The life of a striking worker

Hey guys,

I don't want to turn this into a political thread as I am not a political person. So please just offer advice or help if you can,and leave your opinions of unions,and union workers to yourself.

I will start out by saying I worked as a non-union electrician for many years after high school and earned my hours required to get my journeyman's electrician license. I then had an opportunity to take a job with what was at the time Nynex/Bell Atlantic. I had just become licensed about a year before,and was quite happy with the company,position,and pay I was receiving. My wife and I had just bought our first house,and I couldn't have been happier with my lot in life. I had passed the exam to get into the phone company,and was offered the job in an installation department. I wasn't going to take it as it was a cut in pay even with getting a 2 step up in pay to start due to my license. We hadn't even made the first mortgage payment on the new house,and I was scared. My family and friends talked me into taking the job,and I am very grateful that they did.

Now 14 years into this career,and in a new department after 7 years of installing network equipment in the central offices I am in a maintenance department. It is a very rewarding career as I work on maintaining standby generators,rectifiers,switch gear,batteries and almost anything related to power in the network central office. I get to sort of make my own schedule for any given day/week,and I can bring my van home which is a great benefit. Sometime the job isn't the best when I get a call at oh my god:30 to drive an hour or two for a trouble,but at the end of the day I love my job. I know in my mind that the work I do almost guarantees that no matter what happens with the power grid I know the consumers phones will work,and the network stays up and running. I maintain 12 buildings of my own as well as help my other three co-workers and three others in the state of RI that are new to the department within the last year.

We are now in week two of a strike that seems like it will last a long time. I was around for a short strike in 2000,but at that time we didn't have kids,and life was simpler. This strike is bothering me in more ways than one. The most of which is the simple fact that I love going to work,and right now I can't do that. Last week which was the first of the strike my wife had a planned camping trip about two hours away from our house. I towed the pop-up camper up there on the Saturday before the strike,and set it up for the family,and then drove two hours home as I had a feeling we would be on strike at midnight and would be picketing at noon. I was right,and got drenched that day from the heavy rains. Fun stuff!! I then didn't see my kids until I surprised them on Wednesday my only day off from picketing all week,and even then it was only a few hours that night,and in the morning before heading back down for picket duty on Thursday and Friday. Did I mention the picketing is no fun?

What is so confusing is the fact that I really have no say in what happens at all,and just have to sit back and hope it works out. I can't even really go look for a new job just yet as it wouldn't be fair to a new employer that I start,and possibly leave quickly if the strike ends soon. I had readied for a possible strike by saving as much money as I could,and I could probably go a few months if need be. I can pick up some side work and will be doing that soon,but I am wondering do I look for a new career/job,or hang tight,and see what happens with the strike? It seems the strikes always end,and we go back to work,but to me this one feels different,and maybe that is just due to the current political,and economical environment,and my current life being a father of two,and sole bread winner in the family.

I understand both sides of the fight in this strike,but can't really see a way to fix it,and even if I did have an answer there isn't anything I can do about it. Very frustrating!!!! I just want to go back to work,but I won't cross the line to do it no matter what!!!

I know some of you are thinking booo-hooo just get your lazy ass back to work,but it is more complicated than that. I know unions are not popular around here,and truth be told I am not really sure what to think of my position as a union member at this point,but I can say I am proud to be a union member,and a hard working middle class person. My wife and I don't live luxuriously in my opinion. She drives a 5 year old mini-van that we bought used and almost have paid off,and I drive a 11 year old Dodge van as a daily driver. Yes I have a fleet of old school Japanese cars and trucks,but to be honest with you I have less than $7k invest in all three. Some people I know pay that much a year in car payments for one car.We don't have a crazy house,but it is nice,and we don't buy the best of everything. Our kids aren't spoiled with the best bikes,and gadgets,but they don't seem to want for much aside from cell phones which I won't be buying for a 9 year old and or a 5 year old(where do they get this notion they need a cellphone,when I don't even have one?). We don't take luxurious vacations as our one week I take in the summer is camping in our old pop-up camper. We don't go to the spa,we don't smoke,drink,or do drugs,and I sure do see myself as the typical union thug. I like to spend my free time with my family,and messing with my car or playing hockey. Oh yeah and I like my job! I wonder when I will get back? For a communications company we sure don't seem like we communicate very well!!

Anything you guys can add as advice or just tell me to berkeley off is fine as well.

Chris

Frustrated Telephone Worker/Husband/Dad/Wankel lover

My dad worked for the phone company for the last 33 years. He never wanted to strike when there was one. He just wanted to work and bring home the money.

Strikes suck for the people who don't really want to be involved, but you unfortunately have to be involved, because you'll be the bad guy if you don't. Not crossing that line is a hard thing to do.

Sorry for your troubles... but, it does go with being part of the bargaining unit. MA is a "Right to Work" state. You don't have to belong to it.

I feel for you. As an IA member, I can't and won't cross a picket line. Yes, in this political climate, unions have been made out to be bad guys.. and some of them probably are.. but the majority are just made up of hard working honest people like yourself.

Sadly, in this economic climate, striking is considered bad.. even if it is just to keep the status quo. We went through that last month when my fellow union members ratified a contract that had us taking a 28% pay CUT rather than fighting for keeping the standard cantract or even just a small cut.

It will be over soon. They can't keep the grid up and running like that without your help.. just hang in there and remember you can still come home to a wife, kids, and us here at GRM

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Sorry for your troubles... but, it does go with being part of the bargaining unit. MA is a "Right to Work" state. You don't have to belong to it.

This is true,but I know of two people that are non management employees that are not members of the union. I wouldn't want to take one minute of the abuse these people take on a daily basis. I guess the still reap the same pay,and benefits us union members get though,so I am not sure why they don't just become members. I could just leave the company as well which is probably more to the point you were making,but like I said I love my job.

-C

Mazdax605 wrote: This is true,but I know of two people that are non management employees that are not members of the union. I wouldn't want to take one minute of the abuse these people take on a daily basis. I guess the still reap the same pay,and benefits us union members get though,so I am not sure why they don't just become members.

They get the same pay and benefits, but don't have to pay union dues. Are those 2 folks still working or are they out on the picket lines with you?

if they are not union members.. the company would fire them on the spot for picketing

T.J. wrote:

Mazdax605 wrote: This is true,but I know of two people that are non management employees that are not members of the union. I wouldn't want to take one minute of the abuse these people take on a daily basis. I guess the still reap the same pay,and benefits us union members get though,so I am not sure why they don't just become members.

They get the same pay and benefits, but don't have to pay union dues. Are those 2 folks still working or are they out on the picket lines with you?

I am not sure to be honest with you they work in a different area than I do.

If the union you pay for is not representing you as you see it, I guess you're only recourse is to leave the union if it is plausible from a financial and workplace-harmony perspective. It's either that or beg and plead with the higher up union members to end the strike so you can get back to work. Members of your current union could band together (I can't believe I am saying this and not joking) and unionize within the union and approach the union staff as a unified front. This is only valid, of course, if the strike is universally unpopular.

Good luck - interesting to hear a story from the inside.

The large aerospace company I work with had people who voted down a contract simply because they always do. They expect to go on strike every time. The budget for it and usually buy airline tickets to distant destinations. A few of them ran into trouble when they were still overseas and trying to get back when the contract finally got ratified.

I moonlighted as a landscaper and a bus mechanic for my 45 days of strike. Good luck.

Johnboyjjb wrote: A few of them ran into trouble when they were still overseas and trying to get back when the contract finally got ratified.

Good for them. The Idea for a strike is to show solidarity, not run off to some exotic location for a vacation.

Want to come install my FIOS that was scheduled for last Tuesday?

My Dad was a foreman for USSteel, Ohio Works, in Youngstown. As management, he was locked in for the duration of the strikes. As I remember it, they spent the majority of their time playing cards and doing minimal maintenance work. Several strikes lasted quite a while, so it got a bit strange around the house. I have been a Teamster, but have never been on a strike.

do you get paid for picketing? could you make more money doing day-labor, finding work along with the boat people in your town by hanging out in the parking lot of your local Sherwin-Williams store?

Mazdax605 wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Sorry for your troubles... but, it does go with being part of the bargaining unit. MA is a "Right to Work" state. You don't have to belong to it.

This is true,but I know of two people that are non management employees that are not members of the union. I wouldn't want to take one minute of the abuse these people take on a daily basis.

And yet, some people wonder why unions aren't that popular around here...

While I sympathize with being poor and all, I can't really comment further on being a loyal unionista. I'd find temp work as fast as possible and not dwell on the rest.

mazdax605, hang in there and do what you need to do to take care of you and your family. I am a bit jealous that you actually enjoy your work and want to be there. That is good. Hopefully, the company doesn't lose you and other good employees over this.

I once worked for a private/non-unionized phone company. When the phone company strikes, as in pretty much every other industry, no one really seems to win....no matter how it ends up.

I passed a site in Pa. this past week where there were strikers picketting....it looked pretty sad, and I have the feeling that since it doesn't seem to hurt a large segment of the population, or customers, this strike will drag on for awhile.

The defense contractors around here call their annual strike a second paid vacation. They never even entertain the concept that there's no reason to strike or that any offer will be a good offer, they have already decided to reject any and all offers.

They plan their long trips during this period of time.

So tell me, why would anyone not like the Unions?

In reply to carguy123:

Mazdax605 wrote: So please just offer advice or help if you can,and leave your opinions of unions,and union workers to yourself.

I just want to offer up the opinion of someone that this "work stoppage" is affecting at work. I do business DSL tech for the company in question here. It's funny how peeved people get when their internet is down! Imagine telling them that it's going to be at least another 4 days before anything can be done. I've talked to an accountant that called tech support for help installing a homerun, and one that didn't know what an old DMARC looked like.

Anyway, from what I understand, it seems like a strike might be the best course of action. I wish I knew more about what's going on, but they keep us frontline agents in the dark as much as possible.

carguy123 wrote: The defense contractors around here call their annual strike a second paid vacation. They never even entertain the concept that there's no reason to strike or that any offer will be a good offer, they have already decided to reject any and all offers. They plan their long trips during this period of time. So tell me, why would anyone not like the Unions?

exactly.. Most unions are made up of hard working people who just want a decent job and a matching paycheck. You NEVER hear about these people. The Unions you hear about are the ones that abuse the system.

T.J. wrote: In reply to carguy123:

Mazdax605 wrote: So please just offer advice or help if you can,and leave your opinions of unions,and union workers to yourself.

Let's repost for sanity's sake.

Sorry you're caught in the middle here. My dad was a shop steward for a rather large manufacturer. He is retired but was disillusioned with Unions from that experience.

I'm with the other guys in that I'd suggest moonlighting a bit. Maybe doing some odd jobs for retirees with more money than electrical know-how? You could also check into doing some other jobs that require a high degree of responsibility but lack much formal training. Maybe painting? Some light mechanical work on neighbors and friends cars. This will mean you have to leave the picket line but I'm sure your fellow members would understand. Maybe it's time to pre-check out what your retirement job may be?

davidjs wrote: Want to come install my FIOS that was scheduled for last Tuesday?

Wish I could,but not only do I not know a thing about FiOS I couldn't cross the line even if I did know what I was doing. From what I have seen you are in for a long wait,and even when someone comes out there they won't be the seasoned tech that does these sort of installs all the time. The replacement workers so far have not been capable of doing the same work as the regular workers from what I have seen,but with time comes experience so if this carries on longer they will get better i bet. Lets hope it doesn't get to that point.

To answer another question. No I don't get paid to picket,and our union doesn't have a strike fund like the CWA. They only get $300 a week with that strike fund from what I hear. Not gonna pay a lot of bills on that amount of money.

Mazdax605 wrote: To answer another question. No I don't get paid to picket,and our union doesn't have a strike fund like the CWA. They only get $300 a week with that strike fund from what I hear. Not gonna pay a lot of bills on that amount of money.

sounds like you need to find a homeless guy, give him $5 and a picket sign, with the promise of another $10 at the end of the day. Oh, and tell him you'll be watching him by satellite. then, go find that $100/day cash labor job and get paid.

srsly, what's the punishment for not picketing?