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Big doings in the air! Is the tide changing? The rally is drawing national attention, Steve Finger is on his way out, the transfer of a new president and CEO from Pratt & Whitney (heard he was an old Sikorsky guy), and is it true the HR person was canned? Hopefully, after all the hoopala and union bravado, coupled with a new regime, the real issue of getting everyone back to work and how to do that will become the focus! Let's get back to the table and back to work SOON! It's time to put this baby to sleep and get on with life beyond this blog!

To the strikers:

I just wanted to say how glad I am that you all decided to have your little circus out on 110 today. Maybe ther rest of the public will get to see what a mob of thugs you really are when you get all riled up and start a riot.

Also wanted to say thanks for harassing me every morning on the way to work. Makes me want to work that much harder to do your job that much better so they don't have to let your sorry a** back in here.

To those on the Wall of Shame:

I applaud and congratulate your display of intelligence and individuality. You are the REAL men and women I am proud to work with here at SAC, who have the guts to put their family and well being before Rocco's freak show. Welcome back!

This circus will definitely catch the eye of some today. Unfortunately it will only be local people trying to get home from work. This reminds me of a rally I once attended to ax the state income tax. It was fun ,I left work early to go to Hartford, I screamed and chanted obcenities to law makers to fight to keep the state from wacking my check, which some seem to forget takes a good chunk of liquid cash from everyone. And you know what, we went home, we felt good for a day or two then they gave us the perverbial finger. Now we get taxed. And all that BS did nothing. Oh yeah Tom Scott committed political suicide. Maybe thats what the president of the union is shooting for.
Good luck,
PS I heard you can get torches and pitch forks at the local Home Depot 1/2 off.

I grew up in Ohio along the Ohio River where there were lots of different plants from steel mills to chemical plants, power plants to coal mines. Back in the day, you graduated high school with three options - go to college, which most people couldn't afford, enlist in the military or go to work at "the plant." Now that term, "the plant," was used to describe everything from PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass), the Ormet rolling mill in Hannibal, Mobay Chemical, Union Carbide, etc. As long as you had a relative working at one or the other, you had a job. At just one of them, I had two grandfathers, my father and two uncles who worked at the same plant and later I married someone whose father and mother both worked at that same plant where all my family worked. That was back in the seventies. Today, though, it doesn't matter if you know someone or not. Ormet has been out on strike for 1 1/2 years now and PPG just settled a strike that lasted several months. Some of those Ormet jobs will never be gotten back because they shut down the rolling mill and sold it. Union Carbide had a strike a few years ago and the company ended up selling the property. More jobs lost. All up and down the Ohio River on both sides, Ohio and West Viriginia and even into Pennsylvania, you will see a bunch of old, fallen down, rusting buildings that used to house companies that employed thousands upon thousands of people in the Ohio River valley. It's sad. When those companies crumbled, they took countless other smaller businesses with them, since the economy could no longer support them. So many people out of work now and families have been leaving the area in droves. What used to be a pretty terrific place is now an empty shell. It's ugly, it really is. We'll probably never get it back, at least not in my lifetime. I hope this strike at Sikorsky doesn't do the same thing for this part of Connecticut, but I've got to say I do see history repeating itself here. Strikes have a way of not only breaking alligences, but of breaking companies.

I am a wife of a salary worker and yes he is doing YOUR JOB and loving the extra money. He has not been paid for overtime in years.
The union workers should be ashamed of themselves just take a look around Connecticut.
How many manufacturing companies are left in Connecticut?
Where can you work (or in your case show up) and get paid the money you do?
There are many many workers out there that would trade places with in if given the chance.
How many UNEDUcated (like yourself) can make the kind of money you do?
Why are do you think you are BETTER than the salary people as far as medical benefits?
With you overtime and in some cases without overtime you are making more money than many of the salary workers for less work and education?
Teamsters union continues to take your money for many of you think about how much you have paid them in your careers and what do you actually receive in return? The people that need the union are the ones that want the pay, but don't want to work. They are their only to protect the non, lazy worker. Wait up and realize they, the union are the only ones gaining in this mess.
What about your families? don't you care that you need to support them? Hasn't Sikorsky provided you with a very lucative salary to support your family for very little output? Who else is going to pay you that type of money? You think there are so many jobs out there go try finding one to pay you what you are making.
Your sons, daughters, wifes, husbands did not ask you to stop working. Sure you are being feed very well I might add, but how about your family do you not care about them?If I were Sikorsky I would hire replacement workers and say the H*** to you. Let's see you get by and find another job.
As far as unemployment compensation goes you DO NOT deserve it, you had a job and you CHOSE to give it up, not the other way around. Also why should the taxpayers of Connecticut pay your way just because your lazy, you need money go back to work and be happy you have a job.

Good Morning Lord - I Thank You Lord for another day - I pray for those striking that
God would reveal himself to them and the need first and formost to turn their lives to Him through Jesus Christ and put Him first and all things will work for good for those who Love/serve Him.
Amen.

Those are promotions they announced at UTC. Steve Finger is not on his way out. He is on his way UP. Being promoted to President of Pratt & Whitney means they like what he's doing at SIK. George David will stay on for 2 years to help transition the new CEO of UTC.

I'm sure these promotions were planned long before your strike.

Steve Who..it's not wheres Waldo..it's where's Steve. And a new update...there have been some line crossers who were back at union hall wanting to rejoin their brothers and sisters. That people is a fact!!

The striker's comments today on WTNH regarding UTC owning CIGNA were priceless. This showed how much some of these guys will believe as long as it is communicated by their beloved union. It's also quite sad.

I would just like to ask a question that Hoffa and Calo keep using in the media, How are the Health Benifits being reduced or taken away??????, nothing of the sort. The company wants you to share the cost as other UTC divions do and salaried workers do.
Does someone have a clear answer???

It's a shame that workers at a miltary contractor would abandon their posts.

Unfair contract?
GUARANTEED pay increases for 3 years
GUARANTEED bonus

Not Bargaining in good faith?
REMOVED 4 day workweek option
DELAYED increases in medical for 1 year

Plus:
An abundance of OT.
FREE educuation in ANY field PLUS $10k in UTC Stock upon completion.

If that's not good enough, you have the option of leaving for a better opportunity. Oh wait, there are no other options around that need aircraft-skilled workers that are compensated the way you are.

Maybe instead of putting pictures of rats on web pages with a wall of shame, your "Brother & Sisters could have given you some real information.

Yeah. This strike makes sense (sigh)

The Union has decided that making the wall of Fame list larger is a dangerous move, therefor they have decided to say people are staying with the Union. More lies!

You guys/gals are a bunch of uneducated morons. Who is going to pay you the type of money you are receiving for such little output?
The salary workers are doing your job, very well I might add and they are not loving it, but enjoying the overtime pay. Most have not received overtime pay in a long time. and it is a nice little extra.
How dumb can you be most of you make more than the average salary worker so why are a bunch of UNEDUCATED, OVERPAID LAZY workers better than them?
Do you care about your families, you have lost more money in the last three weeks than what you are fighting about, just to show you how do don’t even think, this is where your lack of education comes in, be realistic. Who would hire you? I think if I were Sikorsky I would hire replacement workers and let you find jobs that you THINK are better. How many manufacturing companies are there left in Connecticut? What are you actually qualified to do? Drink coffee, spend hours in the men’s room, complain, who else is going to pay you this type of money for nothing. If you are so valuable how come they don’t care if you come back?
I have a greater respect for the workers who have crossed the picket line. I APPLUAD THEM, for putting their family first, they realize there are few if any jobs out there that will pay them and treat them as well as Sikorsky has treats them, the ones gaining here is the union, they are still COLLECTING your dues right? What have they to offer, $230/week with no benefits, Sounds like real fun, I understand you are getting fed real well how about the rest of your family? Are they letting you take food home to them? How about the new truck, is that putting food on the table?
I am tired of reading in the paper how you cannot afford to pay your bills, that being said, the average hourly workers with overtime makes approximately $80,000 and if you actually live week to week that just shows the organization how dumb and uneducated you really are.
How about health benefits, you definitely much better off today without them? Smarten up be real take a look around Connecticut without Sikorsky were would you be homeless?, working for $10/hour if you are lucky. What has Sikorsky’s pay to you for little in return been for you, a great house, a new truck, benefits probably better than most organizations, but that’s not enough. If you are better than there offer get you’re a** out and get another job to put food on the table and then you would beg for your job back.
WAKE UP, STOP BEING LAZY and go back to work.

"The General Motors Corporation...will cut its pension costs by $1.6 billion this year and lead to lower benefits for workers.

By contrast, foreign automakers with factories in the United States do not offer defined-benefit pension plans, relying more heavily on 401(k) programs that require employees to contribute for retirement.

G.M. said it was also freezing benefits that its executives had accrued under their supplemental pension plan.

In late 2005, G.M. reached agreement with the U.A.W. on modest cuts in health care coverage for union members." -- New York Times

...just a little insight on what is going on in the rest of the country. Peace.

UTC DOES NOT OWN CIGNA. FIRST HAD INFO
THIS WAS TOLD TO ALL THAT ATTENDED THE MEETINGS.
THOSE THAT CROSSED THE LINE AND WANT TO COME BACK. CAN'T THE COMPANY FIRE THEM?

It's called Union Brainwashing. One guy starts a story and all the little lemmings follow with few exceptions and those few are crucified for using their brain and free will.

No one said that UTC "owns" CIGNA. I was at the meetings and did my own research. UTC is self insured with CIGNA as the third pary administrator. THAT IS THE FACT. AND, as a result, UTC has a finacial interest in the level of heathcare YOU receive.

If you get a chance check out the teamsters 1150 news letter from December 05,Rocco clearly states how the company is 20 aircraft behind schedule and scabs off the streets cannot do your jobs,also we as local 1150 have never been in a better position to bargain in our 43 year history.And I quote, It is our job to take advantage of this,end quote...Did he ever think the price we would have to pay?Rocco,after losing about $6000.00 in wages & sign on bonus exactly who did you mean you were taking avantage of?

Steve Finger IS on his way OUT of Sikorsky.....why now? Must be the great job he's done over there that a move back to Pratt and Whitney is a promotion! Right? And what about the HR firing.....oh yeah, that must have been in the works too. Lucky for Sikorsky execs--they can use the strike as an excuse. You guys in management are really protected.......guess they needed a fall guy, I mean gal!

Anonymous 8:39, you are exactly right. However, to think they will make a profit off of the premiums is ridiculous. Maybe they will cut their losses a bit, but that's about it. And they are entitled to that - after all, they are GIVING you 80% of your helth care. They could just as easily give you nothing and let you get your own insurance. That would cost A LOT more than the $50/week everyone is whining about.

Everyone should watch the the movie (I believe it is called...) "The Molly Maguires".

That movie show's why unions were created, and what unions USED to be good for. These people weren't just disrespected, they were abused by their companies. Today, sadly, it is the unions that abuse their employers until finally they pack up and move overseas.

The only brainwashing going on has been conducted by Sikorsky, UTC and the high priced consultants they have recently retained to create panic and dissention within the Teamster membership. Their efforts have failed miserably due to the solidarity of the union membership.

Wake up people, as soon as the replacement workers show up your chances of coming back will diminsh. As soon as the strike is determined to be economic you are done. Sikorsky will not have to bring you back according to the NLRB website.

Today's forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies, temps in the 50's, and a 100% chance of bafoonery and stupidity. Circus starts at noon.

For sale, cheap,1 aircraft manufacturer, short about 3500 employees......They did'nt pull that stinky Finger for nothing .....

Remember how we all thought it was so stupid that some Muslims were rioting and destroying American embassy's after a DUTCH paper offended their religion?

Isn't it almost like deja vu in Stratford? Union members are picketing and protesting in front of Sikorsky, when their beef is with UTC, but really more with the US government? Why are you disgracing the American flag on top of all of this???

I see the 1150 website has a "Lost and Found" link on it. In a few more weeks it'll probably have many postings that say, "Lost: A good paying job with good benefits."

All these people striking are a disgrace to society. You are nothing more than greedy, spoiled cry babies who want as much as they can get. Look at what you are doing to EVERYONE around you-

1. The town of Stratford.

It is costing thousands of dollars for the town to patrol and secure the strike site. Yes, I realize that Sikorsky kicks in a bunch of money to the town in taxes but look at the water-front space they occupy!! It doesn't matter! If Sikorsky leaves, that land will be sold for millions and someone else will pay taxes on it. I don't have the facts, but I assume the union pays NOTHING (or very little) to the town and they are the ones who initiated and participate in the strike.

2. The local businesses

Not only are they losing money from this, they are also being bullied into supporting your crusade. Imagine being a local business and having a group come in and ask to support them. Now I realize that a part of the union patronizes these businesses, but if a business doesn't want to support them, then they will be shunned. Look at the website:

"If any member patronizes one of the below establishments and they are not displaying a sign, please contact Union Hall."

THAT IS A MOB MENTALITY! The business can only support the union by displaying a poster in their window? A sign is required? And if they are found to not comply by displaying a sign, what happens? They receive bad press or get shunned by the union. They have no choice but to just give in.

Dunkin' Donuts has corporate rules that don't allow for signs to be displayed, so they need to compensate by giving away free donuts and coffee?!! UNREAL! Just a simple, "We support the Union, isn't enough!"?!?! That is a blatant display of "What have you done for us today?" syndrome!

Stella's said they won't deliver a pizza to SIK because they refuse to cross the picket line. What if they HAD to do this for fear of going out of business? Would the union look kindly on that?!?

3. The taxpayer

MY taxes might go up because of your cause!! Is your cause going to lower MY healthcare costs? NO! So effectively, I have to pay for your desire to lower your own healthcare costs! How is that fair to me or any of the other 50,000 residents of Stratford?

4. Other misc. govt services

The town might need to cut services in other departmentsjust to cover the costs, which effect the whole town.

5. Other worker's jobs

Stella's is cutting back employee hours, the Mayor of Stratford is contemplating the idea of layoffs to cover the cost. HELLO! You trying to lower your own personal healthcare costs is COSTING OTHER PEOPLE MONEY AND POSSIBLY THEIR JOBS. How does that make you feel knowing that you will save an extra $2,000 a year in health costs while some people won't have jobs AT ALL?!?!?!!? And we are talking about jobs where people get paid close to minimum wage while the least paid Union worker still makes $35K a year!!

6. Traffic

Do I have to remind everyone of the mess it is causing?

PS...I am NOT in the Union, I am NOT a salary worker, I have no affliation with Sikorsky, I am just a Stratford resident who has healthcare coverage similar to the national average. I pay my taxes, abide by the law and I find a new job when I am unsatisfied. No one else suffers because I am unhappy with my situation. I take responsibilty for my actions.

"I pitty the fool."

I feel that it should be brought to light that the published cost of the Sikorsky/CIGNA healthcare plan is only accurate IF THE PLAN IS NOT USED. The figures, charts and graphs presented in local newspapers are very misleading.

In year three of the proposed contract, a realistic estimate of actual cost to a family would be $5,000-$7,000 including weekly contribution, Dr. visit co-pays and prescription costs.

With a serious illness or injury, that figure could very easily increase to $8,000-$10,000, which would equal 20%-25% of the average hourly workers GROSS yearly pay based on a 40 hour work week.

The stop-loss amount of the plan DOES NOT apply to office visit, co-pays OR prescription co-pays, or the numerous prescription drugs which ARE NOT covered.

1. Finger's PROMOTION was determined before you went on strike.

2. Thousands of people rallying will only serve to further hurt the companies on 110 only. Anyone in their right mind is using other roads, duh.

3. Production in some parts of the machine shop is seeing improvememnts, 10% manpower cranking out 150% production and the company is really looking hard at this.

4. Look at the wall of same list, its growing obviously because people are coming to their senses. Join them.

5. YOUR jobs are leaving with all the trucks.

6. YOUR jobs are leaving the longer you stand out there.

7. End this now before it's ended for you.

I can also state from my own experience that any treatment, medication, or medical device considered "experimental" is not covered under the CIGNA plan regardless of its proven success in other countries or in clinical trials in the U.S. If it has not yet received approval from the FDA (which take YEARS), YOU pay for it out of YOUR pocket.

It may work out to more, but it's still less than the ~$16k average increase you'd see. If you don't like the coverage, you can always go with the option to decline the Cigna plan and purchase insurance on your own.

In todays CT post Sikorsky claims they would return the table if Rocco would except the fact that they are not going to change the health care package...It was reported that Rocco did not respond....Well,so much for the company NOT bargaining in that good faith statement.. .WE 3,600, 1150 members ARE SO SCREWED!!! ..I know now how General Custer must have felt....Rocco get back to the table and do something for us...

Please allow me to interject my opinion... The trucks are leaving the plant with work because, due to the strike, Sikorsky currently does not have the manufacturing capability to do it in-house. This is the reality of the current situation, regardless of the over publicized salary contingency plan.

I have to laugh at the saps that say they are doing OUR work. Most of us have been on the job over 25 years. We know these jobs inside and out and can do them in our sleep. These fools that never have got their hands dirty before know nothing. Eventually they may get something done. Then they can ship their work out for assembly. Time at SIK is money, so we've been told. Those salary workers and the scumbags that cross the lines better not make any mistakes because as soon as we get back, they'll be gone. Ask the scabs in Alabama how crossing the line helped them. We might have to deal with a similar fate is we didn't have a union to protect us. The union has stood behind us for years. Now, we stand behind the union!

To the posting @9:02:

Boo-hoo. It's not fair! Whaaa! Stop your crying already. What kind of coverage do you think the rest of the country gets? You are extremely lucky at what is being offered and it better than most companies. Should the company pay for your gas, your groceries, your clothes and your mortgage too?

Just because you've been bucking rivets for 25 years doesn't mean it takes 25 years to learn how to buck a rivet.

I heard Rocco is starring in a gay porn movie called STICK IT TO ME LIKE I STUCK IT TO THOSE 3500 OTHER GUYS.

It comes as no surprise that Steve Finger is gone. UTC will try to paint this as a promotion but it is not so. The surprise is that he lasted this long. This gentleman has done more to gum up the works than any of his predecessors. There was talk on the floor of a meeting that he reportedly had with Gene Buckley (a past president) in which he reputedly asked how he could repair the 25 ship slippage in the schedule. Buckley’s reported reply was, “You can’t�. The primary source of his problems was the attempt to transform too many processes at once, too soon. They attempted to outsource airframe construction, and stopped internal production before the new vendors were producing acceptable product. This, combined with the mess that was made of the rest of the supply chain resulted in our not making schedule. It also left us scrambling to find something to do, with parts at such a premium. It is rather difficult to build helicopters when the parts aren’t there.

Those who want us to work more efficiently to get the job done could help us by doing the following:

Sort out the supply chain so that we get the parts we need when we need them. This means fixing or getting rid of SAP.

Sort out the procedures so that we have the information we need to accomplish the job correctly.

Fix or get rid or Solumina. This screwed up program causes us to spend three times the amount of time it takes to do the job to document it. To give an example, when the aircraft on the line were getting their Tail Gearbox Output seals upgraded, anywhere from 10 to 18 removals were generated. With Solumina, it takes 20 minutes to create a removal and another 20 to clear it. Multiply that by the number of removals generated by this task. This is time we could be spending getting other productive tasks accomplished. This is just one of the problems with this system.

Once upon a time, we put out 3 to 4 Blackhawks a week. With the impediments to production that management has put in place, it is no wonder we had so much time to twiddle our thumbs, waiting for the parts to get a job done. When the parts did show up, guys grabbed them quickly just so they would have something to do. It is incredibly frustrating to see what happened to the production system when we used to turn them out at three times the rate we were putting them out when we left. Those who would accuse us of goldbricking need to look in the mirror for the causes of their problems.

As for those who say we do not earn our money, we are the only ones who do, because we actually produce product. Those who are complaining are largely overhead, themselves, and are covering their own insecurities and inadequacies by complaining about us. This is a small minority of an excellent and respected workforce. Most of the salaried workforce are great people whom I have enjoyed working with. The problem lies with the elitists who look on hourly people as a lower form of life so that they can feel good about themselves.

As for economics, let's reduce this to minimums. The company is here to make money. Each and every worker for the company is also here to make money. The company makes money by producing a product or service for the lowest possible cost to the company and for the highest price they can get on the market. The workers provide a product or service, specifically their time, labor, skill, experience and, in some cases, the risk of their lives to produce the product for the company. They, too, are trying to make the most money for the least cost. When the company is making money hand over fist, the workers have a valid reason to expect the company to share the wealth with those who get the job done for them. Shareholders are but one of the stakeholders in a company. The customers, the workers, the suppliers and the community at large also have a stake in the survival and success of the company, and expect some return on their investment, as well. That is why we are on the line now. Whether the worker has invested 4 years or 24, he or she has an investment in the company that he or she has a right to expect a return on.

"Most of us have been on the job over 25 years. We know these jobs inside and out and can do them in our sleep."

So what?!?! Your jobs are easy, anyone can do them!!!

The company's contingency plan wasn't to maintain production with a salaried-only workforce, you idiot. The company's contingency plan was to finish up what they could with the salaried folks, ship what they could out of house and eventually relocate the entire works out of state. Wake up and smell reality.

TO JOHN GOZZI,
IT'S TIME TO SHUT DOWN THIS HATE RIDDEN BLOG !!!!

To Enough: Don't like it, don't read it, but don't deny other people the chance to express their opinions, pass information, vent, etc.

Reading this blog is great!! Sounds as if it is a war of words between hourly and salary. Is it?
If I can recall, it was suppose to be about $$ out of pocket. Union members... is your bottom line better now than before the strike? Are you going to recover before the next contract? Are you all too consumed by this stance? Life is short and you all are making yourself miserable. Remember, it is about money. Your money and not about saving the world from corporate greed as you will hear Hoffa say today. Cut your losses and dont worry about saving face. Your Union Leaders need to hear that from its members.

I feel that a national rally on the part of the Teamsters will be constructive in raising awareness of the healthcare crisis in
our country.

I realize that it will cause a traffic nightmare and inconvenience local residents. But, at the same time, they are addressing a problem that continues to spiral, out of control, and affects all of us.

They should be given credit for getting involved and taking a stand. It is very admirable.

NEWS FLASH SIKORSKY JUST FIRED STEVE FINGER! BYE BYE STEVE!!!!!!!!!!!

To all of you who say no salaried worker can do your job I offer the following:
1)Who hired you - a salaried worker
2)Who trained you - probably a salaried worker
3)Who designed what you build - a salaried worker

Speaking from experience, anything an engineer designs, an engineer can build. If you want a job, you had better get back to work, before the company realizes, you are not really needed.

TO ALL YOU SALARIED WORKERS SHOULDN'T YOU BE WORKING INSTEAD OF WRITING B S ON THIS BLOG?

Part of the problem we have on the floor is the fact that just because it works on paper, doesn't make it work in assembly. And No salaried worker Ever trained anybody I know of.

There is a lot of the salary vs. hourly here because those are the only two constituencies that post to this blog. Senior management and the Union leadership do not post here. They fight the battle of the press releases. Because of their leadership positions they must be more circumspect in their comments. Of course, management does find a way to get its spin in here, since they have PR people to monitor this blog and post their rumors. We have to rely on our own talents. We have such talent because many of us possess our own college educations, and can post in an eloquent and level - headed manner. Of course, the posts here are not limited to those trying to advance the debate. Many hotheads from both sides post here. It seems that there are more such posting from the management point of view. I will let the readers judge the truth of that.

HEY SALARIE WORKERS SIKORSKY GIVE YOU A COMPUTER TO DO WORK NOT TO SURF THE NET! LEAVE THE BLOG ALONE AND GO DO MY JOB IF YOU THINK YOU CAN! MAYBE YOU WILL SEE THE STUPIED B S I HAVE TO WORK WITH AFTER YOU SO CALL DESIGNED IT! HAVE A NICE DAY!

Oh contraire, contraire!!!! The REALITY of it is that outsourcing was planned before the strike, you've only expedited the process.Go TEAM(sters)!!

Reply to Outsider Looking In,

Who shows up in the machine shop, scratching his head, asking the "ignorant" hourly worker how to manufacture a part?

A salaried worker!

Who drops of the EOs consisting of... "Make per CATIA solid model" and hauls ass back upstairs to tell his suprvisor what an outstanding job he did?

A salary worker!

Yes, we sure would be LOST without your help!

As of last count we have about 1200 or so people on the floor- about 1/2 are agency or ex-union workers. It's really nice working here with people who care and put forth real work- doing former union jobs in a fraction of the time with better quality. The bulk of you were quite obviously parasites sucking the company dry by working as slow as possible.

Thank god you are gone- please do not come back!

Did anyone notice that the union USED to have their address up on their website but they took it down yesterday? My understanding is that Rocco and company are being buried under a blizzard of registered mail from people resigning the union.

congrats strikers!

s92 line is being shipped out.

BYE BYE S-92!!!!!!!!!!!!HAVE A NICE DAY!

Stop crying already. I've been in the same business for the last ten years. My yearly raise has been consistently around 1 and half to 2 percent per year. My health benefits for my whole family are 225 dollars every 2 weeks with a 20 dollar copay for all doctors and office visits. They've gotten so high in the passed few years that I've actually had to opt out of health insurance and rely only on my wifes policy which is still more than 50 dollars a week. We've all known SIK workers and it's no secret the gravy train you guys all live on. Why don't you guys spend a little time looking for a job where you actually have to work for a living and see how good you guys really have it. Lets not even start on the bonus you get for signing the contract and going about your normal daily business....whining about how tough you have it. Stop your pissing and moaning go back to work and support your families

Read in the CT Post that the strike lines are like being at a picnic or party everyday. Yeah this s real fun! Standing around an open fire barrel, cooking and eating outside, screaming at people like a crazy person . All the tainining to become a homeless person, too bad I got to bring my family down with me(Excuseme, my REAL FAMILY at home)Please settle this thing, Rocco, you tried and maybe you feel you had a good run,not all of us agree for striking but it lookslike a lost battle. Lick our wounds and go back to work. And those who already went back I.m sure it took alot of courage and strength to do what you had to do, I for one will NEVER harrass you if and when we go back. At least these people have jobs!!!

What a difference a day makes! I have received numerous performance awards and accolades from my managers for my contributions to Sikorsky over the years.

Two weeks later, I'm a lazy, uneducated, ignorant, slacker. WOW

What upsets me more is that I don't have a Harley or any big cigars that the entire hourly workforce supposedly enjoy!

NOW THE SALARY WORKERS CAN GO TO THE HIGH BAY TO SWEEP THE FLOORS WITH THE REST OF THE 1200 SO CALLED WORKERS THAT ARE THERE! HAVE A NICE DAY!

I have now seen, through this blog, that Union members are no longer United in this so-called Brotherhood. How is it that one states, come back to the line and all will be forgotten, welcomed back with opened arms, mistakes will be forgiven, and MINUTES later another blog pops up stating that the "scumbags that crossed the line" will be gone once I get back. Whos'the brotherhood based on Cain and Able????

Not all salaried workers are anti-hourly, actually very few, if any are. Let's agree on one thing, there are good and bad salary and hourly!

End of story.

I think the salary are getting ticked off at hourly because you seem to forget that you HAVE and HAD better medical coverage than the rest of UTC for a long time. Now, you think you deserve to continue that at the companies and OUR expense.

That is where we draw the line. You have the right to strike, but don't accuse us of being Rats and Scabs because we accepted our duties as employees of this corporation.

And we all agree health care is out of control, but it's only going to get worse, so go picket in front of the White House. Right now you are just wasting your own time and money, not to mention the companies and governments. Be more constructive, go to the root, not the result.

I think you'll find that there won't be too many insults thrown the unions way from salary workers if you strike in DC.. you'd probably win our support at that point.

I would like to talk about the contract that Sikorsky Aircraft proposed to its
Teamsters 1150 Members. First, I have worked for Sikorsky for 22 years and I have never seen a medical plan this bad. It seems to me that Sikorsky feel that it is a fair plan, And an all around good one. Sikorsky points out that they are.
Giving us a big 3.5 raise each year for 3 years and a $2000 signing bonus.
And they raised our pension a couple of dollars, and that is pretty much it for money gains for us. The medical plan that we had for a family, Weekly
Contribution was $27 dollars they propose $52.15 the first year.
So if you look at the numbers I was paying $108 a month $1296 a year
Now it will go to $208 a month and $2.503 a year. Second year $61 a week $247 a month $2.971 a year. Third year $72 a week $291 a month $3.492 a year
So over the life of the contract just the weekly deduction increase is
$2.196 so there goes the signing bonus. And that just the weekly deduction
Never mind the co-pay going up ever year, and the $500 deductible.
The max out of pocket was $900, now it’s $3.000. That’s for a family
The company also said that the average sikorsky employee’s make $65.000
A year this is not true. I did make over that last year, but I was working seven days a week from August to December, and I was burning myself
Out. And it wasn’t worth it.
I would like to ask that you please print this letter so that the people can see
How unfair the contract is. And why we are fighting for affordable health care.

R T Ruff

"NEWS FLASH SIKORSKY JUST FIRED STEVE FINGER! BYE BYE STEVE!!!!!!!!!!"

He wasnt fired, he was promoted to Pratt and Wittney's president...Sikorsky makes pennies compared to the money that Pratt brings in, why would UTC take a guy from a lower profit division (i.e. Sikorsky) and move him to the highest profit division (i.e. Pratt)unless they liked what he did? If you were changed from assmembling a nut onto a bolt to putting together a whole gearbox along with a pay increase would you consider it being fired or promoted? Get your facts straight before you post something dumb.

TO JOHN GOZZI...

This blog was an outstanding project on your part. But, the information being posted here is now 90% fabrication. My congatulations to you though! You did a great job on your Action News 8 interview as well. I hope I get to meet you some time.

GO BACK TO WORK...I can not afford to pay for you idiots much longer. My taxes may be going up b/c you are not happy?? Perhaps I can have your addresses and you can all split the increase of my taxes and pay if for me. Obviously you make enough money that you do not have to work unlike the rest of us. You are a bunch of cry babies and the DRAMA has got to stop!!!!! What about the people who have no health benefits and struggle just to make ends meet? Is the extra financial burden that you are putting on them fair?

You know, that's the biggest problem here... some of you have spent your entire working life sheltered by the big Sikorsky umbrella and have no idea what it is like in the real world. Well, now you are going to have to go out and find a job where you will be expected to perform up to standard or be fired, where you will be paying even more for health insurance than the 80/20 plan UTC offered you, where you will not have a pension plan awaiting you upon retirement and where you may even be let go before you reach retirement age. You have been sheltered for far too long. You have no idea how easy you've had it all these years. Those days are now over and you can thank your UNION for that, not the company. Take a look around you, take a joy ride through the Pennsylvania rust belt... THAT is what unions have done to this country. I for one hope Sikorsky does leave CT. There are lots of trainable people elsewhere who would be more than happy to take your jobs and do them for half of what Sikorsky is paying you to sleep on the aircraft all day.

Mr. Ruff, wouldn't you rather be wiring an "R" aircraft than commenting on this blog?

STRIKE CAUSES LOSS OF HUMAN LIFE

Yes, we now have a recorded DEATH as a result of the strike. A fine woman has lost her life because of the distraction caused by the strikers down in West Palm Beach.

Seems the driver of a big Dodge pickup, a fellow union moron, was so focused on waving to the Sikrorsky stikers that he didn't see the RED LIGHT at the intersection. He plowed RIGHT INTO the side of this poor woman's small car, killing her instantly.

What a WASTE this whole thing is proving to be, huh?

41 people crossed the line yesterday alone. I have seen others that have been back since Monday, yet the names are not listed! Why? Is there a planned coverup by union officials to not let the members know how many people have actually crossed back to work?

Strikes are stupid.
And now someone died.
You morons are bringing your kids to the rally?
Rally?! Are you serious?
You think your making the world aware of a health insurance crisis? We know already!
You obviously have had your head elesewhere.
Entitlement!

"TO ALL YOU SALARIED WORKERS SHOULDN'T YOU BE WORKING INSTEAD OF WRITING B S ON THIS BLOG?"

Shouldn't all of you strikers be getting ready for your parade? A real striker would be walking the line 8 hours a day. But none of you have put in an 8 hour day in years.

"NOW THE SALARY WORKERS CAN GO TO THE HIGH BAY TO SWEEP THE FLOORS WITH THE REST OF THE 1200 SO CALLED WORKERS THAT ARE THERE! HAVE A NICE DAY!"

Personally, I love sweeping the floor in the hangar. It's a lot easier than my job in Engineering, nobody hassles me, I get paid a lot more than you do, plus I get paid for up to 18 hours overtime a week. And we get snacks and drinks every afternoon, courtesy of the company. Today we're getting lunch for free, thanks to your adolescent hi-jinks outside the gate. By the way, thanks for all the great parking spots, although there are a lot less than there were a couple of weeks ago. And the mens' rooms are a lot cleaner, too. Take your time. I'm having a blast!

who died? Seriously.

I have a question... what is taking so long in determining the type of strike this is? It isn't that complicated. Could it be that the powers that be know its an economic strike and want to drag out the decision to hold SIK back from replacing all the workers right now?

A woman in FL died. She got hit by a truck.

To Annonymous 9:26 am
National rally in Stratford! National rally in Washington with millions would make sense. Why should Sikorsky workers be the poster child for health care reform? Although if you read this blog it is clear they have become the Teamsters guinea pigs. What is sad they are all so caught up in it they don't even see it. Stratford should bill the Teamsters. Why should the Stratford residents such as myself pay for the manipulative and incompetent union leaders fight. UTC wants everyone on the same plan, that says it all! The strikers should repeat that over and over and maybe they can get the union leaders to do something for them. What is so hard about understanding that, I don't think Sikorsky and all its works and certainly not Stratford should pay for the union leaders mistakes. Instead of admiration, I ask are you going to support their families or pay Stratford for the costs.Ridiculous! P.S. Now read above West Palm Beach woman dies! Someone needs to stop this insanity! But, I'm not sure you can ask the union leader they may beat you up! Concerned resident of Stratford

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbcwest/content/local_news/epaper/2006/03/09/s1a_PRINCIPAL_0309.html

From www.teamsters1150.org...

"Despite all of the pressure tactics used by the company, only a handful of people succumbed."

"We are pleased to announce that this list has gotten smaller, as people have changed their minds and decided to return to the picket lines to walk with their brothers and sisters. We are also pleased to report that many agency payers have decided to join the union during this strike and walk with their new brothers and sisters."

As I had indicated in my post yesterday, Hourly Employees who regret their decision in crossing the picket line to work will and ARE being WELCOMED back by their Teamster friends. It's never too late to do the right thing. People are very understanding and sympathetic during difficult times.

"NEWS FLASH SIKORSKY JUST FIRED STEVE FINGER! BYE BYE STEVE!!!!!!!!!!!"

>>
Hello! The level of misinformation and disinformation out there is astounding! I may not know anything about Sikorsky but I know how to read a newspaper. S. Finger's move to president of a larger division is a PROMOTION, not a FIRING!! Anyone who knows how to read can pick up a newspaper and see that Louis Chenevert, president of P&W was promoted to president of UTC and will take over as chairman in two years when Geo. David retires. Finger moves to Pratt to replace Chenevert, and Jeff Pino is promoted to president at Sikorsky. This is all part of a succession plan that was in place long before this foolish and destructive strike. The only firing I see happening is when Sikorsky gets smart and dumps the troublemakers. And then we will hear a giant sucking sound when all these jobs leave forever and go to Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Mexico. Buh-bye!

DESERTER - One who abandons his post.

DESERTION - An offence which consists in the abandonment of the public service, in the army or navy, without leave.

Your not in the military, but as a worker for a defense contractor, you're supposed to support them.

Way to go teamsters :(

And likewise, Sikorsky should support us instead of the stockholders!!!

Everyone, please, stop. This is not a personal attack on anyone. Stop hating each other. Let's all be adults here. Everyone has an opinion but at some point you're all working with each other again. This isn't about you or your character. This is an awful situation for everyone, on both sides. Everyone loves their job and is proud of what they do. Everyone is being impacted in some or many negative ways. There is an issue that must be resolved. Strikes don't destroy companies. It's the caliber of the people on both sides that destroy companies. Please, let's respect each other and not pass judgment on what each person is feeling... on either side. Remember, everyone is paying the price for a belief. Wouldn't things be so much better without the hatred of others taking the time to verbally express their emotions on this site? It's very, very hurtful.

all you stikers are obviously not needed.....are you looking for new employment???? in a few more weeks you will be crawling back begging for your old jobs back but they will be gone forever..you had best start packing now ,,,,you will not be able to afford to live in ct and support your families flipping burgers....so sorry but ignorant people must suffer for their stupid decisions

To the person who was misinformed again.
Steve Finger was promoted to Pratt and Whitney.
Pratt and Whitney's contract is coming up in 2007.
Why do you think he's going back to Pratt.
He's going back to finish his job.
Reference UTC's web site to see who is taking what place in UTC divisions.
Sikorsky is not doing as well as people think dispite all the rumours about product being shipped out. This is being done until the company and the union get back to talking.
This I'm sure will be done after the circus show is over.
Rocco needs to be on Television with Hoffa.
Make you feelings known at the Union meeting on Feb. 15th at Union Hall.
Call to be sure Rocco is there, not at the Marriot.

Good bye Steve Finger. Sorry to say the damage has already been done.Hope we all can rebound from it.Anyone who works at Sikorsky knows what I'm referring to.(if you're honest)

Teamsters Local 1150 slogan:

"UNITY" wrong, the guys on the picket line are turning on each other.
"PRIDE" wrong, how proud can an individual or group be to be spitting on cars, yelling obsenities, posting SHAME names and writing threats on this blog.
"STRENGTH" wrong, your strength weakens with every member who has and will still continue to cross the line.

HUMMM.. that also spells UPS, wonder if you can all get a job there after this is all over.

Good luck to all that believe and stand behind this slogan, hope you really know what you are doing.

It feels a little like a war zone...what happens when the generals, Rocco and Finger, leave? The landscape will be destroyed and will have to be rebuilt. That will take years if not decades. If SIK or UTC are monitoring this site, what would they think of their workforce? Would they feel that its worth waiting for the differences to be resolved in order for them to be productive again? Or would they cut their losses and start over with workers who could work together in a less expensive state?
No matter which side you're on, I'm sure any intelligent person has to see the ramifications of all of this. I fear that Connecticut will be the biggest loser... all the families will be impacted from those without jobs, those who are forced to relocate, those with higher taxes to pay for unemployment, etc.
This was a huge mistake, no matter how you look at it. Rocco is the one to blame. The only career that might be advanced is his.
Good luck and God Bless us all. This feels like the beginning of the end.

What would you do:

You own your own company, and have 200 people working for you. You give them one health plan and they are all on it. Everyone is fine with it because they realize health care is expensive, and what you gave them is not out of line with what other businesses are doing.

Then say you have 3 employees come to you and say they want their own health plan which has more coverage than everyone else. They are willing to cover the extra premiums, but you will be stuck paying the extra payouts and the added cost of administering a second plan. What would you do?

Sounds like a lateral move for Finger not a promotion. Why are they bringing him there for the upcoming Pratt negotiations---to try and bust their union too? FYI the next union meeting is March 15th NOT Feb. l5th--get your facts straight!!!!

"NEWS FLASH SIKORSKY JUST FIRED STEVE FINGER! BYE BYE STEVE!!!!!!!!!!!" NA NA NA NA HAY HAY HAY GOOD BYE!!!! HAVE A GREAT DAY!!!!

To the “Wife of [the Salary] Worker� –

I resent the picture you have painted of the Sikorsky hourly worker—that he/she is uneducated, lazy, merely needs to “show up� to get paid, and doesn’t care about his/her family.

Under normal circumstances, your husband works his 8-hour day and sits down to dinner with his family. He watches his favorite TV show, catches up on the day’s news, and perhaps enjoys some time with his children or a favorite hobby. He looks forward to weekends where he can attend family events, social functions, etc. He supports his family and lives a “normal� life. And good for him. It’s the job he chose.

My husband, on the other hand, often works 12- to 18-hour days, eating whenever he gets home if he’s not too tired. He goes to bed right away—no TV, newspaper or down time—so he can report to work on time the next morning. Weekend plans are almost always contingent upon whether or not he will be required to work. But he loves his job and rarely complains. He works the overtime so that the company that has employed him for three decades can deliver their ships on time and in good working order. He supports his family without the normalcy that most salary workers enjoy. And that’s okay, too. It’s the job HE chose. Is the overtime money good? Of course it is. Would he trade some of that overtime money for a more “normal� life? In a heartbeat.

My husband is not jealous of the life your husband chose. And I do not resent the life my husband chose. (Where is all YOUR resentment coming from—perhaps that fact that your “normal� life has been disrupted a bit?) We are all entitled to our own thoughts and opinions regarding this strike. But who are YOU to label hourly workers as uneducated and lazy? I’d have to guess that a good number of hourly workers are better educated than you. I’d also have to guess that there are a good number of salary workers that provide “very little output�. As with every aspect of life, good and bad exist everywhere. Your sweeping generalization is completely out of line.

You wrote, “What about your families? Don’t you care that you need to support them?� To that I can only say, “To ‘H***’ with YOU.�

I’m glad your husband is loving the extra money he’s making doing an hourly worker’s job. Perhaps you can use some of that extra money for a class in letter writing . . . or, at the very least, to learn how to proofread before you hit “Submit�. Exactly who is uneducated here?

hmmmm... First the union is a close knit family... all for one, etc. They drag the people who want to work out with them. When those people realize they have options for their real families and talk about going back to work, they are met with coersion and threats to try to FORCE them into submission. When they show great courage and strength and return to work (after being put on a Wall of Shame)then the union changes it tune again and now says "please reconsider and come back to the line. All will be forgiven". This sounds desperate to me. Which way is it? Either you are the POS they called you and your life will be hell (which is what they promised) or now suddenly, its all OK and you'll be welcomed back no questions asked. They will try anything they need to do to manipulate you. Anyone can see that.

Now, if they are so willing to lie to and manipulate you in this way, doesn't it make sense, from all you now know, that they did it before the strike and will continue to do it to further their own agenda?

Please give this some thought. There are some loudmouths on this blog, but the general opinion is that you were all taken advantage of. But, remember... "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!"

Just and observation where are your brothers & sisters the crowd is only about 1000 shouldn't it be at least 3 times that amount.

Can the Town of Stratford sue the Union or its leaders to recoop the cost of the PD overtime?

Stratford should look into it.

THREE CHEERS FOR TH WIFE OF A HOURLY WOKER! THANK YOU!

I couldn't have said it better myself. I never know whether I'll see my husband either, and we're a family of five. But he loves his job, he does have a college degree -- actually a couple of them. Our weekends are always dependent as well on whether he HAS to work. BUT the pride he has in his job is tenfold to what I am seeing from anyone on this site. This isn't about education or hurting the salaried wife's spouse. It's really off the beaten path a little. Stick and stones... if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it at all... boy, didn't any of you people on this site learn anything from your parents? Respect could go a long way at this time of your life. Hopefully we'll all get through this, both sides, and be better for it.

I'm leaving now..see you there?

"And likewise, Sikorsky should support us instead of the stockholders!!!"

Fisrt of all it's UTC's call on benefits, not Sikorsky. The picketing belongs in Hartford -although it's certainly more convenient to do so locally.

# 2 it's all about the stockholders! I don't like anymore than you, but being part of the salary ranks we see it all the time. From UTC's perspective, it's what we deliver to our "customers" on Wall Street that means the most. Sikorsky (like the other business units)is just a means to an ends.

To the good employees hurt by the strike and mad about being labled 'lazy, no good' from anti union blogs....
Sleep with dogs, your going to get fleas

No Rocco all week long...then the rally...bingo. he is on the line.
Thats leadership!
Sad,sad, sad

Stop responding to people who insult the salary and hourly... we ALL know there are great workers on both sides, and bad ones too. everyone knows this, quit wasting space defending your hardworking husbands, nobody cares, we already know!!!!

I just drove past the Main St. Circus, didn't see the thousands that were suppose to be there. Did see people wandering around trying to look important. Did see teamsters from out of state walking along RTE.110. I guess this SMALL rally is fizzling as fast as local 1150. Imagine if it were cold how few would have shown up. Time to wake up kids. GAME OVER !!

This is all well and good and I agree that families should be left out of this stuff. However, you don't have a clear picture of the salary lifestyle either. My husband goes in at 6:00 or 6:30 every morning. He could leave around 3 pm or so, but rarely does unless his has a doctor's appt. He has to stay and handle things that always come up. That's a routine day.. in at 6 and home at 5,5,7 or later. There is no overtime for all his extra work, but he does it gladly because he also loves his job and takes pride in the fact that he is doing something important and he is a professional and that goes with the territory. We can never make plans for weekends, because he needs to travel so much. Again, he doesn't get paid for the travel time or the 15 to 18 hour days he has to put in on the road to get the job done to get back to the work in the office. He has found out as late at 8 pm that he has to rent a car, etc. and be on the road at 3:00 am the next day. We accept this and support him because SIK pays well and it keeps a roof over our head and food on the table. We understand that this goes with the territory. If we don't like it, its our responsiblity to find a better job situation for our family. And if we're really lucky, our vacation isn't cancelled because he has a business trip to go on.
I appreciate your situation, but please do not think that just because a person is salary that they have a 9 to 5 job. What they have is similiar to your situation, but without the OT. That's why they make the extra money, because they are expected to be professional at all times, and do whatever it takes to get the job done and that means that sometimes the needs of the company have to come before their own. That's why they are gladly doing what it takes to keep this company going right now and every person on the picket line should be thanking them, not harrassing them. They are given that trust from the company because they alone are held responsible for their own actions... good and bad.

Why are you disgracing the American flag on top of all of this???

I would like to address this comment.
You might want to re-read the Bill of Rights.

I would guesstimate that about 30% or more of the people carrying signs, AND FLAGS, are veterans.
There will be NO disrespect to our flag while we are picketing, don't worry.

To all the Stratford residents who are crying about their new and temporary inconvenience,
Did you think that this would NEVER HAPPEN?
Didn't your realtor point out that Sikorsky Aircraft was the biggest employer (and taxpayer)in town?
When Igor Sikorsky built his factory, there were only farms and woods here.
It is because of his dream that the area became developed.
Again, I will remind Stratford residents in the area, it is a temporary inconvenience.

The union is fighting for much more than that.

Nobody out for the rally today? Just goes to show, A lot of these posters are posting for Hartford.Get a TV,will ya!

Are you hourly wives kidding me???
First off to the know-it-all computer wiz..it's "POST" not "SUBMIT".
Secondly, don't know who your husbands are or even care but they are giving you a line of bull bigger than Rocco's.!!!Here's the facts ladies:
SALARIED employees are TOLD to work on the weekends, free of charge, no OT.
HOURLY guys are asked if they want the OT and then fight with each other and beg their supervisor to be picked, and the one's that don't go crying to their Union rep. Get it straight ladies, they want the overtime more than family time.

I didn't know there were so many mathemeticians around. All I know is that it looks darn good the way the News Channel 8 is talking. They used the word "thousands" and showed quite a crowd there. I'm beginning to think that salary is just jealous... where's your unity? Your support system? Little lost sheep...You made your choice, they made theirs ... wow, makes me feel real good seeing the support they're getting. They're strength is gaining by the seconds now. Good luck salaried folks.

To all those who think salaried = an 8 hour, laid-back day : you have no idea what you are talking about.

Or you are living in the past, about 15 yrs ago or more.

The place has thinned out considerably and our days have gotten longer and longer - and this is commonplace EVERYWHERE, not just at Sikorsky.

Thw world is getting smaller and smaller and times have changed.

Home Depots & Lowes have wiped out Ma & Pa hardware stores. CVS, Walgreens, & RiteAids have eclipsed the local pharmacies that used to be sprinkled around town. And Sikorsky is not the only manufacturer making medium lift helicopters.

I suggest you ask yourself if you've adjusted your thinking to the present. The game has changed, can you ?

I'd like to see jobs stay in Connecticut. To do that, we need to make the best product at the most efficient price ( no BS jacking it up )to beat the competition.

But if you are thinking it's 1990 still, I can't help you.

Yes, we now have a recorded DEATH as a result of the strike. A fine woman has lost her life because of the distraction caused by the strikers down in West Palm Beach.

Seems the driver of a big Dodge pickup, a fellow union moron, was so focused on waving to the Sikrorsky stikers that he didn't see the RED LIGHT at the intersection. He plowed RIGHT INTO the side of this poor woman's small car, killing her instantly.

I read the article in the florida paper, seems the driver and passengers were NOT teamsters, but in fact were illegal immigrants.

Please everyone, watch how you drive!
We do not want any tragedies!

I have nothing to gain in this fight except for my taxes. Why should my taxes go up just because you don't like the health benefits. DON'T GET THEM. don't you have a choice to decline health coverage. If you think you can do better without UTC assistance go for it since you seem to have all the answers, but stop wasting my tax paying dollars for your own personal gain.

100,000 people could show up at the rally today--and............
How is that going to change UTC stance?

Steve Finger came to Sikorsky from Pratt. He brought that place to its knees. Now he is going back to mess it up again. Sorry Pratt workers. I feel your pain. Oh yea, it is not a Promotion for Finger. Thank you UTC for the removal of this destructive heartless snail belly scratching maggot. ACE? LEAN? LOOSER!

Looks like less that 1000 people there and many not from Local 1150

traffic running smooth on 110

I've been reading the blog and comments since they started. They've been getting nastier as time goes on which is understandable as tensions are rising, but really now. The name calling and profanities need to stop. Act like the grownups you all are. What these posts have boiled down to is childish to say the least.

In response to Unitedtheylook:
The salary unity is inside the plant doing the unions job and making money. The Teamster clowns can have their pitty parties all they want, the end result will be the same; the same offer that was offered Feburary 19th. The bottom line is to suck it up and go back to work. Healthcare sucks, no one wants to pay it but what are you going to do? As Frank Sinatra said "Thats life"

The quicker you all realize you will make no difference, the faster you all can get back to work. Furthermore, your union should pay the Town of Stratford for the unnecessary costs to pretect your sorry butts. This might aid to stop the closure of yet another school because of your poor decisions. And you call yourselves a family. Family starts and ends at home, not at the picket playground.

Listen..... that sound you hear is the laughter from inside. I just got a call from my husband. They stopped and went to the windows to see the BIG RALLY.... THOUSANDS.... he said you're lucky if there's 1,000. Even the other teamsters don't support you ... and its warm today. Please know when to quit when you're behind. No one wants to see your families suffer. Godspeed.

Can anyone say Million Man March?

Maybe you should listen to the comment above.... As Frank Sinatra would say... "That's Life... Riding High in April, shot down in May" and last time I checked he was Jimmy Hoffa's Boss too!

Turn on WICC 600 it even seems like the UCONN Huskies are more important. I thought they were going to cover this 24 7

You guys SUCK. I have to suffer as a taxpayer because of your dumb strike. Hope you all lose your jobs.

Don't make this my battle.

God - its like watching a train wreck. You don't want to watch, but yet you just can't take your eyes off it.

Please listen to reason. Some of the comments here are out of line, but they have been escalating because of the growing frustration of people who are trying to warn you. You're about to jump off the cliff!! No one wants to see you ruined because you were taken advantage of. Please wake up and ask the hard questions... where is leadership? Why are they hiding, except when there's a photo op? Why can't you get your questions answered? Why isn't Rocco coming up with an alternate proposal to begin the talks again? Why were you lied to originally? At the very least, you must be able to see that you need new leaders! A general should not desert the troops in a time of war. Isn't that cowardice for all you ex-military guys? AWOL? There's no shame in admitting you made a mistake. Do it before its too late. Don't let egos cloud your judgment. Good luck!

Huskies down 11 at the half.

I think they messed up the votes. I think more voted YES to REJECT the contract not to EXCEPT.

Who's to say, the Union reps were so unorganized at the beginning anyway.

That would explain why there is so few people at the rally.

Why show up if you wanted the contract in the first place.

I am blessed with a wonderful, loving husband who works his butt off all day without complaint, even though he doesn't get paid for the overtime, and comes through the door at the end of the day happy to have such a great job, such a supportive wife and such a loving family. We feel we are truly blessed. Sikorsky has made it possible for us to do so many things that we would not otherwise have been able to do. My husband is going back to school to pursue another degree. I am able to be a stay-at-home mother so that our children are being raised 100% by their parents, not babysitters. We have excellent health insurance - yes, the UTC 80/20 - that has always covered everything with what I consider to be low out-of-pocket costs, including a mammogram for me and not only am I not even forty yet, I'm not even thirty-five! Sikorsky offers so many things that many companies today cannot or do not continue to offer, such as pensions, a 100% education reimbursement plan with $10k of company stock for each degree completed and enough flexibility that my husband can be there for pre-natal check-ups, school functions and other important events in our life together. Between the two of us, we have held probaby fifteen different jobs and not a single one of them offered anything that came even close to what we receive from Sikorsky. So yes, we feel that Sikorsky does a fantastic job of taking care of its employees and we are having a hard time understanding why they are being made out to be the bad guy in this situation. The real bad guys are in Washington, DC and that is where the Teamsters should have pitched their big top.

TO ANONYMOUS 12:51 WAAAA WAAAA IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT MOVE A** H***! HAVE A NICE DAY!

For all of you standing outside, click your ruby slippers 3 times and say,,,I want to go home, I want to go, I want to go home. Come back....

I am also very confused why WICC dropped strike coverage to follow sports. Not that they were doing any service broadcasting - they are incredibly BIASED and quickly terminate any call that does not support their position. And local TV stations have the same clips of the same
people since 6am - nothing substantial.

But realistically, we have had Presidents and First Ladies of the United States vow to reform healthcare and we can see that has gotten us all somewhere. And Local 1150 thinks they will be the 3600 (poorly behaved, dirty mouthed) mighty teamsters who will change the course of health care reform in this country.

PLEASE - you are the same people who can't figure out how to park within the lines in the Sikorsky parking lot with your huge hemis. And these guys build helicopters. You are a bunch of prima donnas who would not know how to make it without a union protecting your butts.

If there are 3600 union workers on strike and you add to that other teamsters supporting them.... shouldn't you come up with more than 1,000? I guess I'm just not good at math!!

Even your own union didn't support the rally!

I didn't even waste my time going. I don't want to hear anything from Rocco other than I f'ed up lets go back to work.

I seen alot of out of state trailers at the Dock this morning, traveled down RT 110 in my jeep following behind a jerk going 2 mph beeping his horn the entire way. The games are over folks, realize defeat and go back to work! I would hate for sikorsky to leave your belongings in the dumpster. I drove by i didnt beep but i think my sticker on my truck explains why....Im a B*tch inside! Have a great day all....now get back to work!

Rt Ruff

Did you expect the medical plan to get better and the costs to go down?

As a salaried single worker I am paying $141 a month for the plan you are rejecting. As has been mentioned before you have had a better plan than others in whole corporation for a number of years.

I don't advocate the companies policy's but I also know that if I don't like them I can leave.

Would somebody post the contract so those of us interested can read it to understand the facts?

Cost of health care is out of control, but it isn't the corporations fault.

Remember the old antiwar saying "What If Somebody Threw A War And Nobody Came?.... Let's change that to "What If the Teamsters Threw A Rally And Nobody Came?.

I watched all the news reports and they estimated the crowd at 2 or 3 thousand. Wait a minute, aren't there 3600 union members? And half of them didn't even show up? Maybe they got the date wrong, or are just fed up with the union.

I think the Teamsters are sadly mistaken when they think they have public support. I agree that there is a problem with the healthcare in this country, but I surely don't agree with this strike and the tragic hardships that have been brought upon the good workers of SAC. This fellow Rocco missed this one by a mile. My real sympathies go to the Teamster who was on WPLR who is losing his job at the Stop & Shop North Haven distribution center. He wondered why there is all this hoopla over Sikorsky's health care and no support for him and his coworkers who are losing their jobs!.

This mess boils down to totally mixed up priorities. Union members talking about walking the line for however long it takes, and then you hear about union members whose wives have recently had babies and cannot get the proper care for the newborn. Rocco writes about a strike at Diamond Walnut that lasted 14 years and he considered that a success!!! This is INSANITY

Why exactly is Hoffa Late ???? Not so sure of himself maybe...........

Where are all these other teamsters coming from? I guess they walked off their job that they WERE CONTRACTED to do, just to come down here and annoy the innocent residents of Stratford. Shows you how good their word is.

Ya know something, in the beginning everyone wanted to see the under dog teamsters win their fight...But its a fact of life that the under dog almost always losses in the end ....Checkmate, ...... Game Over

The only teamsters there are the ones that use to have jobs,that is until they went out on strike and lost their jobs by listening to the unions .......

Will CIGNA cover my new life partner? (He thinks Teamsters are savages.)

Let me think. What should I do? Should I walk around in circles like I did at work everyday, do nothing and get paid for it? Or, should I walk around in circles in front of the gate, eat free donuts and pizza, not get paid for it, and hope I don't need to see a doctor because I don't have any health care? Pass me another Bavarian Cream!! Brilliant!!

Not much of a rally, people who were there were excited, but half of them were from out of state. WICC Traffic airplane reported shortly before noon that there was less than 1000 there and traffic was moving smoothly. I think that says more about our plight than anything else.

Uh-oh. I think the children have taken over this site. Haven't seen a mature response in a loooonnnng time. To the taxpayers, sorry you feel the need to blame the union for the police presence. I agree that it is a state issue and the state should help ease the burden for the Stratford taxpayers. However, the reason for the police presence is for Sikorsky, period, salary and union. Let's not forget the first ticket went to a poor salaried gentleman who decided to speed out of the area...

Notice no one is responding to you about where is Rocco? That's because the hourly folk have know where Rocco is, and he's doing a heck of a good job on the union's behalf. Just another scare tactic. There must be only five or so of you salaried folk sitting in there monitoring this blog, brainstorming together, trying to figure out what you're gonna throw out there to get everyone riled up. Yep, you got some people biting, but the ones who really need to bite are on the picket line. The union is strong and will stay strong no matter what tactic you throw out here on this site.

There...there....does everybody feel bedda-wedda now that JimmyWimmy made a speechyweechy?

http://www.webuyhousesforcash.com/cash_offer.php

I just drove by.
This is what you call a rally?
10,000 members coming down? I saw 800 tops!
Says alot for your plight.
BTW, the wall of shame is no longer accurate, the number has increased not decreased.
The union doesn't want to admit it.
This getting silly now.

Channel 12 news had a little coverage of the rally. They said about 2,000 were there. They showed large vehicles from MA and other areas that brought in teamsters. One SIK striker was all fired up and saying this showed how united they all were. If they were so united, why are there only 2,000 there (including many brought in from out of the area) when 3,600 are out on strike. That would say to me that probably 50% or less of 1150 actually supports the strike and depending on the number brought in the figures could be much lower. I'd love to have info on how many were brought in to bolster the numbers.

Also, what could be more important to Hoffa than the thousands he has out of work? Maybe they were making a lot of calls to try to get more people out there, so he wouldn't look more foolish than he already does.

UConn...OT

Anonymous2:06 - so I guess you're hiding the other 9,000 or so that you all say are at the rally, right?

Believe what you gotta to get through the nights, but just because you need to hold to this BS you're being fed, doesn't make it true.

Politicians, Hoffa, Out of state Teamsters, maybe 1000 people added up to visual public relations nightmare for 1150

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY TO ALL OF THE STRIKERS A BIG THANKS. WITH YOU OUT MY HUSBAND AND OTHER WORKERS ARE GETTING YOUR PAYS..IT IS REALLY NICE TO HAVE THAT OVERTIME MONEY.. YOU ALL ARE A BUNCH OF FOOLS. YOU CAN GO TO SCHOOL FOR FREE & GET 10K WHEN YOUR DONE WERE ELSE WILL THEY DO THAT? ALSO MY HUSBAND AND THE OTHER WORKERS ARE TAKING OVER YOUR JOBS TOO!!!!!!! SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD REALLY RE-THINK YOUR CHOSES.

The preplanning for the strike has just been released:

"I think they f*** will f*** want f*** givebacks..."

"Yeah, so what we need to f*** do is harass the f*** salary staff who have no authority over this whatsoever. Oh, we must also be a burden on the f*** Shelton taxpayers. "

"Yeah! YEAH! That way f*** Hartford HAS to give us what we f*** deserve!"

Jeez, I was expecting at least a couple of arrests. This has got to be the single most BORING exhibition the Teamsters have ever put on in their entire existence. Storm the gates, indeed! The most they accomplished is a little traffic. Where in CT is there NOT a traffic problem, that's what I'd like to know.

Was out at rally with co-workers/friends, lots of whispers about crowd size and wondering how bad anti strike feelings are growing. Makes me wonder?

Really. If I hear one more time WHY WON'T THEY GIVE US WHAT WE WANT, I'm going to have to send them to time out!

Sikorsky is the root of all evil!!! Yes, they gave you "jobs" with good benefits for years, but you have every right to blame them. The likes of you are the riff raff that companies should screen out because you are ungrateful to the core. Why aren't you out there on the picket line supporting your brothers? It is really impossible to have any communication with ignorant people. Why even bother. Good luck.

Okay, party's over... NOW WHAT?!

A question...
Does the City of Stratford have an obligation to enforce all the laws equally and fairly? If so, why are open fires allowed for teamsters? If so, why can the teamsters block off an entrance to a private corporation? I'd get a ticket if I blocked my neighbors drive. You may have the right to strike, but why does the police dept. in Stratford look the other way when local laws and ordinances are being broken? Do you have the right to block traffic? Do you have the right to harrass?

The mayor and local authorities should be careful about the precedent they are setting and the perception. Does this mean that the unionized police protect other unions?

Yes party is over, now it is time to look for a new job!

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS WHEN YOU GET YOUR JOBS BACK IF YOU DO..I WOULD NOT EVEN BOTHER THE BRAVE PEOPLE WHO CROSSED THE LINE.. OR THE SALARY PEOPLE. IF I WAS THE PRESIDENT OF SIK AND ANYONE BOTHER ANYONE I WOULD CAN YOU A**..

I think neither labor nor salary is even looking at this site. Could it be that this is another playground for the unmonitored teenagers in the world? There is just no way that mature adult people, grandparents, parents, sisters, brother, aunts, uncles, cousins... behalf like this.

Response to: the below
"Posted by: anonymous on March 9, 2006 12:04 PM

Why are you disgracing the American flag on top of all of this???

I would like to address this comment.
You might want to re-read the Bill of Rights.

I would guesstimate that about 30% or more of the people carrying signs, AND FLAGS, are veterans.
There will be NO disrespect to our flag while we are picketing, don't worry.

To all the Stratford residents who are crying about their new and temporary inconvenience,
Did you think that this would NEVER HAPPEN?
Didn't your realtor point out that Sikorsky Aircraft was the biggest employer (and taxpayer)in town?
When Igor Sikorsky built his factory, there were only farms and woods here.
It is because of his dream that the area became developed.
Again, I will remind Stratford residents in the area, it is a temporary inconvenience.

The union is fighting for much more than that."

Are you KIDDING me.
Are you and your teamster buddies preparide to pay my increased taxes.......

I've heard a lot of talk about this being unfair. I have heard a lot of questions being asked. What I'd like to know is why no one is answering those questions.

HAS ANYONE LOOKED FOR ANOTHER JOB? ARE THERE BETTER JOBS OUT THERE FOR YOUR LEVEL OF QUALIFICATION?

If you have not done your research, you should. If the answer is no, you need to reconsider your current position.

Don't let FALSE pride ruin you. It is human to make mistakes. It takes someone with real character to admit when they are wrong and move on. The lame and the ignorant continue in a fight they can't win.

If only people put as much energy into their work as they do picketing and rallying... none of this would be happening right now.

I TRUELY AGAIN WITH THAT..

Nothing but Teamster babbies

If I cry loud enough, I get what I want.

Boo Hoo

ONLY IF THEY CRY LOUD ENOUGH!!! MAYBE THEY SHOUD JUST GIVE UP OR GET ANOTHER JOB SO WE DON'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR LAZY A**** FOR BEING OUT...

For a week we have sustained ourselves waiting for the rally. Now it is over. What is supposed to keep us going now, I can see another 3 weeks go by easily and the company will still be on their position, how do we know stay focused, or is it all over and should we pack it in?

When the Commanche contract got cancelled, if the comapany was out to get the union, they had the chance to 'can' hundreds.

But they didn't.

They went out of their w