are going to fight and not tell you their name. Secondly some people can't afford to lose 80% of their brain they can't spare any, by the way it is a scientific fact that we only use 10% of our brain capacity......... And finally Bob and others I was talking to some of the CWA guys today and we talked about the insurance. Now I have heard that the insurance is the only issue left on this contract that was not like before. I have heard that the rest of the demands was dropped. The insurance they say they want working to pay 15% and the retired 40 or 45%. Well speaking as a nurse in the hospital I want to say that I believe that insurance will not be an issue forever. I think the government is going to have to take over the insurance mess in this country. Many businesses and doctors are not able to handle insurance anymore. I believe and this is just my thoughts that the American government will take over insurance and start monitoring medical expenses because they will have to, due to insurance problems. I really don't think the insurance problem will go away. Just a thought, my opinion.......See ya
ThisWillHurtATfromNowOn
by ThisWillHurtATfromNowOn
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 11:47 AM
In the year since Alltel moved into Central and Eastern Kentucky and became the second-largest local phone service provider in the state, the company has quickly risen to first in the complaint department.
Hundreds of customers, a labor union and the Urban County Government have grievances with Alltel.
About 475 employees have been on strike since June 7. And the state Public Service Commission found enough basis to union allegations that the company violated a collective-bargaining agreement to warrant further inquiry.
This is not a flattering record.
The PSC, which regulates utilities, must quickly determine why there are so many consumer complaints and whether Alltel has reneged on commitments made to get state approval of its purchase of what was Verizon's nearly 600,000-customer service area.
This week, the PSC asked the union and Alltel to provide more information within 30 days. The commission should be more proactive by launching a detailed investigation or holding a public hearing, for example.
Before the PSC approved the Alltel-Verizon deal, the commissioners were warned by one of their counterparts in Nebraska to keep a close eye on Alltel, which had made a habit of providing substandard service there.
The Nebraska PSC did an in-depth study of Alltel in 2001, two years after it acquired the phone service in southeast Nebraska. In the report, Alltel was heavily criticized for long waits to reach customer-service representatives, delays in installations and repairs, static on phone lines, mid-call disconnections and outages.
In the wake of the report, service improved greatly.
Alltel, when it was seeking approval from the PSC in Kentucky, tried to put as much distance as possible between here and Nebraska. Alltel said it had resolved its problems and promised a smooth transition in Kentucky and adherence to all existing labor contracts "to the letter."
As for the transition, Alltel gives itself a grade of A, but the record of complaints to the PSC says otherwise. In seven of the last 10 months, Alltel has been the No. 1 source of consumer complaints. The other months, it was No. 2 or No. 3.
Alltel said one problem it unexpectedly encountered on Day One was 7,000 orders for new or changed service left unattended by Verizon, amounting to more than an average month's work.
That seems like an awfully important number for Alltel to not know, given that it sent a transition team here eight months in advance of the ownership switch and that it had been involved in similar purchases from Verizon before.
Alltel also says it took months to work out bugs in the new system, and then the February ice storm hit, which required two months of recovery. In May, productivity was hurt by contract negotiations.
Alltel had a load of reasons for a similarly rough transition in Nebraska, but the PSC there was skeptical and demanded immediate improvements -- or else.
Chastened, Alltel complied.
If that's what it took in the Cornhusker state, then the PSC here should apply the same hot poker.
Brad
by darsa
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:33 PM
At this point pretty much all I can say to you Brad is I feel sorry for your parents. You seem to have no compassion or feel any responsibility toward those who have worked hard all their lives and now stand to lose most of what they worked for. Would you feel the same way if it was your father or mother who was looking at the prospect of paying large amounts out of their retirement for insurance they thought they had already earned?
CWA concern
by scab
Friday, Sep. 19, 2003 at 6:42 PM
You ask Brad the question about retired people paying large amount of insurane payment, but it is not up to him or any scab. The decision lives in the hands of the CWA, lets just see how much you all care about these people.You talk as if you care so much but I am willing to bet you think of yourselves first and leave them high and dry. So much for your talk of standing up for what is right. huh
Scab
by Trish
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 2:07 AM
What are you trying to do sway the CWA members to vote this contract down so that you can continue to work. If the contract is the way I have heard, and it is only rumor it would not be bad. People retiring will be voting on this contract to, to tell their opinion. You just want this to continue so that you make more money.................................................................................................................................................................
remember what a scab is
by ms
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 2:54 AM
After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, He had some awful substance left with which He made a scab. A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water-logged brain, and a combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts he carries a tumor of rotten principles.
When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs, and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out. No man has a right to scab as long as there is a pool of water deep enough to drown his body in, or a rope long enough to hang his carcass with. Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his Master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab hasn�t!
Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Iscariot sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British Army. The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children, and his fellow men for an unfulfilled promise from his employer, trust, or corporation.
A strikebreaker is a traitor to his God, his country, his family, and his class!
CWA
by scab
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 4:34 AM
I am one of the scabs that will be staying, so you see it doesn't matter to me if you stay on strike or come back to work.You guys complain about paying 15% of your insurance when you are employeed, but then you say the 45% for retired people is not bad. What a joke.
Now who is the traitor?
My dictionary says it is one who betrays his trust or allegiance.So who is doing that?
scab reflections
by steve c
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 5:15 AM
i tried to have a conjenial conversation with a scab the other day when he apparently took my intentions the wrong way.
i asked if he learned his trade in prison and was it true that all the inmates had gang sex every evening. he scoffed and said he had never been in prison and seemed mad at the insinuation. well i appologized and told him i was just giving him the benefit of the doubt because i knew all scabs were either criminals or low life scum sucking traitors to humanity pieces of dog dung. i hated that i made the error and called him a criminal.
i know now not to rush to judgement again
the vote
by george
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 9:06 AM
It is true that the vote to strike was voted on by only 146 CWA members (140 yes and 6 no)? Why didn't all the members vote? You lost four months of pay because 140 people said you should strike. If this is true how many will vote next week. Are you so blind that you will let 140 people determine your future and the future of your kids.
Hell
by A Scab
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 12:53 PM
The reason the devil (MDS or MG whatever his name is) closes the gates of Hell is, Hell is already filled up brainless, blind CWA members. The main reason CWA members taunt on scabs is they don't know how to talk to higher intellegence. Everybody knows what A SCAB stands for:
A - ALLTEL
S - SEES
C - CONTRACTORS
A - ARE
B - BETTER
CWA stands for:
C - CRAPPY
W - WORKERS
A - ASSOCIATION
scabs,,one and all
by ms
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 3:49 PM
wow,,someone must have turned on the lights,,the cockroach scabs are coming out of the woodwork all of a sudden,,,let's try to address each one as they crawl out...as far as the scab who say's he staying,, I only hope you'll be working in my area,,cause if I pull up to a xbox and a scab contractor is there,,you will be told to get your slimy ass out of my way, and when you see that i'm finished with my work, and my vehicle is out of your sight, then you can return to attempt to do whatever it is that you're attempting to fix,,more than likely, we'll have to go back on it and actually clear the trouble that you are unable to clear due to your lack of skills...To george,,,another misinformed scab,,you actually think we we're on strike without the vote of the entire membership of 3371 and 3372 locals? You're a complete moron,,,do your research scumbag..It was an overwheming vote for the entire membership of both locals to make a stand against the evil Alltel and it's allies,,,scabs and contractors...Please see definition of scab as provided previously....And to you, "A scab", you're right about one thing,,Alltel does think scab contractors are better,, and if we agreed with them, would we be out here for going on 4 months? I refer you back to the Kentucky Public Service Commission's decision against Alltel...They suck dude,, because they choose to employ uncompetent contractors and scab labor to maintain their network...You slimebags aren't cuttin it dude, the only chance they have at improving their service will come after we return to work and Alltel allows us to do the jobs that we, and not the unqualified contractor scabs, do....It will take months to undo the damage that has been done while we made our stand against Alltel,,,we are the only ones that had the balls to stand up against them,,they didn't break our union as they thought they would do....Alltel,,you bit off more than you could chew when you took us on,,,we are about to beat you Chip Softwoodie and Harry Feeler....Can't wait for the welcome back bullshit re-orientation.. Don't expect us to come back smiling,, you'll be very disappointed...And as far as the scabs that crossed and the contractors they retain,,,you better be prepared for us,,,we won't forget what you put us through !!!!
Scab
by Trish
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 5:22 PM
I am saying the 15% or the 45% is really mute, because sooner or later the government is going to have to take over the insurance problem! I never complained about the 15% that is fine with us!!!!!!!!! I think the retirement benefits are more important for retirees and members because the insurance situation is going to change, there are too many problems, and if I didn't think this was true I wouldn't like paying any of insurance premiums, but as a nurse I believe that the government is going to have to come up with a form of insurance for all..... There are no traitors here, these guys are out fighting for retirees.... What are you fighting for?
Notice to all about A Scab
by Trish
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 6:08 PM
I am starting to believe that A scab, CWA fan, and brad are all the same person just like Bob says. They use the initials MG just alike, they talk about dictionaries just alike. They are using the same mannerisms and the same wording. This is one in the same person, who makes it look like there are many with his opinion, but it is the same person. Unless maybe is is like a Sybel thing going on. Things that make you go HHHHMMM?
You're Full of it
by Brad
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 6:59 PM
MS, you are so full of it you probably honestly believe the company can't get by without you. The truth is you have not even been missed. The scabs earned every cent they received. Not only did they take care of all new orders and troubles, they also had to spend many hours cleaning up CWA's screw-ups and lousy workmanship. If Alltel makes the mistake to let any of you return to work they will be making a giant step backward. The CWA will return to work environment where quality and quantity were accomplished for the first time since Alltel took over KY because they finally had competent employees onsite. I am certain it won't take long for the lazy incompetent CWA members to screw-up everything again.
Trish, for someone who quotes the dictionary so much, your spelling a grammar are atrocious. If you think Bush cares about health insurance premiums, get real. He is only concerned about sending our boys oversees to fight his private war. Just go ahead and vote in this contract, CWA members deserve to realize what it is like to live in the real world. This contract will be long gone and forgotten and the government will still not care about high health insurance premiums. But at least you and your predecessors will know what it is to pay for something.
Ha! Ha!
by Brad
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 8:05 PM
Yes Trish, I did write this statement on purpose "Trish, for someone who quotes the dictionary so much, your spelling a grammar are atrocious." I was trying to emulate your writing style.
Ha! Ha!
by Brad
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2003 at 8:16 PM
Yes Trish, I did write this statement on purpose "Trish, for someone who quotes the dictionary so much, your spelling a grammar are atrocious." I was trying to emulate your writing style.
Brad
by Trish
Sunday, Sep. 21, 2003 at 2:13 AM
"your grammar a atrocious"? sounds like you have trouble there too brad. Most of the mistakes on this site are typing errors. So you replied to me from the A scab note, therefore you are a scab?
Trish
by Brad
Sunday, Sep. 21, 2003 at 12:17 PM
As usual you missed the point again. I was trying to write with as poor grammar and spelling as you usually display. You and Bob both write poorly, are you and Bob one in the same??
geeze
by darsa
Sunday, Sep. 21, 2003 at 3:31 PM
The bottom lin here is not what Bush will or won't do or what another President may do. If insurance reform is going to take place it will take time, probably years. What is important depends on your individual feelings of what is right or wrong and what you are prepared to compromise on. I would take a guess and say that atleast 40% of the CWA members of 3371 will be retiring with in the next 5 -10 years. So retirement benefits will affect them directly sooner than later. What is gained or lost now will set the tone for future negotiations. I'm sure they will have that in mind when it comes time to vote. Until Monday night I will have no idea what is actually in the contract the company is offering so I can't really voice an opnion on it yet. However, I am still trying since the first time I logged onto this site, to figure out where the antagonisim seems to be coming from from people who claim to have no real "stake" on the strike. Why do you so vehemently oppose the union or the right to strike? If it doesn't concern you, doesn't affect you, then leave it alone. It's as simple as that.
Brad
by Trish
Sunday, Sep. 21, 2003 at 5:34 PM
Brad I would respond to that, but this is getting so juvenile. We are not on here to write books or discuss grammar. You keep throwing out words and do not fully comprehend the meanings, you just give them your meaning. Brad I have graduated college with a 4.0 GPA and I saved a life today. What have you done? I am not Bob. I will tell you my name, and profession......... Now be honest and tell us yours. You can't and will not, and you will not even stick to issues. Good luck to you and yours............
Amen Darsa and Trish
by ms
Sunday, Sep. 21, 2003 at 7:22 PM
Amen Darsa,,,I was eligible to retire next month b4 this strike.....and Trish? , let's give up on these stinkin scabs....they'll go away and rot if we ignore them..Everything will be back to normal soon...Then we let this forum fade away...The scabs will move on.. it's been a helluva ride....Peace...
Support to CWA
by Ashland Kentucky Customer
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 8:41 AM
I am an UNFORTUNATE customer of ALLTEL. I would like to tell ALL the SCAB workers to go sign up for Welfare where they belong. Go suck off the neck of the government instead of the Good Union People. It sickens me that I have to pay my bill to this SCAB SCUB Company.
I hope you will all return to work soon and send these scab workers back to the TRASH where they came from.
Union Family of Ashland
Members of the AFSCME & AFL-CIO locals
double standard
by scab
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 3:29 PM
If you are so aganist the company why don't you cancel your service?Atleast the Union people walked out for what they felt was right.
You are to funny, with the "I hate you but here is my money to support you."
If you plan on keeping your service you need to get use to the "Scum" because whether the strike is over or not we will still be around.
To All
by Bob
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 4:55 PM
To All, I kept wondering why someone would be as bitter as Brad is. And he never gets to a point to discuss. Well, I think maybe I have the answer. What if this person was a true scab, one that is full time employee with little senority. What if this person knows we will come back to work, and knows the shame he is feeling will become a nightmare -- because we will not ever help him. I might be wrong but I think this person is BRADY BROOKS. That would mean that probably CWA fan is none other than his brother JOHN BROOKS. That would explain alot. Guess they really do want us not to sign.
Bob
by Trish
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 5:31 PM
A scab is Brad too. These three people have the same mannerisms, there is no doubt either they are the same person or know each other well. They want to throw in these little traitor comments to try to outrage people not to agree with anything. Look at their comments; one minute they say you should do what the company wants, the next minute they say don't sign or you are a traitor. They just don't want anyone to agree so that the strike continues and it will benefit them. Lastly, ms is right the best thing to do is ignore them. And if it is true that they work as employees and crossed the line, I would say they better get use to being ignored. So have you heard any details about the contract?
Trish
by Bob
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 5:56 PM
Trish, Sorry you are right - it just bothered me that someone could be so angry -- and not be able to figure out why. About the contract - I am going to wait until I have read all of it before I make up my mind. This is going to be very close vote if it passes. Except for asking questions -- I think everyone should vote thier heart. Your husband should have copy of it now, please take the time to read it. It is better than all they have granted to the bargaining group.
contract
by CWA all the way
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 7:10 PM
I can tell you the contracts sent to Ashland were burned.
the contract
by ms
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 8:31 PM
well,,after attending the meeting, and reviewing the document alltel has presented, i have to say, it's not the best contract i've seen,,however the employer here is now alltel, and not the verizon/gte contracts we're used to.. It all comes down to whether or not you can live with it....Me personally,,I can live with it..If we reject this offer,,it may be a few month's b4 alltel will even be willing to negotiate again. even if we vote against it, is it worth another 3 months or so on the picket line to gain another 5% on our medical for retiree's? the bargaining team seem's to think this is the best we're gonna get..perhaps we need to go for it and fight them from within...me personally,,i'm tired and wanna get back to work...that's only my opinion,,,the final vote will be what we will ultimately adhere to...everyone needs to read the document and come to their own conclusion.....remember,,alltel will be hiring replacement workers,,,i'm glad i have enough seniority that i won't be replaced..those that vote against this will hopefully not be at risk at being replaced permanently...Let's get back to work people.
contract
by darsa
Monday, Sep. 22, 2003 at 8:45 PM
Okay, I'm confused, the bargaining commitee did not endorse this contract, would that not lead one to believe that they think they can do better? I agree that it might take 3 or longer months if this is not voted in. I would like to see all of you go back to work. However if it passes is it not true that someone who doesn't have a lot of senority is going to be out of a job? How many fellow workers is that going to put out on the street?
To SCAB
by Ashland Customer
Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2003 at 5:41 AM
Go get your WELFARE check and some spelling lessons. I have stripped our telephone service to the bare essentials. I have to keep my service, I have a young child in the home. If I could choose our local service, I would choose another company. I do stand up for what I believe in.
And you should stand in the welfare line where you belong. You scab SOB!
Bob
by Trish
Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2003 at 7:32 AM
Bob, you do not have to say your sorry, I am just to the point that I believe there is no sense in saying anything to them, because when they know you have them in an issue or that you are right they will say your grammar is off or something else. They just want to fight, and hope they make everyone mad enough not to go back. You are probably right about it being an employee scab though. Sounds bitter to me. Now I have heard about the contract today from guys around here. About 70% of the ones I talked to supported it. My husband will not get the contract until Wednesday night. They say that the company made a provision that anyone wanting to retire could retire in the next year with the regular benefits and 25% on the insurance? Many people say this is as good as it gets? What do you think? My husband has been a lineman, CZT and now a CO. I was wondering about the COEI's that will be going into the CO, there are only 3 of them and all are close to retirement. Will the COEI's movement into the CO leave a chance of layoff in the CO. My husband has 6 years with the company. Do yo think he should bid into a CZT, BZT position as soon as possible? I just wonder from someone who has been around awhile. I have just got a feeling that the contract will not get better in 3 months, and I am starting to worry that the younger guys could lose their jobs from replacements if they don't go back, and yet is there any security that they will not lay off after they go back from movement from within. What do you think? I know I rambled a bit, sorry. I just have a lot of questions.
Trish
by Bob
Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2003 at 3:37 PM
Trish - I have more to lose than most, 18 years. I will have to pay 45% medical at retirement. So after reading the contract -- I will vote for it. If we stay out for another 4 months it will not give the retirees more than 5% less on the medical -- I say yes we vote for it. Like I said -- I have more to lose than most, but I think 4 months loss of pay is not worth the 5% of retirement we would gain. With this contract I will need this contract and 1 month to retire -- but I will start now to prepare for next strike. If Alltel is here -- we will face tough battle then. So far as CEOI -- you do not need to worry. They will not replace workers -- but will slow the hiring of new people. Bottom line is all people that could have been put on the street and replaced by contractors -- have a place to go -- that is a lot different from what Alltel wanted. Union members will not be bumping others, they will become part of attrition -- just less people when they can retire. I am so upset that Alltel does not realize the knowledge that they are losing. That is a big mistake. But is the choice of the owners. They write the checks. They will lose more than they know. Also, the COEI reduction was aimed at Lexington, they cannot get qualified people to work carrier group. It is the most demanding in the state, and CEO, is the closest qualified to do the job. So, layoff is not probable for anyone. Alltel has guaranteed the people whose jobs are to be eliminated -- will be absorbed to other areas. That is the first act of honor I have seen. I hope that this will end soon, and I think will be very close vote. Again I wish best for all.
Bob
PS I will try to answer any questions -- but I hope you know it is just my opinion
FYI
by embeded
Tuesday, Sep. 23, 2003 at 5:25 PM
Just for you to consider before you vote on the contract you have in front of you. Check the wording for disiplinary action and and termination. I do believe I have heard from some rather high up managers, "Find a Way to fire everyone of their Asses when they get back". This is no B.S.
Bob
by Cathy
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 6:00 AM
When these people are absorbed into other areas what areas will they be? My guess would be CZT jobs. Translation to that? My husband will not have a job. He only has 5 years in. We stand to lose everything. After the contract was read Monday night one of the guys looked at him and said if this contract passes you won't have a job. So what choice does he have but to vote no? He has already lost one good job when they closed the plant down, he had 5 years in there too. We have a daughter who is going to be starting college in a year. It took four years to find a decent job after the plant closed. How many times do we have to start over? It feels like all we do is beat our heads against a brick wall. I understand where you are coming from, and for you this contract may be a good thing but for us it's gonna hurt. If he has misunderstood the contract by all means please staighten me out on it because it's not been a real happy place at my house since Monday night. Understand as some have been accused of whining I'm not. I just want you to understand where I am coming from on this.
Cathy
by Bob
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 7:27 AM
Cathy, it is my understanding that the cable splicers will be moved to CZT (that is only some of them) others will go to cable splice t-1 group. It does not mean bumping people that were there, but rather replacing positions that were not filled. This was my understanding -- but i will contact the union to see exactly what was said. If indeed this would cost some-ones job I will vote against the contract. We are all in this together. I will let you know as soon as I get an answer.
Bob
by Cathy
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 9:37 AM
Thank you, I get only second hand info and usually he is upset when he gets home so I don't always get it clear. I really appreciate it. thank you.
Cathy
by ms
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 9:39 AM
From what we were told in the meeting i attended. If this contract is approved, nobody will be in a position to lose their jobs. If that were the case, the company would not have wanted to keep all of the contractors around for an additional year due to the volume of the work that would be ahead of us trying to catch up. We've lost alot of good experienced people that bailed out before the contract expired. If anything, the contract is not approved, the company has stated that they are hiring replacement workers to begin filling our jobs on a permanent basis..Since this has now been ruled to be an economic labor dispute rather than an unfair labor practices dispute, that would effect how the replacements would be handled at the resolution of the dispute..If it were for unfair labor practices, and Alltel is proven to have committed the violations, the NLRB would rule that the replacements would have to be terminated upon our return to work. On the other side, under our circumstances,any new hires would become permanent and we would return at the discretion of the company depending how many workers they feel that they need to operate. If anything, the longer we stay out, the less security we have.. If I have misunderstood, please feel free to correct me, however I am sure that what I stated was told to us during our meeting. We must keep in our minds that we're not negotiating with Verizon any longer, Alltel has proven that they have tactics that parallel those of the many other corporations, that are ruled by corruption and greed.. Whichever way the vote goes, we will still be on the losing end of one thing for sure, we'll still eventually be working for Alltel... Good Luck to all..
soon to be alltel again
by between a rock and a hard place
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 12:33 PM
i have sat on the picket line for four months and lost just like every other cwa worker. i truly sympathize with cathy over the dilemma that her husband is facing. it is extremely important that cathy's husband vote FOR this contract because if not he might be in even more dire straights. i have over 25 years with gte, verizon,and alltel and i am not going to lose my retirement for this union or anything else. i am not alone. many, and i mean many of us are prepared to go back to work on oct 6 one way or another. when we do the flood gates will open and the union will be essentially dead, just as alltel has hoped for. i will not be replaced and lose 25 years of life for anyone. we must accept this contract, lousy as it might be, and get back inside and work toward the contract in three years. prepare for the next fight. if you think this contract is bad, try to negotiate another with a union that has ZERO clout. please don't make these past 4 months be for nothing....... vote yes and work from the inside.
Cathy
by Bob
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 2:16 PM
Kathy, I have asked about the possibility of lay offs. I am awaiting an answer. I will let you know, but as I read the wording of the contract it seems that the people are absorbed not bumping people there. I will hold my vote until I know. So far as replacement of permanent employees -- they cannot for 1 year then is up to the Federal Labor Relations Board. One point that no person has talked about is the charges filed against Alltel, if we sign this agreement then all charges are dropped and again Alltel (knowing they will lose) gets by with cheating our customers, retirees and us. This is a very difficult decision for all of us, but know I will not betray my fellow workers.
Rock and hard place
by Bob
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 2:41 PM
Between rock and hard place, I undertand what you are saying, but think if you do cross this line. Will you live on the retirement that Altell offers? You know it will not be enough, and I think you also know that they wish you to work until 70 that was stated by them. You would cross line with no contract. I hope you have the courage to stand together with the union. I will live with the vote of the majority, (and yes I do want to go back to work) but not at the cost of others jobs. I think this is the honor and teamwork that has made us better than any other. I think everyone should vote their heart, but live with decision of the group. STAND UP if it is asked of you. We all will win. I am not advocating following blindly, just vote what you feel is right, and stand with us all no matter what the outcome. The only thing keeping me from voting for this, is the effect it will have on the union as whole, and I am sure I stand to lose more than you do.
let's stay united
by ms
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 4:04 PM
Hey everyone....let's not jump to any conclusions yet. There isn't anybody on here that stands to lose more than I will...I could have retired next month.. However, let's not lose sight of our situation here.. let's not give Alltel any ideas...They need to know that we are standing strong here.. Otherwise, the last 4 months have been in vain.. Hell yes,,we all wanna return to our jobs, however we need to stand united,,these bastards can't win,,, if they know some are breakin down and getting weak,, they'll jump all over that.. We aren't gonna lose the years we have invested.. Let's all hope that we're back to work soon, it's what we all want,, but don't let Alltel even get a hint that there are some members ready to betray everything we have done to this point...This union has remained strong throughout this whole ordeal and we need to continue showing our strength,,,especially when we do finally return to work....hang in there brothers and sisters,, hopefully the end of this damn thing is near !!
MS
by Bob
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 4:52 PM
Thanks, I stand proud with my brothers and sisters of this union, and I will not vote for losing one person. You are a person of honor, I do not know who rock and hard place is -- but think he is management trying to divide us. A word of doubt - and fear. I will vote to keep all our people here. Or vote for what is best for all. It is good that so many others feels ths way. Trish, in this I cannot appologize, I strongly believe that we all lose if we do not stand together.
A double edged sword
by Trish
Wednesday, Sep. 24, 2003 at 4:58 PM
To Cathy, I understand what you are saying. My husband is in the CO, and it will absorb some COEI jobs, he has only had this job for Six years. The thing you have to see is that it is a double edged sword. If you vote yes, there is a chance, no matter how slim or big that they will lay off. But if you vote no, I believe that they will be replaced. The way I figure it is if it looks like my husband is in line for a lay off in a year at least he can look for another job while he is working. I am in the same position as you, and both me and my husband think that if we vote yes at least we have a chance, and if we vote no, it is just over. I hate to say this, but since we are in the same boat I wanted to tell you want we had figured. At least we would have a year to pay off bills and look for something else. Or maybe we pray and no one gets a lay off. These people really need CZT worker. They have been working short handed for a year.
Bob, I appreciate your dedication and your care for others.
I am worried that if a no vote comes also, that people will go back to work and the union will be broken. At least if we go back now the union is in tack. I know this is a old bad saying and corny, but he that turns and walks away lives to fight another day. I think we have fought this fight.
bob
by Trish
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 3:08 AM
Why do yo appologize about standing together? I think the men and women of this stirke has done that. Sure we have different thoughts on certain issues, but they have all sit out in the rain with a picket sign together. They did stand. I do not want the union to be broken, far from it. I am in the same boat that Cathy is in, but like I told her it is a double edged sword. We may loose either way. But at least we tried.
By the way Cathy, my husband says that from what he understands that the linecrew and others will slowly be phased out, that means that as CZT positions open then those positions will be filled with lineman. And when the lineman leaves the line he will just not be replaced and that this will happen over time. Secondly I heard from someone high up that the COEI will just continue to do the work that they do, but will be considered part of the CO.
I will read the contract this weekend with my brother who understands that stuff and I will let Cathy know the small print of it.
contract
by Cathy
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 5:47 AM
If a contract is voted in that the union and bargaining committee have not sanctioned doesn't that weaken the union and their willingness to support us next time? As far as phasing out jobs, even before Alltel took over wasn't mostly every position running on a skeleton crew anyway? Also the whole point of downsizing further would be to bring in contract labor so they don't have to pay insurance, unemployment taxes, and such. This contract doesn't sound like it's going to protect anyone. Before the scabs and management get started on here about us selling out the retirees, most of them have been saying we can live with this BUT we don't think that you all can in the long run. These are just questions I have.
Cathy
by nathan
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 5:56 AM
--If a contract is voted in that the union and bargaining committee have not sanctioned doesn't that weaken the union and their willingness to support us next time?--
I can answer one of your questions. The union wants money. As long as the union members are paying their dues, they'll work with you to do whatever. You quit paying them, they'll walk away. They say they care about you, but you quit paying your dues, and they'll act like they don't even know you're alive. They are you friends as long as your checks clear the bank. I hope I have made my point clear.
Also
by Cathy
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 6:03 AM
I've also heard that this is real similar to the one they gave Nebraska and no one was laid off or replaced..until about 7 months after the contract was voted in..then they started getting rid of people. Right now the union is standing with all of you, the PSC is on their tail, and most of the public is supporting the strike. All this back and forth talk and the more info I get which seems to all contradict itself just makes me want to crawl in bed and pull the covers over my head and say "Wake me when it's over".
Cathy
by Trish
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 6:09 AM
From what I understand from down here in Grayson, there are 35 jobs on the board right now to bid on. That means that 35 jobs will be filled with lineman. Now the old linecrew jobs will be taken care of by the contractors, true. The thing that this would effect is that there will be no job openings in the company awhile, until people retire.
I hate to say it but I think that some of this has already weakened us. The fact is that if our husbands vote no, they probably will not have a job. In one year after a strike starts the company can replace all employee. Trust me I think Alltel will hold out for that. We think what they are offering is bad. Nothing is even worse. I am in the same place you are. But I see no way out, then to vote yes and see where the chips fall. At least My husband and I will have control of what is going on. Right now we have none. The union and Alltel decides. At least if everything goes bad he can go to college while he is working or look around for a job. I truly believe a yes vote means we have a chance to fight another time, and a no vote means no job. Think about this, if we keep the union intact while Alltel is here, then if or when they sell, we still have a union and we survived. I don't think they will lay off. I think they just will not hire. They will move people around from within. That means that no contractor is going to be working as a CZT, because those positions will be filled by lineman. Yes all of this isn't great, but it is a chance.
sorry
by rock and hard place
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 6:37 AM
i can see where my comments might seem company oriented or even from a company person. i promise you i am a 25 year plus union member who i can honestly say is scared of this vote and its outcome. i also agree this may not be the right forum (because of who may read this) however i have talked to 17 of my fellow employees from different work groups and to say they are teetering on what to do should this contract not pass would be a gross understatement. obviously there are those just as vehemently opposed to this contract as i am for it. only time will tell who was right.. maybe both will be a little right.
my point from my original post was not disrespect to our union but for the hope our union will viable player in future contracts and negotiations with whatever company they deal with. if the defections come as espected with a no vote. then our union will have no credibility then or in the future. as cathy said ' it is time to live to fight another day.
sometimes you have to punt to get better field position.
rock and a hard place
by Trish
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 7:39 AM
Actually I am the one who said he who turns and walks away will fight another day. I believe that is the truth in this matter. Keep the union intact. Fight another day. Things change. Our area has been sold twice in the last 4 years. I think a no vote will do harm to the union of the members. I also think a no vote will put us in a position to decide to either go back or lose our job. Let's keep this together, keep the union intact.
Cathy
by Bob
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 7:49 AM
Kathy, after listening to the union officials -- and counting the people that retired in the past year that have not been replaced, I can be resonably comfortable voting yes on this contract. In Lexington, the cable splicers will be going to czt. There is more openings than are people coming from osp. I guess will still have contractors here too. The COEI, will mostly go to carrier group, but we will have possibly 3 openings in Special Services. We already have one. also -- the COs are short by about 8 people. So there will be no bumping. Your husband should be safe -- at least until next contract. This is not a contract I feel is fair, but I think - it is really the best we will accomplish this time.
CWA CRY BABYS
by scab security
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 8:33 AM
I hope all of the cry babies don't sign.I hope u all still crying and crying so us scabs can make all the money.
I hope u realize union sucks. The union don't care about y'all the just want your money.The union must up america. thats y 'all the big companies moving to deffrent countries.
scab security
by rock and hard place
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 9:51 AM
what a nice read that was. it was written by an uneducated, inarticulate complete moron. yes, i guess you truly are a alltel scab.
scab security
by ms
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 12:24 PM
A great read indeed... I can imagine he stayed awake all day in the scabmobile to think up what is probably the most unintelligible remark I have ever read. This work of brilliance is definately repesentative of the intellect of the type of replacements Alltel was able to drag out from under the rocks and gutters. Anyone have a spare can of "Raid" in their closet? This scab no doubt, was educated in Little Rock.
NO!
by Ima Dumbass
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 12:31 PM
I'm voting No! on the new contract. I can't tell you how many Budweisers I drink a day and how many times I've beaten my wife and kids over this. I'd rather live in dirt and eat my young than to give in to these assholes!
fools & scabs
by Cathy
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 12:46 PM
First off you do nothing but strengthen the resolve when you speak like a fool. Second, be thankful for the union or your tail wouldn't be making decent money scabing. Thirdly, get a real life and quit trying to soak up someone else's.
unions need to be unionized
by hipster
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 1:08 PM
Please. Unions ar worthless at this point as they have become a business with the leaders having a vested intrest in retaining there 250,000 a year salaries. I believe that the union movement in this country became a joke when Regan fired all of the airtraffic controllers. All of the unions in this country should have went on strike for a week. But they just sat by and did nothing. A good local example is that of AFCSME. They sold out their union 'brothers' and 'sisters at all of the state mental institutions like woodville and western center , not mounting any substantial road blocks to the closing of these facilities. Instead, they made backroom deals to represent the prison guards in a all of the new prisons. So, eat your free cheese when you go on strike, knowing that the union leadership is spending your dues on 'confrences' that include open bars, free dinners and rooms (not to mention the coats, pens and all of the other junk that the reps get when they go) at Seven Springs.
i'm hoping.....
by rock and hard place
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 1:43 PM
...you are being tongue in cheek. anyone that feels that way is nuts.
Mr. I am a du&^%ss
by Trish
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 4:31 PM
I don't know who sound more stupid the comment about beating your wife or the scab security. I would only hope that the No section was from someone joking, because you would have to be stupid to say something like that. My husband and these good men on this site would never choose beating their family over a contract or a union. That is such a pathetic comment, it sickens me. And if you are doing what you say, someone needs to track your email address and find you for abuse, you self admitted to doing. That is serious, and you are sick.
Trish and Bob
by Cathy
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 7:25 PM
Trish I think dumb@@@ is management, a scab couldn't spell budweiser.
Bob, what about Ashland? How do youthink it looks there?
Honestly this whole thing is making my head hurt, I think I need to just let it go for a while and take it as it comes. It's not like I have any real control over it anyway.
Scabs
by Kyan
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 7:37 PM
I just thought I'd let you know that I really enjoyed the scab hunts. I hope the two yellow chicken heads that my friend and I ran out of Kmart see this.
I especially thought it was amusing that as soon as you scabs saw me with the men you called the cops and/or extra security to back you up. I sure hope when you told the stories to your buddies you told them I looked like an amazon chick instead of telling them the truth.
If you have learned anything while you were here I hope it was that KY sticks together and our women are as strong willed as our men. We don't back down either and you can't scare us off with threats, lewd comments, or foul gesters.
A special comment for the stupid dork who asked me out, go home, your wife dont' want you either she's spending that money your sending home on a "real" man who doesn't scab. You might need it for your retirement.
Ima Dumbass
by ms
Thursday, Sep. 25, 2003 at 7:48 PM
Sir,,,not only are you a dumbass,,,you are a total idiot. I've had my share of drinks too through all of this crap. If you truly wanna fight these assholes,,, do it from within dude...Don't you realize we can fight them a helluva lot more effectively while we are on the inside? Let's go back to work,, do what we have to do,, those bud's will be waiting for ya when ya get home.. If you choose to live in dirt? That's your choice...Go for it.. Hipster,,what the hell are you talkin about? You've lost us buddy,,,present some facts,,sounds like you've had too many Budweisers along with "Ima Dumbass"
Cathy
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 1:53 AM
You don't have control. Your right. I have been going through the same things. My husband and I went to town and played pool last night to just stop thinking about everything. The best thing to do is vote and see what happens. By the way here in Grayson/Ashland, about 70% of the people I have talked to say they are voting yes. You have a few saying no, but not many.
to Kyan
by Scab
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 2:42 AM
You don't back down Kyan? Thats a joke, that's what it looks like to the rest of the world.
Trish
by Cathy
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 3:55 AM
Ashland doesnt seem to be too happy about the contract offered, but what I wanted to know was how did it look as far as anyone losing there job if it passed.
Hurry back to work
by scab
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 12:47 PM
I wish you all would hurry up and vote in this contract and get back on the job so that Alltel management can start the processes terminating every one of you dead beats and be rid of you once and for all. Then they will replace you with competent non-union employees.
scabs
by ms
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 2:42 PM
Don't be so impatient scabs,,,oh, we will be back.. And guess what scumbags? We get to look you in the eye, and it won't be so easy to hide behind that computer monitor...You won't be so brave with your overinflated ego...And we will welcome the opportunity to finally watch you spineless immoral bastards hang your head with the shame that will always be a part of you..Maybe someday, someone will threaten your livelihood and harm your family as you have done ours.. You even seem to be proud of what you are doing,,,that clearly demonstrates the species that you are...At least we can hold our heads up and know that we were able to stand up for what we believe in. You will never be able to say the same.. Shame on you and all of your scab buddies....Read the following just in case you ever need to describe to your kids or grandkids the legacy you will leave behind you.. Hope it makes you proud....... What Is a Scab?
After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, He had some awful substance left with which He made a scab. A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a water-logged brain, and a combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts he carries a tumor of rotten principles.
When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs, and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out. No man has a right to scab as long as there is a pool of water deep enough to drown his body in, or a rope long enough to hang his carcass with. Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his Master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab hasn�t!
Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Iscariot sold his Savior for thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British Army. The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children, and his fellow men for an unfulfilled promise from his employer, trust, or corporation.
A strikebreaker is a traitor to his God, his country, his family, and his class!
i can't wait, whatta bout you
by rock and hard place
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 4:19 PM
hey scab
be careful what you wish for. the scab security will be gone so watch your back, your front, your vehicle, your everything because i hear some people don't forget. not me of course. i will be happy, so happy to see you on the job. i will be just as happy as you seem to be. best of luck.
Cathy
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 4:38 PM
My husband got the contract and we have talked about it today. He says that he doesn't think it will cost jobs. He says it isn't that bad. Now as far as Ashland not liking the contract, I heard there were 5 people that burned the contract and that was all. The some of the guys that was in Ashland said that they were voting for the contract. My husband says that all he spoke to today from Morehead were supportive of the contract. It is not that they like all that is in it, but they feel that this is the best for now and that it will not cost jobs. One man who has worked around here over 26 years says that if this one doesn't pass, that they will wait until almost a year is up and then they will offer a contract a lot worse. See at a year if it isn't over, they can replace the men legally. He says that this contract is the best they can do right now, and that it was best to vote for this contract. I don't think your husband or mine are in danger of losing their jobs, unless this contract is voted down. So what about Lexington?
Your lucky your employed
by scabsgonewild
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 4:47 PM
YEs, Scabsgonewild is here in the house! I welcome thee. Yes, I am a scab, and have been. Take a visit to http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mb?s=AT
Listen and learn, you have no contract, and you will be the ones returning in shame with your heads hung low, understand, you are voting in something you don't want. You are scared, and your retired Verizon buddy can't help you. You have been beat into submission and now have to take your concessions. Live with it like everyone else and be happy. You all are kidding yourselves and I love it. "Oh, we can do more on the inside" HAHAHAHA, So, you couldn't do it outside, what thinks you can do it from the inside, where times have changed, you want to work from the inside, go ahead, there are scabs in every corner. Your union days are a thing of the past, deal with it. You have miked it for long enough, get to work , or choke on some more hot dogs boys and girls!! Yep, I said it, 4 months for what, to show how strong you are by taking what was offered originally, yeah, you guys are really strong. Scabs will be laughing, our bills are paid, Christmas shopping is done, and what do you have? GAINED NOTHING!!!!!!
Your lucky your employed
by scabsgonewild
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 4:47 PM
YEs, Scabsgonewild is here in the house! I welcome thee. Yes, I am a scab, and have been. Take a visit to http://finance.yahoo.com/q/mb?s=AT
Listen and learn, you have no contract, and you will be the ones returning in shame with your heads hung low, understand, you are voting in something you don't want. You are scared, and your retired Verizon buddy can't help you. You have been beat into submission and now have to take your concessions. Live with it like everyone else and be happy. You all are kidding yourselves and I love it. "Oh, we can do more on the inside" HAHAHAHA, So, you couldn't do it outside, what thinks you can do it from the inside, where times have changed, you want to work from the inside, go ahead, there are scabs in every corner. Your union days are a thing of the past, deal with it. You have miked it for long enough, get to work , or choke on some more hot dogs boys and girls!! Yep, I said it, 4 months for what, to show how strong you are by taking what was offered originally, yeah, you guys are really strong. Scabs will be laughing, our bills are paid, Christmas shopping is done, and what do you have? GAINED NOTHING!!!!!!
little jerks
by as
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 5:17 PM
Guess the scabs are turning mad, because their plans are not working like they wish, but that's life you have had bad atittudes and will end in same way. And i am more than sure that you will live in a sad and deep solitude when all the good people from Alltel comes to work and all of you like the garbage you are will not recive not only help, either a simple good morning.
You can try with all the strengh of your dirty minds to put stones in the middle of the way, and even change your nike names here, but all of us knows who you are. and you little minds, knows about your future too. At least if we sign the contract will be just because we are still in democracy, but you? you are just a gang of worms.
All my support for the good cwa members, and dont let others try to confuce yourself, this people are just BS.
scab gone stupid
by Trish
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 5:32 PM
I just read the contract and we did get some of the things that we wanted and at first Alltel said no to. Secondly, we stood for our rights, and that is a noble thing. You just crawl for money, and soon mr. scab your hourly wage will decrease big time. This contract will be voted in, and that is what is scaring you wild. You big money days are over. This guys coming back to work in less than two weeks is getting to you isn't it. You will have to look at them and watch them take vacations. You will watch as they get promoted and you stay were you are. And if you are lucky maybe a strike will come again, or then again maybe you won't see that BIG MONEY again, because there will not be another strike. If they have too much work force one week, they may not need you... But maybe you will come back who knows right.... Oh the insanity of it all.. no wonder you have gone crazy. Let's vote it in boys and SEND THEM HOME.......... Oh the insanity..........
What is sad
by scab
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 5:43 PM
Yes, the Union members are of such high standings that they have to resort to threats, and destroying personal property and company property. Those are reasons to feel good about them selves and hold their heads high. Do you really believe anyone cares if you tell him or her good morning or anything else? What a relief to know that you will not. Please keep that promise and hold fast in your ideas about not having anything to do with scabs. Oh yea if you believe in standing up for what you believe is right, why are so many of the members ready to walk out on the union? You all talk about the scabs and complain about their lack of morals, are morals involved in now taking care of youself? And how is that different from scabs looking out for their own. You talk about you all being from Kentucky, but now are ready to turn on your own to protect your own. At least the scabs are not hypocrites
Trish
by Cathy
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 7:03 PM
I'm not in Lexington.
oh my, your the brightest
by scabsgonewild
Friday, Sep. 26, 2003 at 9:14 PM
Wow. You all are the smartest CWA members I have ever met. It is fun to read you guys on here wanting to vote yes. I love it, scabs have no hard feelings. We think it is funny that you stayed out on the sidewalk for almost 5 months to accomplish NOTHING, then post that you have a solid union and stand behind your bargain team. You sure can tell you live in Eastern Kentucky, you show that you can't get your head out of your rear to see the real world. You can live with the contract you say? Good, you will be! I am trying my hardest to figure out what you have accomplished. Bonding with coworkers? You have to be the laughing stock, and you have community support? Uh huh, sure you do. I support your butts being out on the street. There will always be people waiting in the background for your job. And you think there will be no reduction in force when you return? Where do you all come from? Hillbilly High School? Get it together people. Scabs are doing more work now than you guys have done in years, and your management sees what a mess you had this place in. It is NOT in your contract that there will not be any reduction. With your behavior, you can bet your sweet rear, you will be reduced to nothing, and that is not good in Ashland. Where are you going to go? AK Steel? Special Metals, looks like WAL MART and Burger King if they will have you. Wake up and see the light, ever wonder why on your contract it says LAST AND FINAL OFFER? You do, that is why you are voting yes, you goofballs don't run the show, the company does. Your last contract was with Verizon and CWA, not Alltel, so there, realize it is over and move on. With no prior contract, it's 90 days baby! And guess what...your time is expired, sleep well my intelligent beings, there are many in Ashland that will bend you over and take what was too good for you to have.
SCABS
by Trish
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 2:14 AM
The only reason all of you scabs are saying these things is to try to influence votes. Because the vote means a lot to you. You will go back to worker for regular pay instead of 38 an hour. That is the facts. So now you throw out the big you will be a traitor to try to play on these mens loyalities. And you know you can do that because they have loyalities, see you have none, except money. These men have stood with one another for four months. Now they will walk back in together......Deal with it.
Secondly, did you like my little letter of rambling, I did that on purpose. Because that has been what I have been hear on here for a week.. Sounds like people that are scared.
Cathy, what area are you from?
scabs or a fan of shit
by rst
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 4:15 AM
Is so fun to see how hard you work for made us feel like we are commiting mistakes voting yes, when you will be under the same benefit and didnt work for it.
But more fun, is to think that you SCABS, are lost.
What do you think that the company will do with you? do you really think that a company will give you a regard for betray your fellows? Sorry , the company not even trust on you, Why should they? at least, scabs are like little gargoyles, and none want one at home, less the management, because they cannt trust on you, just keep trying to put your missery on line. The union memebers will vote whatever they feel is correct for then , but never will betray thier pals, can you say same?
scabs or a fan of shit
by rst
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 4:16 AM
Is so fun to see how hard you work for made us feel like we are commiting mistakes voting yes, when you will be under the same benefit and didnt work for it.
But more fun, is to think that you SCABS, are lost.
What do you think that the company will do with you? do you really think that a company will give you a reward for betray your fellows? Sorry , the company not even trust on you, Why should they? at least, scabs are like little gargoyles, and none want one at home, less the management, because they cannt trust on you, just keep trying to put your missery on line. The union memebers will vote whatever they feel is correct for then , but never will betray thier pals, can you say same?
Trish
by Bob
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 5:02 AM
Trish. I think it will be a very close vote in Lexington, the people I walk picket with are evenly split on the vote. If the vote does pass in Lexington, I think will be by one or two votes. All though I am voting for this contract everyone should realize that Alltel is getting what it wanted. The shame is they were just playing games -- another example of how they care about the employees. So far as the scabs writing here, I do not threaten you. I just will never help you. To everyone else, Vote how you feel. And ignore these fools
striker vote?
by LT
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 7:15 AM
So now the strikers have a "brotherhood" and morality that precludes them from doing anything stupid? What a load of hogwash. Half of those strikers wouldnt give a rats a** about anyone but their own families. Stick together? They can't even show up for strike duty half the time. The only thing they've done for the past 3 months is complain about the situation.
They walked out. (they could have stayed at work but that would have meant giving up all that solidarity).
Then theres the local people in the area who are really confused about the strike thing. Somehow, the unions have convinced the public that pure HATE is the only way to deal with the company and those who chose to feed and house their families. I'd like to warn you about that. It seems that to most Americans, freedom is being allowed to HATE whoever you want without any retribution coming back at you. Thats the way you are supposed to react when you cannot control a situation. Human nature. But what scares me is there are people that aren't connected to the union or the company and those people are scared to the point of violence. They'd like nothing more than to be justified for their actions and then they'll claim someone else was responsible for instigating the violence.
Witness the two kids in Tn who shot at the cars on the interstate and killed one man, hurt several others. They claimed they didnt intentionally want to kill anyone, but that it was an accident. And then they had the gall to blame a video game for giving them the idea. "it's not our fault, we were just playing..."
What happened to personal responsibility in this country? Why does it always have to be someone elses fault (for an individuals actions)?
I was brought up and raised on the principle of doing for yourself first, then for others. And dont try to blame your brother, he didnt paint the dog, YOU did.
lt
by rst
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 7:51 AM
Is not about brotherhood or just morality, is just abouts rights, the right to fight for what you believe, if you want to join, good if dont is your problem, BUT, when you the scabs, start to insult, or try to breack unions with black mails, insults, and undervalue people who been working, and trying to obtein benefits, YOU SCABS, will enjoy too, well I DONT THINK you HAVE ANY RIGHT to open your mouth, if we dont fight for that you WOULD NOT BE ABLE to get your money now, and EITHER A BETTER FUTURE .
Violence should be not allowed in none of the both sides, but violence sometimes is an insult, is to try to divide people, like you are trying, for win now, but scabs do you really think that you will? or that your workds in this link will made you think better about you? If you would just close your mouth and be as neutral as you SHOULD and keeping your pretending values, that would be different, but guess none of you have much for say about values , if dont, none of you would type a word here.
People will go to vote with the believe that they are doing the best for, and scabs, sometimes is better to eat just bread, than eat what some corporation pretend, do you think you are eating caviar? soon you will see that your stomach will not be able to support either bread, none can be happy with little bitter victories, and yours, would never be a victory . Just be ready for the bitter moments you will need to face, not only for be an scab, most of all for not to try to keep appart and at least be neutrals.
LT
by Cathy
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 8:08 AM
What is wrong with this country is very simple. Somewhere along the way parents got lazy. A city should not have to impose a curfew that children under the age of 16 be off the city streets at 11pm on a school night. Laws should not have to be passed to jail parents because there children are not in school where they belong. Values are not being taught in the home. Children learn from what they see. They are being taught it is okay to lay down and take what ever is thrown your way because it is easier than to stand and fight for what is right. It is easier to take what you want when the opportunity presents itself than to earn it honestly by hard work. They take the easy way out when ever possible and not stop to think about who it hurts or the price they will pay in the long run. Kinda reminds me of scabs. I have 3 children and I can go round and round with you on what is wrong with this country, society, or morality any time you wish. My children work for what they have, they have rules they follow, I know where my kids are and what my kids do. And I can promise you when they are older you would never ever see one of my children crossing a picket line. They have been raised with standards, morals and loyalty.
Trish - I am in Ashland
contract
by kyan
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 11:43 AM
I dont think Ashland is going to vote this contract in. from all indications of what is being said this contract will cost jobs. There was a lot more than 5 who burned the contract. Just for your info who ever it was who was doubting that the votes would be counted honestly... they will be. I know integrity is not a word scabs understand easily but WE do.
LT
by Bob
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 2:11 PM
LT, You actually sound like a resonable person. I do not know why, but I think you are addressing an issue, not just the slander and standard bs that is so common by the scabs. So, I wish to answer you and show your mistakes. Yes we could have gone back to work -- with no union and no contract, but that is not in accord with the union or Ky laws. When the company took our keys and badges and vehicles -- they violated the law, they locked us from our jobs. This is small point -- but is still the law. They did know it was or they would not ask us to drop the law suits pending in order to settle the strike. So far as caring about others in the union, you are seriously mistaken. I can afford to be on strike for over a year, but I see my union members willing to go longer even if it is hard on them. I will vote for the contract, not for me -- but for them, and I believe is best for now. Do you really think we teach hate to the public? We do not tell them to disconnect phones. We only tell them to expect they service they are used to -- and if they cannot get it call the psc. That is not teaching hate, that is wanting good service for them. The last part you wrote was really off the deep end, but I see you at least have a thought other than the standard just want to fling insults. Congradulations.
Kyan
by Trish
Saturday, Sep. 27, 2003 at 5:04 PM
So here is a question, if this contract is voted down by a few votes, don't you think that will weaken the union. People are not going to just give up their jobs. I read the contract, there are bumping rights in it, and if the retirees retire before Dec. of this year they will get all their benefits, including paid insurance! So how do you figure that this will cost jobs. It will cost all of our jobs if we turn this down. Alltel will stop talking, and they will wait until June and then they will offer a crappy contract worse then this one ever dreamed of being and say "vote this in or you are fired" and at that time it would be legal for them to do that. I honestly believe if this is voted down, many people will cross the picket line and go back to work. Then that will kill the union here. Is it not better, to keep the union intact and fight this from within, and fight another day. Or are you willing to give up your job right now.... Are people with 25 years willing to give up all they worked for.... And when I say all, I mean ALL. No job, no benefits, nothing to show for what they have done. I heard one person say, well they have tried this on us before, they threatened to replace before. No they haven't.....They was not Alltel before. We need to stop trying to deal with Alltel like they are GTE. How long have you worked for the phone company... and are you ready to give up your job....... and if so, are you going to be angry at those who vote yes, and decide that they are not ready to give up their jobs? We need to think about this. Also I heard about the Ashland meeting. Some of the guys said they got acting up and burned the contract... And some of them said they were voting yes. So are you ready to lose your job? YOu really need to think about it.
Trish
by Cathy
Sunday, Sep. 28, 2003 at 5:07 PM
Bumping rights are not going to do my husband any good. What is under a CZT? Where can he be bumped too?Nebraska took almost the same contract that was offered to us. Do you know what happened there? This contract is not going to help or protect anyone. Retirees will be paying part of their insurance and it will go up each year until the company is paying very little of it. Ask the men and women who are out of work in Nebraska now because of bumping, or just flat out being replaced by contractors if they think it was a good contract. It's starting to look like the question is does he want to be out of work now, six months from now, or possibly fired in a year. I'm thinking I'd much rather go down fighting than I would choking on something I know is a raw deal. I'm hearing from people who were thinking of retiring that they can't afford to now if this contract passes. Just for the record, my husband burned his contract and it wasn't for show. He was very serious about it.
Cathy
by Bob
Sunday, Sep. 28, 2003 at 6:17 PM
Cathy, there is no promise that this will be honest company, or even fair company. What I see is the best we can do for now. I think that the contract -- does apply where jobs are open and posted he will have a job to go to. No one is saying bumping -- read what the contract says. They will ASSIGN where these people go. They have openings enough to cover all. I truly believe, that all people are safe for now. I also know that the people that one person says will cross the line (close to retirement) will not -- without some guarantee of retirement. The medical does not change for a person retired. If someone retired next six months his medical will never change. When I could retire would be 45%, would be at that rate forever. It is not fair or right -- but that is what I must deal with. I really want your husband to vote his heart, but I think he needs the facts to vote. I looked at this serously before I decided how to vote.
Wow you guys realy are stupid!
by Another Scab
Sunday, Sep. 28, 2003 at 9:37 PM
First of all Trish, where do you get �Oh the insanity?� Are you the one that is insane? Or are you trying to use a movie quote? Because you are mixed up, let me help you get it straight �Oh the humanity!� comes from the Hindenburg disaster, which is very fitting for you and your union. Or you might be going for �Oh the horror!� which were the words Colonel Kurtz uttered upon his death in Apocalypse Now, also fitting. Otherwise all of you need spelling, grammar, and general knowledge lessons. You see the stupidity of your people is what makes me a �scab.� I have always benefited from the poor choices of low IQ societies. For your information �Scabs� always make incredible money, I am a third generation �Scab/Contractor� and I won�t work for only $38 an hour. Those times you mention that we are not working, let me introduce you to a new word VACATION. In fact I have been on vacation for almost two years, that�s what you can do when you normally make $160K a year. I just sit out by the pool or the Jacuzzi behind my $250K (paid for) house and wonder what working people are doing. Maybe I will work next year, maybe not.
Cathy
by Trish
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 2:06 AM
When I am talking about bumping rights, I am basically talking about seniority. Your husband has in five years, right. And some of those men that I talked to that were in Ashland were talking about the burning of contracts, and one said "Well I am not burning my contract, I need it for when I vote yes" the other said well I am voting yes too. So it is going to be a very close vote. Retirees that retire before Dec. 31 will get all benefits paid, then it goes to 25% in 2004. Look at the contract. It isn't that bad. It's not what we wanted, but it is not that bad.
Another Scab
by Trish
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 2:09 AM
If you would have taken the time to read the next entry, I said how did you like my ramblings. I was trying to sound like the rest of the scabs on this site, scared. Glad you get to have vacations, you should be taking one really soon.
Another Scab
by Bob
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 6:40 AM
Another Scab, Wow I did not know that welfare and food stamps paid so well. Or are you living in a dream word. Go back to your shanty and collect your unemployment, and you can even fill your plastic baby pool and if you fart enough in it can call it a Jacuzzi. I call unemployed just that, you call it a vacation to fool yourself or your wife. If you have nothing of value to contribute or question to ask - you should just go away
Trish
by Cathy
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 6:49 AM
Trish I am talking about senority too, 5 years is nothing, He was one of the last hired along with 3 or 4 others. R is in management now, he was hired at the same time. That leaves the others at the bottom of the pile.The only other one who has less senority would be Puddle who hired in as part time this year. Think about this GTE or Verizon either one, did not hire very often. Your husband only has 6 years in? He's low man on the senority too.All they have to do is move 5 people out of their positions maybe six. Then guess what , my husband is out of a job, your husband is out of a job.Where you are at doesnt matter as much as how many years you have in.I don't remeber if it was here or somewhere else I read someone saying that the people in Nebraska were happy with the contract they got, well I'm sure the ones still working are. The couple of hundred who aren't are probably wishing that they had read the contract a little better.
Get Real
by Another Scab
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 8:44 AM
Oh Bob, how can you be so naive if you understood simple math you could figure it out yourself. First of all I am not working there right now, I said that I wouldn�t work a strike for $38 an hour. In fact I wouldn�t even think about it for less than $42 an hour. Now for the math. My friends that did go out to your hillbilly state are making $38 straight time and $46 overtime, I know that they are working seven days a week and at least 10 hours a day average (this is all good when you are away from your family). You guys have been on strike for 15 weeks so let me do the numbers for you. $38 x 10hrs = $380 per day x 7 days = $2660 per week + (don�t forget the 30hrs of overtime @ $9 per hour = $360) = $3020 x 15 weeks = $45,300. Gosh Bob that is about what you make in a year but for the �scabs� a year of that would bring $3220 x 52 weeks = $157,040 and that is a LOW estimate Bob. Of course if you guys don�t take your contract those guys will be there for a long time maybe permanent. So suck it up Bob and take the reaming that is coming to you so you can realize that you went on strike for nothing. And Trish I was just messing with you, I know what you meant I just thought it was kind of funny. Good luck on vote day.
Alltel CWA workers' strike in Lexington, KY
by ??
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 3:05 PM
Lexington is a ways away. There are several IMC's that are closer than Pittsburgh to post and have this discussion, like Cleveland or Tennessee. Why is it being done here so far away from home base?
Another scab
by Bob
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 3:07 PM
Another scab, I know it is simple math, I was doing same to you as you were to Trish (you did not find it funny?). But, you did forget a few things. Like health insurance, you do not have paid vacations, you do not have even retirement benefits. All of these things take away from your income. Not to consider the tax bracket, or tools or schools to keep up. And if they lower wages to us --then next time you will come to work cheaper. And so you know -- we did not wish to go on strike, the company forced that, and the strike was not for nothing, They offered no retirement as we have now (we got that back), they wanted us to pay 85% medical (now is15%), they wanted to have contractors stay when they could lay us of (that has changed). They wished to eliminate the 5th week of vacation. We will lose alot if we accept this contract -- but it still will cheapen your labor if you have to come here on next contract. And also I would like you to understand this, the CWA kept people from harming any of you. Next time would be taking the livelihood of many and I do not know if people will be so patient, that is not meant to be threat but just statement of fact. That is always the risk that you must take. And this hillbilly state has a really bad attitude about stealing someones work. By the way thanks for telling me the price of common labor, it will help with next contract
Cathy
by Trish
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 4:41 PM
I read the contract. It says that before they can lay off they must first lay off all contracted work. Then they must lay off part time or temporary employees. Then they will lay off down the line. It also says that if they bring back anyone then they must first start with employees that were full time and laid off first. They can not fill positions with contractors if there are laid off full time employees. There are 35+ jobs on the board right now for this area. You have to remember it isn't just about years it is about if you have held the job. Say your husband is a CZT then went on to BZT then went on to CO. Then since he has held all those positions he can bump in all those areas, depending on seniority. You also have to look at the fact that about 40% of the work force is ready to retire. And if this is ratified I think they will before Dec 31, which I don't blame them. Also, if your husband wants to keep his job and they do away with one CZT job in Ashland and it is his, he can bump a one with less seniority in Morehead. I really don't know why we are talking about this, you know that they have been working understaffed anyway. Secondly, this is not Nebraska. And everyone should have read cover to cover before burning or getting rid of the contract. These things are stated in the contract. Also the item about saying that retirees can retire by Dec 31 and still have all the benefits they had before, and then in 2004 the insurance would go to 25%. You need to read the contract. Honestly, don't take peoples word for it. It is too important to the lives of every. Read cover to cover, get out the old Verizon contract. I did. You need to look at it. I am sure you both can get another copy. You say if we vote yes we are out of a job. But I tell you if we vote no, we are out of a job for sure.
Trish
by Cathy
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 5:21 PM
Trish I went to the meeting today. He is voting no.
Cathy
by Trish
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 6:08 PM
Well good luck. Did you read the contract or just listen to what people told you it said? Best to you both and whatever happens.
Trish
by Cathy
Monday, Sep. 29, 2003 at 7:58 PM
I looked over it, I asked questions, I talked to the guys, and I listened to what Billy had to say. I wish you luck too, no matter who votes what we are all still in this together.
Cathy
by Trish
Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2003 at 5:04 AM
I have read it too, and read the Verizon contract. I have listened to what others say. Many are voting yes on this contract. I still think it will be a close vote. I pray that it will be what is best for the workers, company and the union. I think I know who you are now, say hello to Emry. Good luck, I hope we are in this together...
To Bob et al(and others)
by Another Scab
Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2003 at 9:07 AM
Ok so we have let our guard down and I respect that. I will respond in kind. The truth of the matter is that I am simply offended by union tactics I think that it is wrong for employees to hold their company hostage in any way. You do have the right to go work somewhere else if you don�t like the changes that are made at the company you work for. The origin of union was to protect employees from unsafe working conditions not to hijack them. There is a lot more at play here than meets the eye I guarantee you. The idea that they will hire back full time employees first following a layoff is completely bogus, they know 100 ways around that one. You all should read the posts that Verizon employees are placing at verizoneatspoop.com. After they signed their contract there was a rash of suspicious terminations. Then those positions were filled with contractors. I suspect the same will happen with you guys. My suggestion to all of you is that enhanced productivity is a better option than striking to get what you want. As far as how the dollars work out for contractors, most of the companies that I have worked for offered health insurance, of course I paid a small part. The taxes are not at all a problem because I am incorporated. The truck and tools does cost money but as you have seen some guys are extravagant and some guys drive junk. The ones that drive junk are the smart ones, the tools are an insignificant consequence. If you add up all the expenses that you mentioned there is no way that they add up to $100k which is the amount that is above the highest technician�s salary of maybe $60k. And as far as retirement goes, I know many company employees that take a buyout at 25 to 30 years for less than $150k. It is much much easier to invest your own money than to waste it on a company retirement. And lastly Bob I have no sympathy for people walking off their job for any reason, unless it is unsafe, the people that walk on in your place are not taking anything from you, you chose to walk off at your own risk. The idea that you OWN that position is absurd. I have no patience aggressive persons who threaten me in any way, you can say anything you want but if the line is crossed swift/stiff resistance will end the conflict instantly. So vote your conscience, and good luck.
Screw the business unions
by a wob
Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2003 at 9:59 AM
Check out a REAL union.
Bob
by Trish
Tuesday, Sep. 30, 2003 at 1:02 PM
I just wanted to say I hope everything works out and that everyone is protected. By the way I read the contract, it is as safe as it is going to get. Life is full of uncertain twist and turns. I just know that it is over for us. I wish you the best, you seem to be a good person. I hope you get the chance to retire and have a good life. I am not sure what is going to happen, but I do think it will be close either way. Good luck to you, MDS, and Techy........And all the rest, it has been real, really.
Trish
by MDS
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 3:38 AM
Thanks to you as well Trish,,,,sure has been a helluva ride huh? Counting down the hours until we find out how the vote went on the proposal..Hope it goes well !!
Another scab
by Bob
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 7:28 AM
Another scab, I have been reading and responding to a lot of insults and stupidity on this line for a while. I wish to complement you on stating your feelings, that is a first for a union buster. You know on some things we agree. But, I think when you hire in with a company and they tell you what your retirement is, and years later another company comes in (after agreeing to the terms) and changes this -- it is not only immoral but should be illegal (and might be). When I was hired to work here -- they offered a good retirement for having loyalty. If Alltel paid me what I have earned in retirement I would leave tomorrow, they do not seem to care about loyalty. So far as walking off our jobs, we did not. We were locked out. We had a choice, quit the union and cross the lines with no benefits or stand together, as this state allows, and hope that Alltel would see how much we are needed. I guess we are needed a lot or Alltel just wanted to make a point and did not mind throwing money away. They still have not been able to repair the traffic lights -- or repair one simple clec line that has been out for almost 3 months (to this business Alltels answer was to give them a cell phone with calls forwarded). I hope that Monday, they will send one of us to repair the line. Finally, I did not threaten in any form. I just stated the fact that the union kept violence from occurring.
Trish
by Bob
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 7:37 AM
I wish you and your husband all of the best also. I agree that this is the best we will do for now. I also think that Alltel in time will learn the value of loyalty and desire to do the right thing for our cutomers. Best to all.
Another Scab
by Trish
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 7:42 AM
Bob is telling you the truth. The union was very vocal that no one do anything illegal or threaten. The union would tell members this and give out hand outs telling them proper behavior. If someone took it upon themselves to threaten, then they chose to do that themselves. The union told them not to do that, at least in this area. They were told to go on roving pickets and they did yell scab and such, but anyone who threatened did it on their own. The union denounced that type of behavior here in 3371. Did people act bad, yes on both sides. Some of the union workers acted pretty bad, but some of the contractors were acting really bad too.
Alltell workers
by a customer
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 8:01 AM
I don't really care. I just want my call to go through at the least possible cost. If that means the company has to cut overhead by laying off some and others get overtime instead, that's fine. If some of you are out of a job and your kids don't get anything for Christmas, as long as it saves me money I could care less. Now, get to it. I pay your fucking salary.
Bob and Trish
by Another Scab
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 8:30 AM
I understand that companies throw money away. Last year Qwest practically paid for the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake then within 2 months laid off close to 5000 employees. Go figure. However wrong it may be , we live in a free society and they can do whatever brainless act they wish I am sure you know many such behaviors from the companies you work for. I knew that you weren�t threatening me, I didn�t take it that way, I meant in general referring to the bad ones that you mentioned. I suspect that there were a lot of things caught on tape with all of the video cameras deployed. And those folks will be let go day one I assure you. I will even go so far as to say that there will be some trumped up charges made by the company, but there is nothing you can do. The union is seldom successful against the company. I think you guys are worse off because of this strike. The contract that you are voting on is very close to the one that made you guys walk and with the money and benefits you guys lost during the strike probably amounts to worse than if you would have taken it in the first place. Maybe you could have bargained for a better contract the next time around when the economy is better and by showing that you had good faith by accepting a bad contract. To be honest I can�t tell you what you don�t already know besides I know very little of your total dilemma, I just come here to get a feel for your intentions so I can tell my friends what to expect. Secondary to that I felt like defending my position to some of your posts. So I apologize for being rude, I understand that we are all human and that we are looking out for our own best interests, of course human nature. Good Day
Bob
by Trish
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 1:47 PM
Have you heard anything about Lexington?
Alltel Strike
by Joe
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 2:52 PM
According to the Lexington newsline line the contracted was ratified.
To All
by Trish
Wednesday, Oct. 01, 2003 at 3:00 PM
The contract has been ratified. Remember to support one another and be there for each other. Leave the contractors alone, they will go home soon. There is no sense in jeopardizing your employment by doing something foolish. We will be in prayer for everyone, good luck and God Bless. Bob,MDS, and Techy maybe someday My Husband and I will meet you all. God Bless.
contract
by well
Thursday, Oct. 02, 2003 at 9:02 AM
A how many didn't get called back in Lexington cause two didn't get letters for orientation in Ashland.
DOWN WITH ALLHELL!!!
by Matt Anderson
Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2003 at 12:07 AM
Anderson_matt00@sbcglobal.net
I worked for Alltel In Grove Oklahoma for a montha shy of a full year. I wish that we had the union on the sales end. I was by myself that entire time pulling doubbles many day in a row. I had requested my week of vacation to start two day before my wedding. I had to constantly call my manager to get paper to print the contracts. He traveld to Grove from Fayettville Arkansas and he never had time to get me the things that I had to have to run the business properly many times I had to buy suplies out of my own money because I had no extra money in the till to buy these things. Well a week before my vacation was to begin I asked for a raise since I had been doing so much overtime and running the booth by myself, A day befor I was to take my vacation my manager came to the store for a meeting with me. He informed me that I had not been hitting my quota and he had to let me go. Grove is a small town with a population of about 2500 people and most of them are seniors. The service sucked in the area to boot. I did more customer service than sales. I had to go to fayettville once a mont to work in the retail store and I sold more phones than anyone else in the store. I threw that in my manager face and told him that if the service was better I would be able to sell the phones. He told me to clear my things out of the booth. He wanted me to count my drawer down for him. I did and he tried to say it was 35.00 short. I had a fit and added up the reciepts that I had in the drawer for over three monts before he came to my location. They added up and I left. Alltel is a lousy service provider and an evean louser company to work for. unless you can lie to the customers and kiss the right but you never get anywhere but crapped on!
So I say DEATH TO ALLTEL
I now work for Cingular making Twice what I made at Alltel and I am a CSR and I have pride in my company.
I am a member of the CWA now and I have the protection that Alltel refused to give me!
Thanks for your view
by Open mind
Thursday, Mar. 04, 2004 at 9:35 AM
kimberlydemyan@yahoo.com
I think that you've made a good point. There are victims on both sides. Good and bad, people that have been abused and lied to, really good hard working people that believe that they are doing what's best. I'm not even referring to this case in particular. I'm just now dealing with a situation in Detroit that my husband is struggling with. He's a plant mgr. caught between his employees (under 20) and upper mgt. It's a sad situation that is building walls of war and hurt and everyday the strike goes on it gets worse. The commumication breaks down and the sad thing is they have the right to vote to become unionized to there is no reason to not be back at work and wait it out. There is so much hurt that general misunderstanding that could be worked out if only they understood each other's sides and situations. The grass is never as green as it appears. We are all human beings and deserve to be treated as such, white or blue collars and really only want to live happy productive lives that enable us to care for our families and live comfortably while we grow business and employees together. Unless we learn from our past I'm afraid we are doomed to repeat it aren't we? My best wishes to all of you. I really hope for some understanding for all of us and some common ground.
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