Did you mean he worked over at Nine Mile?

yeah ---was Stone & Webster then NIMO and then he went to Syracuse with NIMO and is with Nat. Grid now

let's get something straight...
corporate greed and larger profits and dividends for the few is many, many times over responsible for outsourcing.
Of course the favored cry of the greedy corporate structure to the media is always "labor costs"

I'm no union flag waver and would be working regardless, I assure you, based on skill and work ethic, been scouted for mangement based upon overall performance and organizational skills
but for now, in the present...

why should I accept a scale raise more than 2% less than the annual cost of living increases, pay the entire % of health insurance increase, and be asked to do more, take more risk and responsibility upon myself and my professional standing...
while I watch the co. literally throw money away one boondoggle after another?

increase salaries, performances bonuses, cover more of the health care cost, and find new desks for more people all the time while I work in a dangerous and understaffed environment?
I can't name a half dozen managers who have touched a patient in the last ten years, for most it's 20 years and yet handling patients is what generates the revenue!!

did I tell you about the gangbanger who came to my room and behind closed doors for an exam with a loaded handgun in his coat?
because the co. doesn't think (actually doesn't want the public to know what we know) that we need a metal detector especially in the ER!
answer: "we can't afford one and it sends the wrong message"
right, and the message your sending is that you don't give a fukk about the people out on the tile generating the revenue...
our ER saw the same volume as Upstate and Crouse last year and believe me, alot of the same type of patient!
but some staff will have to get shot or stabbed before anything is done we know that
while all the bloated middle mangement has once a month catered all-day "retreats" with pay?
what does that cost?
you need to pay me more than you did last year, not less to do more uglier volume and take more risk...
yup. our talks have stalled also...

Quote "did I tell you about the gangbanger who came to my room and behind closed doors for an exam with a loaded handgun in his coat?"

OK, 1. That's disturbing on a number of levels, what kind of exam? Is the loaded handgun a metaphor?

Are we now saying Bird is "The Man" aka management scumbag? Personally, I like the dude. Enjoy your 4 days and get to the frickin' bay sometime soon.

Wonder what the union bosses are paying the picketers? My bad, that's on of the rights they have as the rank and file, they get to picket for free.

Respectively dissagree. Major problem for manufacturers in this country today is finding a work force with the drive, dedication, and skills to get the job done.

I'm a firm believer in performance bonuses, I pay my subs more than any other contractor in this area in the same biz. One subs "good job done" bonus last year would fuel my boat for the next three seasons. This year every other word out of his mouth is "Will this be an extra?". I explained to him the other day that in four years, close to seven figures, working for this customer there has never been any such thing as an "extra" on my part. Therefore not looking good for him. In sharp contrast to the other sub on site that when asked to do something now simply says "OK" and gets it done.

The "Extra" guy is on the union rated job, the other is not. Go figure.

Cost of living is something we all deal with, health insurance is an individual cost, secure retirement is an indivudual responsibility, none of these should be the responsibility of any employer. When employees begin to think that every personal financial responsibility of theirs is an obligation of their employer it's a downhill slide. And just where are we now?

This country, our economic system, was founded and flourished on the principal that one could work hard, work smart, or just chit luck out and make it without having to share the fruits with every dumb azz that failed to do the same. Why should I be entitled to a slice of your pie? Why should you be entitled to a slice of mine?

Sorry for the rant, just too deeply involved in this rated wage mentality chit this summer. I just believe that a decent job with decent pay is a privilege these days, not a right.

OK, we can debate this a bit. Why should you just EXPECT a pay raise to keep up with inflation? You should get a raise based on your individual worth, not based on some 5 year agreement. Now, I'm certainly not saying you Randy shouldn't get a raise or that you're work is not worth it. And I also don't think you were referring to me as a useless middle-management freeloader as Mike may have perceived your comment. But, if you don't think you're getting a good deal pay or insurance wise, then you go out on your own a seek out a better deal - based on your individual capabilities and expertise. You shouldn't expect automatic increases in compensation.

Believe me, I see the same waste you see. The crap we spend money on is just ridiculous. My insurance costs go up every year, it's a broken system that is just out of control. But, you can't (shouldn't) expect your insurance costs to stay static while everyone elses goes up. The same with your pay, if I don't think I'm being compensated well enough for my services, I need to move on, get a better deal, make it on my own. You should and can do the same.

Having a contracted collective agreement where everyone gets automatic raises is insane if you really think about, it's outdate and it breeds slugs that hop on for the ride.

I know you, I know how you are, I know you're not one of the slugs. That's just all the more reason you should reach out on your own and make your own decissions. I'm actually surprised that you would follow sheep in line, you are a very independent person. But, I also understand that the job you have just happens to a represented position.

You can't really do anything about what management decides to do or spend money on unless of course you want to join those ranks and try to change things. I consider myself an independent contractor making my way through this whole employment gig, and I've done well on my own. Never been represented and never want to be. I'll make my own calls and I'll leave if I don't like it.

Thanks Mike, the boat is going in soon!!!

I don't think Randy was referring to me as a management scumbag, he was just making a point. It's all good.

As for the gun in the ER, Randy, you should have cranked up the zoomies on the exray machine and boiled his guts!!!

PM me his (your) name, I probably know him, I've been over there for 26 years.

I want one of them 96 hour paychecks! Do one of those weeks in our union shop over a wkend and you'd get paid for 166 straight hours!