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ABANDONED

I am tired.

Tired of the rummors, ,tired of the lies, the miss-information.

Tired of the horrible communication from our Union. Tired of the Company propaganda and the media.

I think our polticians have let us all down. A friend of many put it well. UTC owns them and controls them. They will come out to shake hands and make "eye candy" for all of us, but be quite when George David speaks. Its all lies.

You know whats true ? MY FAMILY.

They are sick of this. Bills are stacking up. I had to borrow money for food, and that sucks !

Now, people are crossing the line. Yes, I KNOW NAMES. So Rocco, cut the crap ! Stop acting like this is a company lie because it is not. People are going back to work.

Stop treating me like an idiot, and tell me what you are going to do for us. Don't give me party lines ! I am sick of this lack of communication.

Now we are talking about "hang in there !", and another rally. We don't need another rally. We need a plan ! and the current Union leadership doesn't have one !

So lets all put the heat on and get a re-vote.

I will tell you that I will be going back to work if I don't see anything change from our Union leaders. Borthers and Sisters, we were not prepared for this fight, and it shows.

I need the work and the money. My family depends on me. I need the medical coverage.

I am going back. I don't care about this stigma crap. I am going back because the path forward doesn't exist.

We have been let down by our own people.

The company is not backing down. They are making this a legal fight. It will be tied up in courts for years.

I have also heard that Federal Law, under wartime conditions (which we are), allows for replacement worker.

I don't really know if any of this is ture.

I share your feelings brother/sister (hard to tell !).

I too am angry at our Union leaders.

I too am thinking about breaking ranks. I feel bad about it, but I never intended this to go this far.

At the end of all this, I need my job back, and the company looks like they plan to give it away to someone else.

I will be damned if I let this happen.

Jack

The union is beating a dead horse with the health benefits cry. Most are paying more than we are even though I believe our original and replacement plans are both substandard. Since the company wants the same health plan across the board (salary and hourly), maybe our "crack" bargaining team should accept the health plan and concentrate on improving the pension. This might lead to the Fed. mediators and SIK negotiaters at least coming to the table.

To Anonymous(8:37 am):
I have been trying to put into words and perspective for my husband, an hourly employee, exactly how I am feeling, but I am filled with so much anxiety, frustration and dissapointment that I cannot even express to him what I am feeling. Believe me when I tell you that, I am not often at a loss for words, but this time I am. I need to thank you for writing my sentiments to a tee. You have put my feelings into words.

To add to your words, I do have to say that I don't care about hourly vs. salary, or about brotherhood and sisterhood, or about rallies. I don't care about rumors and lies. What I do care about is my daughter. My special needs, adorable, happy most of the time, needs to eat, needs to have healthcare, needs heat and clothing and water, daughter. My 3 year old daughter who sees Mommy crying and doesn't know why. A large portion of this stick together, we can't lose (yeah right), portion of this strike has fallen on the wives and children of the hourly workers. All I know is that I never want to have to say no to my daughter about a pack of stickers for a $1.99, because I told her that I might need it for milk. This whole thing has passed brotherhood, frankly, I don't care about your brothers or you sisters. What about your wives and children, also known as your,... family.

- Let's go back to work -

---- Revote ----

Sikorsky Holds Its Ground

Rejects Negotiations Until Union Moves On Health Plan

By JOHN M. MORAN
Courant Staff Writer

March 4 2006

Leaders of the striking Teamsters at Sikorsky Aircraft Corp. said they rented a meeting room at the Marriott hotel in Trumbull Friday in hopes of jump-starting stalled contract talks.

It didn't work.

A half-hour after Teamsters Local 1150 had hoped to start the meeting, the union's secretary-treasurer, Rocco Calo, sat waiting for company representatives to appear.

"I'm over here at the Trumbull Marriott - all by myself," Calo said. "Today's just another example of them not acting in good faith."

Sikorsky Aircraft, one of the world's leading manufacturers of commercial and military helicopters, had not planned to attend. The company said it faxed a letter to the union earlier in the day saying it would not be present.

Instead, the company asked the union to clarify its stance on a company health care plan that has been the main deal-breaker in reaching a contract agreement.

"You indicate your willingness to negotiate the issue of health care plan design," the company said in the letter. "If you have a proposal which incorporates our health care plan design, please forward it to the mediator so he can review it with us."

A federal mediator has been working with Sikorsky and the union since before the Feb. 20 strike in an effort to help both sides agree on a new contract.

Friday's events apparently did little to hasten an end to the 13-day-old walkout by about 3,600 Teamsters. Striking workers in Stratford, West Haven, Shelton and Bridgeport faced another frigid weekend of picketing.

Earlier this week, George David, chief executive of Sikorsky's parent company, United Technologies Corp., said the company would "stand firm" in its insistence that workers accept the kind of health care plan that is already in effect for Sikorsky's salaried workers and at other divisions in the corporation.

The union, meanwhile, criticized the corporation's "effort to cut health care benefits for its lower-paid workers" despite "soaring revenues and outrageous compensation" for David. UTC this week reported that David received a 2005 pay package worth $53.6 million, including salary, bonus, stock options and stock options cashed in.

"Why do the rich get richer while regular working Americans can't even hold on to their basic health care benefits?" Calo said in a statement. "The race to the bottom for the middle class must stop now."

UTC spokesman Paul Jackson said David's compensation is tied to the company's performance, which he said has been "extraordinary."

"Total returns to UTC shareowners - who include many UTC employees - have been three times greater than for the Standard & Poor's 500 over the past decade. Last year alone, UTC's total shareowner return was twice that of the S&P 500 and five times better than the Dow industrials," he said.

Also on Friday, an official of the state Department of Labor said no one appeared at a meeting that had been planned to investigate whether Sikorsky workers would be entitled to unemployment benefits while out of work.

George Wentworth, director of program policy for the labor department, said he hoped that another fact-finding session could be scheduled next week.

About 600 Sikorsky workers have applied for unemployment benefits, Wentworth said, but it remains to be seen whether they qualify. Under Connecticut law, workers involved in a labor dispute can generally collect unemployment if they have been locked out by their employer, but not if they are on strike.

The fact-finding hearing would be aimed at determining whether a strike or a lockout exists. Wentworth said a decision could come about a week later.

Meanwhile, an official of the National Labor Relations Board said the union has filed a case against Sikorsky, alleging that the company has discriminated against union workers and has failed to bargain in good faith.

The first allegation relates to a letter the company sent to workers and families regarding health insurance coverage. The second allegation involves the company's failure to issue so-called vacation checks to striking workers.

John Cotter, assistant regional director for the labor board's Hartford office, said such allegations are generally adjudicated within seven weeks, "though in a case of this nature obviously we give it a certain amount of priority, so we'd hope to resolve it sooner."
Copyright 2006, Hartford Courant

I have an idea. We accept the 80/20 but instead of going from 26.00 to 52.00 in 2007 we agree to increse from 26.00 to 41.00 1n 2007.That is for family coverage. And for what its worth people are going back Monday and it is much more then 4.

There will be no further negotiations on the health care package, it is what it is.

Also,there will be no unemployment benefits. It is not a lock out. Hourly employees returned to work on Friday, and more to come on Monday. Fasten your seat belts, we have encountered turbulence!

I'll try one more to to get a response to this. Why is'nt 12 MILLION dollars ( 2000 bonus + 1000 to 401k ) 1/2% giveback enough for the company to leave medical coverage status quo. I'm willing to pay the rate but not the 80/20. Now tell me 12million is not an equitable offer from the union.

How many brothers and sisters knew exactly what was being negotiated in the contract prior to the meeting to vote?
How many feel that they were kept in the dark, and were told that the union recommends you vote to "not accept" the contract?
And where is the unions communication now?
I feel all of you were served a great injustice by the union. Now the question is...What are you going to do about it? Wait for the union to "take care" of you again? (Thank you Sir, may I have another?)

There's your problem, ladies. "I'm willing to do this, but not that." You just don't get it.

Good thing you're protected by the two horses. You can bring one horse home to eat, and mail the other one to your mortgage company.

To the Hourly Spouse above at 9:13 am...

I so feel for you, I really do. My husband and I are in complete agreement with you in that this is only hurting a lot of people and to no good end. We also have a three year-old daughter, plus two older children who are both special needs children, so we can certainly feel your pain. Good luck to your family. Hang in there!

Again 12 Million dollars..possibly more.. could'nt possibly calculate the 1/2 % giveback. WHY NOT????

who gave our union permission to say they would give back our signing bonus or even .5% of our raise? 1,100 people voted to accept. sometimes you have to know when to cut your loses. some say 6 months. I say 2 weeks is enough for me. every one will come face to face with that decision, and do exactly what people did friday, so if not friday or monday it will happen. cut your loses before the phone starts ringing from the mortgage co.

With regard to anon's 12 mil comment, I think you are missing the point. For the company, the money issue is not only the cost savings of implementing the 80/20 plan for hourly employees, but also the cost savings of no longer having to pay the cost to administer TWO SEPARATE PLANS for hourly and salaried employees. That is the aspect that so many of you are missing... THEY NO LONGER WANT TO ADMINISTER TWO SEPARATE MEDICAL PLANS. That is why they are taking a stand on the healthcare issue. I hope you all can grasp this concept, because I am sure many of us are tired of trying to explain it to you.

YOU gave your union permission to "give back" the rat bonus when YOU agreed to be represented by this union. YOU are not INDIVIDUALS, YOU are UNION MEMBERS. And those who voted to reject the offer are the ones you have to thank. You will never get a signing bonus now. Never.

Response to Anon 9:32AM

UTC has 200,000+ employees. All of them except 3,600 Sikorsky Teamsters are on the same healt benefit plan. The Corp. is not going to budge. They will stand firm on this for as long as it takes. The dollars & cents of administating a seperate health plan for less than 2% of its' entire work force population is not economically feasible.

That's a big 10-4

Salaried spouse

So we can once and for all put this WHY ? on the 12 million to bed.

UTC negotiates benefits, payouts and rates across all UTC companies (carrier, otis, sikorsky, etc). Its called "economies of sclae". They group the total employees of all divisions together and go to the healthcare providers and negotiate rates.

Its a "one package fits all" approach. You can no longer have Sikorsky union folks on one package, carrier union folks on another, Pratt folks on another. It doesn't work like that anymore.

Why? because the whole industry is looking to consolidate its buying powers.

So, no matter how much money the Union at Sikorsky returned bakc to the company, the company would not accept because UTC has set the rules already. The Benefits package is the one thing that Sikorsky can't chnage or manipulate no matter what offer comes across. UTC, the parent company, has already commited Sikorsky to a plan. Sikorsky management DOES NOT have the authorization to change that.

I find it completely stupid that the Union is picketing in front of Sikorsky on an issue that is actually being controlled by UTC up in Hartford.

Wrong by-line, I didn't write anything about 12 mil.

Collect your strike pay today at the hall...and make sure you pay your union dues so Rocco can continue to receive his annual pay of $98,000!

now ain't that a kick in the pants!

You betcha!

Hey Rocco, are you listening?

Will someone please replace the logic chip in Roccos head. Thanks!

REVOTE REVOTE REVOTE REVOTE

HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO LET THEM (1150)MISINFORM YOU. START THINKING FOR YOURSELVES. DEMAND A REVOTE. I HOPE NOW YOU ALL REALIZE HOW MISLEAD YOU WERE. HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT 1150 SITE LATELY.OH YEAH THE CHECKS ARE HERE THATS THE LATEST UPDATE. (WOW IS THAT GREAT.) WHAT ABOUT THE 8:15AM MEETING WITH THE LABOR BOARD THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO TAKE PLACE 3/3/06. DO YOU REALIZE NO ONE FROM THE UNION SHOWED. (BUT THATS O.K.) STAND STRONG AND UNITED. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO STAND UP AND DEMAND A CHANGE. MAYBE YOU SHOULD START RALLYING FOR YOUR RIGHTS AND YOUR FAMALIES INSTEAD OF THESE CRACKPOTS. COME ON IF YOU HAVEN'T REALIZED BY NOW THAT YOU ARE BE USED FOR SOMEONES PERSONAL VENDETTA THAN ALL THE POWER TO YOU. I THINK YOU SHOULD ALL BE DEMANDING FOR A REVOTE A.S.A.P. YES SOMETIMES WE MAKE MISTAKES AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S TOO LATE TO CORRECT AND LEARN FROM THEM.

Don't tell me that all UTC companies are equal across the board. Pratt was offered a bigger signing bonus than we were. They were also offered a bigger raise for each year than the hourly Sikorsky union worker. Their pension is better than ours, but they want us to pay more and take less. It is NOT the same across the board period. GO AWAY SALARY EMPLOYESS..AGAIN THIS IS NOT YOUR FIGHT. We were never and never will be one family (Hourly-Salary) simply because most of you looked down as if we were second class citizens. You may get your pay raises upon merit of your job, but not us. I can't tell you the countless times the hourly employee in my dept. came up with solutions to problems, only to be rejected by management. Why? I believe because they were embarassed that a lowlife hourly could come up with a solution over the papered(degree) salaried emloyee. This is an absolute fact whether you agree to believe it or not. There was once something called the (suggestion) box where anyone could put in a suggestion and get paid if it was implemented. Why did this ever go away. Because the dumb hourly were overshadowing some of the engineers with their simple ideas to better the company.

Talk abbout a crackpot...! LOL

Bingo!

How sad it is to read these posts for the past few weeks. The hot heads, I will not listen to you but boy hear me.. .. .. I want this and nothing less .. .. .. I am wearing pictures of my family on my hat and look what you are taking away from them .. ..PLEASE take some responsibility for your own actions. Had you not made it a point to understand what the true issues were before you voted it is not too late to educate yourselves now. Where are your union people? There is hardly any updating on the union website. Did you hear your union communications man yesterday on Radio 600 basically saying that obtaining unemployment is not their responsibility. And you thought your Rocco was showing up on your behalf. Get it through your heads, they are a flash in the pan that has taken your money for how many years, had to do little or nothing for you, led you down a path of error and now what. You want a rabbit pulled from a hat. The only tricks that will happen here will be more room rentals and meaningless ecents that you can't even see for what they are. Take responsibility for yourselves and your families and cross the line of stupidity and provide for your families before that is no longer an option.

This union leadership is still operating the same way it has for the last 20 years. No dues accountability, no communication to the members. We, as members knew nothing about this contract right up until we had to vote. And there was no option given whether we could work under the old contract or even a choice to not strike. Once again, the members suffer.

Why dosen't the company dump that stupid ACE & kaizan program crap,talk about a waste of money. Egor ran the place better with a pad & pencil....

Rocco is that you? Oh, that's right, you're still at the Mariott waiting for something to happen.

Just doing a little math, follow along with me:

Average Hourly Pay at Sikorsky (published as) $65,000 per year.

Number of days worked per year (standard not including OT):
365 Days a year,
52 x 2 weekend days per year = 104 days not worked,
11 Annual holidays per year not worked,
2 Weeks vacation (minimum up until 8 years of employment) = 10 days not worked,

365 - (104 + 11 + 10) = 240 days worked a year.

Average daily pay for Sikorsky Hourly Workers:

$65,000 / 240 days worked = $270.83 per day worked.

First year 3.5% pay rise will make this:

$270.83 x 1.035 = $280.31 per day.

Union strike pay (as published):

$232 for 10 days of striking,
$232 / 10 = $23.20 per day for striking.

Lost wages offset by strike pay:
$280.31 - $23.20 = $257.11 lost pay per business day.

Number of business days strike has been going on = 10.

Total average lost wages per Hourly Sikorsky employee adjusted for strike pay:
$257.11 x 10 = $2,571.10

Number of striking Hourly Sikorsky Employees (as published) = 3,600.

Total collective Hourly Employees lost wages adjusted for strike pay:
$2,571.10 x 3,600 = $9,255,960

Please post here if incorrect numbers were used in the calculations and the CursingCalculator will be happy to re-calculate the figures listed above.

I'm not much for numbers ie-idiot? not really.
But it shouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

Who is "Egor"???

W/T/F, you don't even know who founded the company?

How could I have missed that!

ACE has been around for 15years or more, its just been called by different names. For those who take the time to use the ACE toolset, they already know its benefits.

"Total collective Hourly Employees lost wages adjusted for strike pay:
$2,571.10 x 3,600 = $9,255,960"

Rocco has cost the Hourly employees over $9 million bucks! WTF!!!! I hope that he feels really good about asking for another $58 each... Lets see that is $58 x 3600 which equals $208,800!

He won't ask, he will just get it. Get it?

You really don't think he cares-do you?
He doesn't have the sense to care about anyone.
His ego is what he cares about.

Ok, I just don’t get it!

How did we go from “We want to return to work!� to

“Let’s schedule a rally.�

Rocco, WE DON’T WANT A RALLY!

We want a strategy for returning to work!

Here Here! Rocco are you there? Type to me.

Rocco? Rocco? Where's Rocco?

One adjustment CursingCalc: the $65,000 per year figure as quoted is with overtime. That would probably require a few Saturdays or Sundays to achieve.

It's simpler to say this:
$65,000 / 52 weeks = $1,250 / week

$1,250 /week * 2 weeks * 3,600 = $9,000,000 in wages saved by Sikorsky

$232 / week * 2 weeks * 3,600 = $1,670,400 wages paid out by union

Here's the silver lining: taxes will be less in 2006.

Maybe someone should call his 3rd cousin Vetos.
He's probably hiding out there.

Why go to the rally? Everyone should just stay home, instead of supporting...lets see if we get answers then.

It's becoming clear why the dwindling numbers of strikers the last few days. The union would owe its members over $1.6 million in just two weeks if they all participated. The Teamsters don't have a product to sell, the only source of income to offset this loss is the dues. $58 per quarter does not add up as fast as $232 per week burns. The union is hemmoraging money.

Time to tip the king...

How do you go about having a recount.
Call Union hall and demand a recount.
Rocco seems to be running the show. We were told to pay our union dues to continue to receive our 230 dollar check. With what money.
Some of the hourly are living check to check.
Some are not receiving any income to support your their family.
Why did no one show up for the meeting about collecting unemployment?
You losers who voted no to the contract just said no and place the vote in the box and left. Lots of you showed up to the meetings prior to voting and stood there and didn't ask any questions but voted no anyway because Rocco recommended it.
Rocco is still getting paid that is where our union dues are going.
We're suppose to pay our bills and support our families with 230 dollars.
Those of you who crossed the line, good luck to you. I hope you don't suffer any reprocussions from you doing so. I hope that all of you who are still walking the line realize that not everyone can survive on 230 dollars. I guess when the average age of the workforce is in their upper 40's that they don't have to worry about supporting their children. They can support you.
With all these uneducated and mis-informed people still walking the line I hope you wake up and smell the coffee. This contract is as good as it's going to get.
Start calling the union hall and demand a recount. It's your right and I can guarantee that the majority will say yes to this contract.
How LONG CAN YOU LAST ON THE LINE.
With the Bonus you could have paid your medical premium. Our benefits would have been in effect until 2007 which was not mentioned at the ratification meeting. Goes to show how brainwashed all of you were with Rocco's RECOMMENDATION.
RE-VOTE, RE-VOTE, RE-VOTE, RE-VOTE
P.S. HOW MUCH IS HOFFA MAKING

Time to dethrone the king

If salary is doing all the hourly work, then who is doing salaries work?

Hey anonymous maybe you should go work for Pratt.

All of salary isn't doing hourly work....they have replacement contract workers from Reliant Aerotech, I saw the job posting.

How about putting an advertising banner on the Union webpage. I'me sure there are a few people checking that everyday. Could help make up the difference between $58 per month in and $232 per week out!

I demand a recount......I heard they lost the florida ballots!

Hello...Who counted the ballotts?

Went grocerie shopping today, had to pay with a credit card. Had to pay my mortgage with a credit card check. Digging a hole so deep don't know when I'll get out. Didn't vote for this strike, but not crossing the line(yet). Kids had to stop sports(no insurance).

So how you doing Rocco?

Collect your strike pay today at the hall...and make sure you pay your union dues so Rocco can continue to receive his annual pay of $98,000!

now ain't that a kick in the pants!

I'm not paying nothing......charge me when i go back to work!

Why is everyone complaining? Don't pay the $58 to the union. They won't give us answers so screw them, they aren't helping us besides letting our jobs go away. Why should we pay them, just for $232 a week or whatever it is, if they want to take that away, then let them and we can just go back to work. They won't support us, we won't support them!

Noone at union hall is accepting a paycheck.

Oh spare me!

I find it hard to believe that they are not accepting a paycheck, you are talking about the union reps right?

if you resign from the union(send a certified letter) the union can't do anything to you. you can call mr. kenny at 386-5831 and come back under the old contrat

How long can you last on the line?

In today's CT Post, a 19 year Sik veteran said he's here for the long haul, and he saved up just in case this strike happened.

"I'm good for six months," he said.

So, while working at SIK, he was able to pay his bills AND save enough for living expenses to last for six months. But, he can't afford an extra $1400 a year for med ins. premiums.

Now do you see why the community doesn't support your strike?

Teamsters General President James Hoffa will lead a rally in support of the strike in front of the main plant in Stratford on Thursday March 9th at 12:00 noon. All members, regardless of picket duty, are encouraged to attend.

With everybody crossing the line, Rocco and Hoffa will be hard pressed to figure out what to do with the 15 free Stella's pizzas! Going to be quieter than a Clan meeting in Harlem!

Who is this guy named Noone at the union hall and where did he get his paycheck?

Those who voted to strike knew they were in for a long fight.Those who didn't, didn't heed the union's advice to prepare for one and are crying now.

On strike, how about the people that don't make as much as you or are one of the 472 new hires in the last year? Did you think of anyone besides yourself? How about buying some groceries for your brothers and sisters with hungry children?

Don't worry him, that's just somebody who probably isn't married or doesn't have kids, lives with his parents, and doesn't have any bills or real responsibilities.

$9,255,960 or $7,329,600 (depending on how you calculate it) that is a lot of ca$h! More than enough for a S76!

Hey we could have worked this last couple of weeks and given the S76 we bought with or donated pay to the Union leaders. Then they could have made sure Rocco got to the unemployment meeting on time no problem!

I am kind of baffled that we aren't more upset about the amount of cash that is being lost and the lack of visability of our union managements activities.

BTW does anyone know how much is in the Strike Fund? Shouldn't those numbers have been published? I'm just trying to figure out how long before the union needs to borrow $$ to keep paying us. They can use the S76 we could have bought for them as collatoral when applying for the loan!

I am so pissed Rocco blew off the unemployment hearing. That just shows how much he really cares about us.

THIS LOOKS TO ME LIKE THE BIGEST SCABBBB CHAT ROOM

Ask yourself this question, what has the union done for you? And what has the company done for you? I am sure the company has done a lot more.

Anonymous said:
"P.S. HOW MUCH IS HOFFA MAKING"

Answer:
James P. Hoffa
Annual Salary: $241,989
Total Payments: $287,131

Today's paper also says the United Food & Commercial Workers Union grocery store workers will be coming to the big rally. Maybe they'll bring food to hand out to the strikers' starving families.

The reason the unemployment deal didn't happen was because it was a dead issue.The only way we would have been eligible was if the company was locking us out.The company , in fact, revealed it had some hourly people on the payroll this week,so the meeting made no sense to attend.I do agree this should have been addressed on the union's web site for all to understand.Here again , the lack of communication comes up another time.

I owe the company alot. The standard of living I was raised in, my parents' standard of living in retirement, my brother's standard of living and my own family's standard of living, and hopefully, our retirement. Life is much more pleasant if you look at it with an attitude of gratitude, rather than entitlement.

Hey!! There's good news!!!! THE BEATINGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORALE IMPROVES!!! (who keeps saying that?)

I'm a salaried worker who started not too long ago. I haven't had a chance to change my license plates yet so they're still out of state. I've heard some people are taking note of out of state license plates, whether it's true or not, keep me and others like me in mind.

I don't drive to work everyday to replace any hourly person. I go to do the same job I started doing. Still I'm called a scab and yelled at when I drive to work. I lose my job if I don't go and my wife is not yet employed so when you tell me "GO HOME" please realize I can't and wouldn't want to if I could.

I didn't have the chance to get to know many hourly workers before the strike and I wish I could interact with you on different terms. I just wanted the teamsters on the line to get a glimpse of my point of view, whether you care or not, it's up to you. From my point of view, I started working here, all the sudden the hourly employees are on strike, making it take much longer to get to work, yelling at me, calling me things I'm not, and because they don't want the same health plan I didn't have a choice about and the rest of UTC has. I drive through everyday wondering why the teamsters continue to do this at Sikorsky's gates when their beef is with UTC.

So maybe you could put yourselves in my shoes for a minute and think about it when people are driving past you. I would nod to you when I passed but I'm told not to make eye contact and others have told me when they have some people were less than respectful to them.

Take it as you like. God bless.

SCABBB - Sikorsky Called And Brought me Back Brother

You are 100% right.You are not a scab.scabs are hourly scum who cross their fellow union brothers' and sisters' picket line.My apologies for that...our fight is not with you.

I'm gathering from posts here and the media reports that some strikers seem to be more financially prepared for this than others. Some have six months expenses saved and some are depending on the weekly strike checks. Obviously, some have unanticipated expenses. By the way, congratulations to the father-to-be! Also, some have pointed out that they haven't been working for long enough to save the money.

Anyway, I'm trying to figure out how much of this is members ignoring advice to save versus union leaders providing the appropriate advice and tools to prepare. I've heard that members were advised to save for the possibility of strike. Did the union provide any financial planning assistance? If so, in what form (workshops, pamphlets, worksheets, websites)?

Someone above said that they were given an idea of anticipated costs and cash flow. Was this given to everyone or did you have to ask for it?

I know it seems like second-guessing to ask these questions now, but it seems that some are having doubts about leadership. How they prepared everyone in the past is a big factor in the choice to let them represent you in the future.

The union said basically last fall that a strike could occur.They also suggested union members secure a part time job and put aside money from that as a back up.They also said that in the event of a strike, the part time income combined with the strike pay would weather them through "the storm".How many did that is anyone's guess.

Maybe the union needs to put a Q&A forum on their website to answer some of these questions and get to some of the people who are having trouble getting the word.

Should someone suggest this to their strike captains?

They could password protect it if they wanted to keep Sikorsky executives, media, and schmoes like me out of it.

It just seems like a shame that lifelong friends and co-workers would black-ball each other because of simple and preventable miscommunication. One feels that the group demanding his compliance is not representing him. The other feels that the first is betraying him by undercutting his position.

Wouldn't it be nice for them both to be able to get all of the facts they need before making such a serious decision?

Can any of the teamsters tell me why the picket lines are in front of Sikorsky as opposed to UTC?

Thanks on strike,

That sounds like a good advice. Then they should be able to just put more hours into the part-time gig to keep afloat during the strike.

I guess for anything else, someone would have to ask individually.

I must make a comment about the 19 yr vet from the paper. He probably doesn't have children and has a spouse who has a corporate job making more money than he does. So he can afford to "walk the line" I will say I'm an hourly employee myself. Neither a union nor a company kisser. I have for 27 yrs gone in and done my job and respected everyone who earns respect. I had NO choice but to not show up at work because I was told so. The company made it quite clear for ALL
hourly NOT to report for work, even if we wanted to. I am stuck in the middle and I DON'T appreciate it. I AM GOING back to work. All of you kissers in the union can call me what you will. It just shows the low class of lack of intelligence that you are, that has given the good hourly people a real bad name. WE ALL know who you are. My FAMILY is the most IMPORTANT people in my life ABOVE everything and ANYTHING else in life. I'm the provider and I WILL PROVIDE for them. I Won't be the crying over my bills and telling my children we have to eat or do ANYTHING less from hear on out. Start reading your papers and learn and listen to whats going on in this world. Cost of healthcare in this country has skyrocketed EVERWHERE!!!!! I'm going back to work where I belong and VERY PROUD OF IT!!!!!!! I will always have my dignity and integrity no matter what. This is a promise.....anyone threatens or does harm to me and?or my family will pay dearly!!!!!!!!!

Why is there people on here talking about how some should have gotten a part-time job to save? Do you know that everyone lives a different life than others? Some people don't have time to work a full-time job,a part-time job, go to school, etc. Why don't you think before you speak, because for everyone it's not easy.

And besides if you can save up enough money to be out of work for six months, then why cant you afford to pay a little more for health care.

Who is really being greedy here?

Whew,
2nd week back on the floor....
Wish i was 25 again!
I may not be as fast, but I'm still as good as I once was.
Its good to know that I still have it in me.

No disrespect to our hourly workforce, you have your issues, its not up to me to judge of your right or wrong, only time and your own mind will tell that.

I for one hope this situation works out soon, I miss my cushy chair, desk, exspense account and traveling.

Thanks for reminding me why i went to college and left the floor. How quick we for get!

Great job Anon 2:17. Keep your head held high, you've earned it!!

Who's being greedy? Ask the CEO that raked in $87 million last year.Noticed I didn't say "earned".

Instead of obsessing on the line of crap the union fed you, shouldn't you be worrying about who's going to be doing your job while you refuse to do it? Replacement workers or will it be outsourced, never to return?

A majority of the hourly jobs have already been or shortly will be out sourced.The company needs more office space not replacement workers.

Anon 2:18,

We were talking about getting a part time job because I asked what the union had done to prepare their members. I agree with you that it is easier said than done, and would be a huge stretch for me personally. However, apparently the members as a whole thought it was good enough because they didn't demand a better answer.

Take it for what it is worth.

To those people posting who are expecting feedback from their questions or comments, could you please make up a name to help reference them?

It doesn't have to be good or creative, see below.
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V

I believe most union members thought Rocco had a better plan when he flexed his muscles to call for a strike.He's starting to look more like Olive Oyl now, instead of Popeye.Maybe the rumor that the union and the company worked together to get this strike going so the company could have some breathing room waiting for parts that were outsourced to vendors to be delivered.Just a thought.

Started as hourly, switched to salary when I got the chance. Got tired of waiting for my labor grade because people with more time than me didn't deserve it.

This is how it should be:
Come in on time
Do your job (it's not that difficult)
Eat lunch
Finish doing your job
Go home. Maybe work a little overtime.

This is NOT how it should be:
Come in late (possibly drunk or stoned)
Goof off
Take a smoke break
Do a little work
Take a smoke break
Read the paper in the shithouse (and have a smoke)
Take an hour or so for lunch
Take a smoke break
Goof off
Do a little work
Take a smoke break
Clean up (usually takes an hour or so)
Take a smoke break
Stay around for OT (and do less than regular time)
Take a smoke break
Clean up (already did that)
Punch out
Have a few beers in the liquor store parking lot
Go home and tell my wife and kids I worked like a dog all day.

My 2 favorite Union sayings:

That's not in my job write up.
No O.T. on Saturday, no work on Friday.

Tell Rocco you're going back to work, before your job is GONE.

An honest days pay for an honest days work. Remember the good ole' days?

To Yep, I'm working on March 4, 2006 :

I hear ya'

How come 20% of the people have to do 80% of the work?

We don't have to work harder, its the 80% that just need to do something, anything, and dammmmm,
production would be through the roof!

AMEN!

heres how it really is.... sit around and wait for parts.....get parts.... go like hell and listen to your manager tell you that we really need the work out, stay as long as you can , ulimited O.T., work safe but keep pushing... deliver what we can(still not meeting committments because we had another shortage) and then.....sit around and wait for parts !!! Life in the tail rotor cell ! And don't even try to tell me anyone is doing any better than that in there because thats the way its been all year !!! I do work in there and its a huge smoke and mirror show . Don't believe all those BS charts and graphs !!!

thas not from i hear ya

I hope everyone is prepared for the circus on Monday morning outside the gates. I can see it now, live on channel 8. Better set the VCR.

Getting checks today at hall. They already have a "wall of shame". is it shame or doing whats in the best interest of family. more and more people will be added to list. wait till this coming week. do whats in your heart, dont fall to the pressure. its not the crips or another street gang. you do have choices.

only one check where getting screwed again. on the picket line for 2 weeks?

they must hold back a week.

Maybe for union DUE'S

Marine.. I dont' know if you were referring to me, about 10 hours after my last post... but I wasn't referring to you, you "DOLT", if you followed this blog, you'd understand that.

Second, if I were a Teamster, I'd feel embarrassed by the threat of having Jesse "hypocrite" Jackson speak on my behalf. Also, my leader, Rocco, is making the Teamster's look like uneducated, ignorant, air heads. Why did Rocco rent out a room at the Marriott and say he was waiting for Sikorsky reps???

This was a PR move all the way, but he forgot that the general public isn't always so gullible. Sikorsky is being represented by legal experts, unfortunately, the Teamsters are represented by Rocco. Why would Sikorsky show up to negotiate face to face with the union whenever it is way past that stage??? They would only discuss #'s with a mediator involved, meaning, someone neutral to both sides.

I feel for you guys, I really do, your leadership is making you all look bad.... hmm, deja-vu.

Was rocco's name on the wall of shame!

March 13th is on its way....Game over!

What is on March 13th other than my mortgage being late?

Let us be thankful for the fools; but for them the rest of us could not succeed.

A real look from the inside:

A lot of salaried people are very disgusted at the picketers for being blamed for showing up to work . As only one example, we are being verbally insulted with phrases like “scab� when this phrase does not apply to us at all. We are salaried workers who take pride in doing our jobs (not someone else’s job). We don’t belong to any union. It represents absolute stupidity and ignorance on behalf of some of the union rank and file to use this name calling. This rhetoric has died down some in the last few days, perhaps because some strikers are starting to realize that we must support families just like they need to. Any consideration for your cause will not happen with this type of treatment.

I have has enjoyed my job with Sikorsky for many years and have been involved in program management. I love my old job. Reality is that with this strike all are losers including management, salaried and mostly (the strikers). Jobs are currently being outsourced. This means that jobs will never come back. It is becoming just too damn expensive to do business in Connecticut. Also, dealing with the Sikorsky union is simply bad for business. One thing is absolutely true: PEOPLE DO NO WANT TO DO YOUR JOBS. Overtime for some is the only benefit. The first week was ok but it really totally sucks now. It is very common to overhear people say how they hate doing work assigned to them. However, they will not dare say how they “really� feel around management because it will imply their disloyalty.

The work is getting done very slowly and painfully. During the day, people go back and forth from their new jobs to their old jobs. There are those who make excuses that they have deadlines to meet in the old job requirements just to get OUT of the shop as long as they can. WE HATE DOING YOUR JOBS. Stress and decreasing morale is starting to be felt by many since they must be on top of two jobs at once. Some managers (the ones that feel that they can make a difference in this awful situation) get very upset and gossip constantly that some are intentionally trying to avoid hourly work. They feel this is unfair to them. These dedicated managers want people to spend the same time in the shop as they do. Most managers quietly sneak away back to their office office as long as they can get away with it!

I can tell you that there are many aspects of shop work that require an extremely high degree of knowledge and experience. Many union and salaried people who do these jobs have many years of valuable experience. Unfortunately, many salaried are being forced to do the low skilled jobs since that is all they can do at this point in time. Sikorsky simply will not be able to meet demand from their customers. We are already behind and no production has actually begun in our area. We have only shipped those products which are nearly or almost completed this past few weeks. Low sales means lower business in the future.

My feeling are that the union should have carefully considered the consequences of a strike. Unfortunately, union members have the most to lose in all of this. Everyone is impacted.

Please Feel free to respond to my comments.

Yes, this is what my relative in mgmt told me. Now that everyone is digging in for the long haul, the outsourcing will begin in earnest on Monday. The truth is the work must get done. Customers must have their orders. Whatever cannot be done in the shop will be outsourced.

EVERYONE CARES
Excellent wrap-up and unlike most of the comments it seems TRUE and heartfelt. As far as outsourcing goes...it was the plan all along by the company. This- the strike- is just a convenient bonafiable excuse the company can use when there are massive layoffs. What the company didn't plan on was alienating both sectors, the U.S Government, Turkey etc. etc. They (Igorsky) are biting the hand that feeds as badly as the strikers are.

Mort, how is the company biting the hand that feeds it?

by alienating ITS CUSTOMERS. Are you an idiot or just plain stupid? Fines -loss of prestige, and God forbid, decreases in stockholders worth.

Congratulations Mort. With your 2nd post you are the rudest person to post on this blog.

I am glad someone in this blog mentioned that I am being truthful in my comments because I am. I am afraid of a demoralized workforce that will cause good people to leave. We must stop this salaried vs hourly crap. We need many of the union workers because of the important skills that many of them have to continue the business at this critical time. We need the salaried because there are very dedicated people (managers included) willing to work even without overtime because they mistakenly believe all the work can be done before the ship sinks. However you all feel, these salaried are at least right to be optimistic and loyal! Let's all face reality. The strike causes harm! We all will suffer!! Believe me Sikorsky will lose if the union doesn't return to work because the work required in contracts cannot be done. Competitors will eventually take the business being lost!!A very bleak future.
At this point, (given this terrible situation) the only real option for all is for the parties to get back to the table. Sadly to say, that is the only solution at this point.

Well, this strike has definitely accelerated the planned out-sourcing and now the company is finding more vendors to do additional work not originally planned to go out. Sadly more work will probably stay out and both salary and hourly layoffs will occur later in the year. The longer the strike occurs, the more damage will occur!!

Did anyone read the press release on the Teamsters 1150 site?

It's pretty comical and sad at the same time. Rocco's fighting line is that George David was compensated for 87 million dollars, so obviously then, that should imply that the Teamster's continue having better healthcare than the rest of UTC.

It's this kind of idiotic logic that led to an unnecessary strike, and people think they are entitled to money that isn't and never will be theirs.

Go back to work.

Think you guys need to forget about this strike. Why don't you put your energies into getting a job you feel will compensate you properly. Apply for Every CEO, COO job that pays multi millions because you act like you are entitled to it. You have totally lost sight that all this dumb stuff is getting you no closer to regaining your jobs. You will further alienate UTC and when they totally outsource manufacturing in CT they will blame YOU for pushing them to do what it has to do.

Like I heard posted elsewhere - if we were more appreciative for what we have and not so focused on others and what we feel we are entitled too, we would all be working and there would not be so many people being hurt.

This is great, I have read this whole post and I know why we are on strike,
Being a new employee I can look at this in a way allot of the old timers might not be able to. Just bear with me, then you can call me whatever you like.

Reason #1 A bunch of Arrogant, Self Important, Lazy, Deluded, people (children) who feel they deserve the moon. Well these people are (slowly) coming down to reality, Ok you have enough saved up for 6 months good for you, I didn't have enough for 6 days,
The union covered your ass for 20 years and you are loyal because they have done good by you, Well being in the union screwed me so I have no loyalty to that bunch of so called brothers and sisters who are destroying my life!
I will (if I still have a job) drop my membership of this train wreck of a union (if it still exists) (hope not) and work my ass off when I get back all of the lazy union slugs will be angry at me but but I don't give a sh*t. Never had a union before and and Never want one again.
I could not care less about paying another 20 bucks a week on health care. I never use it and in reality I am paying for everyone else all ready, So now they want me to starve so they can pay less....Sorry not me!!!!!

This strike is going to give the company whatever excuse it ever needed to move jobs else were, Oh and who will be the first ones let go when we go back? Us new hires,
So I am striking for and with the same people who are making me loose my job, if not now then in the near future so they can continue to live in the dream world of Sikorsky of the old days????? Kiss my ASS.

So I almost hope the union does get dissolved so all of the dead wood is let go and the people who actually want to do work are kept.
That is my best chance for staying at SIK.
I am not saying all of the old timers are the deadwood but we all know who is....

Reason#2 Everyone followed the mob, I felt like I was in the compound at Waco,
And Calo and Koresh sound a little similar....Remember what happened to them???
How does it feel to be a Lemming????, I thought that contract was great and I voted to accept and everyone I saw there was angry over the health care package but when I asked they could not answer any of my questions because they didn't understand it themselves. and all I heard was strike, strike strike,,,,,,,
THAT is a great way to decide every ones future!
So you all made my bed and I have to lay in it...THANKS ALLOT.....

And I hear the union says you should have saved up some strike money,
Well I just started less than 6 months ago and I had just enough money to pay off my outstanding bills and living expenses up to this point.
I don't have the kind of cash reserve that some of your members who have made all of those great paychecks for decades.
So F*** YOU!!!!!! And you can shove that 58 bucks up your ass MF!

With friends like these I need NO enemies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STRIKERS STAY THE COURSE!!!!THE NEXT TIME UTC NEEDS MORE PROFITS,THEY'LL SHOVE A 60/40 MEDICAL PLAN DOWN YOUR THROATS... HEY WHY NOT 50/50, THAT SOUNDS FAIR.WHAT DO YOU THINK FOLKS? BEING "COMPETITIVE" IS ONE THING...WHY DON'T THEY TRY TO SET THE RIGHT STANDARD.I GUESS DOWN THE ROAD WE ALL WILL BE WORKING FOR $10.00 A WEEK WITH NO BENEFITS.(BUT AT LEAST WE'LL BE COMPETITIVE)

The union at Sikorsky is history.

Done and over with.

This whole strike could not have worked out better for the company.

Lets face it. The majority of union workers are lazy bums, who offer zero value to the company.

The fact that everyone use lines as "The best work force in the Country", "No better trained workers", "They put 100% into everything they do", is all crap, and you know it. You can't all be THAT stupid. We use these lines to NICE and POLITICALY CORRECT. Don't mistake that with our true hidden feelings.

As an Engineer with 20 years in Sikorsky, I can honestly say that when we want something done and DONE RIGHT we outsource. Why ?. Because you are useless when we need to work as a team.

I have seen more union people do things to HURT the comapny than to benefit it.

We now outsource over 50% of our company tasks and you know what ? We get them done ON TIME and RIGHT the FIRST TIME !

Since you folks have left, things are happening so fast in the company that people are taking note. And YES, the quality is BETTER than your work.

You can say all the union lines you want. I have heard them all. You are all the biggest idiots I have ever known.

Please, stay out there.

Your replacements are being hired in starting Monday. Their raises and reviews will be merit based. Not seniority.

The age of the union is over.

P.S. You guys have great leadership !! (Pathetic little souls that you are ...you have leader to match)

When UTC tries to shove a 60/40 plan down your throat, guess what??? That will mean your alternative job would offer a 50/50 plan. Quit complaining, you obviously are ignorant of healthcare across the USA. UTC is operating like every other company in this country. I understand your feelings that if you cave in once, you will have to cave in always. Some things are worth fighting for (winnable), this isn't one of them. If they try making you work for $10 an hour, than strike, that is a worthy reason to strike.

Hey I got an idea America! Let's go on strike, and not drive cars, cause gas costs double today what it did in 1999 (89 cents at times)!!!

Come on oil companies, you are making record profits, so we should have cheaper gas!

Right!? Of course not... that is just crazy, just like what the Teamster's are rationalizing.

But you like it when your stock goes up - Business is designed to make a profit - we all can look elsewhere for a better job if we want - don't KILL this company !!!

Folks, I'm really not being a prick here, I just need someone to clear up an overwhelming question I've had to these blogs. People are posting that they are paying their mortgage, bills, car payments etc. on their credit cards, borrowing money to feed their families etc. My question: Why are you still paying your internet company to stay on these sites??? That's a fortune in itself. Hummmmm.take care of my infant or internet??? Only serious responses welcomed.

I have a contract for my internet and it cost me much more to cancel than the $15 a month for it.

Seriously Web, I think the people who are posting these things are also saying they are going back to work so they don't get further behind in their bills. It's not so hard to catch up if you're only out of work 2 weeks.

First of all I'd like to say I have signed this Anonymous to protect my wife and property from the crazies and the nuts that are still walking the picket line.
I voted not to strike and I sincerely believed that my co-workers would unanimously do the same.At least that was the response I was getting before the vote.If the vote was not fixed(we voted in pencil)then I work with some very questionably and some very pathetically uninformed people.What ever the case may be,my co-workers listened to,trusted and followed the advice of these two Bozo's running the circus down at union hall.If you think that Rocco Calo and Harvey jackson really give a rat's butt about you or your family,then you deserve what you are getting.Mr. Calo and Mr.Jackson haven't lost a single penny since this whole debacle started.One need not look any further than Mr.Jackson's office and the big framed picture of him and Jesse Jackson with their arms around each other to know why we are where we are.He doesn't return Mr.Gozzi's call's,just like he doesn't return anyone's calls that he doesn't want to talk to.He's become a politician and is no longer one of us.The same goes for Mr.Calo.Where have these two clowns been,while our work has been being outsourced?Have they done anything to stop it?
There was nothing at all wrong with this contract.It was a very good one and a fair one.As of this day,with doctor visit co-pays,higher premiums and prescription co-pays on the new contract, the money each person lost striking these past 14 days is equal to the cost of that average employee's medical costs for the three years of the new contract.Every day forward of lost wages is money lost and the strike is now a wash.Not to mention the money we can't invest that is not making money,the signing bonus that will turn into $3000.00 and more if you invest it and our vacation pay(which one can also be making money on by investing) and time we have put on hold.This contract was for only 3 years and then we do it all again.I am not overlooking the impact a victory MIGHT have,but the victory should have taken place already.The company had a well thought out contingency plan and is shipping work out every day.Do the math yourself.
The union sent it's stewards around scaring everyone into believeing that if they were in need of a $100,000.00 hospital procedure that they would have to pay $20,000.00 out of their pocket.The truth is,there is a maximum that you would be responsible for that doesn't come close to the 20%.There were also options that were pretty good for healthy indidviduals that decreased their premiums and rewarded them for their health.For weeks we were told that the company wanted us to go on a 4 day/10 hr work week and they were adamant about it.It was already accepted and implemented at Pratt.The company dropped it and it ended up on the bottom of the second page(one small line)of the limited information,pre-voting handouts we received on contract vote Sunday in Wallingford and I believe half the people didn't even see it.
A union rep went on the radio the other day and wanted to rest everyone's fears about losing their jobs.Again we were misinformed.He said that we were striking undeer an "unfair labor charge strike". The company can use replacement workers but had to take us back and let them go when the strike was over.He conveniently forgot to tell us that an investigation is done and a determination is made on whether the company truely was involved in unfair labor practices.If they are found to not be gulity of these charges,we most definitely can be replaced.Not as open and shut as the union will have you believe.
How unfair is the union?We have to pay our dues by next week in order to keep receiving our stipend.WOW!!! If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black, I don't know what is.We receive this stinking $232.00(25% of our actual pay),they don't advocate for us getting unemployment and they can't even waive our dues until the strike is over?Is that just stupidity on their part or callous big acorns?If you know what I mean.
I am willing to bet my house,that if we have a re-vote the numbers will be reversed.We need to go back to the jobs we are so fortunate to have,cut our losses here and accept healthcare costs rising for what they are.Something that can only be changed in Washington.Something we can live with and not without.This strike will not change it and no one really knows what the healthcare situation will be in 4 years.Please my fellow workers,before you vote for ANYTHING again,do some research.Do some math.Don't let the so-called in charge,leaders form your thoughts and opinions.Look at what's in front of you.Those people you heard blowing airhorns,yelling and whistling the few days before we voted,are the very few,still walking the picket line.They just don't get it,never have and probably never will.It's a shame.
As far as Mr.Finger and Mr.David go... I do believe that their incomes are outrageous and they more than likely have more money than they can ever spend.Will this strike change corporate greed?No,it will not.Has everyone here had the same chance as David and Finger did to make the kind of money they do?Yes they have.Would any one of us give it back because we felt bad?Human nature says no we wouldn't.We couldn't even get our own brothers Rocco and Harvey to forego their pay for the past 14 days to be one of us again or to contribute to a decrease in our dues.
So fellow workers it's time to demand a re-vote or to just go back to work.This foolish and false bravado has overstayed it's welcome.

I couldnt hold out for the strike to be OVER, I have decided to move on. My family is more important than a bunch of uneducated Union people wanting more than what they actually earn. My Father instilled in me years ago that if you didnt earn it then it is NOT yours. It's too bad the rest of the workers don't see it that way. Example: They may be at work 8 to 9 hours a day but some may only do about 1 to 2 hours of real labor. Some may break 30 minutes of actual work while others spend the day agrivating our bosses who don't get paid over time and they even come in on the weekend for free and get done more that day then we do all week.

My new job is at Wal-mart they may not have a Medical plan or a Union but atleast I work and get a paycheck.

So Long Teamsters a.k.a. Slackers

where is the wall of shame on the teamster website

That's a great point Web! (Although some of them might be posting from the library, a friend's house, or their part-time job)

The best advice I could give to the union members is to cancel as many of those monthly bills as possible. Do you really need cable? Do you really need internet? Do you really need both cell-phone and land-line?

After that comes the tougher decisions, but those should be no-brainers.

Anon 5.47 Is 100% correct!!!!!

What do we do next?
How do we organize a revote or abolish the union?
I am in....

I have an interview set up next week at shick in Milford. I'm done with the union. Time to move on. I can get paid just as good elsewhere so I am not going to stick around for this B.S. Good bye Rocco thank you very much.

Gook luck and take care everyone I have worked with for the last 10 years.

I think 80% would be in for a re-vote but in pen this time. The union has too much of a history of corruption to be trusted with ballots fill out in pencil.

By tougher decisions, do you mean....Do I really need to see a doctor? Why get a second opinion, the company doctor says I'll be just fine or the surgery will only let me live 10 yrs longer...why bother.With medical coverage costing more & more, these questions will be more common.

Lets get into contact with the federal govt, I am sure there are procedures for it.
Anyone know about this legaly???

On strike,

I didn't mean to make light of the tougher decisions. You mentioned some of the toughest I can imagine. Another is, should I pay for COBRA? At least one poster has implied that he didn't and has told his son not to play sports.

I would hope, in his case, that he thought enough to drop out all the expenses I mentioned first and even made a few tough decisions (like can I sell that boat/harley/new car).

check the NLRB website for info

enlightened1,

If you want to know your legal rights and procedures, don't ask us. We could be dumbasses, liars, corporate execs or teamster bosses.

Google is your friend.
http://www.nlrb.gov/nlrb/home/default.asp

Good point!

Did anyone see the ad put out by the company or receive it in the mail from them?

I think that we should just accept that agreement!

FYI, Northwest Airlines just came to an tentative agreement with their employees after a seven month strike.

This looks like a Salery Blog to me, Why don't you all go back to building helicopters,instead of writing in this blog, to much time on your hands, try moving into your new office. That will surly build helicopters,let's see Blades #0 spindle cuffs #0 Wire harnesses #0 Spear parts #0 get the picture,how are you making the helicopters on your cad programs, sorry those helicopters don't fly, us hourly scum have been saving your butts,oh by the way SAP has a new commercial on sports channel.

Spear parts???? When did we open up a spear cell? Nobody tells me anything.

PS: Connecticut Post Blogmeister, Please have spell and grammer check software installed on this blog. Every time I read a note like the previous one my hair starts to hurt.

Let me get this straight.. The union can(but say they won't)fine any of us who cross the line.Who are they to fine any one who wants to go to work? The union must be a Communist union to say what it's PEOPLE can or can't do. This is the U.S.A and not a Communist country.It is our right and privlige to work for who we want.Also, they are filing with the labor board for unfair work practices.Maybe that is true, maybe not.But who do we file with for unfair wage COMPENSATION against the union? I know there is no one to do that with but I just wanted to make that point.I have no problem with the workers on strike or with the salary people.I just want to return to work for ME.Cause that's the only person who will support me.I never needed anyone to help me get wages or benefits and I don't need anyone to do that now.As far as the politcs go, I could care less who comes to the picket line.. They aren't paying my bills. They are just sucking my hard earned dollars evey week. They are ALL crooked just like some other leaders are.Talk to you all later. Good luck...

Hey Just A Thought (7:16)

You really should have your 4th grader daughter help you out and proof read your posts. Would seriously help.

Please use the Spell check, you ignorance agrivates me.

Spare NOT Spear
Salary NOT Salery

Oh by the way "Mr. I havent been in the plant since I went on Strike"

We made more Spare Parts and sold them in the Last two weeks then you lazy Hourly folks did all January. Did I mention we Trucked your job to Reliance.......

Have a splendid Day.

Oh yea, Buy a Dictionary.

These are a few things I wonder about as I read these Blogs:

How many people remember the Salary folks in the fall hoping the Union will take a stand on the Medical package that was already in place for them, knowing that they may benefit from an improved plan? Salary folks are hoping to reap the benefits of the Contract also.

It may come as a shock when they are asked to shoulder the burden alone. The Company probably won't give Salary folks the same plan as Hourly folks this time around.

Just like the shock of thursdays paycheck that didn't include the promised overtime.

Also, Why doesn't the ACE coordinator in the GUESS jeans have to make believe she is building Aircraft like the rest of the Salary folks? Where has she been hiding? I thought the CAC was on standby?

I wonder how many of the Vice presidents, Directors, and other higher-ups will have to answer for allowing this situation to get so far out of the company's control. How many of THEM are going to start turning on themselves to find some much needed Scapegoats pretty soon?

It might have been cold outside the last couple of days and nights, but It's getting really HOT inside....and not in a good way.

HMMM?

I am Anon 5:45 and I am an hourly worker and have been for over 24 years.I spent alot of time typing my comments.Please read them.This is not a salary blog and it is a good place for info and to vent your frustrations.I'm sure the people writing these comments will be returning to work by the middle of next week.

I sick of hearing of all of you cry baby.
Sometime you need to stick up for yourself and your Family and this is one of the times to do it. Nobody said this would be easy. If you do not stand up and flight for better help care what well be the future for you and your family 50%/50% coverage or worse. Wake up and take a stand for your future next contract they will go for 12 work day with no overtime.

On strike, signing off for today..have the 6am to 10am watch tomorrow.I know a lot of posts will say I'm stupid, an idiot, or misguided, but until there is a re-vote or company re- evaluation of their proposal... I refuse to cross my union's picket line!UNITY NOW!!!

The Company is calling people who are too lazy to even picket for 4 hours every other day. Great Strategy there. Good Luck with that Mr HR. enjoy your less than a dozen worthless pieces of crap!

I agree I think the Union runs more like the Mafia than a AMERICAN outfit looking after the American Worker.

Maybe they should remove the word TEAM from the word TEAMSTERS, looks like Rocco is playing for his run for President of the Teamsters. Can anyone tell me HOW much Rocco made last year?

Also where did all my Dues go, Lets do the math (another thing the Union can't do)

$58.00 X 3500 = $203000 per month X 12 Months = 2 million 436 thousand dollars And we are only getting $200 a week for being on strike? Taxable too. Now we havent been on strike since 1960 something right? So were is all that Strike fund money, and why isnt the fund helping us MORE than $200?

I FEEL LIKE A STORE OWNER PAYING PROTECTION MONEY TO THE PEOPLE WHO ROB ME!

Good night on strike. Always good to chat with people who are respectful of all opinions. Hope it's not too cold for you in the am. See you in the afternoon.

Hey "Education Not Required,"
You missed "surly" and all of those commas used as periods and that capitalization thing. I'm going to copy and paste it to "Word" and see how many errors it finds. Anyone taking bets?

No bets, it looks pretty ugly from here.

More like SERENITY NOW!!!

People,

Do me a very small favor..... Check out the numbers... Do you know how much you (collectively) have lost in the last ten business days?

"Total collective Hourly Employees lost wages adjusted for strike pay:
$2,571.10 x 3,600 = $9,255,960"

As Posted by: CursingCalculator on March 4, 2006 10:58 AM

$9.255 Million Dollars!!!!!!! Come on! How much more do we have to let bleed from our bank accounts before we realize what is going on?

To all of my friends out there I urge you all to read and follow the directions below. Tell Jimmy Hoffa Jr. and his PISS BOY ROCCO where to go.....

http://www.nlrb.gov/nlrb/home/default.asp

Withdrawal of Union-Security Authority (UD)

This petition, which can also be filed by an individual, seeks an election to determine whether to continue the union's contractual authority to require that employees make certain lawful payments to the union in order to retain their jobs. It must be supported by the signatures of 30 percent or more of the employees in the bargaining unit covered by the union-security agreement. These signatures may be on separate cards or on a single piece of paper. Generally, this showing of interest states that the employees no longer want their collective-bargaining agreement to contain a union-security provision. The showing of interest must be signed by each employee and each employee's signature must be dated.

To TAZ#8.........You cannot be a union member who received a strike pay check today!!!We members who picked up our check know YOU don't know what you are talking about."On Strike", couldn't resist to show up an imposter.

Dear On Strike,

I didn't say I picked up MY check today anywhere in my message, All I said was I think we deserve more than what we will be getting.

You must be a Union Steward!

To union member for 20 yrs...sorry I stepped on some toes.I picked up my check today and there were no deductions..$232.00 clear (not that that will go too far).Hang in there.

Did anyone else receive the letter in the mail by the Company to rethink this strike and come back to work.
The union threatens their members by potentially fining them if they cross the line or worse harrass their members into quiting. What sort of union is this.
Everyone should demand a revote and I bet most will say yes to the contract that was offered.
We were told to hang in there. Well maybe they can pay my bills and feed my family.
Rocco was inexperienced to recommend a strike.
He should be making a reservation at Chevrolet theatre to hold a revote and get us back to work and fight to keep these jobs here instead of having them outsourced.
The union never helped me get my job back after I was laid off. Instead they got their kids in.
Who are they thinking about. Not you Union brothers or sisters. They think of their families first.
You all should think of your immediate families first and ask. No demand a re vote now before you loose your homes. Something the union won't help you with.
RE VOTE RE VOTE RE VOTE

Since I've read so many opinions about hourly slackers, let's talk about salary slackers...you know, the ones who email each other all day long, who are handed a created position after being a incompetent manager for a couple of years. (Of course, keeping that large salary) the M.E.'s and other "Clipboard operators" who walk around all day and nod their heads in unison...and don't forget every month jobpost is full of "new" salary positions that the Co. needs...more "support people". (say it ain't so!) Anyone who works at Sikorsky knows what I'm talkin' about! It's easy to pick on hourly slackers...every Co. has 'em...just make sure you expose ALL types so the truth is evident.

I suggest that we have an outside agency count the votes, the more people I talk to on the lines say they voted to accept the contract. Why did we use pencil for, it can be erased.

I will say it we were stupid for getting drunk prior to a life changing vote

Fred man, what the hell are you drinking this fine Saturday night????
"I sick of hearing all of you cry baby" Take your time, we can all wait, do you see the 2 bo-bo's in this??? Speaking of bo-bo's what is your FLIGHT for better HELP care. Haven't see no TRIP to no destination offering HELP care. Put down the booze man, night, night.

thanks you little boy

If you resign from the union you can go back to work and be an agency payer meaning you get all the benefits of the union except you cant vote on elections or a contract. I think a re-vote is needed. I am going to give it one more week then go back to work unless Rocco gets off his fat ass and does something. I will not lose my house over this. I was just about caught up with bills before this due to a medical condition. My car is about gone, that will probably be repoed soon. I really dont care about that but when it comes to my home you can take brotherhood and stick it up you ass. Better get working Rocco or you are going to have a revolt on your hands. You sent the stewards around telling everyone if we strike it would only last a couple weeks. Well you were wrong and sooner than later (probably sooner) you are going to have an uprising and will be taken out of office. You have no friends and are making more enemies every day this drags out.

Oh, Freddie, Freddie, Freddie, just another correction:
That's little LADY to you. Have you forgotten the female force of SAC?

I would rather have my name on the wall of shame than to have to explain to who knows how many why they lost there job. But then again those people who have to do the explaining have more than enough of our money to go probably anywhere they want to hide.

Anyone checking into this blog, that is an hourly employee like myself(24 years)please read my comments at Anonymous at 5:47pm.It's a little lengthy but worth reading.I would like to read some feedback.

Strike Fund. Who says we're going to get another check. It could be $100 the next time, $50 the next or this could be a one time payment.

"Total collective Hourly Employees lost wages adjusted for strike pay:
$2,571.10 x 3,600 = $9,255,960"

Com'mon!

What could be done with $9+ Million?

Let me first say I am a salary employee and I feel that I have that tried to work with and well with many hourly workers who I consider friends. I say that only so there is no question if I am a plant or lying here. I take no sides in what you have chosen to do, but I do have a vested interest in the company surviving. It is my livelihood and what I do to support my family.

With that said, after reading through this blog I hope that every hourly employee whether you were for the strike or against it does two things.

The first is to simply do the math. Several responses here have clearly shown that the cost in lost wages at this point outweighs any negative cost impact of you selecting the original health care plan. I have read those who are say they are capable and willing to stay out six months. I was always taught to be loyal to what I committed to and finish what I started so admire you support of your union and cause. But in doing that math you will see that you will never recover those wages. To those who have said what if the next contract is 50 / 50, I think that math will show that you will not still recover what you have lost. I am not sure so I am not going to throw numbers up here that others will dispute. Each of you should use your own salaries, not an average, and calculate it out. If you cannot do it ask someone to help you with a spreadsheet. Maybe the numbers tell you to stay the course, maybe not but be informed.

The second is that you read and understand all aspects of the contract that you will be next voting on. It is so apparent that so many people did not understand it and what you would get or not get. I heard a great comment or question and it was can your union provide you a better health care? It is sure a huge organization and maybe as part of any contract they can help off your something that makes this a non issue. That is between you and the company but all I have to say is be informed.

As I read through all the entries I too cannot tell who may be a plant or lying. But all I can say is that if half of it is true and those who say stay the course really want your union to survive then either get your existing leadership to work what the mass wants them to do or else vote a strong leadership in to try and guide you. If there are those of you who think that the union has done you wrong then you should vote to request a revote or drop them. I am not a union person so I do not know the process but I hope you do.

Whatever it is, you must please realize just do something to help yourselves. That is what you need, not a huge march next Thursday that will tie up the town of Stratford and those of us who as Salary must go to work because that is what we are required to do because as you committed to your union we committed to the company and to our families.

Yes, we as salary have as much as a vested interest in the outcome as you do. Not as some have said to try and get on the coat tails of a better health care plan. I in no way expect that to happen, even if you had got what you wanted. I simply want the company to be successful and to keep as much of the work as we can in Connecticut. Also, as we go for contracts we have to have competitive costs. If not it is simple, we all loose. With that said I know someone will bring up the executives salaries and compensations, this is great press but it is not going to do anything. Some will say they earn it some will say they do not, but if you look at all corporations, and even some have said your own union leaders, that is what is done. If you put lower paying people in there would they run the corporation in a way that we get to keep our jobs? Who knows but I doubt it.

Whatever it is be informed. Good luck to all of us because we all need to work and be successful, and for those of us with lots of years in the company need to make this company continue on.

Just some comments:

1. I seriously doubt there was any fraud in counting the ballots. If you're worried next time bring a pen. I didn't stay to watch the ballot counting, I'm sure there were enough eyes on them so they couldn't cheat.

2. The srtike fund is something that comes from the international. The local pays the international a fee each month for each member, part of that goes into the strike fund. Your check came from the IBT not Local 1150. Think about this, $232 x 3600 members = $835,200 per week. Remember back a few years ago they raised they union dues to 2.5 times the hourly rate, this was so they could build up the strike fund and the strike benefit was changed from about $100 per week to about 10 hours pay per week.

3. RE-VOTING, if you