Your Comments

They have to live with themselves...

Yes, that is true, but perhaps that comment does not deserve the negative connotation with which it was delivered. I, for one, could not live with myself if I were not going to work every day and putting in a good, solid eight hours of work for eight hours of pay. I could not live with myself if my wife or children had to do without a single thing because I chose to walk out on my job. I believe in having a solid work ethic, doing the job I am getting paid to do, loyalty, commitment, pride in workmanship, pride in my company, determination to prevail and a sense of right and wrong. I would not trade my personal ideals for all the money and health insurance in the world. And yes, I have to live with myself for that.

I for one am stuck. I have been out of work for 6 1/2 months on workers comp. I do not get the 232 dollars because the union says that I am member "not" in good standing because I owe back dues. I will have my dues waived, but I can't get any strike bennies until the "E" board meets again. So when I get released back to work should I cross the line, or join the strike? I had my insurance stopped, and I did not have a choice, I was out already, but the company feels that I am a striker. Now I ask, is that fair?

professionalism?????

Anybody see Mr Teddy Hawks??

There is an example of professionalism at its best! NOT!!

Yeah Ted, we all heard how you swore and cussed out Dave Adler, your Vice President...

Do you think he doesn't know who you are???

Think again,
I hear they have a new job lined up for you if and when you return.

Walking in your shoes is going to reall suck!
Dumb ass!

What I find amazing is the fact that:

the majority of the people that voted for this ridiculous strike in the first place, are 20 year people or better, and most of them have: 1. homes that are almost paid off 2. LARGE amounts of cash in savings, investments, and fat 401K's that they have access to 3. wives & husbands that are still working in other companies making good money 4. wives & husbands that they can rely on as far as health insurance is concerned.

What about all of us that just started a few years ago? What about all of us who were willing to go along with the contract? What about all of us who don't have thousands in a savings, or investment, or 401K? What about all of us who aren't married and have no one but ourselves to fend for?

Does Rocco have the answer to those questions? Do the thugs that are insisting upon making the lives of those who have gone back to work a living hell have the answers? Are they going to rally , and support a thousand people that voted to keep on working, and pay their mortgages and other bills?

All of a sudden, I don't hear anything but silence..............

Wall of shame! Shame on the union for judging people who may have no choice but to return to work for their REAL family. We teach our children that there is zero tolerance for bullying in school, maybe the teamsters need a lesson. People need to step back, sift through all the teamster and company propaganda and realize that what you're fighting for is a national problem that 3,600 of you out of work is not going to fix. All the companies under UTC are under the SAME PLAN---it doesn't matter what you give up to pay for the plan you have now. The company will never put one tiny group of hourly workers under a separate plan for any reason----it's a done deal. The union needs to have its membership accept that, get the company back to the table by taking the health care plan out of the equation and begin fighting for getting us a 4.5 or 5% increase, extend the lenght of the contract and increase our pension multiplier. Everyone saves face and we can all go back to work before the union has a massive exodus and loses its power. Time to get your testosterone under control, be real men and go back to work to support our real families.

To Pete Peterson: Is it fair? Probably not from your standpoint. Is it legal? Yes. When you agreed to become a member of the union, you signed your own death warrant with respect to this strike. You can retroactively resign your union membership, if that is what you want to do. Then, although you still have to pay the agency fee, you are not considered a union member and the company will let you come back to work upon your medical release. Also, your insurance would be reinstated under the old plan, temporarily until the new plan goes into effect.

Sikorsky to open engineering design center in Montana

Link to article: http://www.reliableplant.com/article.asp?articleid=845

As a retired Sikorsky employee and casual observer of this unfortunate strike, I can only hope that you, the strikers, and your union management eventually understand that both sides have a common "enemy" that they should be "fighting" together, rather than each other. That enemy is our BROKEN NATIONAL HEALTH CARE SYSYEM. You will then understand that we have reached the point where neither companys nor employees can continue to absorb the rising cost of this broken system and, unfortunately, those with the power to take corrective actions are state and federal government employees, who only need to raise your taxes to pay their additional health care costs.

I agree that a rally should be held. However, it should be held, not in Stratford or East Hartford, but rather in Hartford and Washington, so our elected officials will hear your voices and do the job that they are paid (very well) to do.

Keeeep Laughing salary guys
Ha ha ha !!
Let's see now hmmmmm...we're all gone,Outsourced, GREAT JOB MEN!!
Who's left as overhead? Don't bother getting off your knees...the yellow badges will clean out your desks for ya !
Its OK you're favorite color is yellow anyway!!
Keeeeep laughing hahahahahaha,

Do the math you dumb asses. you people have a great job and you do not even know it. I hope they move out of town

most co have to pay half of their insurance....wher do you get off

Clinton f this health insurance up

What can a salaried person do to help, for real?

I said for real, I have 2 kids at home too.

Probably the best help salaried folks can give is to welcome back the hourly workers who choose to come back to work, educate anyone needing additional information on the health plan (and I meat fact, not opinion) and just provide moral support. Most importantly, though, salaried employees should give it their all at work right now and for as long as this goes on give it all you've got to ensure that the company remains successful. Because if the company is not successful, then it can't share that success with its employees.

..... Hey TOM, Why are we paying benefits to all these salary people now that we've eliminated the hourly workforce?
....... Why, I don't know STEVE! We can dump them without even having to deal with a strike!
Everyone else in UTC is using mostly contract workers, we should get on board with that!
........ Great thinking TOM, Get right on it and give yourself a $100,000 bonus for innovative thinking!
..........But wait STEVE, Let's force them to work some free weekends first, ya know , just for laughs !
..........That's brilliant TOM,Take another $100,000 just cause you keep me laughing!
..........Thanks STEVE, I've got more to come, don't worry
...........KEEEEEEEEP LAUGHING salary guys....HAHAHAHAHAHA

most of us salaried people never walked in your shoes. I think some of ya'll are crackin' up. our jobs started being off loaded 2 years ago, I don't think most of us are laughing.
Best of luck, God Speed.

Working class, I agree with you about the health care issue and getting extra monies in the form of a better %raise and the ratification bonus. But about THE WALL of SHAME,I just like to see the names of these people to judge for my self. Because there our some of our union brothers and sisters who durin the time of my 25 yrs. that have back stabbed people just to try and get ahead, so now there will be no sneaking around closed doors to do there dirty deeds. Or it will bring to face who they really are.But the one's that have medical problems with chilren or family members I hvae no anomosity towards them at all. But the others that have money and can't stand up for a cause that is in a lot of ways truthfull through out the country, then I have lost resect for them as as americans. I don't what this to be dragged out much longer either, but I think most can hold on a little bit longer at least to ratify some kind of new contract even if it's the same one offered before. I hope everyone has learned from this so in the future this will never happen again.

if we give in now, this is the beginning of the end. the company is already planning on going after retirement.

Interesting calcuation i just cae up with:

Union Dues: $58/month

Healthcare increase: $0.32/hr * 40 hrs/week * 4 weeks a month = $51.20/month

58-51.2 = 6.80

So quit the Union and go back to work and you'll make $6.80 a month of profit!

Why hasn't the union updated the wall of shame. There were at least 25 who went in today. Is Rocco's gang afraid to admit the number is so high this soon. If it's already 25 on Monday it will be in the hundreds by Friday.

Appearently most of the members that voted to strike 3 weeks ago were uninformed at the time of the vote about the circumstances they faced when they rejected the contract.. such as no health insurance,you would be responsible for all your presciption cost, if that if company get one member to dump the union and cross the line you cannot collect unemployment,the reason being it is no longer a lockout, seems that the company knew how to cover its ass.Anyway, who owns this other insurance company the union keeps pushing for you . My moneys on it being another teamster local somewhere ....Wake up local 1150 members you cannot solve the healthcare problems in this country..its been tried by larger locals than you and they also failed. UTC holds all the cards in this game.. remember your game is building helicopters...call the union hall,ask them to try to get some other kind of benefit perhaps a larger sign on bouus or a bigger pay increase,better dental,etc (drop the healthcare issue)...get back to work....

your a fool. you think we get what we do because the company LIKES us and feels obligated? i dont think so. it may be 51.20 now, but you can bet your ass they will double it next time. i trust this company like i trust bush's WMDs.

the company is posting most of this crap. don't believe it.

Keep going Strikers....no lines for coffee again this morning. It was real nice!!!!

"There is no one more free than a man that has nothing left to lose"
Salary people, those words will ring true to all of you also some day.
You really showed us
Bravo, Bravo, Your education has served you well. Hmmmmm simple logic.....no one on the floor to support......no support needed> GREAT JOB MEN ! Push Push,ain't this great, get rid of those lazy uneducated hourly workers, We'll show em,.........KEEEEEEEEEP LAUGHING !!!!

Get back to the table by friday, after the Photo-Op for Hoffa, re-negotiate whatever you can, and have a re-vote on sunday.

That way we can all get back to work and hold our heads high!

Lets all feel sorry for the uneducated hourly employee. I hear there's a pitty party at gate 2 with some pizza from Stella's!

If Hawks is leading the battle, we are in BIG trouble.
There is nothing we can do about the health care. get us some money to pay for it so we can get back to work

Oh, there will be people back down on the floor. It just won't be you! You should probably start looking for a new job!

Somebody asked what it will cost the union to bring Hoffa in for the rally. Wrong question - it should be what is it costing us! Rocco will not do anything this week. Just to get a photo op with Hoffa on Thursday he has to keep us out. Look at the 1150 web site. It saya Hoffa will be here IF WE ARE STILL ON STRIKE. Do the math. 3,600 X $1,200 = $4,500,000. Rocco's costing US $4.5 MILLION to get his pictures with Hoffa to enhance his own future in the IBT. Eough already. REVOTE!!! - REVOTE!!!

Get back to the table by friday, after the Photo-Op for Hoffa, re-negotiate whatever you can, and have a re-vote on sunday.

That way we can all get back to work and hold our heads high!

Hey D I know who you are. Maybe you can beat the company like you did for 3 yrs. by going back on the floor.

Hey "your going backwards", you don't know who I am. Never worked on the floor. I have a degree.

Is it just me, or is Died Standing brainwashed?
I don't know any salary workers with rug burns on their knees. Whoever wants to work overtime does, and myself and my friends, we don't work overtime unless we feel like it. Why you ask? Cause if we work overtime, we have to work 5 free hours first, and management has never forced overtime on us. If I were union, I get paid every minute of overtime. It's nice to see you put your money in front of your family. I'd rather enjoy my life, with a little less money, than work it all away.

Died Standing, hey, I heard Rocco needs a little help getting his zipper down... don't worry, knee pads are on-sale this week at home depot.

Maybe he'll spot you a stick of chapstick, I'm sure you have the $234 already spent.

Don't worry though, your job is too important to send to China, where companies don't pay a damn thing for healthcare. Go work over there, then go on strike! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, and yes, we are all laughing at you, because you are like a caged rat, caught in a trap while trying to get some free food. HAHAHHAHHAHA.

You thing the salary folk think we ourselves are elitists! You're an idiot. Most union people make MORE money than the salary. We are laughing at you, not because of your education, but because you are crying yourself and your FAMILY out of jobs.

The world is changing, get with it, or keep the mullet, it's your choice.

Sorry to the rest of the union, the ones who know how to reason and think, hope to see you soon. Best wishes.

OH yes I do. And I know you have a degree, your still a beater. Mr. miss use of company time.

I think the wall of shame is disgusting...it's probably the most un-American thing you can do. Making a list of people that disagree with your group mentality or need to work so they can support their families just so you can berate them later is horrific. Just because these people who want to work for whatever reason go back you teamsters are going to shun them and treat them like garbage when you do go back. You union workers should be ashamed of yourselves.

Anyone who puts their "precious" union ahead of their family or their health for that matter should be shunned by SOCIETY for being an idiot!

IS IT THE SAME 5 PEOPLE WHO POST ONE BORING, SULLEN, BACKWARDS, AND TERRIBLE COMMENT AFTER ANOTHER?

There is no debate here. Even the guy writing the blog is extremely biased. Does he or she like the company? I don't understand, did you think that all you have to do is stand outside of a fence and say that you are on strike for that really to be effective. You need better tactics. Did someone promise that the strike would only be a day or two? I would say that the great majority of us have benefited from unions and their ability to strike either presnetly or in the past.

GO, do your homework, see how people won the victories that they did. When most people from European backgrounds came here they worked in sweatshops for pennies. They organized unions and fought for better wages and working conditions.
This fighting legacy is what has given working people the lives that they have today. No company ever handed anything to working people in terms of money or benefits. They're too greedy, they need their profits in order to compete with other companies. They want to drive wages down so they can drive production and profits up. Their logic is to pay your workers less and reinvest that money in what ever you want, new tools, other companies, etc.

With this aside, I think tactically the union needs to hold its ground, not let anyone cross the picketline. NOT SALARY, not parts, not police!
If a large campaign is built with other unions and supporters of the strike (public opinion is already in your favor) than you can put more pressure on the company. The company needs pressure in terms of economic(the strike) and outside pressure to settle on the unions terms from the community and state.

Politicians are in favor of the union, great, tell them to put their money where their mouth is. Set up a solidarity campaign for strikers, raising money for them and their families. Politicians are great at raising money they can help.

ANYway I have to go I will post again, some helpful suggestions to think about. I think its time for the union to play ball. You are the mighty, mighty union!!! It's time to act like it!

......Hey STEVE, I heard ya told them help was on the way
......Yeah TOM, but I didn't tell em it was my friends from the other divisions and that they're making OVERTIME and getting TRAVEL MONEY !
........Wow STEVE, it amazes me how you can abuse them and all they do is laugh at the strikers.
.........Cmon Tom, Have you forgotten PRATT & WHITNEY,some of those same guys we used there, are here now as YELLOW badges
.........Ya know STEVE,I thought some of these guys looked familiar. So this is where they ended up after we kicked em to the curb.
.........Yeah TOM, and that was a great observation. Take another $100,000 for being observant.You deserve it, and besides, GEORGIE says there'll be plenty of money for us to go around after we're rid of the hourly guys.
.........Thanks STEVE, I could use it to pay for that YELLOW JAG I just bought my wife. I wonder if these outsource companies pay their salary benefits? Maybe we should tell them about the YELLOW badge thing?
......... No Way TOM, Let's keep that to ourselves and go ahead and take another $100,000 cause I like that YEllOW tie you had on today, nice touch!
............KEEEEEP LAUGHING SALARY GUYS.........
hahahahahahahahahahaha...ha

"With this aside, I think tactically the union needs to hold its ground, not let anyone cross the picketline. NOT SALARY, not parts, not police!" - JP

Well thats pretty much ILLEGAL!

Rocco, get us something to re-vote on.

Have you all seen the NEW wall of shame ????
No more names but instead pictures of rats...????
Local 1150....you show no class..........

Do the Line crossers really think the company cares for them? When this Strike is over and it will be, the workers who crossed the picket lines, because of their financial woes were to high, or family obligations to stiff, or just plain ignorance will be never be trusted by the Union workers and the salaried mangement. You are loyal to no one, don't put your families in the way of your poor judgement. Don't put your short comings about commitment on them. When it gets rough at home you will probably bail on them. You sure don't get my respect and I am sure you will get no ones.

I say LAWSUIT...........

Greedy! Greedy! Greedy! Poor, pathetic Sikorksy union workers who can't bear paying the same co-pay as most other workers in the state who do not have either the extent of medical coverage or the pension or the guaranteed raises. Greed is an ugly thing, especially when the union uses the greed of its members to coerce a meaningless strike. Keep paying those dues! Your union bigwigs need every dime they can get.

Can't hear ya from way down there on your knees , boy!
Just KEEEEEEP LAUGHING........hahahahahahaha

Very simple. If the company is so set on having us eat the health care plan, let them give us sufficient wage increases that we can afford the increased costs incurred.

the strikers, despite their best efforts in front of the television cameras, are not evoking sympathy from others who work a regular job. That whopping $200.00 a week the union is giving you guys while you walk the line is hardly comparable to the mega salaries the union officers are grabbing. Sure, they want you to stay out so they can come forward and say they used their "influence" to save you a $10.00 co-pay, but they are warm at home with their heating bills paid up. WAKE UP! Go back to work and take the more than reasonable offer Sikorsky has put on the table.

It would seem that the 12,000 salary increase overall MORE than makes up for the $3,000 health care increase. Do the math for yourselves and stop letting the union do it for you

Oh no
The big smart salary guys are laughing at us,whatever will we do.
They're opinions mean so much and they are so educated. How can we stand the ridicule?
Of course the first retalitory reply has to do with what......getting on your knees, of course!
Its where they're most comfortable obviously.
Still can't hear ya way down there boy!
But I hear ya laughing and it hurts me so!
...........KEEEEEEEP LAUGHING>>>>>>>>

Let us all get one basic concept straight here. Both sides of this issue are doing their best to look out for their own best interests. No company, anywhere, exists to provide goods or services. They exist to make money. The company is trying to maximize its return on investment by paying as little as possible. We are trying to maximize the return on OUR investment of time, labor and our lives.

KEEEEEP LAUGHING!!!!!!

.......I love to whine and complain and make references to oral sex!
.......I say "boy" so I'm probably from the south!
.......Standing outside for a living is an easy way to make $232 a week

KEEEEEP LAUGHING!!!!!!!!!

Died Standing, please stop spamming the blog with non-sense. It's irritating.

As far as the uncouth salary employees making jokes on the "poor, uneducated hourly employees" - you're pathetic. This isn't your fight so please stop displaying how insecure you are with your own life by putting down others. I am salary, and I am offended that I work with some of you. Show some class.

Well, the parking situation has sure gotten a lot better with the stike. Keep it up until spring

I think the biggest tactical error the strikers made was timing. You guys cold? Im glad its a nice 70 degrees at my workstation today!

"Very simple. If the company is so set on having us eat the health care plan, let them give us sufficient wage increases that we can afford the increased costs incurred (Knighthawk321)."

Good point Knighthawk, there are options but it's not going to happen if neither party is talking.

***QUESTION FOR ALL***

How do we get the hardheads (company and union) to talk to each other?

All that education sure wasn't wasted on you!
It really shows........ Can't really hear you from way down there but try not to kill anyone while you're building that helicopter... BOY! I'm soooo hurt
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA KEEEEEP LAUGHING

MMMMM, another free lunch,
Hey did anyone tell the hourly guys we get paid for lunch time now too?

It's me again. I have to say, the union is correct on the "working" issue. There is not really much going on in here. My guys are working but really slow and careful. We have upper mgmnt. carefully going over the jobs my guys are doing. The back shops are either dead or not filled to the max. Machine shop isn't running full capcity either. Hangar has 2 a/c inside. Those 2 were already completed. Most of us are 5 S ing or just doing little things. We are doing the 12 hour thing but they say it's only temp. Alot of yellow badgers but they can't touch anything on prod. line. My boss tells me only a handful came back today. Hang in there. Don't let the b/s scare ya. I have been here 22 yrs. and I seen these type of things. The u.s. gov't will be stepping in real soon....later!!!!

hey these comments are too funny. maybe we should bring in hollywood for a movie. this stuff is hilarious. and oh by the way for all these nice salary workers that think they are it just becuase they have a whatever degree you have should know that the majority of the hourly workers have degrees as well. Now that make them a bit more smarter then you because at least we are book smart, street smart and we know how to operate a drill motor and guess what we can do all of the repairs at our homes too. we don't have to hire anyone especially some one to clean our houses. so stop being so judgemental. This only shows your anger becuase you have to dirty your finger nails. We are sorry that your manicures are screwed up. boo hoo

and to the engineer that talked all the crap about the hourly work force you tend to forget that the people that got caught looking at kiddie porn not to long ago were ALL SALARY WORKERS. naughty naughty

keep the funny stuff coming

Use proper grammer if your so "Book Smart".

Hey JP,
You obviously haven't seen whats going on at O&R,

Were cranking baby!

The supervisors over here say what a nice change to work with a group of employees who don't cry and throw a fit over every little thing....

Pumping out the dampers man!

I would just like to express my anger about the "Wall of Shame" board. It is completely unfair others when you do not know their reasons for crossing the line! Yes, I am sure that there are some workers that do not agree with the Union, BUT I KNOW that there are others that, although they do agree with the unions point, they do not have a choice of whether to work or not. They feel that is is more important to put their familys welfare above the unions, which they should. If they are not earning a paycheck, who is going to pay thier mortgage, phone and electric bills, and put food on their table?????? The bill collectors are not going to care less they are not working to stand up for a cause. Also, the union is not going to pay their bills by giving everyone $232 a week. But, if you do not pay them your $58 out of that, they will not give you your check!
I just feel that it is extremely childish to judge others without knowing why they have made the choice they did.
Yes I know they need to sleep with themselves for the decisions they make, but for most, if they do not return to work to earn a paycheck, how lang will they be able to keep a roof over their heads. Not everyine that works at Sikorsky has extra money in the bank, nor should they have to dip into their 401K's to survive. If they spend that money now, what will they have when they retire??? Definetly not enough just from Social Security by judging where that is headed, but that is another issue.........

"They're too greedy, they need their profits in order to compete with other companies. They want to drive wages down so they can drive production and profits up."

That's just plain stoopid. "needing their profits to compete with other companies??" NO, lemme 'splain. That's not how they compete with other companies, they compete by offering a better product for a lower price; the customer does not give a sh** whether or not the seller makes a profit.
As for wages, they pay whatever they have to pay to get people to work there and not go work for a competitor. If $27+++/hr and signing bonus and free college and $10,000 degree bonus is not enough and someplace else is offering to pay you more, please go now and let the guys go back to work. Some of them like their jobs and have mortgages to pay.

Can someone do something to bring the people back? I don’t know what I’m doing and the supervisor keeps telling me to look busy and do my best. My co-workers feel the same as I do. HELP!

g busch - please stop spamming the blog.

Go for a ride on your bike!!

WEEEEEE!!!

Well sign off now, I'm doing a tile job on some smart salary guy's house tonight for big bucks! It's been fun having you guys show me how smart YOU all are today.
I hope I dont make a mistake tonight and someone dies, oh wait a minute that's you guys! Sorry
(P.S. I cashed that union check today and bought my son a $200 paintball gun, times are tough.)KEEEEEEP LAUGHING>>>>> BOY! HAHAHAHAHA

g busch
stop repeating your self. no matter how many times you say it they still won't understand it.
God....they are walking around in circles....enough said !!!!!

"Use proper grammer if your so 'Book Smart'.

It should be "Use proper GRAMMAR if YOU'RE so 'Book Smart.'" (The period goes inside the quotes, unless you're British!)

If you can't correct properly, don't correct!

For all the other idiots, your is possessive (your car), you're means you are (you are an idiot).

good comment x-worker, I agree 100%

Use proper grammer if your so "Book Smart".

Posted by: smart huh? on March 6, 2006 04:20 PM

FYI: GRAMMAR and YOU'RE

please stop while you're ahead.

The period goes OUTSIDE the quotes "asshole".

The parking spaces will be ours when we return,and you'll be back in the corn field. And when we come back they will be sending you out to clean up the tent city outside.Free lunch don't worry you'll pay for it back with your free ouvertime hours when we get back. Keep up your tough-guy talk because they will get rid of you before any hourly with any time. With all this time I hope you learn how to write an oper. sheet cause all the vendors they send the work to, send them back because nothing matches the blue prints. And this is Fact.

that's MORON to you, sport

Whats a MORAN ????
Highly skill workers ????
Yeah Right ?????

If there isn't any talks scheduled by friday, I will have no other chioce but to send in my letter of resignation, get my name on the wall and drive out next week with a pay check,insurance,my vacation pay and mostly a job to go back to the next day and you should do the same...

Wow g busch.... good comeback
way to show all that education!Thumbs up Muffy

I was on the teamsters local union 1150's website today and I was amazed by the bullet about making sure your union fees are paid.

"IMPORTANT NOTICE - All members must stay current on their union dues in order to receive a strike benefit. You must pay the $58 dues by the end of March. However, to ensure that there is no delay in your strike benefit, it is advised that you pay by the 3rd week of the month."

It seems to me that if the union really cared about it's people, the least they could do would be to waive the fees while you weren't earning a paycheck. Then I started to do the math... you pay $58 a month in union fees, yet your insurance is going to be raised approximately 31 cents per hour (from union website.. The company rejected this offer. The cost difference that the company is refusing to allow workers to pay?... 31 cents per hour! )... Let's see, $58 a month equates to $696 a year... 31 cents an hour for a 40 hour work week equates to $644.80 a year. The answer seems simple to me... quit the union and pay the increase of $51.20 a year towards your health insurance increase.

With ideas like this the union is really up the creek:

With this aside, I think tactically the union needs to hold its ground, not let anyone cross the picketline. NOT SALARY, not parts, not police!
If a large campaign is built with other unions and supporters of the strike (public opinion is already in your favor) than you can put more pressure on the company. The company needs pressure in terms of economic(the strike) and outside pressure to settle on the unions terms from the community and state.
Really sharp!!

OR:
"Very simple. If the company is so set on having us eat the health care plan, let them give us sufficient wage increases that we can afford the increased costs incurred"

This is so stupid it is sad.

Ask the Northwestern mechcanics how it is going? I thought all of those airplanes were going to fall from the sky because UNION mechcanics did not turn the wrench. You guys are stuck with this mindset that you are highly skilled. Guess what--it is not that hard. Hell, if some of the writers on this blog can do these jobs--ANYONE can!

Put a period outside the parentheses if the parenthetical sentence is part of a larger sentence. Put it inside the parentheses if it is not part of another sentence.

-- nyu

The period belongs inside the quotes.
now PLEASE return to the topic at hand.

What airline are you going to fly on you next trip?

Quotes are quotation marks....
Not parentheses....
Example """""""""""
Example ()()()()()()()
Get back to the real subject here.
Agency fee's baby...........

Has anyone read the March 6 union press release on their website? I quote "For all the truths, please read these update flyers..." and this gem "The rumor that the company has hired replacement workers to cross the line today cannot be confirmed or not." or can it? or not?

Put the period where you want. Im getting paid still!

oops.. i copied the wrong line..but it basically says the same thing.

Put periods inside quotation marks and double quotation marks, but remember to distinguish a closed single quote from an apostrophe. (British usage distinguishes whether the period is part of the quoted matter; American usage does not.)

10. "The other was 'The Old Folks at Home.'"

11. "Thanks for the second helpin'."

sorry about that. just wanted to clarify.

Is the "Wall of Shame" posted on the union website? Have there been any difficulties given to those crossing the line today?? .. just curious.

OOPS.....
You just cost the lives of a Pilot and a Co-Pilot. Skilled workers...Yeah Baby !!!!

What difference does it make what the union press release states....the union members are sheep and will only do what the sheperd tells them to do. They could state that the union is going to raise the leadership salaries do to high fuel cost, and no one would have the guts to challenge it. BAA, BAA, BAA
And if there was a handful of free thinkers who spoke up they would be soon on a WALL OF SHAME!! The Nazi party would be proud of these tactics

With the union check and and a part time job I enjoy, I'm supplementing my income well. Not even working 40 hrs.So maybe there is life after Sikorsky. Allstate major medical for familty is $285.00 per month not bad for not haveing to put up with that B.S for a while. Just need 7 more years in that place. It's 55 and out for me with a 35 yr. pension. 3/4 of the salary can say that. Oh that's right all the new guy's don't get a pension at all,just 401k. Well we have both and most of us uneducated people know how to invest our money rather then dress and talk like we do.

Some guys think just because it took them 25 years learn to wire a section they are highly skilled. It will take a hillybilly from Alabama three weeks to master the same work.

I don't work at sikorsky...I came across this site in search of a cure for cancer. I thought for sure that this amount of passion and dedication to a cause must be equally selfless and good-for mankind as curing cancer....

bottom line:
there are worse problems in the world then your health care... go back to work and take care of your families. they need you.

I wish the Conn Post would print more photos of the strike lines. I love seeing all the overweight, beer belly, butt smoking, donut eating, overworked, underpaid, poor union workers. I really feel for them

Please. Everyone go to the members meeting on march 15th. Speak up and let rocco hear our voices at this meeting. We want and demand a re-vote. I know some are saying that the contract is no longer on the table. From what iam reading in the papers and what sikorky is sending us. it seems the contract is still being offered. Lets tell rocco we want to sign it and get back to work. Everyday they are bringing in more and more replacement workers, a women i know was hired as a replacement worker back in the 60's strike and worked there for 30 years so what's that telling you!

To say "NO ONE COULD BUILD THESE AIRCRAFT BUT US" is like Astronauts saying "NO ONE BE AN ASTRONAUT" because the first Astronaut was a MONKEY! I do believe their job was more skilled than yours ever will be.

You are Expendable!

Plus: as long as it takes you 25 year people to do a job, as skilled as you say you are. I am surprised you ever built a helicopter.

26 today??? Are people crossing without being on a list?? Are they allowed to??

Hey, the union says I won't lose my job, well doesn't look like I'm gaining it back sitting here either, I can barely afford to live anymore! Cost of living is expensive you know!

They say I wont have protection if I go back, well I have no mortgage protection or financial protection anymore anyways, so does it matter! Will it be better to take the risk....or lose everything that I have worked for. At this point, I feel like the union is forcing me to do whatever they want me to do for less pay than the company is offering. These press releases make no sense. I don't know who to believe anymore.

The only thing these "Highly Skilled Workers" are skilled at is goofing off for a living and getting paid well to do it.

Oh and I like that one too, No one can do your job! Well eventually we will all get sick, die, retire or quit and I guess the company will then go out of business! Yes we are all rocket scientist!

For a good laugh from Rocco Calown:
http://www.teamsters1150.org/contract_2006_update.htm

I would like to know if the Teamsters that are walking the line know what the word SCAB means. The Workers in Bridgeport do not do manufacturing they work on the Tech pubs, why don't these teamsters take a class and learn something instead of standing out there calling people names. One day last week there was someone holding a sign saying "I hope you trip and Fall" well if I do, I have insurance. Go Sikorsky stick with your guns.

I dont know why we are actually doing this. Everyone is talking about the rest of the country and how we are trying to set an example, is this why we are on strike to fight for everyone else? Well I had a good job with good pay, is everyone else gonna fight for me to keep that?

Something Rocco has failed to tell you, is that the company has already had a plan to move alot of work out. The MH-60R's are being boxed up to be sent to Troy Alabama this week. They are not (repeat NOT) coming back except to have final touch up stuff done like Water Test and Paint besides that they will be completly built in Alabama.

Way to go Union, Keep those jobs rolling out! ROLLING OUT OF STATE

lmao at Anonymous 5:22

That was funny!

I know this goes back several days, but the comment made by one of the two sisters who both had 25 plus years under their belts was "How can Managers be in there building Helicopters without any parts ? " Please tell me what you two sisters would have been doing all day in there without any parts......I thought so.

Strikers ....If you had a chance to do it all over again, would you vote to ratify the contract? You passed up $2000 to begin with and you are already 2 weeks pay in the hole, soon to be 3 weeks. Think of how many precriptions or Doctor's office Co-Pays you could have made with that cash.

Hey guys, just wanted to drop a line.

All you salary people, you are really HR undercover super CIA agents, so sheep, I mean cronies, i mean, TEamsters, ignore them.

I'm glad everyone decided to strike. First, they want you to pay the same health wages as everyone else, what's next, no union breaks? Then, they'll be asking for our parking spaces, then after that, they'll actually give us raises bases on our work! Do we want that??? Hell no, and then, they'll want us to do rework on straight pay!

Hold your heads up high, everyone driving by is honking in support (not just bc they think it's funny a bunch of old men and women go nuts when they honk their horns)

we are the might mighty ducks, i mean teamsters

8 crossed on Friday
18 more crossed today
17 more tomorrow

Those who cross first will still have a job tomorrow. Those who stand by a barrel to get warm, will be doing so for a very long time.

I love this strike, and this blog page.

To the Union Guys walking the picket line: Its not like there are Helicopter manufacturers every 2 blocks like Starbucks. If you have been building HCs all of your adult life, what other skill do you have? Where would you go to find work? Hate to say it guys....SIK MGT. has got you over a barrel, you can only hope that they give you the same offer they did 2 weeks ago. When they start to see the latest scab fallout, they may go even lower with their offer.

Yes Quick settlement, the company has settled in another state and with your job.

Its cheaper to outsource to NON-Union working states.

anon 5:08

Why wait till the 15th you should be charging down union hall or maybe you can rent a room at the marriot and they might or might not show. It seems like the troops are finally coming to a realization that they have been screwed. But be prepared to be put on the GREAT WALL OF SHAME

Casual observer here..
UTC is the one pushing the contract onto Sikorsky, correct?
All of the other UTC units accepted this contract, some after short strikes, correct?
What the Union is forcing you to become are martyrs. Healthcare costs are very high. Everyone around you has to pay them. UTC will not allow Sikorsky to change the contract. Even if Sikorsky cannot continue production, UTC won't bend. The longer the strike continues, the more Sikorsky will find ways to meet deliveries by outsourcing, etc. The longer the strike, the less Union workers will be hired back after the strike is over.
Plain and simple.
Your cause is a good cause, just not a smart one.

I can list all my skills
1. i can hide from my boss.
2. I can sleep with my hands tied up in the air.
3. I can file a grievance.
4. I can go home early.
5. I can come in late.
6. I can come in with a Dr. note.
7. I can blow a whistle.
8. I can smoke behind the Building where no one knows where i am.
9. I can smoke in the bathroom.
10. When my boss goes to his meeting, I can go get breakfast on company time.
11. I can talk on the cell phone without my boss knowing.

So I am very skilled, What job am I qualified for?

"UNEMPLOYMENT!"

anon 5:53 - too funny

Does anyone remember Ziek?

NO Dont remember Ziek, but next year we will have a whole list of names we can ask if we remember.

Keep striking! We like the free lunch and snacks we recieve.

Also did you guys hear about the bonus all salary people will be recieving when this is all done?

What happened to loyalty to a company and not to some schmuck who gets rich off convincing people to leave their jobs?

This is exactly why the East Coast is so run down. We need to become a Right to Work State.

Hey "Box it up and ship it out" those 60Rs were supposed to be (according to the Navy contract) 92% built in CT and 8% in Troy. Maybe SIK is flipping the ratio early? Plus Keystone is adding 75000 sq. ft. to their facility. And SIK is opening a new design shop in Bozeman Montana like they have in Lexington Kentucky and W. Lafayette Indiana. What is gonna be left in CT? They're becoming an integrator only.

Sell your soul for a cookie, SCAB

No not SCAB Salary.

I work for a living.

Do you know what the problem with this whole strike is. Not the fact these fine negotiating individuals of the union have drawn a line in the sand and now have hit a wall. But SAC is using this strike to their advantage. There feet are up on the desk looking out the window and displaying a grin from ear to ear. They anticipated that this strike would turn into a salary vs hourly circus. Hourly's think the salary workers are living on the easy street looking down at all the hourly guys. Enjoying the benefits only an educated worker could acquire. Meanwhile a black hawk is carted out of the factory on a flatbed headed to hartford for assembly. I left the company as a salaried employee because my job was to offload all of my work. Can you see the problem yet? You dumb ass union people are striking for all the wrong reasons. You should save your energy and strike when when they turn around one day and say: we dont build anything here anymore. Then you'll get the full support of all employees in the building salary and hourly, and even the custodians! It saddens me to see our skilled work being done all around the country. Thats going to be your problem in the future, if you havent figured it out yet. Work is leaving the building and your actually helping the managment excellarate their offload plan. As far as your health benefits go, I have been on an 80/20 plan for 20 years. Its as good as it gets with out having none at all. I went to school so I did not have to work 20hrs o/t to make a good paycheck. Take advantage of it at SAC while you still have chance. I did. Most of the people in the shop feel education isnt worth their while. Well dont listen to your buddy cause hes lying his ass off to you! Cross the line and face reality.

Atleast I have a cookie, ask your kid what they have now that daddy is out of work.

Probably alot of booze being most of the stores that are assisting the Teamsters are package stores

I have never seen as many people on the line working on one helo at a time as I do now. It used to be lazy ass people standing around watching 1 or 2 people do the work. Its kind of a breath of fresh air not seeing 45 people standing outside a doorway smoking. You union folks use the system way too much and have given alot of hard working union folks a bad name.

Shame on you!

Dear salary and hourly worker,
From the salary and hourly comments one thing is clear. Neither side fully realizes that what and how you are posting is unprofessional whether you post as anonymous or not. If indeed you truly are interested in the well being of your families, Sikorsky, UTC, and your fellow worker then you must act as one accordingly to get back to work together. You must realize that for most hourly that are on strike it is not a question of whether they will cross the line. They will not cross in a majority and history has borne that out. Like it or not that is what happens in the majority of cases by far. That means that you have to work to get together on the same side of the fence (inside) for the good of ALL. This is imperative to all of you! Failure to do so will result in the loss of ALL your jobs in short order. Reality is that this is hard on everyone, whether one takes one side or the other as to it's value. You are where you are, folks. You're inside or outside, but either way you're NOT served well by posting irresponsibly or unprofessionally and you, both hourly and salary, are responsible for it's added effect on the overall situation. Welcome to the National Enquirer mentality. But this is not as innocuous as the Enquirer's work. These are your lives. Concentrate on what CAN be done in a positive manner if you are all so intelligent, hourly or salary. You need each other more than you understand right now. I'm surprised that such intelligent people write such emotional dreck.

It's sad to see an hourly versus salary position here. i myself am a 25 year Sikorsky employee and a union member also. I truly do not believe we the hourly and the salary have any bad feelings towards each other, and lets face it, without each other, we have no jobs!! I shall add my insights somewhat, like them or not. Maybe its is time to get any kind of new deal on a contract, re-vote, and most likely we will get back to work, as most of us want to get back to our jobs. As a member of 1150, we tried, and hopefully we shall get what we want, but if not, lets take an offer soon, cuz whatever we gain, we have lost back already, you do not need any degree to figure that one out. Now as for the salaried people, I , like I said have been around Sikorsky for 25 years, and most of you salary workers have skated for a long time, lazy, and just because you may have degrees(many salary people do not), you ceratinly are not heads and shoulders above most hourly people when it comes to smarts! I have myself seen some enginers look at a blade and ask me,"where is the tip cap", while looking at the root end! Lets face it, not much, if any work is being done, I have heard from salary friends trucks are coming and going, but they are empty, just a big show to make like things are moving. Where I work now, our bosse do not have a clue what is going on, us the hourly workers do it all for them, thats just the facts, so lets quit pretending what work is being done. Myself, i am half way to a degree, using the scholarship program, and hopefully will get my degree in a year or so, but money wise, will I ever use it in Sikorsky, as a pay cut would follow, so salary is not all it's worked up to be, just like hourly is not either. Bottom line, maybe corporate will see some little change in some part of the contract will entice us back, who knows, but one thing that will never happen is me crosssing any picket line, cuz win or lose, we tried to better somethingthat will have lasting effects for all, hourly, and salary, so lets be a company that is not divided, cuz as I said in the beginning of this rant, we both need each other!

This blog has become useless, just like all Yahoo message boards. It's too bad...

Screw that!!!!!!! Hourly suck!

The flood gates have opened.....welcome back hourlies!!!!!

how many more tomorrow are supposed to cross? how many today did?

What the strike line needs is Jesse Jackson, Cindy Sheenan and Ted Kennedy. THEN, and only then will UTC cave in. Teamsters--united, strong and painfully dumb.

Don't forget Susan Sarandon, lets get the Taliban sympathizer in here to. Maybe she could hold the Taliban sign

UTC will cave in only if 1150 stays out for 1 month....oh wait, by then replacements and line crossers will be back to production, or what is left of it after all the outsourcing.

I smell burning wool, Hey Hourly guy your standing too close to the fire........

I am an hourly employee and I have to say during the 4 years that I have worked at Sikosky, I have realized that alot of employee (speaking of hourly) are very spoiled here. Alot of them get away with murder. They been in the company all there lives and don't realize that there are people way worse off then they are making less money with no benefits. I have worked for many companies and Sikorsky has been by far the best that I have worked for with good benefits and pay. With the new contract that Sikorsky offered on health care, yes it is a big jump but I've seen worse. Still it's not bad considering that we are going to lose alot more in the end.

Soon we are all going to have to look back remember what we had!

And for the person that said that they are good for six months......Time isn't gonna stop for you!
Reality is gonna hit you hard!

"who are we??" We are the teamsters, the mighty unemployed teamsters!!!!

There are those of us that DONT need the UNION to keep our jobs, because we do our job and do it well. Its the other Hourly that use the UNION (Greivance) system because they know if the Union wasnt here they WOULDNT HAVE A JOB! Those are the people who blew the horns the loudest.

enough with the hourly-salary bashing!

seriously. *when* this is all over, you're going to be working together again. The disrespect is terrible. Stop making sweeping generalizations and learn to be open minded and view other sides. This is why countries go to war...no common sense.

This just in from the strike update:

Rocco has taken the remainder of the strike fund to Foxwoods in order to make ends meet for the membership. "Am a great poker player, so I think it is a good plan" Rocco was quoted as he jumped into the union provided car. He said he has a great record on bluffing, and knows how to reel in the big pots. He feels that he can triple the strike fund and increase the benefit.
The membership wishes Rocco the best of luck

will everyone stop and think! if you are salary/hourly stop fighting. It serves no purpose. what i would like to voice is there are 1,100 hourly employees that voted to sign this contract. we have been done a injustice and all we want is to go back to work and help build the best helicopter in the world. I'm very upset and sick over what has happened. I do pray for a revote. my kids need it. yes we need to tell rocco i have sent 2 letters and have made phone calls pleding for a revote. Everyone should do the same.PLEASE!

I hope all the good, hard working hourly come back to work and all the low-life slackers stay on strike forever. Remember "brother" keep the faith. Ya, right. All of a sudden everybody is a union "brother"? These are the same guys that could care less about you 4 weeks ago, now they stand with you? Be real. These are the ones that spend 8 hours a day on 'union business' and 30 minutes on lunch while you work. Tell me: are you better off now, on strike, than you were last month? I think not.

So true, to the anti union comments, you do not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out you are writing ALL the stupid comments, too bad too, this forum is ruined now...

Lets see. 1/36th of the workforce. These are hardship cases that couldn't hold out or disagreed with the failure to ratify and already knew that they would return to work when they had the chance, not when the membership agreed to a contract offer. Remember students that there are another thousand or so that voted otherwise but are on strike because they are members of the union and stand by their commitment to act as a group collectively. These are honorable people who are standing by a commitment and oath. Whether I agree with them or not I do indeed respect them. So how about the numbers that have returned compared to what usually happens?Standard and even LOW in terms of the national average in strike situations. How many of you know that in the history of the union, in particular contemporary times, a union has been broken? Not enough times to mention here and that is a fact. Will there be damage? Yes, you are doing it yourselves by dividing amongst salary and hourly. The union will return to Sikorsky but will take a hit in jobs. The bad news? (no, that's not it) There will be layoffs of both hourly and salary. There is definately work going out that won't be there when you return and will not come back. There will be a few more, but floodgates? I would not open them just yet...

The only good thing that I have seen come out of this strike is that the bathrooms are A LOT cleaner lately.

i'm not sure, but i don't believe UTC has ever caved into a strike.....i mean offered them anything substantially different than the offer before the strike. right or wrong?

the bathrooms don't smell like smoke either.

anyone wanna take a cue from Weyco?? Ill bet health insurance goes down.... or saving goes up... any bets??

The management said last week whyile I was on the line, that they were enjoying the absence of the union presence in the shop. They dont want the union in house period. Paul Martin ,Lauren Nappier and other management level people have been instructed to work the line. Its crazy to see but they are working. Jeans and T-shirts humping the line on a Saturday. Thats no BS. It doesnt take a half a brain to see they wont give in. People are actually enjoying the work and doing the job right, cuz your foreman are salary and are working their shifts. They arent blowing propaganda smoke up your ass like your fearless leader who claims that the salaried folk are going crazy and cant stand it anymore, something about canabolism or some nonsense. We do your work they reward us with flat soda and cookies. Not a bad gig. Im trying for the fork lift job. 10 years of school and I cant wait. If you believe that Bunk I got property for sale for you. Your replaceable and they have told us that soon you will be, jobs open to people who want a good job.
By the way where are all the 20-30 year old teamsters on that line. I dont see them while I drive in!

WE ARE FIGHTING A FIGHT WE CAN'T WIN. AS A HOURLY
WORKER I KNOW I HAD IT MADE.I DON'T EVEN HAVE INSURANCE THROUGH SIKORSKY.I HAVE LOST A LOT OF MONEY THE LAST TWO WEEKS,BUT I WILL NEVER CROSS THE PICKET LINE.I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE A RE-VOTE.
P.S. I PAY $80 A WEEK FOR INSU NO KIDS.
P.S.S. F#%K YOU SALARY WORKERS TALK ABOUT DEAD WOOD.

I have been a part of the Sikorsky family for many years and one fact is that never under estimate how Sikorky folks can rise in a situtation and solve a problem. Todays problem is how to meet manufacturing goals without union workers. Don't think we will not accomplish this goal. The replacement workers are on the way and many jobs are being out sourced. (Its easy the tools are not being used and we have the window we needed to out source.) The smart hourly workers are calling and will be crossing the line soon. The engineers have now all been trained in things like bonding and torque and are in fact building good parts and they will soon be training the replacement workers. SAC will be changed but for the beter. Thanks for giving us this chance to transform the enterprise.

To Anonymous 6:57 You say you don't need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that all the anti union comments are coming from anti union people. Brilliant. Great reasoning. You must be a leader in the union. Too bad you can not figure you are getting the shaft

Rocco says that the majority of the membership want the wall of shame.

I don't remember voting on this!
And also there will be no re-vote anytime soon according to him.

I hope you do not cross the line. hearing "you suck, man" as i go into work is just damn funny! you all need to bring back the other union people with the drums and speakers and stuff. at least that was entertaining. what is out there now is just pathetic. like people looking through the window at a great party but not being invited in!

Posted by: Spy inside on March 6, 2006 04:37 PM

SPAM THIS YOU MORAN WALKING IN CIRCLES

WHERE DID YOU LEARN HOW TO SPELL?

Who are we?
Were HOMELESS!
Were the Mightey Mightey HOMELESS!
Hey, are you eating that piece of pizza man?
Ol lady tell you the hog's in the bargain news?
damn.

Has UTC caved in to a Strike by offering anything substantially different than the offer before the strike?

Not in recent history. It appears that the workers of Sikorsky would best be served by working to get both sides together at the table. This is imperative to ALL of you. The Union and Company must sit down together for the good of ALL of you. The Union could give on the 80/20, the Company can give a little on a minor scale. The Union could ratify. All save face to their respective positions and responsibilities and report a tentative agreement for the good of UTC, it's workforce, and the Nation. (Rah, rah) Rocco would look great with the right PR, UTC and Sikorsky would get back to making aircraft and have a shot at hitting their goals for the year, and Sikorsky could take a more measured approach to outsourcing. Do not think that there is a HUGE cost to offloading work in missed deadlines, faulty workmanship, setup, and so on. All of you need to work together to get this done without wasting time trying to add to the derailment of the Union. Read your history. It's a wasted objective. More could be done for all of you by all of you....here and elsewhere. They are not going to cross the line in large numbers because that is how this always goes....almost without fail. You see, once the intial ones go in, those on the outside are the committed ones. Once they have gone into pain for their cause they will not throw in the towel. They are correct in not doing so if they know history. Can it be rewritten? Sure, but it won't be this time. Too many factors in place to prevent it.

wow, reading the 1150 press release, it says "don't let the company bully us". Oh, kind of like you bully employees crossing the line everyday to work and provide for their families? How did the company bully you? by offering a healthcare plan, retirement, raises, a signing bonus and free tuition? i'd like to be bullied into that kind of deal!!!!

its all over for you union workers once the members start crossing it s all over for you guys out their how do i know this i worked at bpt machines 1150 was their now bpt machines is not either is 1150 go back to work and pay like the rest of us

to cross or not to cross. that is a very personal choice. if you belief the companies offer was worth striking over than thats your choice to strike, stay strong to your convictions. however, if you think the offer was fair and resonably than walk in. dont let others make that choice for you. think with your heart...

Your striking for the wrong reasons!
What do you think about a Black Hawk cruising by you on a flat bed. Do you think that was a freakin mirage. Take a photo, thats your work being offloaded. The management was planning this well before your band of biker executives sat around the keg and started chanting toga! toga!
Fellas this reality , there licking their lips because you just gave them their excuse to the CEO why were late on orders! Take you head out of the burning 50 gallon drum of wood and whisper these words, what the 'F' am I thinking!

OH, I see 7:23pm got in touch with Rocco. Where was he hideing? Under your computer desk. LOL.

All kidding aside. I hope the state police that the mayor was requesting show up at the Union Hall on the 15th. I'll tell you that there will be a lot of angry union members there with many questions to be answered by Rocco.

Rocco, you better get your plan going and it better be for a re vote of a contract. It's obvious that the member who voted no to the contract were the ones who where most unprepared. With the amount of money you people make, you should be able to afford this plan.

The medical out of pocket expenses should have been explained better. Most ignorant people thought that if they had a 100,000.00 bill that they would have to pay 20,000.00. That was what you call being misinformed. Get to the union hall early on the 15th of March and call to make sure Rocco is there to address your questions not at the Trumbull Marriot looking at four walls.

no, no.....that Blackhawk was just going out for....tests....ya, right, that's the ticket!!! I wonder if anybody saw the 200 jobs go out the gate with it? Seems to me same thing happened last week with 200 jobs out the door then too. Wow, ship a couple of more things out the door (S-92, S-76, machine shop, paint shop, engine work)and all that is left is.........walking the picket line!!!!

if this goes till march 15, it is ALL OVER!!!!! 1150 will never be back. hope u all have good shoes for walking

Hmmm....

maybe this isn't so anonymous after all?

These are cool:

http://www.programurl.com/software/tracing.htm

They cant understand the fact that work is going bye bye. No more slacking off and hiding under the blanket of security they call the brotherhood. The ingrates that yell at you in the morning will all of a sudden give you a big hug when and if they come to work the next time you see them on the line. Whatever, its gonna a be a big 'F' ing joke. I cant freakin wait. It will be like survivor.

so what is your point?

I called HR today and will be reporting to work tomorrow. They had to call me back because they are processing so many returning workers. I don't care what you call me, I have too many debts and obligations to worry about that. The way I see it, the union is leaving us out there so they can have a "Hoffa / Rockhead" show. It's been nothing but BS since day one. I'm glad it's over Good Luck

Classic Anon 7:54, you gave us a link to a site with "collection agency" written all over it.

try to scroll down, I know you have a tiny attention span ... but try anyway

All that positive talk about engineers knowing how to do the hourly jobs is BS.. I am on the inside and people are as clueless as ever. Keep your chin up and keep fighting for your rights!!

Unions are really only about keeping the unions running. All they're really interested in is keeping membership so they can collect dues that go into the union's leadership's pockets. In their day, unions did a lot for workers-made safer conditions, regular pay raises, etc. But today, the government does all that. So what is the point? Today, unions do nothing much more than funnel money into politicians' pockets, and generally raise the prices of goods produced.

Last year, the union that our hourly employees belong to went on strike. What for? To eliminate a co-pay of $10 per medical visit. What did they get? An increase in their work week from 37.5 hours (full time pay) to 40 hours. Basically, they had every other Friday off, but after the strike, they lost that, had the scope of their medical benefits cut, but got the elimination of the co-pay, and got a $0.15/hour raise. They were on strike for a month and a half, and the management personnel that came in to cover for them cleaned up a 2 year backlog of work in 3 weeks. By the time the union employees came back, they even lost their overtime, because there was no more backlog. Interesting...

Hmmm....
maybe this isn't so anonymous after all?
These are cool:
http://www.programurl.com/software/tracing.htm

peek a boo

p.s. try to scroll down, I know you have a tiny attention span ... but try anyway

Your union leadership is totally incompetant,
your jobs will all be gone soon, you can never win on the health care issue
TEAMSTERS 1150 = TITANIC

anonymous 8:14.. ok.. enlighten the readers... which posts are rocco's?? where is he??? knowing who posts doesn't help our cause... our leaders are mia...get them to showup and give us answers. im going back to work...and my fellow union members who have enough sense will be coming with me. i want to be part of the sikorsky family. the union beats you like a red-headed step child... time to take it like a man, admit its done and save yourself and your family.

Unions F___ Em !
Get back to work
You lazy Democratic dock monkeys
Corporations Need there Stuff.....

And so do all of our sons,daughters mothers,fathers and brothers and sisters in the Military that need these Aircraft

If the hourly go then they don't need you anymore! Why don't you do some good on the inside and talk to them.

FOR THE NEW READERS!

Q: How can you tell the Teamster's kid?
A: He's the one sitting on the playground, watching the other kids play.

Q: How can you tell when a Teamster's dead?
A: The doughnut falls out of his mouth.

Q:Why is a horse the symbol of the Teamsters?
A: It's the only animal that can sleep standing up.

Q:What do you call a teamster in a suit?
A:Defendant.

Q:What did the teamster get on his I.Q. test?
A:Saliva

Q:What was the last thing Jesus said to the Teamsters?
A:"Don't do anything 'till I come back."

Saw a bumper sticker that said 'Santa Is A Teamster.' Makes sense, since he's fat and only works once a year

Four workers were discussing how smart their dogs were. The first was an engineer who said his dog could do math calculations. His dog was named "T-Square", and he told him to get some paper and draw a square, a circle and a triangle, which the dog did with no sweat. The accountant said he thought his dog was better. His dog was named "Slide Rule". He told him to fetch a dozen cookies, bring them back, and divide them into piles of three, which he did with no problem. The chemist said that was good, but he felt his dog was better. His dog "Measure" was told to get a quart of milk and pour seven ounces into a ten ounce glass. The dog did this with no problem.

All three men agreed this was very good and that their dogs were equally smart. They all turned to the union member and said, "What can your dog do?". The Teamster called his dog whose name was "Coffee Break" and said, "Show the fellows what you can do". Coffee Break went over and ate the cookies, drank the milk, went to the bathroom on the paper, claimed he injured his back while eating, filed a grievance for unsafe working conditions, applied for Workmen's Compensation and left for home on sick leave.

So the big union bosses are coming to SAC this Thursday----I'm pretty sure all you strikers truly believe their vist is a show of solidarity and support for your cause. I feel the true reason for this mother of all rallies is for only one purpose-----Intimidation of the few courageous people who have put the well being of thier families before the almighty union. Thursday is the unions stake in the ground that no one better cross the picket line-----Or else. Forget your families make sure the union bosses protect their paychecks. The paychecks you and your family support. You walk in the cold----borrow money to support your family---For what?
Make a big show of union power for one day? So comes Friday then what? The bills are still un-paid and you are still borrowing money to feed your family. You really don;t believe that after the union bosses show of support they are not going out to have a nice big dinner to celebrate their success of the day. They eat your family dosen't.

Question:
What percent does Sikorsky contribute to UTC's bottom line?

5% biz??

I think UTC will sell sikorsky. Anyone have any information on the possibility of UTC selling or relocating the plant??

Gentlemen,
I understand your principles and the emotions that are running high that resulted in the strike. HOWEVER, you have to face reality. EVERY company in America is struggling with the soaring cost of health care. Workers everywhere are having to face increased costs as companies pass them down. The bottom line is that you will not force SIK to give in because they can't. All other UTC companies have adopted the contract terms you have rejected. If SIK gave in the other UTC units would go on strike when thier contracts expire demanding the same concessions! It is not going to happen. Further keep in mind the extremely high cost of manufacturing in CT has driven out a legion of other companies, (ones I once worked for), to the lower cost southern states. I urge you to rethink your position because instead of walking a picket line you may well end up walking dead men - no job, no where to go, no hope.

We have a winner... 5%.
Next question:
What is the Sikorsky ROI?

For those of you who are calling in to WICC claiming that UTC owns Cigna, you are dead wrong...just do a little research...
Did your union tell you that lie too???

Come on people...open that Annual Report.

Next question:
What is the Sikorsky ROI?

It will be much higher once they have all the assembly worked performed elswhere. Reports and analysis are not going to clarify the cluster F_ck which faces this company in the future.

they woun't need you then

If the hourly go then so will the salary people. Everyone should be working together.

amen

Sorry, cluster F_ck was not the correct answer.

We were looking for 8% (As a gift, I rounded up)

So we have Sikorsky at 5% of bottom line and 8% ROI.

get back to work

Do you think that by having Custers last stand in the middle of Main St Stratford is going to make any difference. Why do you think SAC ignores you? Thats the diffrence between running a buisness with buisness men and a hand full of finely dressed Bikers in their Sunday best Bike week T-Shirt operating a three ring circus.

cluster f_ck... hmmm is that how you keep warm out there??

so biz.. what is your prediction based on these numbers? "WWGD" or What Would George Do?

Rocco and his fiction writers:

"The company has begun contacting members, asking them to return. This is a clear indication that the work is not getting done inside and that the strike is taking its toll on the company. This activity on the company's part was expected, but not for several more weeks, indicating that they are in a panic already. Only a handful of members have abandoned us and succumbed (see the wall of shame). Now is the time to remain strong! The salary workers inside are beginning to crack. They are fighting with one another, becoming discontented with the hours that the company is working them. Things are not good on the inside, by all reports."

Fighting with each other, yeah, they set up a boxing ring during the free lunch.......

Not good by all reports.......Let's see, salary guys getting OT, a bonus, high morale on the line, a spirit of comraderie, and pure amazement about how long it takes some of the hourly slugs to do simple things.....

Sure some of the guys striking are highly qualified, hard working guys, and we hope you come back. Just leave the doper, slugs, EEO protected, and un motivated at the gate.

How about dropping seniority, and going with a merit job retention system? Or is that too scary for those of you on the dole?

What do we do with a business with these performance scores?

We are looking for a ROI somehwre around 12 minimum....no? (really want 13 or more)

If we were like GE, we'd want something around 15.

What does one do with this performer?

Yes. What Would George David do? WWGDD?

Rocco called, he wanted to remind you to pay your dues before picking up your strike checks.

And he has lined up Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Sly Stone, Bing Crosby, and Al Bundy for Thursday's rally.

See ya there.

By the way, please ensure your union dues are paid, $58 in case you forgot.....

The salary workers are beginning to crack.

Do you know what we do?
Strike
Strike
Strike
Strike
Strike
Strike
STRIke
Strike
Strike
Strike

MMmmmmm Donuts..........drewl.....strawberry...doh!

warm fire...............mmmmmmmmmm....free pizza

I have to agree with anonymous @ 9:00 PM.

Rocco really is stringing you along with a load of conspiracy theories. There honestly is no fighting within the walls. (Maybe between the VPs/Directors?? ... im not privvy) But amongst everyone else is a strong camraderie. My colleagues who are working the shop are smiling... they say hi to you when you walk by.. its just a really nice feeling. There is no feeling of panic... I havent noticed anyone being overworked anymore than prior to the strike. I don't notice any sign of cracking... to be honest.. everyone goes through the day not even thinking about the strikers except for when we drive by them on the way in and out. I feel sorry for you guys.. the ones who were misled.. i really hope to see you back soon... the good ones... my friends... you're missed.

The salary workers cracked............

When all you 1150 guys can't afford to go on vacation this summer, tell your kids to thank Rocco. And when the Bank takes your house from you ..........thank Rocco.

Salary Workers, Stand Strong!!

We cannot be defeated!
Word is that on the picket line the strikers are beginning to fight with each other, and they are getting no parts.
We knew they would call in replacement strikers, but not so soon. This is a clear indication that Rocco is David Koresh!
Just yesterday, a Stella's pizza showed up, with no anchovies, and the free coffee from DD was cold. The inhumanity of it all.

Oh by the way, your union dues need to be paid, $58!!

Have a laugh, reconsider, and come back to work, it is as good a deal as you are going to get.

we still have vacation

Has anyone got a letter from SA telling them if they don't return to work, then they are terminated?

We can analyze the case of selling off sikorsky.
-What that means to:
-The bottom line
-Shareholders
-UTC's business portfolio

Alternatives?
-What measures can be taken to turn around this ledger stain?

8 percent on ROI

Just look at them in there boys...there cracking up. They just cant take it anymore..
There turning on each other, oh the humanity.
One salary guy just asked another if he could have the last cup of coffee. Oh my god whats he gonna do? These conditions are fit for a custodian.
Yes cracking up alright in laughter. The company finally figured out how to get their young newly hired engineers with motivation and skill to learn about how to build aircraft.
Brilliant!
They might just get the training they all needed.
How about that!

hey anonymous 9:15
Your custodians are union