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Title: Off to Federal court.......... Post by jimbo on May 29th, 2004, 11:42am Hey everyone! Sorry I havent been around much and for that I apologize. Hopefully all of you are well and PF. I do lurk from time to time ;;D Way to many people dying around me over the last year. 11 mo. ago we lost a dear friend to breast cancer and 1 mo. ago I lost one of my best friends (hunting and fishing buddy) to cardio myopathy. The doctors said his passing was quick so for that I am thankful. He was also my accountant. Now, yesterday as I'm on the phone in my office, a sheriff walks in and serves me with papers. It seems I'm being sued by Electrical workers union. (Fuckers!) They claim that I have been late sometimes in making my monthly benefit payments to them and therefore I owe them $4,450 dollars in late fees. Example: payments are due on the 10th of the month and if they receive it on the 11th WHAM! you owe us another $450 dollars! It doesn't even matter if it's postmarked on the 9th your fucked! I said to them if your union electricians who hired us to do the communications work would ever pay me on time, I could pay you on time. Back in 2000 when I was forced to have my employees join the union (I'll explain later) they gave me the usual pro union song and dance and how great it will be. Just think of all of the extra work you will get by being union they said. Plus we will collect money from you every month so we can train your people in the latest developements and standards in the telecommunications industry. I wouldn't hesitate to say that I have contributed 7-8 grand to that fund over the years and the fuckers have never offered one training class to my employees! NOT ONE! These fuckers are extortionists with a license. I'm a small firm and trying to get bigger, but since joining the union my business has been going down ever since and I'm not sure how much longer I can hang on. With the rates that I have to charge because of all of the bullshit roll-ups that i have to pay, I can't be competitive anymore and usually get my ass kicked bidding on jobs. Sorry for venting, but everything I own is hanging on the line here. Jimbo >:( |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by jonny on May 29th, 2004, 11:53am Dont you dare be sorry, Bro.........we are family here. There is no law that says you have to be union, my company is not and I do damn well. On union jobs i just hire a union dude and that is that, just as long as a union dude is getting some the union shuts the fuck up.....in Boston anyways Good luck to you my friend ....................................jonny |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by Cerberus on May 29th, 2004, 11:53am Dude that really sucks...Hope things work out to your benefit. I would have to ask though, if there is any contract and if so if that contract outline in any detail the degree of benefits you are "supposed" to be eligible for by entering the same. In other words did this union promise in contract to offer supplemental training or education that your firm has not recieved? If so it might be brought up that this contract was breeched and payment by your firm may be considdered non-applicable in lieu of the fact that the promises made to you were not upheld. If nothing else launch a campaign to expose the union publicly on the platform that they make promises they dont honor. Best of luck Jim Ramon |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by Luke63 on May 29th, 2004, 1:34pm Good luck to ya man. Luke |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by jimbo on May 29th, 2004, 2:11pm jonny and Ramon, Thanks! jonny, back before my employees had to join the union, things were pretty good. I won lots of jobs which meant lots of work and OT . Employees were well paid and happy, medically insured (Good coverage) and had a retirement plan. Now, can't win many jobs so the guys get laid-off and no OT. Employees are well paid but unhappy that they have to pay dues every month. medically insured (Shitty coverage costing me 4 times as much per month) and an average retirement plan. The union says I have to pay $5.80 per hour for health care for every employee on the payroll! Should it really cost a company $928 dollars a month to insure a 23 yr. old single healthy person? Even if the employee doesn't want the coverage, I still have to pay it! The union says it's for the betterment of everyone in the union, and besides they say "were self insured". HELLO! dumb fucks, maybe it's time you bought a plan like everyone else! The topper is, these fucks don't even provide health insurance after someone retires! Where the fuck is all the money going? To play golf and pay for the TV commercials paid for by the union! I think the employee should have the right to waive the insurance if it isn't needed and get more money on the check if he/she so desires. None of this was an issue until some real genius' started combining the electrical/data work into the same section of the job specifications. Most of them say the data portion will be installed under their contract because the engineers only want to deal with one contractor instead of two. These idiots don't even realize that the EC is stepping on my bid for an additional 15 to 20%! Imagine making 15 to 20 % without doing a fucking thing! I could go on and on. Seeya, anti-union Jimbo P.S. Ramon, good point, I'll check it out |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by Cerberus on May 29th, 2004, 2:28pm Just trying to help ya cover all bases.. I am at a loss though as to how you ended up "forced" to join? Please excuse my lack of knowledge. I can offer this....Unions HATE bad publicity, it would be in your best interest methinks to show the disparity of your business from before joining the union and after....nobody wants to hear how joining a union lost them $$$$ and the Union doesnt want it to get out either....could end up being food for negotiation of some sort....but I am not a lawyer and its just a thought. Ramon |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by cootie on May 29th, 2004, 3:24pm Brad's shop isn't union either. ALOT of big union company's are closeing up around these parts..........rumor has it they are gon to close and let everyone go and SET a while but mostly concentrate on company's they own else where a while. Then rehire is a few years and start up the old plants without union workers. Some sort of plan to get rid of them I guess and have heard alot of company's are tryin to do the same and get rid of the union. Good luck to ya jimbo......don't let em see ya sweat Pam |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by ClusterChuck on May 29th, 2004, 5:18pm Jimbo, you are in a shitty position. They fucked you, and I bet you didn't even get a kiss from them! As an owner, you cannot throw out the union, but your EMPLOYEES can VOTE them out! Point out how the union has hurt you and mostly them, the employees. Try to get them to point out where the union has helped them. Then point out all the times the union has hurt them. Just another case of the unions screwing Americans! Chuck |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by Charlie on May 29th, 2004, 10:16pm Sorry about your union troubles. Bastards need to stop and think about what why they exist. When they don't play by the rules, it gets pretty nasty. Hope things level out a bit. Jimbo. Charlie |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by Carl_D on May 30th, 2004, 1:25am Can you say EXTORTION? Man, that just sucks Jimbo. Alot of unions are just modern day mob bullies, if you ask me. Fight those greedy fuckers, and I hope you win! Peace, Carl D |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by Turts on May 30th, 2004, 5:11am Sorry to hear of you bad run. I will stay out of the political crap as I dont understand US law ( im sure many of you are the same haha) Turts Wishing you the best with your battles. |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by thomas on May 30th, 2004, 11:38am Organized labor = Organized crime. No shit, it's the truth. |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by Donna H. on May 30th, 2004, 11:54am I'm seriously wondering about the $450.00 due the day after due date. We have laws as to the % allowed to be imposed within certain timeframes. I've never heard of manditory insurance, either. Do you have a good labor attoryey? |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by juvy on May 31st, 2004, 5:40am Jimbo, sounds like a load of crap to me. I hope to hell you win. If not get names and addresses and we'll go on a asskickin' spree. let us know how things go. Cheers, Juvy |
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Title: Re: Off to Federal court.......... Post by firebrix on May 31st, 2004, 6:50pm Good Luck jimbo! Fight it with all you have! Sad news about your friends........ firebrix |
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