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UPDATE: New Jersey utility denies turning away nonunion electric crew volunteers from

Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Why are you assuming that they NEED the outside help to get what needs to be done in a timely fashion. Like I said, there are PLENTY of locals who are capable who are unemployed. Even if they aren't union workers, the local residents who ARE electricians, etc., should be offered the opportunity FIRST before bringing in out-of-staters who will not contribute much to the local economy.

Then the news reports of power lines down is false?

And put the lines up with what? Ladders tied together leaned up against pickup trucks? This isn't replacing a blown breaker in a house. THis is downed powerlines and powerline poles. It takes specialized trucks - and with the media reporting 100,000 lines down, that's a lot of trucks. Bucket lift trucks and pole lift trucks. Without those, there could be 1,000,000 unemployed local electricians and it would do no good to hire them. And once done, those extra trucks aren't going to be needed anymore.

In short, it can't be done without an influx of outside heavy equipment - and NO company is going to turn over their equipment to others without their employees there to insure it used correctly and returned. Those are not cheap trucks. When they turned away the volunteers, they also turned away their heavy equipment and specialized trucks needed to get the job done.

Finally, volunteers are FREE. So the lines would go back up MUCH FASTER and FOR FREE. To hire temporary workers and pay for trucks needed all of a few weeks is just taking money from taxpayers just to take it and give it to union workers - when otherwise no tax money used. Why not just have the city and state give unemployed people money? That's be more efficient than have people without electricity for weeks waiting for under equiped union workers getting around to their neighborhood.

And, of course, then after that PURE WASTE SPENDING FOR THE UNION'S SAKE, the state and cities are going to ask for Federal assistance - meaning they want ME to pay for THEIR union-job protection even in life-death crisis situations.

Should they also turn down volunteer out-of-state ambulances and doctors? Of course, right? Without electricity, people die. But waiting for locals to get around to it for weeks is more important?

If it all is to "remain local," then no one who isn't local shouldn't give a damn either. If their own decisions causes them to suffer, then they suffer at their own choice.
 
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Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Why are you assuming that they NEED the outside help to get what needs to be done in a timely fashion. Like I said, there are PLENTY of locals who are capable who are unemployed. Even if they aren't union workers, the local residents who ARE electricians, etc., should be offered the opportunity FIRST before bringing in out-of-staters who will not contribute much to the local economy.

The people from Alabama simply came there to volunteer to help.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

I understand the definition, and while they don't meet the technical definition, if they displaced the unions they're not much better.

Millions of people without power is, a ok.
As long as non technical scabs aren't working in Jersey.

Ever hear the term, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth?"
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

And there you have it. It's all about politics.

The Daily Caller and their overlords want to sink Unions altogether, so they're using the disaster to bring in the scabs. What would you say if a bunch of illegal Mexicans showed up to do work? They're only there to help, right?

We have union workers turning away volunteers to help desperate people. Obama and those who support him have to be removed from power. This is sick.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Millions of people without power is, a ok.
As long as non technical scabs aren't working in Jersey.

Ever hear the term, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth?"

I'm not defending the actions of these towns, but don't you think that breaking the Union's back would please the Daily Caller?

The problem is, there are regulations and laws. For better or worse, a natural disaster doesn't change them. Christie ought to do whatever waivers he needs to do, but until he does there's only so much that can happen.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Then the news reports of power lines down is false?

And put the lines up with what? Ladders tied together leaned up against pickup trucks? This isn't replacing a blown breaker in a house. THis is downed powerlines and powerline poles. It takes specialized trucks - and with the media reporting 100,000 lines down, that's a lot of trucks. Bucket lift trucks and pole lift trucks. Without those, there could be 1,000,000 unemployed local electricians and it would do no good to hire them. And once done, those extra trucks aren't going to be needed anymore.

In short, it can't be done without an influx of outside heavy equipment - and NO company is going to turn over their equipment to others without their employees there to insure it used correctly and returned. Those are not cheap trucks. When they turned away the volunteers, they also turned away their heavy equipment and specialized trucks needed to get the job done.

Finally, volunteers are FREE. So the lines would go back up MUCH FASTER and FOR FREE. To hire temporary workers and pay for trucks needed all of a few weeks is just taking money from taxpayers just to take it and give it to union workers - when otherwise no tax money used. Why not just have the city and state give unemployed people money? That's be more efficient than have people without electricity for weeks waiting for under equiped union workers getting around to their neighborhood.

And, of course, then the state and cities are going to ask for Federal assistance - meaning they want ME to pay for THEIR union-job protection even in life-death crisis situations.

If it all is to "remain local," then no one who isn't local shouldn't give a damn either. If their own decisions causes them to suffer, then they suffer at their own choice.

Every city has bucket trucks. :roll: You talk about the union workers as if they aren't American citizens.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

I'm not defending the actions of these towns, but don't you think that breaking the Union's back would please the Daily Caller?

The problem is, there are regulations and laws. For better or worse, a natural disaster doesn't change them. Christie ought to do whatever waivers he needs to do, but until he does there's only so much that can happen.

The problem is the union. This is sick.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

For real?
These guys are offering to help assist the local people, for free.

Good lord, no good deed goes unpunished I suppose.


People in NJ are on their knees being unemployed for YEARS...many have lost their homes...Gov Crispy Chreme despite all his claims of Grandeur has done NOTHING New Jersey is not only not any better off but it may be even worse off then when he took over and screwed the working class.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Every city has bucket trucks. :roll: You talk about the union workers as if they aren't American citizens.


According to the anti-Unionistas, they're not.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Every city has bucket trucks. :roll: You talk about the union workers as if they aren't American citizens.

They're extortionists and they are not acting like Americans. Anyone who supports the union in this is as sick as they are.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

The people from Alabama simply came there to volunteer to help.

If they turned away volunteers, I can only imagine it is because there are still unemployed workers who SHOULD get first dibs on any jobs. Giving the work to local employees helps boost the local economy.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

According to the anti-Unionistas, they're not.

What is more important, citizens in an emergency or union rules?
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

If they turned away volunteers, I can only imagine it is because there are still unemployed workers who SHOULD get first dibs on any jobs. Giving the work to local employees helps boost the local economy.

They are volunteers.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

They're extortionists and they are not acting like Americans. Anyone who supports the union in this is as sick as they are.

I'm sure you would feel differently if you needed work. You know the union workers have been effected by our crappy economy as well, and they ARE American citizens, and you denigrating people who just want jobs like you do is what is sick.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

What is more important, citizens in an emergency or union rules?

Where's your hero Christie handing out waivers to the labor laws of NJ? They have to follow the law.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

They are volunteers.

Yes, but they are NOT putting much money back into the local economy. If you put the local people to work in your own city, your city benefits as a result. That is only common sense.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

I'm sure you would feel differently if you needed work. You know the union workers have been effected by our crappy economy as well, and they ARE American citizens, and you denigrating people who just want jobs like you do is what is sick.

This is not about a job. This is about helping people in a disaster. I'm not denigrating anything other than union rules to prevent people from receiving help in a disaster. That is sick.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Yes, but they are NOT putting much money back into the local economy. If you put the local people to work in your own city, your city benefits as a result. That is only common sense.

Putting money into the economy is not the job here. Helping people in a disaster is what has to be done. You're not getting it. People need food, water, shelter, clothing, and power. Wake up.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

This is not about a job. This is about helping people in a disaster. I'm not denigrating anything other than union rules to prevent people from receiving help in a disaster. That is sick.

There is nothing wrong with employing the local people FIRST. That is what the problem is, I believe. The local union workers who ARE capable want to be put to work, and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

There is nothing wrong with employing the local people FIRST. That is what the problem is, I believe. The local union workers who ARE capable want to be put to work, and there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.

This has nothing to do with employing people. Do you understand?
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

This has nothing to do with employing people. Do you understand?

It most certainly does and should. Think about if you were a local who has been out of work for maybe several years and are hurting for a job and money, then YOU get passed over for an out-of-state volunteer. That's effing sucky as hell!!! THAT is the state trying to get away with a freebie is all at the expense of it's local citizens. THAT is sick.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Every city has bucket trucks. :roll: You talk about the union workers as if they aren't American citizens.

Not in the slightest.

And it doesn't matter what "every city" has concerning bucket trucks and pole lifting trucks in your view because outsiders aren't to be allowed in. It only matters how many the affected city has on hand. Since those cities have all they need, obviously we'll be hearing tomorrow that all power has been restored.

What we need to see, of course, is anyone with any link demonstrating the affected cities are refusing to hire temporary local unemployed electrical linemen.

BTW, do you have any idea how long it takes for a Union to approve someone as even just an electrical journeyman? Try SIX YEARS of formal education and apprentising. They'd go berserk if the city put new hires out reinstalling lines. There isn't a chance in hell the union would allow a new hire to go to work putting up lines right away unless already completely thru the union "skills filter" as they call it.

Why do I feel if it was your house with no electricity and our car out of gas, that if a crew putting up lines for your block were sent away because the truck said "Alabama" on the side - and you told your new day is set for November 23rd for power restoration would would say, "I was hoping this would happen because I'd rather wait for someone who lives in my neighborhood to fix it."

I am very pragmatic, not dogmatic, about life. It was only recently I have had the luxury of being dogmatic about life.

I guess we also have different sympathies. Mine goes to the family without electricity.
But the people should be able to wait six years.
 
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Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

It most certainly does and should. Think about if you were a local who has been out of work for maybe several years and are hurting for a job and money, then YOU get passed over for an out-of-state volunteer. That's effing sucky as hell!!! THAT is the state trying to get away with a freebie is all at the expense of it's local citizens. THAT is sick.

You're stupid.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Not in the slightest.

And it doesn't matter what "every city" has concerning bucket trucks and pole lifting trucks in your view because outsiders aren't to be allowed in. It only matters how many the affected city has on hand. Since those cities have all they need, obviously we'll be hearing tomorrow that all power has been restored.

What we need to see, of course, is anyone with any link demonstrating the affected cities are refusing to hire temporary local unemployed electrical linemen.

It's completely NORMAL to be out of power for several days after a storm. After Irene, I was out of power for 3 days. The problem is companies like National Grid being unprepared and taking on areas that are MUCH too large for them to handle IMO, but you guys would rather blame the poor working guys. So carry on with your trashing of the local unemployed workers who not only suffered a disaster but can also be passed over for a job in favor of free work from an out-of-stater who won't make a difference in the local economy.
 
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