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

Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

VanceMack said:
Perhaps because those other workers were union workers. And how does that change the fact that you are now looking for ways to defend it? The articles state VOLUNTEERS are working throughout the east coast because those states and towns care more about the people huddling in a corner of their house than some idiotic union thug policy.
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Well perhaps, but I didn't notice that mentioned in the articles. It is not an idiotic union thug policy. It is a legitimate contractual obligation. Getting rid of "red tape" does not necessarily mean to ignore legitimate contracts.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Dickieboy said:
How so? That they asked for volunteers but only a 'certain' kind of volunteers...I'm sure the union popularity took a hit...at least from those who are without power...;)
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So what would be wrong with getting union volunteers? They are still people who need work too. Do you know what is specified in the contract that the state signed in agreement with the union demands?
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Dickieboy said:
How so? That they asked for volunteers but only a 'certain' kind of volunteers...I'm sure the union popularity took a hit...at least from those who are without power...;)
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Why doesn't anyone get upset that the local workers get screwed while the state gets a freebie. Instead of paying local people who have probably been out of work for a while, they want to bring in out-of-state volunteers. That part makes me angry.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

ChrisL said:
Why doesn't anyone get upset that the local workers get screwed while the state gets a freebie. Instead of paying local people who have probably been out of work for a while, they want to bring in out-of-state volunteers. That part makes me angry.
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I understand both your point AND your anger. IF it were not a DISASTER I would agree FULLY with your position but considering folks are SUFFERING. I would be willing to concede union agreements ONLY until the majority of the utilities were restored. This is typical of tornado, earthquake, flooding and hurricane events. There will be PLENTY of electrical work to perform AFTER the utility infrastructure is repaired AND the volunteers return home. Do you REALLY think linemen from ALABAMA want to stay in NJ ANY longer than they have to?
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Dickieboy said:
I understand both your point AND your anger. IF it were not a DISASTER I would agree FULLY with your position but considering folks are SUFFERING. I would be willing to concede union agreements ONLY until the majority of the utilities were restored. This is typical of tornado, earthquake, flooding and hurricane events. There will be PLENTY of electrical work to perform AFTER the utility infrastructure is repaired AND the volunteers return home. Do you REALLY think linemen from ALABAMA want to stay in NJ ANY longer than they have to?
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Well I just perused the article again, and it does not give a reason as to why these volunteers were turned away. The OP article is very sketchy and without much detail.

Also, if this is the case, then your problem lies with the state. The unions cannot just do whatever they want and control the entire operation. If the state is okay with volunteers coming in, then that will be what happens.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

ChrisL said:
Why doesn't anyone get upset that the local workers get screwed while the state gets a freebie. Instead of paying local people who have probably been out of work for a while, they want to bring in out-of-state volunteers. That part makes me angry.
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Why? Why?
First of all it is to restore needed services.
That takes precedent. Not some Union contract.

Secondly, show that someone else is getting screwed other than those going without services because of some idiotic Union asininity.
Unless there are actually people getting screwed, there is no reason to even suggest such.
Nor could you show that it should take precedent over the restoring of services.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Excon said:
Why? Why?
First of all it is to restore needed services.
That takes precedent. Not some Union contract.

Secondly, show that someone else is getting screwed other than those going without services because of some idiotic Union asininity.
Unless there are actually people getting screwed, there is no reason to even suggest such.
Nor could you show that it should take precedent over the restoring of services.
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There is nothing in the OP article to suggest that job is not already being taken of. This is not the fault of the unions but the fault of the power companies and the states for signing contracts in which they cannot keep up their ends of the bargains.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

You know, I was thinking. These power companies take over MUCH too large of an area. When everything is calm, sure they can handle the workload, but if there is any kind of emergency situation, they are NOT capable of taking care of the problems. Where is someone to say to them that we think this is too large of a region for you to handle in an emergency without causing all kinds of other problems.

Another thing to think about is that my electric company, National Grid, is NOT an American-owned company, and you bet your ass I want our United States employees unions to protect those workers rights, their paychecks, their benefits, etc. I believe in looking out for my fellow American workers over the HUGE corporations.

I can agree that sometimes union demands go too far, but that does not negate the necessity for workers' protections against huge rich corporations that have multiple top-of-the-line lawyers and tons of money at their disposal. The union also protects these workers from litigation which most of them could not possibly afford. When I talk of unions, I am NOT talking about public sector unions either.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

ChrisL said:
There is nothing in the OP article to suggest that job is not already being taken of.
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The artificial made it clear they were turned away because they were not union.


ChrisL said:
This is not the fault of the unions but the fault of the power companies and the states for signing contracts in which they cannot keep up their ends of the bargains.
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This specific action is the fault of the Union. People needed their services restored and the Union said '**** them, they can wait' because they wanted to be petty about contract language in a time of need.
Yeah, it is the Unions fault for this specific action.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Excon said:
The artificial made it clear they were turned away because they were not union.
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Yes, but it doesn't state that the work isn't already being taken care of. This article is clearly neglectful of details and is completely one-sided on the issue.

This specific action is the fault of the Union. People needed their services restored and the Union said '**** them, they can wait' because they wanted to be petty about contract language in a time of need. Yeah, it is the Unions fault for this specific action.
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It would be the power companies. They are the ones who sign the contracts with the states. The unions make deals with the companies, then the companies make deals with the states they service.
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Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

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

Good lord, no good deed goes unpunished I suppose.
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Have we determined for certain that it isn't just some insurance/liability issue?

Or local licensing/regulation?

Are the utilities in question publicly owned ot private? Do the volunteers work for private or public utilities.

Their could be a lot of legal/bureaucratic explanations other than "evil unions".

Or the locals may just be protecting their overtime.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

ChrisL said:
Yes, but it doesn't state that the work isn't already being taken care of. This article is clearly neglectful of details and is completely one-sided on the issue.



It would be the power companies. They are the ones who sign the contracts with the states. The unions make deals with the companies, then the companies make deals with the states they service.
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Your posts are lies.
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Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

What if...? said:
Have we determined for certain that it isn't just some insurance/liability issue?

Or local licensing/regulation?

Are the utilities in question publicly owned ot private? Do the volunteers work for private or public utilities.

Their could be a lot of legal/bureaucratic explanations other than "evil unions".

Or the locals may just be protecting their overtime.
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People come first. This is just plain wrong.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

The union lackies on this thread and the naive don't want to admit one very simple fact. The volunteers are nonunion and that is the only reason they are being turned back. This is sick.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

ChrisL said:
Well I just perused the article again, and it does not give a reason as to why these volunteers were turned away. The OP article is very sketchy and without much detail.
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The general manager of Decatur Utilities, Ray Hardin told Fox Business they were presented documents from the International Brotherhood of Electric Workers at a staging area in Virginia. The documents stated they had to affiliate with a union to work, which the crews could not agree to.
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Decatur Utilities crews home after issues with union - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL


Also, if this is the case, then your problem lies with the state. The unions cannot just do whatever they want and control the entire operation. If the state is okay with volunteers coming in, then that will be what happens.
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No, not the state. Utilities are typically cooperatives and are not run by the state. Jersey Light and Power is a subsidary of First energy who:

FirstEnergy includes one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems and a diverse generating fleet with a total capacity of more than 20,000 megawatts.
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https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/fecorp/about.html

Note the 'investor-owned'...this is not a state government issue...
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Everyone got all worked up over a rumor that is completely false.

Huntsville, Joe Wheeler utilities deny claims of union discrimination during Sandy response (update) | al.com

I've been shuttling gasoline and personal goods to a host of friends in Manahakin and Toms River and Brick and have seen plenty of RTW state utility crews working.

If Seaside Heights refused outside help it wasn't a "union thing" it was because they are their "own thing", they have held out JPL (Jersey Power and Light) crews also . . .
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Dickieboy said:
Decatur Utilities crews home after issues with union - WAFF-TV: News, Weather and Sports for Huntsville, AL




No, not the state. Utilities are typically cooperatives and are not run by the state. Jersey Light and Power is a subsidary of First energy who:


https://www.firstenergycorp.com/content/fecorp/about.html

Note the 'investor-owned'...this is not a state government issue...
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You are not getting what I am saying. The unions do NOT directly deal with the state (unless they are a public sector union). Private sector unions make deals with the power companies that employ them. The power companies and the states come up with contracts between themselves. I am not saying the power companies are run by the state. I am saying that they have contracts with the state which are separate from their contracts with their union employees.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

Dusty Rhodes said:
People come first. This is just plain wrong.
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All I'm saying is don't be surprised if it turns out to be something OTHER than "evul unions" is the reason.

It could just be communication issues. Radios and whatnot.

Power work requires it. Personal generators are a MAJOR issue for power workers.

Its not just grabbing a shovel and helping out.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

ChrisL said:
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.
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It IS a specialized field, Chris.

There may NOT be enough qualified people in NJ at this point.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

What if...? said:
It IS a specialized field, Chris.

There may NOT be enough qualified people in NJ at this point.
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There may not be, but the article never states that. It is an article that is sorely lacking for important details.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

PirateMk1 said:
[/QUOTE=ChrisL;1061095068]What in the hell does this have to do with Obama? This is about out-of-state workers coming in to take jobs from locals.

Its not just about jobs, its about capacity, equipment and availability. The unemployed electrical workers most will not have the equipment nesseary to do line work ei Heavy equipment like line trucks ect.. The line trucks from out of state also have crews with them and the crews have been together. Remember that hiring people takes time, time to hire, time to orientate, time to evaluate, time to get equiped, and be mated with heavy equipment and time to get to the downed lines. These people from out of state already have done almost all of that. There will be plenty of work and time after to hire locals, but the power lines have to be back on line as quick as possible so the rest of the community can start conducting business again. Thats why I find the unions turning the volunteers away assine.[/
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It is now officially about UNION BUSTING SCAB PRESIDENT OBAMA!

The horror! He has WAIVED federal regulations that prohibit oil from non-union refineries to be delivered on non-union crews ships to be delivered to the East Coast!
That Union busting bastard! STEALING LOCAL UNION OIL, MERCHANT MARINE AND REFINERY WORKERS JOBS!!!! The people of the East Coast would GLADLY go without gasoline, diesel, heating oil and electrical generation however long it takes for that to be saved for LOCAL UNION WORKERS!

STOP the outside INTERFERENCE WITH JOB DESTROYING intrusions. LEAVE THE EAST COAST ALONE! Its all ONLY local issues. STOP giving money to the evil Red Cross. KEEP ALL non-residences away. They should put up BARRIERS to keep outsiders out!!!

Damn that anti-union, job destroying Obama! He's switched sides and now is the biggest union buster in the USA!~

Hasn't the time come to outlaw anyone being employed who doesn't have a union card like in some states?
 
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Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

I hope there is a logical reason for this and the reason they were turned back isn't because they were non-union. That would be adding more to what is already a disaster.
 
Re: Union Thuggary at it's Finest

ChrisL said:
There may not be, but the article never states that. It is an article that is sorely lacking for important details.
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The article states they are qualified workers who came to help with power outages.
 
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